I used the (semi-worthless) search function and didn't see a thread for 2023. Found and know of hte 2022 thread. So starting this one for this year.
Staff can nuke if there's already one out there I couldn't find.

Need advice on good pickling cucumber variety as well as good strawberry variety. Live in Houston. Decent at growing cucumbers but need a better variety. Decent at strawberries too but looking for one that will fruit more regularly or at least produce more fruit than what I was getting which was a few berries for each plant. I was able to get them to over winter a year ago and sprout more plants from existing but a freeze snuck up on me this year and wiped them out so I'm starting from scratch.

Other than that, I'll be doing potatoes (in ground here very soon) and then some tomatoes and mammoth jalapenos.

What do you guys do to prep your soil from year to year? I feel like my raised bed soil needs some love before this years spring garden

Add compost, unless you have a soil test telling you exactly what you need

What kind of cukes have you been growing?

I like Boston pickling and pick-a-bushel.

What is the most attractive flowering perennial you put in the flower beds around your house?

I'll submit that the Pride of Barbados is a front runner.

How about go with a native- esperanza and lantana

I'm doing the pots again. Tomatoes and maybe a few peppers.

I'd like to try squash again but the squash bugs get me every year without fail

Sequoia and ogallala strawberries are supposed to be good. I planted some a year ago and they are still alive in my black rocky soil.

I finally have a garden bed again for the first time in nearly 20 years! I did plant a couple of things for this past fall, but didn't do much.

I'm going to try growing some peppers that I can't find in stores Peter Pepper (yes, I'm a tool who's growing them as a novelty), aji Amarillo, aji panca, habanada, etc.

Tomatoes of course.

Going to try a couple of winter squashes - delicata and butternut. And a cucumber.

Finally, a couple of eggplants.

I have seedlings under grow lights for now, looking forward to transplanting them in a few weeks!

looking forward to this years garden......well my old mans garden that is. He's had bad problems with nematodes and we tried the black plastic over the soil for all of the summer so were hoping that melted everyone of those bast@rds!!

He's already got some onions in the ground and they appear to already be doing great.

Any suggestions for growing peanuts? I've read it's best to wait until growing season to direct sow rather than start seedlings but that's it.

I have the following under a grow light…

Minnesota Midget Melon
Ice Cream Melon
Cherry Tomatoes
Cucumbers(pickling)

Starting from seed this year and my seedlings are stalling and not looking healthy. If they don't pan out I'll just buy seedlings at the nursery I guess.

Already have my plants. Just need to find a sweet million and a champion and I have all my peppers and tomato. Trying to keep it to 15 tomato this year. Buchanan's in Houston has the best selection right now. Usually post their varieties available online.

dahouse said:

---

I'm doing the pots again. Tomatoes and maybe a few peppers.

I'd like to try squash again but the squash bugs get me every year without fail

---

Try soaking seeds in diesel before plant Also spray plants every week especially when you see the red bug with black wings flying around Also plant a marigold (dont know for sure if this will help but they are purdy)

ought1ag said:

---

looking forward to this years garden......well my old mans garden that is. He's had bad problems with nematodes and we tried the black plastic over the soil for all of the summer so were hoping that melted everyone of those bast@rds!!

He's already got some onions in the ground and they appear to already be doing great.

---

Dont know where you are at but before the next freeze or during the freeze till up your garden It should help

Pepper Brooks said:

---

Any suggestions for growing peanuts? I've read it's best to wait until growing season to direct sow rather than start seedlings but that's it.

I have the following under a grow light…

Minnesota Midget Melon
Ice Cream Melon
Cherry Tomatoes
Cucumbers(pickling)

---

I had this grand plan of doing peanuts also and we did and grew pretty well but the aftermath I dont remember everything but seems like pull them and then need a place to hang them for a month and then something else. Good luck if you do it was fun

I am somewhat shrinking my garden perse but not really

I am going for 100 celebrities but no squash , zuchinnies ,
Only 6-9 big jalepenoes 20 bellpepper probably 15 cukes

One 75 foot row of red beans and snow peas
2 75 foot rows of cream peas

700. Onions
2 rows of pototoes by accident but I bought to many and have to plant now

And lots of flowers this year in my garden and around it and I will take pictures

I am actually going to plant my tomotoes sunday just one row and see what happens

Where do you buy your plants?

Farm patch and coop

I got lucky this year and walked in while they were receiving 72 plants and got 60 of them

Buthey have not received any since but next weekend for sure

Shallowminded14 said:

---

What do you guys do to prep your soil from year to year? I feel like my raised bed soil needs some love before this years spring garden

---

Compost from my compost bin and Black Kow manure.

I had to downsize as well. Going with tomatoes and a few peppers. One raised beds with onions doing okay. Okra later. Not doing squash. Too much work to enjoy it. Herbs here and there.
This is my third season and I've found what I've enjoyed.
Maybe a cucumber plant or two but I've got to find a spot.

Looking to start small this year with my kiddos, and something that isn't very permanent.

Feedback on these from TS?

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/groundwork-wooden-planter-with-liner

I've got a full sun spot where I could fit 2 of these. Looking to try veggies that we would incorporate into our cooking. I assume some of those easy to try would be: bean, onion, peppers, tomato. Suggestions?

CedarCraft Self-Watering Elevated Spruce Planter
https://www.costco.com/cedarcraft-self-watering-elevated-spruce-planter.product.100664021.html

we started with this last year. liked the self water feature. good for 3-5 tomatoes plants plus small herbs
[url=https://www.costco.com/cedarcraft-self-watering-elevated-spruce-planter.product.100664021.html][/url]

Got talked into squash again. If the squash bugs get me again, it will be the last time. Tomatoes, poblanos and okra. Will pick something else as well, but undecided.

maddiedou said:

---

I am somewhat shrinking my garden perse but not really

I am going for 100 celebrities but no squash , zuchinnies ,
Only 6-9 big jalepenoes 20 bellpepper probably 15 cukes

One 75 foot row of red beans and snow peas
2 75 foot rows of cream peas

700. Onions
2 rows of pototoes by accident but I bought to many and have to plant now

And lots of flowers this year in my garden and around it and I will take pictures

I am actually going to plant my tomotoes sunday just one row and see what happens

---

Courageous planting so early. I did last year and had to build an impromptu greenhouse and heater last year over my beds. Would have been easier to just replant everything.

Looking forward to your pics.

I'll mix in some cotton bur compost, mushroom compost, cow manure compost, and some worm castings.

I mixed in some golden retriever poop. Think it will make everything taste sweeter.

Build It said:

---

maddiedou said:

---

I am somewhat shrinking my garden perse but not really

I am going for 100 celebrities but no squash , zuchinnies ,
Only 6-9 big jalepenoes 20 bellpepper probably 15 cukes

One 75 foot row of red beans and snow peas
2 75 foot rows of cream peas

700. Onions
2 rows of pototoes by accident but I bought to many and have to plant now

And lots of flowers this year in my garden and around it and I will take pictures

I am actually going to plant my tomotoes sunday just one row and see what happens

---

Courageous planting so early. I did last year and had to build an impromptu greenhouse and heater last year over my beds. Would have been easier to just replant everything.

Looking forward to your pics.

---

I believe you got courageous and stupid mixed up

But as a painter I do have lots of 5 gallons buckets that I just put over each plant one year it really did look like arlington cemetery with 75 buckets all in line

Does anyone have any tricks to get pepper seeds to germinate? I have been doing this for 20-30 years, but the last few, I am having trouble getting them to start. I do the following:
-Use the little seed cells with seed starting soil.
-Use a humidity dome.
-Used to put the setup on top of the freezer in the utility room for warmth. Now I have a thermostatically controlled heat mat. I have had a variety of peppers planted for two weeks. None have sprouted.
- I have tried several different seed suppliers over the years.
- Keep the soil moist but not extremely wet.

I used to have really good luck starting these seeds over the years. I also start tomatoes with better luck but not as good as I used to. Used to have no problem, just stick in the soil, cover, and success.

Any ideas what I need to change:

- I have tried the heat mat over the years set at 75 to 85 and everything in between. Can't find the right temperature. Any magic temperature?
- I have tried removing the humidity dome, partially and all the way. Any ideas on humidity domes?
- I wonder about the seeds I have been using. Has anyone figured out a supplier with good results?
- Light is not supposed to be a factor, and I have tried blocking out light, of not. Any ideas?
- I have pre-soaked seeds or not. Any ideas?
- Scarifying the outer seed coat. Is this effective and how do you do it if so?

I hate to buy plants and much prefer starting myself from seed, but the last couple of years, find myself having to,

Thanks for any and all help.

Just fyi to anybody starting seeds outside instead of buying plants are more cost effective
Cucumbers
Squash zuchinnii
Okra
Watermelon cantaloupe
Beans and peas

But I would not try tomotoes or peppers outside from seed
Just me and what I do

Lesson learned from last year. I had blossom end rot take 75% of my maters.

Apparently when you have container plants, the draining water strips nutrients.

I have an in-line fertilizer in my drip irrigation, but I'm going to supplement with bone meal for the calcium this year to avoid the rot.

My heeler thinks the green tomatoes are toys, so I'm going to have to find a temporary fence solution as well

dahouse said:

---

Lesson learned from last year. I had blossom end rot take 75% of my maters.

Apparently when you have container plants, the draining water strips nutrients.

I have an in-line fertilizer in my drip irrigation, but I'm going to supplement with bone meal for the calcium this year to avoid the rot.

My heeler thinks the green tomatoes are toys, so I'm going to have to find a temporary fence solution as well

---

Mix gypsum heavily around your tomato plants when planting. Then top dress occasionally. I also run calcium through my irrigation lines about one month after planting and do it weekly. When doing that, I rarely have calcium end rot. I tend to have more trouble with my peppers but to be fair, I often lose interest mid summer and they get neglected.

Gonna plant a garden again this year.
Looking for recommendations for a solid tiller.
Brand and reliability mainly.
Probably spend around $500 give or take. Would like a front tire drive but doesn't have to be.

Gulf Coast/Houston folks, any feelings on cold weather coming again? I got burned last year so I think I'm waiting until mid-march to plant my potted menagerie.

I start with 10-12 big pots, but I always impulse plant something in a few smaller containers.

Last year it was carrots. Make sure to space them out or thin them significantly, I ended up with big foliage and no root fruit.

Also, any cheap and effective way to protect plants from the Texas Spring gale force winds would be helpful.

dahouse said:

---

Gulf Coast/Houston folks, any feelings on cold weather coming again? I got burned last year so I think I'm waiting until mid-march to plant my potted menagerie.

I start with 10-12 big pots, but I always impulse plant something in a few smaller containers.

Last year it was carrots. Make sure to space them out or thin them significantly, I ended up with big foliage and no root fruit.

Also, any cheap and effective way to protect plants from the Texas Spring gale force winds would be helpful.

---

my papo always said if it thunders in Feb, it will frost in April.......take that for what its worth