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Am I crazy-Planting vegetables directly in the ground
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Posted by steveb3 9 (My Page) on Mon, Nov 2, 09 at 18:54
| Am I asking for nothing but trouble planting everything directly in the ground. My first vege garden in Florida. The leafminers have found my hanging tomato plant as well as the ones in the ground, I know nematodes are a big problem, is that a good enough reason to go to container gardening or is the list a mile long for containers. Appreciate any and all help |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: Am I crazy-Planting vegetables directly in the ground
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| 'Am I asking for nothing but trouble planting everything directly in the ground.' --It depends on your ground. Nematodes shy away from soil with high organic matter. I direct-sow a lot with very good results. Keep the area moist when the plants are young. Good luck |
RE: Am I crazy-Planting vegetables directly in the ground
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| I had some success with tomatoes in-ground, but it didn't last. The next planting season they just didn't prosper and the roots were all knotty with nematodes. There are hybrids that are nematode resistant. I use pots now because there are enough problems already (whiteflies, fruitworms, etc). |
RE: Am I crazy-Planting vegetables directly in the ground
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- Posted by tomncath 9B(microclimate 10A) (My Page) on
Mon, Nov 2, 09 at 19:23
| Hi Steve, I just responded to your other post. Leafminers won't hurt a thing, it's only cosmetic damage. Nematodes don't attack everything but sure love tomatoes and okra, if you want to try them in the ground you may get a few years before they discover your soil, the other option is the Post-hole method that some folks here use. For tomatoes either use a shovel or post-hole diggers and punch out a hole 24" in diameter by 18" deep, line the sides with newspaper and fill the hole with potting mix, NOT potting soil. By the time the nematodes do find the tomato roots the plants are usually at the end of their lives anyway.... Otherwise, you can always grow the maters in containers and the rest in the ground.... Like I said earlier, try to hook up with a veggie Master Gardener. Tom |
RE: Am I crazy-Planting vegetables directly in the ground
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| I'd like to know this as well. I've got broccoli, tomatoes, brussel sprouts and some other things in the ground.n The only thing in my containers are my strawberries and herbs |
RE: Am I crazy-Planting vegetables directly in the ground
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| I get such a better harvest growing the veggies in the ground. I work in a lot of compost each spring and mulch the soil, usually with oak leaves. Most of the fertilizing that I do is with a weak foliar spray. Christine |
RE: Am I crazy-Planting vegetables directly in the ground
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| I think you will get a better harvest of tomatoes in the ground. There are plenty of nematode resistant tomatoes and planting nematode resistant varieties is one of the best ways to reduce the numbers of nematodes in the soil. You also must keep the garden free of weeds because a lot of weeds are host plants. They cannot reproduce without a host plant. john |
RE: Am I crazy-Planting vegetables directly in the ground
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| If you're crazy then so am I ! Rotate crops each planting season to discourage nematodes . Peppers like to be crowded together . Tomatoes like space and air around them . Do not plant the two veggies near each other . Plant far away if possible or on opposite sides of a bed . Pull plants as they decline . Older fading plants harbor insects and encourage nematode populations . Add or top dress with organic matter often . Several times a year is not too often . Plenty of organic matter discourages nematode growth . Keep plants well watered , mulched and fertilized as needed . A weak fertilizing solution applied several times apart is more beneficial than one heavy application . Healthy strong plants are more able to fight off insects and disease . |
RE: Am I crazy-Planting vegetables directly in the ground
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| Hi - I think I read that there are areas of Fla. where nematodes are not a problem, that they like sandy soil, and do not like clay-types... there are areas here that are clay so it sounds as tho' they would not be bothered too much by the critters..... I think those areas are where roses can be grown own-root and don't need to be grafted on fortuniana, as much..... maybe I am interpreting it all wrong, so please set me straight... thanks, sally in St Pete ( where nematodes are a nightmare ! ) |
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