Hi from the Hudson Valley

[HudsonValley]

Greetings! I grow heirloom tomatoes (plus SunGold), eggplants, peppers, tomatillos, herbs, and a bee/butterfly garden on the down-slope of a small mountain near the Hudson River. I've also participated in the Dwarf Project for the past three seasons as a member of Team Teensy; some of you might have seen my posts on another forum, where I am also known as HudsonValley. My micro-climate features cool summer nights, so all of my peppers and eggplants go in large containers. My tomatoes go in raised beds; I try to grow about three dozen tomato varieties each year. Those from Northern California, Europe, Russia, and Ukraine generally do best, but the older commercial varieties (Marglobe, etc.) are also reliable.

This year I'm excited to try a bunch of new-to-me tomato varieties, as well as asparagus and potatoes from true potato seeds for the first time. I tend to post infrequently between August and May (I teach), but I'm very glad to be here!

[worth1]

Welcome to the Junction.

[bower]

Welcome! Glad to see you here.

[eyegrotom]

Hi Hudson Valley. Welcome

[MissS]

Hi it's great to have you here Hudson Valley. I think that you will recognize a few of us here. Come on in and feel at home.

[Tormahto]

Welcome Hudson Valley!

I'm curious as how are you going to get asparagus from true potato seeds?

In seriousness, you likely know that choosing a site and prepping a bed for asparagus is very important. And beware of potato seedlings, which are usually extremely thin.

[EdieJ]

Hi from atop Gunters Mountain in northern Alabama. Isn't it funny how just a half mile up or down the road can change the microclimate? Do post how your from-seed potatoes do!

[Tormahto]

If I was down the road, not up, my garden would likely be a bit neglected. The bass in Guntersville would be calling me every day.

[EdieJ]

Tormato, it amazes me some days how many dedicated anglers there are around here. Rain, snow, whitecaps, they're still out there I've even seen a couple of crazies out in lightning

[HudsonValley]

Welcome Hudson Valley!

I'm curious as how are you going to get asparagus from true potato seeds?

In seriousness, you likely know that choosing a site and prepping a bed for asparagus is very important. And beware of potato seedlings, which are usually extremely thin.

Thanks for the warm welcome, all!

Tormato -- ha! And thanks; I do know about asparagus. Assuming I end up with viable seedlings, I'm putting in a new bed with new soil. (My house sits on an acre, most of it lawn. I add a new raised bed every few years.) The potato seeds are Clancy F1, which was an AAS Winner. If they don't do well, I can always get seed potatoes. I just really enjoy trying to grow all types of things from seed. Last year I grew heirloom corn starts in toilet paper tubes because it was too cold for outdoor germination; after plant-out, the corn grew to 10 feet tall and most produced edible ears!

Looking forward to sharing tips and wisdom with all who post here...

[HudsonValley]

Hi from atop Gunters Mountain in northern Alabama. Isn't it funny how just a half mile up or down the road can change the microclimate? Do post how your from-seed potatoes do!

Will post updates about the potatoes, assuming they germinate! I should know by late March.

[Whwoz]

Welcome to the Junction from Down Under

[PlainJane]

Eager to hear about your garden. I’ve swapped gardening adventures in Massachusetts for gardening adventures in N. Florida and love all the information flowing into this forum.

[EdieJ]

Hudson Valley, I started corn early too last year. And then when I planted out the seedlings I sowed more seed directly in an effort to stagger harvest. Unfortunately, while we were gone for a weekend just as the ears were starting to fill, some blinkin' deer jumped the garden fence and destroyed it all. Only thing left were a couple of half-eaten ears. However it was good to know that pre-starting does work. Hope yours does well this year.

[AZGardener]

Welcome! Glad you joined us.

[PhilaGardener]

Welcome on Board!

[HudsonValley]

Hudson Valley, I started corn early too last year. And then when I planted out the seedlings I sowed more seed directly in an effort to stagger harvest. Unfortunately, while we were gone for a weekend just as the ears were starting to fill, some blinkin' deer jumped the garden fence and destroyed it all. Only thing left were a couple of half-eaten ears. However it was good to know that pre-starting does work. Hope yours does well this year.

Loads of deer here, too. I use deer netting and Repels-All (a repellent). Hope you have better luck this year!

[Texgal]

Welcome, glad you're here!

[hdrider]

Welcome to the Junction, I wish I could grow 3 dozen different varieties. I am lucky to find enough room for 3 dozen tomato plants every year. I look forward to hearing about and seeing pics of what you grow.