Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => Flowers and Foliage Now => Topic started by: Robert on November 02, 2022, 06:29:42 PM
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Hi Marc
I have been using Quick Hoop Low Tunnels for decades. I find them to be extremely effective for multiple applications. I would not garden or farm without them. I bought my low tunnel bender from Johnny’s Selected Seeds. They still sell them. I also use heavy #10 gauge wire to make lower Wire Quick Hoops. Johnny’s Selected Seeds also sells the heavy #10 gauge wire to make smaller Wire Support Hoops.
Depending on the season and application I use different materials to cover the hoops. I use shade cloth during the summer to protect heat sensitive crops. I use light Agribon + Insect Barrier to protect newly planted seeds from birds. I use various thicknesses of Agribon + and/or greenhouse plastic to protect crops from cold weather. What I use depends on the crop and the season. All of these materials can be purchased from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, however in agricultural areas of the country it is easy to find these items locally. With care these products can last for many seasons. And, yes, I use all these items with ornamental plants too.
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The weather has cooled and yesterday, 1 November, we received some much-needed rain. The plants in our garden loved the rain. More rain is in the forecast.
Helianthus angustifolius is a beautiful late autumn blooming species in our garden.
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A month or so ago we planted some Moraea polystachya seedlings in our cinder block garden. They are thriving in this location and look great right now.
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I grow the tall growing form of Salvia splendens. They bloom for long periods of time and are spectacular when in bloom.
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With cooler weather some of our Antirrhinum majus hybrids are throwing a few flowers.
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I like trying new plants in the garden. I also like obtaining new plants locally. Pictured is Hypericum anagalloides. This native species grows locally in the Sierra Nevada Mountains.
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With cool autumn weather I have started to seed out autumn-winter vegetables and many California native annual species. I use ¾ inch soil blocks when sowing small seed species. 400 3/4 inch (19.05 mm) blocks will fit into a nursery flat. I keep the young seedlings growing by transferring them to 2” (50.8 mm) soil blocks, and then into the ground as soon as possible. This system works extremely well for me.
Marc –
This is how I use Quick Hoops made with ½” (12.7 mm) electrical conduit covered with greenhouse plastic during the late autumn, winter, and early spring to cover the seed flats. During the summer the same bench space is covered with shade cloth. It is all quick and easy. I never have any wind damage and the plants germinate and grow fantastically.
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I use 2-inch (50.8 mm) soil blocks to start larger seeds. The 3/4-inch (10.05 mm) blocks fit exactly into the square hole in the top of the 2-inch (50.8 mm) blocks. There is no transplant shock and the seedlings keep growing vigorously when transplanted.
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Pictured is Salvia elegans blooming with our ripe ‘Pink Lady’ apples.
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I try to make efficient use of the growing space in our garden. Here mâche, Valerianella locusta, is growing with barley. The mâche will be ready to harvest well before the barley becomes too large. This arrangement works well with other vegetables such as spinach, endive, lettuce, and small bulbed radish varieties.
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These vegetables were harvested from our garden on 1 November. The greens on the left we call Greens Gone Wild. They are advanced generation hybrids of Mizuna, Brassica rapa var. japonica, Pac Choi, and Tokyo Bekana, both Brassica rapa var. cinensis. We selected these from open pollinated plants at our Placerville farm about 12 years ago. They taste great and sold well at the Farmers’ Market. Center is D’Avignon Radishes, Raphanus sativus. Seeds of this flavorful radish have become difficult to obtain in the U.S.A., so we now produce and select our own seed. On the right the green Summer Squash is Lebanese Light Green. We produce our own seed of this variety and have been selecting for resistance to Mosaic Virus, which can be a big problem in the Sacramento Valley. Generally Summer Squash, Cucurbita pepo, becomes infected with various mosaic viruses by mid-summer and stop producing fruit. Our selection keeps growing vigorously and producing fruit until cold weather in late autumn (November). We have conducted trials with other Summer Squash varieties that were highly touted as being resistant to mosaic virus. Our Lebanese Light Green Squash selection has vastly out preformed all the varieties we have trialed it with to date.
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Than you, Robert, very helpful response!
Marc
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Robert
Have you experienced a higher level of insect infestation when using the covers?
I have made a similar shade cover using electrical conduit and attached the hoop ends to a piece of re enforcing steel hammered into the ground, then covered with shade cloth. Worked well apart from plants suffering a higher level of insect attack.
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Hi Jeff
This is another excellent question. Currently, my work schedule is extremely full. I will get back to the question in a few days and share some of my experiences that might be helpful to others.
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Hi Jeff
To answer your question; Have I experienced a higher level of insect infestation when using row covers?
A partial answer is yes; however I do manage the situation to vastly reduce or eliminate insect populations: For example, at times earwigs and sow bugs can be troublesome. I have a great deal of success eliminating or reducing damage to inconsequential levels by keeping my growing areas cultivated, free of weeds and debris. I also have a high degree of success controlling slug damage using this method. In addition, I frequently grow plants grown on from transplanted soil blocks. For me this, more or less, eliminates transplant shock. My experience has been that young plants transplanted using other methods often experience transplant shock and suffer a great deal of insect damage, sometimes to the point that they die. So, I guess the complete or elaborated answer to your question is no, I do not have higher levels of insect infestation when using row covers; however this is due to the cultivation methods I use and my attention to keeping my growing areas free of debris and weeds. I would like to add that my methods are equally successful with perennial species. In addition, I never need to use sprays of any sort to keep my plants healthy and free of insect damage. This works for me, but then I am constantly in the garden observing what is going on and making adjustments as per changing circumstances. Jasmin also is very observant, and asks questions concerning what she sees. This joint perspective is extremely beneficial. Our garden is a true collaboration.
Here is another story about insect control that my wife, Jasmin, wanted me to relate:
About 40 years ago when I lived in the 1860’s vintage original Gold Hill schoolhouse, I had a vegetable garden on the back 1-acre plot behind the chicken coop. The broccoli and some of the other cabbage family plants became infested with aphids. Uncle Elwin, who had the cattle ranch surrounding the schoolhouse, came by one day to inspect my garden. Being an old-timer, he was shocked to see all the aphids and that I had not sprayed poison to control them. I told him that everything would work out fine and that there was no need to spray anything. He shook his head in disgust and walked back to his work, tending cattle. A few days later a flock of bushtits came by and ate all the aphids. The plants continued to grow and I had a splendid harvest of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage 100% free of aphids. Uncle Elwin never believed me when I told him that the birds ate all the aphids. If I had sprayed the aphids with poison I would have likely poisoned the bushtits. The birds ended up being the perfect biological control.
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Jeff –
The next two photographs show how I keep things clean around areas where I have plants growing and covered with row cover.
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The plants inside the hoops are also kept clean of weeds and free of debris.
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Back at our Sacramento home, this Lachenalia rubida was in a shady location when it came back into growth. It is leggy, however I moved it to a location where it can be enjoyed as it continues to bloom.
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This is not a very good photograph, however I like this new red-flowered Salvia hybrid.
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We are getting some autumn-like weather that was common to our region 40-50 years ago. Low temperatures, even in the Sacramento area, have been in the 30 F (0 to 3.5 C) range and we are getting rain at the lower elevations.
I enjoy the drying foliage of plants as they go dormant for the winter.
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Maybe we will get snow at our Placerville property this winter. This photograph was taken about 15 years ago. 30-40 years ago, snow like this was once common at our Placerville property. Now snow accumulations like this are rare.
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I miss the cold rainy and snowy winter weather we once had. The snow can be very beautiful.
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With the cooler weather, even in Sacramento, the leaves of our Red Haven Peach are turning pretty colors. The intensity of the color is especially brilliant during the evening as the sun is setting.
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Salvia splendens in bloom is spectacular right now.
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This is a scene of the Placerville garden. A part of the orchard can be seen in the background. Winter cover crops are well established or have recently been planted. Broccoli and other winter vegetables are reaching harvest. In January new hoops will be erected and late winter - early spring crops will be planted.
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Robert/Jasmin
Thank you for the comments re aphid control.
We do have a native bird called a wax eye which is a known aphid predator but unfortunately not common in the neighborhood, mores the pity. There are other native and long established introduced bird species but sadly aphids are not on their list of dietary requirements.
There are biological controls available, for aphids an introduced wasp species,
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to continue...
aphids are the target food for the wasps, the wasps are small in size and do not sting unlike many other wasp species we have. When I had a large shade house the wasp gave an effective biological control, new wasps needed to be introduced each year as our winters were to cold . The female lays her eggs in the aphid which then acts as a nursery for the wasp larvae who emerge to continue the hunt. Have tried the same in the open garden and its was not effective, not sure this could have been an environmental issue.
Lady birds are another aphid hunter, we have a few species but there is a large one that actually eats other lady bug species and is now considered a pest.
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Not in my garden but the drive of another house nearby some Cowslips in flower. (Primula veris) Spring is early it seems.
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We slowly enter the period when days are the shortest however few plants don't care about that lack of light. This is the case of Ranunculus bullatus.
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Winter has come here and it's been below freezing for a week now.
There is snow but not much, about 5cm, so ground is white.
Colchicum 'Poseidon' was still flowering ten days ago. Second and third pictures were taken earlier this week.
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I´m always reluctant what to prefer, Leena - lots of snow with time to read or our milder climate, which seldom allows for such wintery pics.
At least, it allows for Brugmansias in full flower as late as at the end of November. Though this is quite unusual, even here.
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Camellias are flowering, also. ´Yuletide´started unusually early in mid October.
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A seedling with large flowers, about 9 cm.
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Phytolacca americana ´Silberstein´ glowing in pink.
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And yet another brugmansia
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And yet another brugmansia
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Which has really got your gargoyle fascinated! ;D
cheers
fermi
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Mariette,
Once again you have posted beautiful and inspirational photographs from your garden. Based on some of your earlier photographs it appears that parts of your garden have recovered from the heat and drought of this past summer. I hope all goes well for you in our garden this coming season.
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Season extenders are up and operational in our Sacramento garden. Year round production of vegetables is relatively easy.
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The autumn blooming Crocus niveus is looking good in our garden. I finally have a plan to better maintain and enjoy our Crocus species in our garden. More on this later as things evolve.
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Acer palmatum ’Pixie’ did not burn in the 115 F September heat and is glowing in autumn color. Many of our other Japanese Maples burned badly in the extreme heat and have defoliated without autumn colors.
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I finally found a way to use Moraea polystachya effectively in our garden. This group has been blooming for over a month now and looks great. No more flopping – nice straight upright stems. For us, a great plant when grown well.
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Robert wrote "I finally found a way to use Moraea polystachya effectively in our garden. This group has been blooming for over a month now and looks great. No more flopping – nice straight upright stems. For us, a great plant when grown well."
Robert,
Moraeas, like most of the Iridaceae, generally prefer acid soil. I'm surprised that they do well in cement blocks.
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The pH of the block will reduce over time as the blocks weather/age, this may be the reason.
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Thank You, Jeff
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Thank You, fermi and Robert, for Your comments!
There are some more autumnal scenes in my garden, too. For instance, the firebugs assembling and warming in the November sun.
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Hydrangea quercifolia, Rosa rugosa and Osmanthus heterophyllus ´Aureomarginatus´.
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The chilis in the greenhouse are still in full swing and produced odd hybrids.
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Mariette
Looks like sorrel (Rumex sanguineus) in your first image. I had one in a post and now pops up everywhere.
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You´re perfectly right, Arnold! This plant may be a weed, but it´s a rather showy one. So I tend to tolerate it in places where it´s no nuisance.
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A lot of variety in the seasons are showing up in the lovely pictures.
Mariëtte
While your chilis look pretty and colourful in the greenhouse, I love the composition of colour and texture in your first two pics.
Enjoy your Rumex sanguineus, some weeds are lovable.
Robert
Your garden seems to be attractive independent of the season. Personally I like the combination of flowers and vegetables. Very different conditions here, winter purslane/miners lettuce is doing well at the moment, even if for now a real vegetable garden might not be possible, I’m still playing around a bit.
Btw, I really do hope that you haven’t been ‘busy’ (I’m not sure how I put it) in the same way I was.
Probably due to a mild October (almost 2C above average in most of Europe), and some more warm (10-15C max) November days, we can enjoy a long beautiful autumn.
One weekend of winter, daytime temperatures hardly above freezing, didn’t spoll the fun.
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In the containers Crocus melantherus needed a bit higher temperatures to open up, so it was taken inside. Trying a bit of hand pollination as well.
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Colchicum atticum/ Merendera attica is a bit earlier then last year. Accompanied by the last flowers of Allium virgunculae.
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Over here the new season has started, already looking for early Eranthis, Galanthus and Scilla in public green (easy to combine with walking Spot), as first showed up early december last year.
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Mariette
It's edible as a salad green or cooked. I believe in the West Indies they make a soft drink out of the red seeds.
It's very invasive.
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As I like to potter around in my rather small garden quite a lot, I think I managed its invasive nature for several years. From a culinary point of view, I prefer our native sorrel, Rumex acetosa, due to its more tender and succulent leaves.
Akke, thank You for Your comment and lovely pics - obviously You enjoy an equally colourful autumn so late in the season. And I really hope You´re doing well now!
Like You, I marvel at the vast range of plants Robert shows and the amount of work he and his wife manage to cope with!
Spending the last week-end in the north of Germany, I noticed that the leaves of the hydrangeas were blackened by frost, in our area they are still a joy.
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Some varieties and seedlings of Primula vulgaris add a few flowers, as well.
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The Monthly Rose is accompanied by flowers of Viburnum plicatum ´Watanabe´.
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Mariette,
I seem to always enjoy the virtual photographic tours of your garden. Frequently, the combinations of foliage/flower colors, textures of foliage and bark and the general ambience of your garden captivate me.
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Jasmin and I are currently revamping the ornamentals in our front yard. Combinations of color and texture are always on our minds as we plan, plant and place rocks or other garden items. Generally, these are spontaneous actions. I think I remember a remark that frequently your plant combinations are not planned, but occur spontaneously too. I do think that the virtual tours of your garden contribute to the initiation of our creative process. So, it is we that thank you for sharing garden photographs and comments.
Akke,
Yes, Akke, I hope that you are okay and not involved with the “busyness”. My busyness is bliss – see the end of my comments.
I enjoyed the photograph of the autumn colors in your nearby public garden. And, your photographs of your many Crocus species always inspire me. I think that I finally found a satisfying way to manage our Crocus plants in our garden. For the most part I like to grow them in the ground (vs. container), however finding appropriate companions that do not interfere with my cultivation practices has been challenging.
I have always had a passion for farming and growing edible plants. Growing ornamentals plants came a little later when I was a teenager. With rampant inflation in the U.S.A. sustainably growing most of our own food with minimal outside inputs is, more or less, inflation free. When I was a teenage I became acquainted with the economic philosophies of Scott Nearing. I have always been intrigued and found useful his concept of a “Use Economy”. If one wants to eat, grow your own food, want to enrich the soil, make your own compost,
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Want to heat the home, cut your own firewood from your own land, want to cook food, cook the food using wood that you cut yourself from your own land.
I do all my gardening with hand tools, I like cutting wood with hand tools. This keeps my body fit, frees me from the noise and fumes of machines. Unless the air pollution is bad, gardening and working out in the fresh air surrounded by nature is not work, but pure pleasure for me.
[Jasmin]: The colors and textures in everyone’s photos, Ian McDonald’s Local Patch, and the Bulb Log do inspire us. The front strip is evolving so well, I am enthusiastic and inspired to revamp the larger front piece, and ornamental sections of the back.
This is a good channel for my thoughts and energies, which have not been so lovely. The people next door to our east have a poor history of disregard and neglect, etc. The first dog was dearly loved, but ever since has been a “filler” dog that has behavioral problems. They have persistently been disregardful of our experience, requests and complaints. The last dog would bark from 6 am to 11 pm. The current dog enjoys tracking, surprise lunges at us, and barking at everything from the wind and wild birds to us and our birds. On 8 Sept it had its latest attack, terrorizing our birds enough that there was harm. I have been running a “avian hospital” here since then. While all of this, such as the knowledge of how to inject medicine into a bird will form part of my bird care guide, it has been an emotional time. Some birds are still on medication, and may need to remain so.
On one hand, each day is a miracle. Friede had a minor concussion and has completely recovered. Tovi’s wings droop at times still, but he is happy and does not seem adversely impacted. Dariya we thought would be dead, but the current suite of medications keeps her comfortable. A better view and diagnosis of her internal digestive tract can only be viewed by a specialist with more capacity than our avian veterinarian, and, as she put it, nothing could be done about it anyway. So what purpose to torture the dear?
In this country there was a day Thanksgiving; however, I much prefer this saying that Thanksgiving is not so much a time of year as an attitude of the heart. I spent the day more in mindfulness of all there is to be grateful for: the senses, the toilet, potable running water, a whole meal provided by the garden, each other. Yet, I weep a lot, and feel terribly vulnerable with feelings I cannot place or name. So, daily I am a tumult of these oxymorons: joys and gratitudes, and these other realities from some unseen Pandora’s Box.
It is a time of deep spiritual introspection, prayers that are voiced by the heart with and without words.
Thank you everyone, for your contributions bring us light and loveliness.