Gardening 2016: Fruits, Veggies, Flowers

[pbear]

I feel your pain Lady. I have mole(s) in my front perennial bed and they are killing shrubs , roses, itoh peonies, and bulbs. We set the trap but can't keep up! Country living can be a PAIN!

[Bpeep]

I FINALLY got my corn in today.
Honeysweet and kandycorn. 258 seeds in and watered.
I'm a few weeks behind, but it's ok. There's been some cold nights recently.
Beans tomorrow and I'll be finished the garden.
My warba spuds should have the first ones ready in two weeks.
Warbas and dill make the best mushed pataters.

Lillies in the pond started blooming today.

[Lady tehMa]

:)

[Bpeep]

My freshly sowed corn will like this warmth.
I predict it'll be up Thurs am.

[Boda]

How practical is it to entertain using some kind of grapes as a privacy barrier?
We have a (generally) south facing 6' high fence that could easily accept a trellis for a grape vine to climb on?
How high do grapes climb? Which varieties might be better for this application?
Any recommendations for other foliage that will create a 7' or 8' privacy barrier relatively quickly?
We prefer to plant edibles if there are nice looking options that also yield a harvest?

We were privy to a guided tour thru Quails Gate Estate Winery before a scheduled dinner and noticed the wire trellis system they used was only about 4' tall but that was earlier in the spring so I don't know how effective grape plants will be for a hedge type application?

Comments appreciated.

[Lady tehMa]

My grapes are 4 years old, that's one plant and I just let it run wild. I should remember to prune it, but haven't gotten around to it (has to be done at a certain time). I knew folks who had a pergola covered in vines, lots of yummy grapes and you never got wet under it. Long gone now though :(

[Bpeep]

The dood in the orchard beside me has a bunch of labrusca that he ignores. They're twined thru the trees, they're all 30 to 50 feet long. Maybe more.
I help myself to them. He doesn't mind. Concords make great juice.
My pinot noirs I put in over the last two years are producing well so far.

[Boda]

My grapes are 4 years old, that's one plant and I just let it run wild. I should remember to prune it, but haven't gotten around to it (has to be done at a certain time). I knew folks who had a pergola covered in vines, lots of yummy grapes and you never got wet under it. Long gone now though :(

Cool, that's the answer I was looking for.
I can easily make up some kind of a metal trellis that'll fasten to the existing skookum 6X6 fence posts.
Just wasn't sure that grapes would climb vertically that high.
Design stage completed. Thank you!

[Queen K]

My white grapes are huge this year. We didn't cut back so much to create a barrier to a view from the back alley to the backyard. They are over 12 feet tall and sprawling out. On purpose.

I suspect the winery keeps theirs well pruned so as to make picking easier for their crew.

[Lady tehMa]

Cool, that's the answer I was looking for.
I can easily make up some kind of a metal trellis that'll fasten to the existing skookum 6X6 fence posts.
Just wasn't sure that grapes would climb vertically that high.
Design stage completed. Thank you!

You're welcome :) Now you get to choose which grapes you want. Himrod is a tasty green, and I'm trying a pink called Canadice this year. If I make more room I might go with Concord (if I can find a seedless). I tried Coronation in the past, and they just didn't have the flavour I like.

Just remember that for about half the year the vines will be bare.

[WeatherWoman]

Have been eating strawberries, cherries and radishes out of the garden.

[Lady tehMa]

Rain! Good for most of the garden - how fare your cherries, WW?

[WeatherWoman]

Small in size but we have a young tree but we are amazed with how many there are. All our fruits trees are FULL to the brim with fruit. We have plum and pear also.

I think I want to grow raspberries too.

[Lady tehMa]

Small in size but we have a young tree but we are amazed with how many there are. All our fruits trees are FULL to the brim with fruit. We have plum and pear also.

I think I want to grow raspberries too.

My raspberries are just starting, and my blackberries are flowering like crazy!

[Queen K]

We've been picking bosen and tay berries already. Way too early. And this is the last year for the saskatoon berries, Bman git yerself over here soon to taste them and see if you want the bushes transferred to your place.

It is their last year.