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Small-Scale Question Sunday for July 28, 2024

Do you have a dumb question that you're kind of embarrassed to ask in the main thread? Is there something you're just not sure about?

This is your opportunity to ask questions. No question too simple or too silly.

Culture war topics are accepted, and proposals for a better intro post are appreciated.

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Thirding the expensive/delicious/rare criteria.

I really enjoy eating berries off the bush, so if it's something you enjoy, plant some blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, hardy kiwis, blueberries (I think blackcurrants are illegal in the US). They don't require much care beyond pruning and maybe covering them for the winter. And protecting them from the goddamn birds.

If you're somewhere like Vermont or NH, then it's a bit cold for growing real damn good tomatoes, but you can still try.

We got some pretty good tomatoes last year, but the whole garden seems to be floundering this year (except cucumbers which are doing great) and I'm not sure why. It's in the exact same spot with approximately the same weather, though maybe we haven't paid as much attention to watering it on hot days as last year.

I've never heard that about black currants. I just googled it, and it looks like it used to be illegal but they lifted the ban in the early 2000s since better anti-fungal stuff has come out and they're less of a threat to trees now. But they're still really rare due to having been banned for so long. I didn't even know black currants existed until I started looking to buy berry bushes last year.

If you're somewhere like Vermont or NH, then it's a bit cold for growing real damn good tomatoes, but you can still try.

Fedco seeds is based in Maine and they sell some varieties that are adapted to growing in cooler weather (still not frost-tolerant, of course). I think Cosmonaut Volkov is a pretty decent variety.