Did my heart good.

Of course it is snowing right now, but Wed is supposed to be 45!!

1... The last few years, I lose all my hollyhocks to rust or some kind of fungoid (even raking up all the infected leaves and mulch), and it also sneaks over into the zinnias, apple trees, and others. I'm thinking of trying a sulfur product this year. Something like, Bonide, that I can order online. Opinion? I see the same stuff on many of the trees in our woods.

2.... I trimmed up the out of control raspberries in a raised bed, already leafing out. I stuck the trimmings in another empty bed. Will they root?

Thanks, O' Wise One!

I wonder if it is that? Especially bad in humidity. Copper spray (which is considered organic) is worth a try.

As far as whether berry canes will root....seems they are a good bet, as long as the soil is kept moist until they do so.

Not a wise one...just a guy who like dirty hands and feet all spring/summer/fall long!!!

I will be exploring later.
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Next question:

I've been making a new watermelon bed in a different area. Over the winter, been filling with used hay, horse manure, and leaves. About a foot high now. Can I use straw bales on top of that for planting my watermelons and cantaloupes, instead of dirt hills? Will composted horse manure (the really old stuff, good and decomposed) for the nitrogen in the bales?

watermelon and canteloupes (and cukes and squash and nearly everything ) will do fine in bales - just keep in mind where they need to go (vining). Key is prepping them a few weeks in advance, then keeping them well watered. Soaker hoses lain over the bales works well, drip transmitters...or we humans with hoses!

In several pots. I got the plants at tractor supply several weeks ago when I was buying extra dog food. I'm Already picking some, great to eat fresh greens.they tolerate the cold weather.

And peas are a great cold weather crop I plant every year. Plant now in ground or pots with trellis or poles. I planted some late last month and some several weeks ago, and some today. I stagger my planting every few weeks. I expect to have some peas by May.
Also planted some radish seeds.

I'm also going to get some cherry tomato plants, which I generally grow in pots when I start early, so I can cover or bring them in if the weather turns cold. I may start some seeds inside but usually buy already started, assorted varieties. I sometimes get them from Lowe's or home Depot or the local co-op. The local college won't be having their plant sale this year, and I'll miss that because I usually get assorted starts from them.

And being outside in the fresh air and sunshine is a very good thing.

Thanks NRaleigh for the information and encouragement. I wanted to echo what you wrote about cold weather crops and gardening. I plant in pots and in ground because I have the space. I can move pots with the sun and voles impact what I'm growing in the ground, so I tend to like container gardening better, but I do both.
I'm in Western NC.

Something easy to grow that has good yield to provide an alternate source of vegetables in case its scarcer the store.
I live not far from your location. I'm right at the NC border in southeastern Virginia.

I've done tomatoes several times but I usually end up with them cracking or being eaten by bugs before they are done.

Would salad or cabbage be easy? Don't they allow for several harvests?

I have room ( 7 acres.. ) . We have a beekeeping operation but I never seriously explored gardening.

thx for the great question!

think of tomatoes as the ultimate test of truly learning gardening - to grow them well in many areas of the country takes daily monitoring for issues. But there are so many types that anyone can find varieties they can grow well. Small fruited ones - cherry up to golf ball sized- are quite fool-proof. The really large ones are pretty sensitive to differing weather conditions.

The really easy things - lettuce, radishes - are pretty quick spring or fall crops - great while you have them, but then the gap happens.

Swiss Chard - it stands up to summer well, is a great all purpose green, and is very easy to grow - and comes in great colors (Bright Lights variety).

Bush beans - lots of yield for the effort, can be canned.

Peppers, eggplants - easier to grow well than tomatoes, and if happy, can provide lots of volume, and can be easily preserved

Summer or winter squash are easy, but certain pests can really blunt the yields (esp squash vine borer).

Melons - yum! - but although easy to get going, fussy when it comes to weather - takes up lots of room.

Basil - easy to grow, yields heavily - and PESTO!

A few ideas for you!

Very useful info.

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