|
Poll!
May 10, 2013 12:34:17 GMT -5
Post by horsea on May 10, 2013 12:34:17 GMT -5
What percentage, roughly, of your vegetable garden is devoted to flowers (both annual & perennial)? Mine is about 20% flowers scattered all over the place.
Among others, I have volunteer wild columbine, prairie mallow, clarkia, leptosiphon, calendula (comes up like a weed), shasta daisy, morning glory, Serbian bellflower, glads, marigolds , etc. I look forward to your answers.
|
|
|
Post by daylilydude on May 10, 2013 15:28:01 GMT -5
Hmmm... I would say for me its only like 5% as all I have at the moment are iris and an blood red wild rose bus but it is going to change in the near future ;D
|
|
|
Poll!
May 12, 2013 6:49:57 GMT -5
Post by daylilydude on May 12, 2013 6:49:57 GMT -5
|
|
|
Poll!
May 12, 2013 9:03:38 GMT -5
Post by paulf on May 12, 2013 9:03:38 GMT -5
My vegetable garden is just that ... a vegetable garden. My wife's flower gardens are for flowers and take up most of the rest of the landscape where flowers can be grown. We do have grassy spaces in between flower gardens. There is even a picket fence around the vegetable garden just so more flowers don't creep into its space.
|
|
|
Poll!
May 12, 2013 19:28:47 GMT -5
Post by izitmidnight on May 12, 2013 19:28:47 GMT -5
It is a toss up as to which is more populus in my garden. Both flowers and food are mixed together in my landscaping, beds and gardens. Can't have one without the other! Pollinater attracters, bad bug repellers....
|
|
|
Poll!
May 13, 2013 1:40:13 GMT -5
Post by stratcat on May 13, 2013 1:40:13 GMT -5
I think of my whole yard as the garden. There are lots of flowers growing here-and-there, so maybe 25%.
In my cottage garden out front, there are some new daffodils across most of the front with a volunteer purple Aster and volunteer Wild Bergamot going the rest of the way.
There's a big clump of Snow-in-Summer that moved in. Some Mayapples migrated around the house and made themselves at home. Two hostas, a clump of Ratibida and perennial Black-eyed Susans come up every year. Another chunk of purple Asters and a plant that looks like Chamomile but isn't.
For annuals in the Cottage Garden, I have some Dwarf Cosmos started and I expect there will be a volunteer Four O'clock or two.
Slowly, I'm converting to lots more perennials in the rest of the yard. This will save me replanting annuals every year.
Last week, Mom mentioned that I park next to one of the Serviceberries when I'm over at her house.
|
|
|
Poll!
May 14, 2013 9:57:22 GMT -5
Post by kctomato on May 14, 2013 9:57:22 GMT -5
I dont have flowers planted in my vegetable garden. The except would be carrots and corriander let go for nectaries.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
|
Post by Deleted on May 14, 2013 12:19:48 GMT -5
I dont have flowers planted in my vegetable garden. The except would be carrots and corriander let go for nectaries. Same here, except that it's thyme, basil, and oregano that go to flower at different times. I remember reading somewhere that daikon radishes gone to flower between cucurbits would repel squash bugs; maybe I need to try that one this year. MB
|
|
|
Poll!
May 14, 2013 13:17:21 GMT -5
Post by txdirtdog on May 14, 2013 13:17:21 GMT -5
I dont have flowers planted in my vegetable garden. The except would be carrots and corriander let go for nectaries. Same here, except that it's thyme, basil, and oregano that go to flower at different times. I remember reading somewhere that daikon radishes gone to flower between cucurbits would repel squash bugs; maybe I need to try that one this year. MB I have carrot, dill, daikon and Watermelon radish flowering/going to seed in the garden proper. Corriander/cilantro in the front yard. I pulled a stand of Watermelon and Plum Purple radishes that were flowering a week or so ago. Also buckwheat is flowering/seeding here and there throughout the garden. I sowed some marigold seeds, but haven't seen any come up yet. Wonder if there's something to the daikon flowering/squash bug deterrent. I haven't seen much in the way of the usual squash bugs/leaf-footers yet. Supposedly buckwheat attracts a predator of those types of beetles which is one of the reasons I ordered that seed. I'm just letting it self-seed since last year, as it's organic matter anyway. Almost forgot pomegranite, blackberry and Pineapple guava have been flowering. For just flowers for prettiness, they go in the front yard - primarily cosmos. Except DD's patch in the garden. She sowed several types of flowers including zinnia, sunflower, etc.
|
|
|
Poll!
May 14, 2013 21:12:19 GMT -5
Post by Laura_in_FL on May 14, 2013 21:12:19 GMT -5
Interesting, I hadn't heard that about the Daikons. I have some Daikons flowering near my main tomato and eggplant area. I have seen almost no leaf-footed bug activity over there. The few leaf-footed bugs I have seen have been in the peppers planted on the other side of the pool, farthest away from the Daikons. I had attributed it to luck and/or the relatively cool weather. Now I am wondering. I may have to let some of those bolt every spring!
I have a carrot (yes, one) flowering, plus cilantro and parsley. Sage just finished. The mandarin orange finished a couple of weeks ago. Thyme is finishing up now. Dill and cosmos will be flowering soon. Those are all along the perimeter of the veggie garden so as to provide nectar and habitats for beneficials. And I have a couple of flowering weeds I am leaving just until the cosmos starts up - to keep the bees in the habit of visiting my yard.
|
|
|
Poll!
May 15, 2013 16:17:36 GMT -5
Post by horsea on May 15, 2013 16:17:36 GMT -5
Thanks for your replies, all. Them's beautiful flowers, dld.
SC, what are Dwarf Cosmos. Never seen these but they sound to be up my alley, since the regular ones are huge as bushes and crowd out my vegetables.
|
|
|
Poll!
May 15, 2013 19:37:44 GMT -5
Post by stratcat on May 15, 2013 19:37:44 GMT -5
Hi, Horsea. Last year I grew 'Brightness Mixed' Cosmos and I'd say they were 12" tall or so like the T&M catalog describes. Yeah, they were nice and compact and didn't cause any trouble. I saved seed from the red ones and started some of those for this year. www.tandmworldwide.com/seeds1/product/8373/1/Around the back of the house, I also have Jack-In-The-Pulpit, Trilliums, a few kinds of perennial Sunflowers, Echinacea, Cupplants, Lilacs from my grandmother's house. I had a 5'9" Queen Anne's Lace a few years ago. Got to look and see if my Butterfly Weed is still there. I think it gets too crowded and dry, so it goes dormant. Last year I didn't see my Prairie Dock. Hopefully, it was dormant. Let's not forget two areas of Daylilies, the ditch kind. I planted the two Sunflowers that I started in the house out back in one of the chicken wire enclosures. Up by my door, there are Tulips, Daffodils, Snow Drops, Puschkinia, Hyacinths, Crocuses, Hostas, Columbines and I'll be looking for Sweet Williams. The Peonies need feeding. There's a flowering shrub by my drive. Back out front near the Cottage Garden are some Daffodils, Tansy, Shasta Daisy, Purple Asters, Wild Bergamot and a Potentilla. I almost forgot the volunteer Purple Morning Glories that come up every year on the Cottage Garden fence and in the tomatoes. Add the Elephant Head Amaranth, too. I let Queen Anne's Lace grow in the lawn to attract beneficials. Then into the Hellstrip we go. For perennials, I have three Stella D'Oro Daylilies, some Pinks, Echinacea, Pyretrum Daisies, Columbines, two Sea Holly, a large clump of Wild Bergamot and a row of Coral Bells. For Hellstrip annuals, I put in Marigolds, Salvia, Petunias, Cosmos, Gloriosa Daisies, and Cherry Brandies. It looks like some Cherry Brandies overwintered; I usually have to replant them and the Gloriosa Daisies.
|
|
|
Poll!
May 16, 2013 10:07:44 GMT -5
Post by stratcat on May 16, 2013 10:07:44 GMT -5
I forgot the Lilies of the Valley on the north side of my garage. They've spread nicely over the last 34 years. Also, I let some Yarrow, wild Daisies and Fleabane grow in my lawn. I just mow around them, lol.
|
|
|
Poll!
May 16, 2013 19:25:54 GMT -5
Post by horsea on May 16, 2013 19:25:54 GMT -5
I have acres of gloriosa daizy all over our dogpatch large property. I can't believe how good they are in a vase, too. Where they came from I don't know. They aren't a wild native plant. Why would you have to replant yours, Stratcat.
|
|
|
Poll!
May 16, 2013 22:39:30 GMT -5
Post by stratcat on May 16, 2013 22:39:30 GMT -5
My Gloriosa Daisies are supposed to be perennial, but are grown as annuals. I've never had any overwinter. They sure do reseed themselves like crazy, even in the crack in the street and on the lawn. I usually transplant some of the volunteers.
Add Bluebells to my flower list. My Black-eyed Susans are 'Goldsturm'.
|
|
|
Poll!
Jun 19, 2013 22:35:13 GMT -5
Post by horsea on Jun 19, 2013 22:35:13 GMT -5
I normally don't buy ready-to-go annuals but this year I thought I would - oh, horrors - buy a few petunias to put into containers on the back steps to distract from the steps being terribly, embarrassingly ramshackle (so bad that I won't allow guests to use them). It never occurred to me that the chickens would eat them, blossoms & foliage. I feel cursed...
|
|
|
Poll!
Jun 20, 2013 0:52:42 GMT -5
Post by pepperhead212 on Jun 20, 2013 0:52:42 GMT -5
0% flowers in mine. Even the front beds are herbs and veggies. Peppers and eggplants look pretty good, once they start maturing, and the lemongrass looks like an ornamental grass, once it gets larger. I think there are some tulips that pop up against one of my fences every spring, but they have been doing that for 30 years now, through no effort of mine.
|
|
|
Poll!
Jun 20, 2013 1:35:54 GMT -5
Post by horsea on Jun 20, 2013 1:35:54 GMT -5
0% flowers in mine. Even the front beds are herbs and veggies. Peppers and eggplants look pretty good, once they start maturing, and the lemongrass looks like an ornamental grass, once it gets larger. I think there are some tulips that pop up against one of my fences every spring, but they have been doing that for 30 years now, through no effort of mine. But what do you cut and put into a vase in the house?
|
|
|
Poll!
Jun 20, 2013 9:38:31 GMT -5
Post by pepperhead212 on Jun 20, 2013 9:38:31 GMT -5
0% flowers in mine. Even the front beds are herbs and veggies. Peppers and eggplants look pretty good, once they start maturing, and the lemongrass looks like an ornamental grass, once it gets larger. I think there are some tulips that pop up against one of my fences every spring, but they have been doing that for 30 years now, through no effort of mine. [/quote ]But what do you cut and put into a vase in the house? If I wanted a vase of something, it wouuld probably be some sprigs of herbs, which I am less likely to be allergic to!
|
|
|
Post by daylilydude on Jun 21, 2013 5:49:37 GMT -5
0% flowers in mine. Even the front beds are herbs and veggies. Peppers and eggplants look pretty good, once they start maturing, and the lemongrass looks like an ornamental grass, once it gets larger. I think there are some tulips that pop up against one of my fences every spring, but they have been doing that for 30 years now, through no effort of mine. But what do you cut and put into a vase in the house? I would grow okra just for the flower...
|
|
stone
Pro Member
Posts: 170
Zone:: 8
Favorite Vegetable:: Bambi
Joined: December 2011
|
Poll!
Jun 21, 2013 7:06:39 GMT -5
Post by stone on Jun 21, 2013 7:06:39 GMT -5
I would grow okra just for the flower... You would... or you do? I like hibiscus flowers.... okra is another hibiscus in my garden... My vegetable garden is probably 80% flowers...
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 21, 2013 22:13:37 GMT -5
If it's the flowers you enjoy, you should try a few plants of cotton one year. Or roselle...
MB
|
|
|
Poll!
Jun 23, 2013 1:40:52 GMT -5
Post by horsea on Jun 23, 2013 1:40:52 GMT -5
I would grow okra just for the flower... You would... or you do? I like hibiscus flowers.... okra is another hibiscus in my garden... My vegetable garden is probably 80% flowers...
Ha ha ha! What is wrong with the above statement?
|
|
stone
Pro Member
Posts: 170
Zone:: 8
Favorite Vegetable:: Bambi
Joined: December 2011
|
Poll!
Jun 26, 2013 13:59:04 GMT -5
Post by stone on Jun 26, 2013 13:59:04 GMT -5
If it's the flowers you enjoy, you should try a few plants of cotton one year. Or roselle... MB I grow roselleAnd down here in the deep south... ornamental cotton will get you in deep doodoo with the law as quick as cannabis.
|
|
stone
Pro Member
Posts: 170
Zone:: 8
Favorite Vegetable:: Bambi
Joined: December 2011
|
Poll!
Jun 27, 2013 7:50:28 GMT -5
Post by stone on Jun 27, 2013 7:50:28 GMT -5
My vegetable garden is probably 80% flowers...
What is wrong with the above statement? ? I answered the poll... Prolly not enuff flowers... I useta have a girlfriend that tole everyone... "stone has 2 rows of vegetables and an acre of flowers." It was more like 2 acres of flowers....
|
|
|
Poll!
Jun 27, 2013 11:36:04 GMT -5
Post by stratcat on Jun 27, 2013 11:36:04 GMT -5
I managed to cram a Bowling Red Okra in the Tomato Patch. We'll see how it does.
|
|
Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2013 12:17:50 GMT -5
And down here in the deep south... ornamental cotton will get you in deep doodoo with the law as quick as cannabis. Huh? OK, I've never actually grown it; I was just referring to the flowers. But I had no idea it was illegal to do so. What's up with that? Potential weevil control issues maybe? Also, since you grow roselle, at what point do you pick the calyces to use? I grew it last year, but had no idea when they were ready... MB
|
|
stone
Pro Member
Posts: 170
Zone:: 8
Favorite Vegetable:: Bambi
Joined: December 2011
|
Poll!
Jun 29, 2013 7:55:28 GMT -5
Post by stone on Jun 29, 2013 7:55:28 GMT -5
since you grow roselle, at what point do you pick the calyces to use? I grew it last year, but had no idea when they were ready... MB I just picked them off the plant and popped them in my mouth... It's like any other fruit... pick it when it looks good to you. I'd wait until they got nice n plump. I didn't bother with the elaborate scooping out the seeds and all that nonsense. This year, I may try making a beverage... But... I'm still not going to bother with the ritual of seed removal. The entire plant is supposed to be edible...
|
|
|
Poll!
Jul 27, 2013 17:49:14 GMT -5
Post by stratcat on Jul 27, 2013 17:49:14 GMT -5
Hi, Horsea. Last year I grew 'Brightness Mixed' Cosmos and I'd say they were 12" tall or so like the T&M catalog describes. Yeah, they were nice and compact and didn't cause any trouble. I saved seed from the red ones and started some of those for this year. www.tandmworldwide.com/seeds1/product/8373/1/Update: I had hoped to get an all red row of the Dwarf Cosmos this year. Turns out they are about half-and-half; Red or Orange. They are also taller, around 2O". They're looking good.
|
|