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Post by davida on Mar 1, 2012 18:25:16 GMT -5
davida, Sounds like our places are experiencing much the same weather, daunting, for sure. No matter what this Spring's rains turn out to be, I am tightening up my plantings by way of less haphazard mixing of more/less thirsty crops, so as to better be able to triage my irrigation when water is less than optimal. Steev, That's a good idea. Steve Solomon in his book "Gardening When it Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times" recommends much greater spacing distance during dry seasons. What are you thoughts about this? I am torn because there are so many new varieties that I would like to try this season and need the room. David
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Mar 1, 2012 19:05:58 GMT -5
Steve Solomon in his book "Gardening When it Counts: Growing Food in Hard Times" recommends much greater spacing distance during dry seasons. What are you thoughts about this? I plant everything at much greater spacing distance. Regardless of growing conditions... I space my tomatoes about 4 feet apart in the rows and 6 feet apart between rows. I plant peas about 4 inches apart when the seed packets are recommending one inch. I plant beans about a foot apart, though the seed catalogs are recommending 2 inches. I plant radishes 3" apart when the packet recommends 1/2 inch. I plant corn about a foot apart when the seed catalogs are saying 9 inches. Anyway... Can you tell that I am very skeptical of the square foot gardening theory? I'm always go for the theory that more space equals more light, more CO2, and more nutrients which translates into better growth and lower susceptibility to pests and disease. (And more weeds.) And in honor of the topic of this thread, It snowed about 5" overnight. More expected today.
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Post by steev on Mar 1, 2012 21:01:56 GMT -5
I don't think I'm ready to start planting more sparsely per se. I'm making a greater effort to be aware of what needs water twice a week, twice a month, or twice in its lifespan, as it were. I already plant not by package directions, but by emitter spacing and gph, which works out to nmt half as thick as recommended, if not a quarter.
I now water my trees infrequently or not at all, since I think they're well-enough established to reach deeper or drink from the planting beds running alongside them. Their rows are permanently deep mulched/cover-cropped in weeds, so it actually stays very moist and fertile compared to the planting beds, which are more often exposed to sun and wind.
I'm honing my planting arrangement to facilitate deep mulching plantings with bunny-bean straw and horsepoo for multiple reasons: water conservation and weed control, of course; soil improvement as mulch breaks down or is worked in, to encourage root growth; and because it seems the gophers don't really like coming up in a shit-pile! Not that I wish them ill, you understand; may they be consumed by really ravenous rodentivores, and I mean that in the best possible way.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Mar 2, 2012 11:01:53 GMT -5
We received 9 inches of snow overnight. Typical for this time of year.
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Post by steev on Mar 2, 2012 11:32:50 GMT -5
Sunny and cloudless today. I can almost hear the weeds growing on the farm, despite being in Oakland.
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Post by 12540dumont on Mar 2, 2012 22:05:52 GMT -5
Gorgeous Day! 70 degrees, Sunny after a lovely rain. I got a sunburn! Attachments:
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Post by bunkie on Mar 3, 2012 13:24:52 GMT -5
70? sunburn? we got more snow and a cold wind out of the north...well...March is coming in like a lion, so it WILL go out like lamb....right???! ;D
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edwin
gardener
Posts: 141
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Post by edwin on Mar 3, 2012 14:15:44 GMT -5
Very heavy winds gusting over 100km. Snow Warning issued. Wind warning issued. Storm Watch Issued. Highway out of town closed. About an hour ago the temperature went from above freezing to below freezing.
Welcome to Spring.
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Post by elkwc36 on Mar 4, 2012 16:09:51 GMT -5
Upper 60's here today and beautiful. A very light breeze. Will start putting onion transplants in the ground in the next few days. Potatoes and radishes will follow. Waiting for a nice spring rain. Jay
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Post by steev on Mar 9, 2012 21:03:23 GMT -5
Just checked the farm forecast; possibly starting tomorrow, rain the next 9 days! Do I believe this? The soil's so dry where I sowed grains and legumes 3 and 4 weeks ago, they haven't sprouted. Today I set out Carruther's Purple Pod peas and Golden Sweet snowpeas so they wouldn't just start dying in the six-paks. If the rain does indeed come, all will be well.
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Post by darwinslair on Mar 10, 2012 16:27:36 GMT -5
Winter, what little there was, just ended apparently. According to the long term forecasts, we are not supposed to have another freeze, possibly until november. They said this on NPR last night here. This is Minnesota!!! I just have tomatoes coming up in flats now, and it is 63 degrees outside!! WTF is going on here? It is like the weather slid over the pole. Europe & asia have the worst winter in a couple hundred years, while we had no winter at all. This little bit of snow left will be gone very shortly, and the frost out of the ground. Planting outside is going to be a couple months earlier than it was last year. We had cold, and snow in May last year. Here it is still technically winter, and it is warmer than it was in May 10 months ago. Oh well. Might be one banger of a season. Tom Tom
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Post by castanea on Mar 10, 2012 21:09:18 GMT -5
It is indeed odd. But take comfort in the fact that no mainstream weather expert anywhere has the slightest idea what is going on.
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Post by richardw on Mar 10, 2012 23:58:53 GMT -5
24 C deg here today with 51% humility for most of the day
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Post by bunkie on Mar 11, 2012 11:24:02 GMT -5
38F here and raining...snow coming in tonight.
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Post by wolfcub on Mar 11, 2012 15:37:19 GMT -5
In the last 5 hours we have has sun, rain, high wind and snow now we are back to sun what a crazy day.
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