Mixing Plants

[cushman350]

There is no teacher like experience. See for yourself, then you can tell us, yea or nay. Every garden is just an experiment in progress.

[mjb8743]

Do you think it would be okay to put 2 Pepper Plants in with the 8-10 Sugar Snap Peas I already have growing or even the dwarf patio Cucumber?  I set up the staking system tonight and all the peas have come up and are about 2-4 inches high already.

I'd like to know the outcome, since peas are a cool weather crop and warm weather peppers have a normal maturity of about 75 days from transplanting. Cucumbers are also heat lovers and are sensitive to cold.

This late in the season, especially where you are, I don't hold much hope for the peppers. Maybe the cukes have a chance if the weather stays milder than normal. If it's not too hot, the peas might survive... they hate hot weather.

Mickie

[TwoTreeFrogs2]

What about carrots, there is rumor that with this weather we are having that we may have it until into the end of September so now I wonder if I should try and grow one of the mini cantaloupes, I'm all set with tomatoes lol just wanted to know what else can be grown because I got my 3 earthboxes yesterday and I must put something in them, so far all I have is 12 purple string bean seeds that I set up for my mom's low bush variety. 

[mjb8743]

Right now, you could try Swiss chard. It tolerates heat well, and thrives in cooler weather. I do 10 plants per box and, if left to mature size, have more than enough for 2 of us. Also, a fast growing napa cabbage "Blues" that matures in 52 days. Look for short maturities for carrots, turnip, or beets. Also, be aware of carrot length... you need short ones in the EB.

Later in the month, you could start radishes, spinach, lettuces, kale, pak choi, and several of the Asian greens.

Be aware that by end of summer, bugs are rampant... be sure you have BT or a good pesticide containing spinosad such as Monterrey's Garden insect spray or Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew on hand for worms and caterpillars.

http://www.amazon.com/Monterey-Spinosad-Organic-Garden-Insect/dp/B000BWY3OQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1344446364&sr=1-2&keywords=Monterey+garden+insect+spray

http://www.amazon.com/Bonide-252-Captain-Jacks-Concentrate/dp/B001VJBYMC/ref=sr_1_6?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1344446364&sr=1-6&keywords=Monterey+garden+insect+spray

Mickie

[TwoTreeFrogs2]

Thank you Mickie, I just received my Rainbow swiss chard seeds a few minutes ago.  I have never eaten that to my knowledge and I would like to know what exactly does it taste like?  Some say it is bitter when too big, others have said that the leaves are very sweet when they are younger.  I will plant some of those this week - also can you eat them raw - I understand you can use the entire plant to cook and sautee with.  Just curious as to the taste as I have very picky family members (parents) LOL

[mjb8743]

Thank you Mickie, I just received my Rainbow swiss chard seeds a few minutes ago.  I have never eaten that to my knowledge and I would like to know what exactly does it taste like?  Some say it is bitter when too big, others have said that the leaves are very sweet when they are younger.  I will plant some of those this week - also can you eat them raw - I understand you can use the entire plant to cook and sautee with.  Just curious as to the taste as I have very picky family members (parents) LOL

I've never found chard to be bitter, although its flavor gets a bit stronger. I think it tastes very similar to spinach without the slimy feel. I love it just boiled/steamed 'til tender and slathered in butter... some add lemon juice.The stalks cook up tender, so I just cut them in pieces and start them a few minutes before I add the coarsly chopped leaves. In the recipe section there are some ideas for it.

Mickie

[potatohead]

also can you eat them raw

Yes you can, but they are better raw when the leaves are small (under 3-4 inches). I find it hard to eat a salad of pure swiss chard however, because it is so "spinachy". It is better mixed with some milder greens. To me, it tastes like spinach but with a much more concentrated flavor.

By the way, if you grow beets you can eat the tops and that is very similar to both spinach and swiss chard (all are related to one another). Then you can also harvest the beet when it is ready and have a double harvest that way. It does double duty.

Swiss chard is one of the easiest things I have found to grow and survives very well under all kinds of weather conditions. I have some plants that are over a year old and are still producing and taste great. I did protect it from our occasional hard freeze this past winter, and now, with 100+ degree temperatures, I have it under shade cloth, and they have not bolted yet. It seems very resistant to bugs. Even though I have found aphids and whiteflies on it, they are not bothered much by that. The Fordhook Giant variety to me seems to be the most hardy and vigorous, and does grow some giant leaves if you turn your back on it, although I have done well with the Bright Lights and Ruby Red varieties too.

[mjb8743]

The Fordhook Giant variety to me seems to be the most hardy and vigorous, and does grow some giant leaves if you turn your back on it

That's when you stuff and roll 'em up... see recipe section.

[potatohead]

The Fordhook Giant variety to me seems to be the most hardy and vigorous, and does grow some giant leaves if you turn your back on it

That's when you stuff and roll 'em up... see recipe section.

Thanks, I will check that out...yum....

[Avalone]

I just established a Vienna Kohlrabi that I "rescued" from my in-ground garden into an Earthbox where I have also started a Blondkopchen tomato.  I noticed when reading about companion planting that kohlrabi, supposedly, "stunts" tomatoes.  Does anyone have experience or thoughts on that?  How does it stunt?  Does it just make the plant smaller?  Maybe that would be a good thing!

[tag]

I planted kohlrabi with a cherry tomato a couple of years ago and the cherry tomato grew about 12 feet long.  So I'd say stunt .... nah.

[Bklyngardengrl]

Hey there,

So i am planting snap peas (6) with vining cucumbers (1) on one side of the fertilizer strip assuming the sugar snaps will fizzle out by June and the cucumbers can take over.  It's my first year but I wanted to do a little trial with succession planting to get the feel for it. Does that sound right or am I biting off more than I can chew?

[GreenMtn]

My combos:
EB #1: 1 Stevia + 1 Tomato
EB# 2:  1 Japanese Eggplant + 1 Pepino Dulce Melon
EB# 3: 8 White Corn + 8 Pole Beans
EB# 4: 4 Red Cabbage and 2 Brussel Sprouts