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Post by littleminnie on Jul 15, 2012 10:18:17 GMT -5
I started working on next year's garden layout. It is getting to the point where you can say more or less of something next year. Or plan to do something different next year.
For instance I still don't have enough broccoli. I am adding a bed next year to have 3 full ones. I am also making sure to have a good place for leeks and scallions and not just stick them wherever. Definitely less turnips next year. More garlic, little more corn but same amount of onions. Too early to tell on potatoes, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes. Obviously too many winter squash but may need more melons. Try more peas next year, not just a row down the middle of greens.
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Post by Walk on Jul 16, 2012 8:30:59 GMT -5
I too work on next year's plan during the current season. It helps me to work on the layout instead of just having written notes as I'm more of a visual person. Working on it now when everything's fresh in my mind is just easier for me. In the fall, I only need to confirm the plans as the final harvests come in. Of course, the weather, pests, etc. all throw a monkey wrench into the best laid plans, but there's always the next year....... ;>)
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Post by steev on Jul 16, 2012 17:22:20 GMT -5
I've been mulching areas to expand my plantings, in expectation of being able to work them up in the Fall, when rain comes. Having invested in more robust tillerage, I'll be putting in winter grains where I don't irrigate. Also intending much expanded cool-season crops.
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jul 16, 2012 19:12:51 GMT -5
More carrots. I am always wishing for more carrots. Germination is unreliable for me. The weeds out-compete the tiny little seedlings. I'm always pleasantly surprised if I get any carrots at all.
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Post by littleminnie on Jul 16, 2012 19:18:21 GMT -5
Two of my carrot beds have waist high weeds right now. I was on my way to finishing them when all the heat hit and certain things needed seeding. I will finish in the next week. It is too careful work to do after 7PM.
I too always want more carrots. I grow multi colors and they are very popular.
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Post by ottawagardener on Jul 16, 2012 20:34:42 GMT -5
Ditto on the carrots. Drought and earwigs have wreaked havoc this year. I'm also making brassica boxes for pest exclusion as I have (for the first time ever) lost most of it again due to earwigs. I would also like more peas, potatoes and corn for starters. Planning on starting a lot more perennials for underplanting in my orchard gardens as well. Oh and I'm growing mulch in situ.
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Post by steev on Jul 16, 2012 20:54:55 GMT -5
I wish I could grow carrots, but they seem to be another of those things that isn't going to work until I'm more on-site. Earwigs have been an irritant, but again, when I'm there more, I'll have poultry, which I think will reduce the problem.
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Post by davida on Jul 16, 2012 22:07:27 GMT -5
More carrots. I am always wishing for more carrots. Germination is unreliable for me. The weeds out-compete the tiny little seedlings. I'm always pleasantly surprised if I get any carrots at all. I read last year about taking a strip of toilet paper, spraying the paper slightly wet, place small seeds like carrots on the wet surface and covering the seeds with another strip of toilet paper. Then plant by laying out the paper and cover with a very slight cover of dirt. The method did not work well with us because we used 2 or 3 layers of paper on top to try and keep the seeds moist. To late, I figured out that I should have only used one layer and used the spray bottle to keep seeds moist. But the paper did keep out the weeds. Joseph, with your large garden, this may not be practical but hopefully it will help others with a smaller garden. David |
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Post by Joseph Lofthouse on Jul 16, 2012 22:34:47 GMT -5
I ended up with about 500 row-feet of carrots this year. I planted more than 1000 row-feet. I could use 2000 feet if they were not so difficult for me to grow. It might help if I prepared the carrot bed this summer in anticipation of planting next spring. I sure like preparing the garlic bed months ahead of time.
My experiment with solarizing was a bust. It took out the annual weed seeds, but the morning glory and Johnson's grass came right back up.
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Post by steev on Jul 17, 2012 0:21:32 GMT -5
I agree that early and repeated working is the key to bed prep; gets the weeds up and destroyed. Also gets the soil loosened so that whatever isn't destroyed can be winkled out.
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Post by RpR on Jul 17, 2012 12:45:41 GMT -5
My sig. other regularly plants her Alyssum using the toilet paper method, but you HAVE to keep it wet and make sure the toilet paper either does not catch the wind and blow or is not too deep. Easier said than done.
She has started putting a thin layer of potting soil under the toilet paper which in the past, seemed to work better than without.
In this years heat it did not work very well at all.
My carrots this year were put in the berm that surrounds the garden. They were put in an area that contains decades of discarded potting soil balls from planters so the berm there contains a goodly portion of said same.
They came up far quicker than normal and seem to be doing better than normal.
I realize that for market gardening one cannot go out and buy a bunch of potting soil but I would think mixing mulch in the row might work similarly.
I may have so many potatoes this year that going to a farmers market may be the only way to avoid wasting some.
Do you sell by the pound or bag?
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Post by 12540dumont on Jul 17, 2012 16:20:20 GMT -5
Here's the carrot trial as we are getting ready to harvest. There are some carrots here that can out compete weeds. But none that can out compete gophers. Note where the zinnias are, I'm feeding fat varmints. Tomorrow we'll take a row of these out and taste test them. I have some that went to flower already. I received some annual carrots from the USDA. I was thinking what a boon this would be for seed saving! Attachments:
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Post by littleminnie on Jul 17, 2012 22:05:14 GMT -5
I guess what you need for gophers is a badger in the area. The farmer next to me at market said he used to have gophers and then a badger started eating them all. The badger does make a mess as he gets into their burroughs.
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Post by steev on Jul 18, 2012 1:19:56 GMT -5
I think there may be badgers in California, but I've never seen one. I've seen where boar have gone after gophers; don't suppose badgers would make more of a mess. Have you a source for mail-order badgers? Could one be a good pet, or are they dumber than skunks? I think they're cool, but then, I've never gotten personal with one.
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Post by littleminnie on Jul 18, 2012 12:31:07 GMT -5
LOL. When the farmer next to me at market told me that I instantly was thinking 'where can I get me a badger?' I don't think you can. These are the kind of gophers I have. www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=striped+gophers&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.,cf.osb&biw=1536&bih=770&wrapid=tlif134263248756910&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=LvIGUL3RGqHg2gWbwcmjBQ MN state animal. There are big statues of them all over at the state fair LOL. Actually I live with them pretty well and another animal would be worse but they are annoying. Maybe I need one of these. southwesternherp.com/snakes/catenifer.html |
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