Garden Thread - 2021

Growler215 · Mar 10, 2021

Tried to dig in the garden today to plant snow peas and sugar snaps but it's still too wet. If it hasn't dried out enough in a few days to turn the soil I may go "no till" for the peas.

MigraineMan · Mar 10, 2021

Looks like the last frost date for us is mid-April. We will probably start seeds in a week or two. The Wife wants to try a hydroponics experiment, so that might be our "new" thing for the year.

We use a flood-and-drain hydroponic technique using aluminum lasagna pans. Over the winter months, we will sprout barley as fodder for our chickens. 7-10 days seems about optimal, and the chix inhale the sprouts. Might try a similar technique to get the garden veggies started.

Ganegrei · Mar 11, 2021

Got tomatoes, gourds, and some peppers germinating. Pumpkins, scallions, watermelons, radishes, strawberries, and more peppers to follow post-frost danger.

tallen702 · Mar 11, 2021

Kohlrabi and pickling cukes are going in the germination pots tonight. Mountaineer White half-runners are direct-sewn mid-April. No corn this year and I'm going to try to do tomatoes on the screened-in porch because the stink bugs always chew on them.

Mr.Culper · Mar 13, 2021

Questions:

Raised beds? are they worth it? and what do you build the sides out of that wont leach into the soil?

Fruit trees: what are good easy maintenance fruit trees?? I planted 3 apple trees 8 years ago,, the voles ate the roots, I replanted with wire cages in the ground, they never grew past about 30" tall and give me 1 golf ball sized apple a year.

Glaron · Mar 13, 2021

Mr.Culper said:
Questions:

Raised beds? are they worth it? and what do you build the sides out of that wont leach into the soil?

Fruit trees: what are good easy maintenance fruit trees?? I planted 3 apple trees 8 years ago,, the voles ate the roots, I replanted with wire cages in the ground, they never grew past about 30" tall and give me 1 golf ball sized apple a year.

Heck, Im all in this year. Im doing 7 fruit trees. one way or another I will learn. Hopefully not spacex style.

Derek1320 · Mar 13, 2021

Mr.Culper said:
Questions:

Raised beds? are they worth it? and what do you build the sides out of that wont leach into the soil?
.

Cedar is a good material. Raised beds are good if you have limited space, but they also allow you to dictate soil density which helps root vegetables like carrots grow straight. Obviously you have better control over soil composition too since you're filling the beds with the material of your choice.

lawrencewendall · Mar 13, 2021

Archeryrob said:
Who saves zucchini? I tried canning and freezing and its mush both ways. I saw some water bath pickling like candied apple wedges I migth try, but so far I am at a lose on preservation for them and wanting to eat it later. Fresh in the summer I love them.

I have found that if I fry them (egg and breadcrumb),, lay them out on a cookie sheet and freeze, then put into a freezer zip lock, months later when I nuke some, the taste and texture is like I just cooked them.

I also will spiralize them, freeze and pull out later and make almond flour and zucchini pizza crusts.

lawrencewendall · Mar 13, 2021

Mr.Culper said:
Questions:

Raised beds? are they worth it? and what do you build the sides out of that wont leach into the soil?

Fruit trees: what are good easy maintenance fruit trees?? I planted 3 apple trees 8 years ago,, the voles ate the roots, I replanted with wire cages in the ground, they never grew past about 30" tall and give me 1 golf ball sized apple a year.

I used cedar fence slats from lowes. Cut the dog ears off, doubled them and built 2, 6''x12'x3' raised beds for $50.

Mr.Culper · Mar 15, 2021

My space is not really limited, I have a good 1/8 acre I could dedicate to a garden. My soil sucks, white clay, I brought in 4-5 loads (20 ton trucks) of top soil just after building the house,, but it seams to turn to clay

I do have access to a 4' tiller/tractor if I need it.

My main concern is weeds, that would kill the fun for me,, just trying the best way to do a weed free garden.
I also have a yard hose bib 20' from the garden area,, so thinking drip lines??

Derek1320 said:
Cedar is a good material. Raised beds are good if you have limited space, but they also allow you to dictate soil density which helps root vegetables like carrots grow straight. Obviously you have better control over soil composition too since you're filling the beds with the material of your choice.

Jd2020 · Mar 15, 2021

Small is beautiful

I’m no expert, but what has worked for us is to keep it small and well managed. Look for a book called Square Foot Gardening. We have three kids. Everyone has a box they’re responsible for...and hopefully proud of. Especially if you’ve never gardened very much before, stay small. You can grow a lot in a well defined, modest area. Far more than you wil in an unmanageable, unrealistic area. One main advantage of raised beds is the creation of a separate space...aesthetically and physically. This aids in maintenance and management and motivation. If the picture attached here, this is our set-up. I might try a separate patch of corn and melons this year.

steves1911 · Mar 15, 2021

Ghost,Trinidad scorpion, Carolina reaper, and Thai hot peppers were started. Will be starting tomatoes, watermelon, pumpkins, zucchini, cucumber, and squash tomorrow. Made our own potting soil from screened topsoil and cow manure hopefully it works well.

F-Stop · Mar 15, 2021

Expanding. Built these this weekend. That makes 5. Saved up all the rotten logs and limbs to fill half way. Then will top off with mushroom soil/top soil mix. After plants get big enough a nice layer of straw helps with weeds.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

FrankOceanXray · Mar 16, 2021

F-Stop said:
Expanding. Built these this weekend. That makes 5. Saved up all the rotten logs and limbs to fill half way. Then will top off with mushroom soil/top soil mix. After plants get big enough a nice layer of straw helps with weeds.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Hey, looks good! I did the same!

Impressed with how much the original fill decomposed. I added a bunch more.

730dc · Mar 16, 2021

F-Stop said:
Expanding. Built these this weekend. That makes 5. Saved up all the rotten logs and limbs to fill half way. Then will top off with mushroom soil/top soil mix. After plants get big enough a nice layer of straw helps with weeds.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

not sure were you located or if you got or compost for free but check it out i got some a year or two ago https://www.organicmushrooms.com/organic-mushrooms/organic-compost.html

Derek1320 · Mar 16, 2021

Even if space isn't an issue, being able to define your own soil is a bonus. Since you've got a lot of clay, the raised beds might save you some headaches when trying to crow certain vegetables.

As for tilling, some people are vehemently no till, while others see no issues with it. I usually prep garden beds that have never been used for growing with a small Mantis tiller, and then turn the soil by hand moving forward in subsequent seasons. There's enough internet banter about it that I'm sure you'll be able to formulate your own opinion based on what's out there.

Weeds come with the territory but there are different methods/philosophies for controlling them. We usually cultivate using a hand cultivator, lay mulch, and hand weed when necessary. It's not fun but it's cathartic after a particularly annoying day at work.

Mr.Culper said:
My space is not really limited, I have a good 1/8 acre I could dedicate to a garden. My soil sucks, white clay, I brought in 4-5 loads (20 ton trucks) of top soil just after building the house,, but it seams to turn to clay
I do have access to a 4' tiller/tractor if I need it.

My main concern is weeds, that would kill the fun for me,, just trying the best way to do a weed free garden.
I also have a yard hose bib 20' from the garden area,, so thinking drip lines??

Roksfr · Mar 16, 2021

Square Foot Gardening is a must read for raised bed (any) gardening. A lot of good basic information especially for a new gardener

FrankOceanXray · Mar 17, 2021

730dc said:
not sure were you located or if you got or compost for free but check it out i got some a year or two ago https://www.organicmushrooms.com/organic-mushrooms/organic-compost.html

That is lovely!!!! I'll look into it more.

I did the exact same thing but ended up facing mine with cedar.

Blacksmith101 · Mar 18, 2021

730dc said:
not sure were you located or if you got or compost for free but check it out i got some a year or two ago https://www.organicmushrooms.com/organic-mushrooms/organic-compost.html

Mushroom soil is a good soil amendment but it does not contain complete nutrients for a productive garden which is why the mushroom growers replace the mushroom soil as the nutrients get used up by the growing mushrooms. You need to build a good garden soil from the ground up.

As a soil amendment, spent substrate adds organic matter and structure to the soil. Spent substrate primarily improves soil structure and it does provide a few nutrients. Spent substrate is the choice ingredient by those companies making the potting mixtures sold in supermarkets or garden centers. These companies use spent substrate when they need a material to enhance the structure of a soil.

It is good for improving the structure of clay soil and sandy soils.

FrankOceanXray · Mar 18, 2021

Blacksmith101 said:
Mushroom soil is a good soil amendment but it does not contain complete nutrients for a productive garden which is why the mushroom growers replace the mushroom soil as the nutrients get used up by the growing mushrooms. You need to build a good garden soil from the ground up.

It is good for improving the structure of clay soil and sandy soils.

Which is exactly what I need.

Per acre, each increase of 1% organic matter allows for an additional 3500 gallons to be retained vs runoff.

An Australian study shows 1% OM yields 2% water absorption increase of that soils ability.

OM, carbon sequestration seems to be a real need for our increasingly sterilized soils.

Garden Thread - 2021

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