Some gardening questions

[Tsiyu]

I'm too poor to donate, so can't post in the Gardening Group, but I can't sleep for wondering about a few things.

Today I did a half-ass survey/harvest of my meager garden before the expected fist frost. I harvested about 8 pounds of sweet potatoes and a handful of purple potatoes, some flat-leaf parsley, a little dill, blah blah blah.

The sweet potatoes are the first I've managed to grow well and I was so happy to dig those fat babies out of the ground. This summer was perfect for them, but I also used actual plants rather than the slips they sell at the coop. What I'm wondering is, can I make my own slips? The vines have almost taken over the garden and latched into the earth with little slips all over. Do I pull those and put them in a cool place? Anyone made slips and over-wintered them?

Second question: I have a real tall "tipi" in the center of the garden just overgrown with a combo of scarlet runner beans and heavenly blue morning glory (which are just stunning but they just started flowering right before frost dang it!) There are beans all over the beanstalks, and I'm wondering about the secret to saving thsoe beans to plant next year. Should I let them dry on the vines, even if it frosts? How do I know if the beans are at the stage where the seed will germinate?

Anyhoo, still have lots of peppers out there, a little kale, oregano, basil. I hate first frost!
Hope all are well here.

Thanks for any help any can give.

T

[LauraYouTube]

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[Tsiyu]

3. Thanks LauraYouTube

and welcome to DU!

and if you gave me the star by golly, thanks.

And thanks for the link! I'll check it out.

:hi:

[nenagh]

6. What great advice.. I've bookmarked the page...

Also, I think I see a new star :) for the Gardening Forum

My parents used to throw some old blankets or old sheets even newspapers over the plants in their garden in Calgary and later in Edmonton if frost was predicted. This worked for nighttime frost...when the days were still milder.

Good luck, Tsiyu..

[Tsiyu]

11. Old comforters with that fluffy fiberfill also work great

I've used them before and they really insulate well.

You're a peach :)

[msongs]

2. if beans are turning dry/brown already pick em and store til spring. If still growing it may be

too late if they are not mature yet.

[Tsiyu]

4. That's what worried me

I've saved beans before but they were dry pods. These are all green. So you think the frost will ruin them if I let them dry on the vine a bit longer?

And if YOU gave me that star, thank you! To whomever it was, I send that person a big :hug:

I'm so glad I'm not the only one up at this ungoddesly hour. Thanks for responding!

[Tsiyu]

5. Thanks for my star!

Whoever you may be, :yourock:

[nenagh]

7. I couldn't see you missing a star...

Now if you could just tell me a fail safe method of saving my lavender plants in Southern Ontario :)

Isn't this lovely... I will follow your progress in the Gardening Section..

and what great advice about non Hybrid seeds.

Tsiyu, I used to live for a time in Tipperary and remember fondly the assortment of used household stuff that some old time gardeners would use to protect plants they were propagating. Old windows, etc.

[Tsiyu]

9. You are awesome!

As for lavender, mine are all fading, sad to say. They are so precious and I don't know how to keep them going.

The only time I had a great lavender bed was at my farm 20 miles from here. I dug up grass to plant them around a Double Delight rose and they took off like crazy. Then I traded that place for this one and here, every lavender has died.

They supposedly like dry, mediteranean-type conditions, but I put them with the rosemary and other herbs and they have all withered. :cry:

Southern Ontario - lucky you! I was raised not too far away in Upstate NY. Have often thought of getting out of the South and moving to Canada.

You should see my silly garden gate made out of branches and twigs to keep the neighbor's ponies out! And maybe this year I'll get around to making some cold frames out of some old windows.

Thanks again you sweetie :hug:

[XemaSab]

8. GET RID OF THE MORNING GLORY!!!!

It will take over your WHOLE YARD! :o

[Tsiyu]

10. You made me laugh

Nothing - not even freaking lemon balm - will take over here. This soil here is pretty but I have to add lots of horse/chicken manure. The only thing that takes over is pokeweed, and me and a whole lot of six-foot-tall pokeweed plants have had a go this week. My arms are covered in scratches from the sawbriar vines that twined around them and you should have seen the purple stains all over from the dang berries! I've got piles of pokeweed everywhere to burn now.

I planted the Heavenly Blue morning glories last year on the same tipi (I have a weakness for true blue flowers) and along a fence and I had to replant this year because none of them reseeded. I've got four acres to play with, too, but not one came back up.

The multi-colored ones DO take over some of the cornfields off the mountain, but not up here.

But thanks for making me laugh!

[era veteran]

12. I had morning glories in a wildflower mix 15 years ago

I am still fighting it off. It chokes everything and grows well in a gravel driveway. I have a trumpet vine problem as well.
I do admire a plant that wants to live that bad.

[Tsiyu]

13. Yeah, I have heard horror stories from others

which is why I laughed (in a good way XemaSAb!!!!) because for those whom Morning Glories have invaded, it's a reason to panic.

Not here, though, and I only plant the Heavenly Blue. The mixed color ones seem to be the invasive types, and I can understand why others would be loathe to even see the name "Morning GLory."

It's like if you told me you grew pokeweed (which some actually do - they're good salad greens when they're babies). I would be all "Oh NOES!!!!!!"

Peace to you!