[Kona]

(12-15-2017 03:51 PM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

[Hey Kona, I bet you know the answer to this, so is there a risk of large roaches invading your house if you grow banana trees? Some Nigerians warned me about planting those for that reason and I never tried. I know that Hawaii is known for large roaches, and Texas has big nasty ones as well.

Yes.

Banana trees are generally filthy plants when let to grow and produce fruit. The sweetness in the liquids and the constant decay make them a roach haven. There's a banana section of the dole pineapple farm near my house. I've walked in it a few times, and there's all kinds of bad shit in there.

More than roaches, they get rats. My dad had a lot of bananas and shaking them rats run everywhere.

Also, as Harry belafonte warned, they hide the deadly black tarantula. That's not the case in hawaii, but they get the yellow garden spider. That's a good spider to have, but it's just scary to look at.

If you just have one plant, and you want it indoors, just buy a little one that's never been in a field. Soil and all. That should be OK in you clip it all the time.

Aloha!

[TravelerKai]

(12-15-2017 04:25 PM)Kona Wrote:  

(12-15-2017 03:51 PM)TravelerKai Wrote:  

[Hey Kona, I bet you know the answer to this, so is there a risk of large roaches invading your house if you grow banana trees? Some Nigerians warned me about planting those for that reason and I never tried. I know that Hawaii is known for large roaches, and Texas has big nasty ones as well.

Yes.

Banana trees are generally filthy plants when let to grow and produce fruit. The sweetness in the liquids and the constant decay make them a roach haven. There's a banana section of the dole pineapple farm near my house. I've walked in it a few times, and there's all kinds of bad shit in there.

More than roaches, they get rats. My dad had a lot of bananas and shaking them rats run everywhere.

Also, as Harry belafonte warned, they hide the deadly black tarantula. That's not the case in hawaii, but they get the yellow garden spider. That's a good spider to have, but it's just scary to look at.

If you just have one plant, and you want it indoors, just buy a little one that's never been in a field. Soil and all. That should be OK in you clip it all the time.

Aloha!

Yech!

Thanks for the intel, but I think I will pass on growing one of those. I have enough issues dealing with spiders. Not going to add roaches and rats on top of that. The last thing I need are Rat Snakes coming into my yard or the attic. They are not venomous, but their size and nasty temper isn't worth the drama, not to mention Cottonmouths and Copperheads like mice too.

Now I know why I do not see those trees here.

In South China, they have them everywhere. China does not have the nasty critters like we have aside from rats. Lucky them.

[Kona]

Word on the street is that the small apple bananas are a lot cleaner. They don't hold as much water and the flower is less polleny.

For example, when you cut a regular banana tree down there's sticky sweet water in the trunk. Not so much with the apples.

Drawback is the apple bananas don't taste as good and some people are prone (myself included) to get kind of allergic/snotty when they eat them.

Aloha!

[Leonard D Neubache]

I've grown my own food to a degree.

If you enjoy doing it as a hobby then it's great. If not (like me) then give it a pass. If you're worried about chemicals and stuff like that then buy organic. You'll still come out ahead.

Exceptions might exist for guys that have a fair bit of cash and enjoy automating things just for the hell of it. Small scale agricultural irrigation can actually be kind of fun, but again, if it's not something you implicitly enjoy then don't bother.

[Lothario]

Great thread Mercenary, You brought me out of the non posting hibernation. Here are my 2 bitcoins on the Issue.

(12-15-2017 11:24 AM)Mercenary Wrote:  

Does anyone here grow their own food such as vegetables and/or fruits ?
If yes, would be interested in hearing some experiences.

I do grow my own vegetables as a hobby which by definition is an activity giving you internal pleasure with no monetary concerns. I truly am at peace when my hands are in the soil as I feel connected to earth and plants.

Yes it is a time consuming activity not to be done if your heart is not in it. To me it is not a chore but rather a therapy. I can have a 10-12 hr work day and come home and work in my yard for 30 minutes which is like meditating for me as it relaxes and rejuvenates me.

Vegetables:

Vegetables I have grown were Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Jalapeños, Squash, Zucchini, Eggplants, Herbs etc, biggest Improvement came when I automated the watering as I did not had to attend to the garden everyday but every 2nd or 3rd day with significant reduction in time needed by the garden. I can come back 10 days later and only have to pull weeds etc and plants were still doing good. Yields were much better also. My vegetable garden was small 10 X 10 feet so automation was not expensive.

I will leave a link for Drip depot here, look at their kits as starters and they have every possible solution for irrigation for a very cheap price.

Another significant turn came in my life as my desire for strange and willingness to put time chasing it decreased. I bought some acreage in Midwest USA and started homesteading it. First structure to go the property was a High tunnel/green house with rainwater collection and automated drip tape watering for the entire high tunnel.

I have only grown one season in the high tunnel with fall vegetables (Beets, Carrots, Turnips, Kale, Mustard, Spinach, Radish and Lettuce) and to me amazement i had more water collected from rain than needed. Every plant grown under the plastic did much better compared to growing outside in the vegetable garden. Less water requirement, Less bugs and much better yields.

I will learn with every season going forwards but looking back these things would have made a big difference

1. Rainwater collection

2. Automation

3. Growing under plastic

4. Heirloom seeds

Someone said seeds were expensive, Yes they can be if you buy from big name companies. My seeds came from an Mennonite establishment who do not even have a website. You call them and they send you their catalog, you call them back with your order and you get the best seeds at the cheapest price. E & R seeds LLC google them and if having trouble PM me and I can send the info.

These seeds just looked healthy and plants grown from them showed awesome yields. All my vegetables were organic without using any chemicals They taste was on another level where I do not even want to buy vegetables from supermarkets grown by big Ag for quick production of most beautiful vegetables with long shelf lives and zero consideration for taste and health of the consumer.

I am looking forward to the coming spring season with plan to trellis the tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini. I have seen a few high tunnels with trellising and vegetables looked awesome. I will give it a try coming spring.

Quote:

For planting & growing most vegetables a garden is enough, but for many fruits you will need enough space and time (years) to be able to grow whole fruit trees.

For this part of your question I will write a post over the weekend.

[Swell]

This past summer, I had a herb garden and it took my "from scratch cooking" to the next level.

[glugger]

From someone who does next to no gardening, I guessed that a herb would give the best return on time input.

Fresh herbs are often incredibly expensive where I'm from, and you could maintain all the supply you need of a few basic ones in just a large pot, with fairly low water demand. They also need next to no maintainance. Any thoughts on this?

[Hell_Is_Like_Newark]

I don't have a yard, so two years ago I setup a hydroponic garden on the roof. My tomatoes went over 8 feet in height. Cucumbers didn't turn out well, as I had issues with my drains (roots would block them). Cucumbers are divas when it comes to their roots getting flooded. Happens once and the whole plant dies.

With the wife pregnant, money went elsewhere, so I didn't do a re-design. Instead, I idled the whole setup the past two summers. This spring though, I plan to start it up again.

You get no $$$ savings on your food bill (hydroponics takes $$$ in electricity to run). However, it was great to have fresh dill, basil, tomatoes, chives, oregano, lettuce, etc. on site (I like to cook).

[Pancho]

Yeah. I used to live in California and my parents grew lemon trees, and a garden of cilantro, tomatoes and peppers.

[spokepoker]

(12-16-2017 12:54 PM)glugger Wrote:  

From someone who does next to no gardening, I guessed that a herb would give the best return on time input.

Fresh herbs are often incredibly expensive where I'm from, and you could maintain all the supply you need of a few basic ones in just a large pot, with fairly low water demand. They also need next to no maintainance. Any thoughts on this?

I've had more success with herbs in pots on my window than planted in the garden.

[Thomas the Rhymer]

(12-16-2017 12:54 PM)glugger Wrote:  

From someone who does next to no gardening, I guessed that a herb would give the best return on time input.

Fresh herbs are often incredibly expensive where I'm from, and you could maintain all the supply you need of a few basic ones in just a large pot, with fairly low water demand. They also need next to no maintainance. Any thoughts on this?

I agree. Just remember to feed them plant food and not to overwater them.

How's your climate? Will this be an indoor pot or an outdoor pot?

I found this article which gives some brief good advice on herb pots, especially near the end:
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...containers

[Swell]

Tip- Mix all your egg shells into the garden bed.

I eat about 4 eggs a day. I wash the egg shells and break up into tiny pieces, then mix into soil.

[Mercenary]

(12-18-2017 07:47 AM)Swell Wrote:  

Tip- Mix all your egg shells into the garden bed.

I eat about 4 eggs a day. I wash the egg shells and break up into tiny pieces, then mix into soil.

Why ?
Does it help the soil or plant in some way ?

[PABeaulieu]

If you have enough space, and you do not want to bother with a garden, you can plant some trees that produce fruits : apples, plums, cherries, bartletts.

Depending on your location, you have other options. Here in the Gaspé (Québec), climate is colder, but you can grow rhubarb, raspberries, tomatoes, without having all the hassles linked with a garden.

[Ballr]

All I would suggest is if you plan on this route, be sure you are growing only alkaline vegetables that were made by God.

There are tons of hybrids (man-made): carrots, cauliflower, broccoli, corn, beets, celery, and lots more.

[ms224]

If you can get local eggs from homegrown chickens
They taste much better, more filing then the grocery store kind.

[Ballr]

(12-18-2017 05:04 PM)ms224 Wrote:  

If you can get local eggs from homegrown chickens
They taste much better, more filing then the grocery store kind.

[Mercenary]

(12-18-2017 05:04 PM)ms224 Wrote:  

If you can get local eggs from homegrown chickens
They taste much better, more filing then the grocery store kind.

Raising chickens (or other animals like cows or pigs) would need its own thread

[ms224]

(12-18-2017 06:07 PM)Mercenary Wrote:  

(12-18-2017 05:04 PM)ms224 Wrote:  

If you can get local eggs from homegrown chickens
They taste much better, more filing then the grocery store kind.

Raising chickens (or other animals like cows or pigs) would need its own thread

I think the chickens would be a lot simpler then the cows and pigs and goats.

They sell dried centipedes to feed them in bags, like dorito's at the farm supply place.

[Swell]

(12-18-2017 07:50 AM)Mercenary Wrote:  

(12-18-2017 07:47 AM)Swell Wrote:  

Tip- Mix all your egg shells into the garden bed.

I eat about 4 eggs a day. I wash the egg shells and break up into tiny pieces, then mix into soil.

Why ?
Does it help the soil or plant in some way ?

Adds calcium.

[king bast]

Ive kept chickens for nearly 10 years and they require almost no care. Just make sure they have grain, water, table scraps and a shelter, and they will reward you with delicious nutritious eggs near daily. The only problem is that they will destroy whatever greenery they possibly can, so they need to be kept away from anything you dont want eaten. My yard is almost like 2 separate yards - a lush green oasis outside the chicken fence and a barren wasteland within.

[TooFineAPoint]

Does anyone have tips on keeping a rosemary plant alive indoors?

I use fresh rosemary most often, but the longest I've been able to keep a plant is two weeks before I kill it.

[Thomas the Rhymer]

(12-19-2017 12:32 AM)TooFineAPoint Wrote:  

Does anyone have tips on keeping a rosemary plant alive indoors?

I use fresh rosemary most often, but the longest I've been able to keep a plant is two weeks before I kill it.

Sounds like you were overwatering it.

[Suits]

(12-18-2017 06:30 PM)ms224 Wrote:  

(12-18-2017 06:07 PM)Mercenary Wrote:  

(12-18-2017 05:04 PM)ms224 Wrote:  

If you can get local eggs from homegrown chickens
They taste much better, more filing then the grocery store kind.

Raising chickens (or other animals like cows or pigs) would need its own thread

I think the chickens would be a lot simpler then the cows and pigs and goats.

They sell dried centipedes to feed them in bags, like dorito's at the farm supply place.

Rabbits are where it's at. Not as your only protein source, but as an efficient, clean means of turning feed into meat.

[Thomas the Rhymer]

My hokkaido pumpkin seeds are sprouting like weeds, they've even overtaken the watermelon sprouts in size and I planted the watermelon about a week earlier.

Looking forward to my pumpkins.