OK, who's planning their gardens for this year? I've got some ideas in my head for this year, nothing written down yet. I'm going to try expanding my garden, almost doubling the size. Last year I was able to get some Jam canned from the strawberries and may some salsa with tomatoes and jalapeños. The black eyed peas are in the freezer, made some up for new years. All the beans and okra were eaten as they were harvested, so I will be increasing the number of plants for them. I don't know if I will do tomatoes this year though, my in laws plant about 15 to 20 plants and usually give away many tomatoes. So this year I might try putting in something they don't have and then we can swap our excess. So, who else is ready to start? (despite Memphis being sub freezing for the last week, hopfully the pests will be reduced)
I wanted to get up north and get things in the ground as soon as it thawed.... The MUD has made that choice not a good one.... I have a really nice rototiller, with a 10 hp motor.... (once had a snow blower attached on it) I have decided to use raised beds, having spoke with others in the area, the soils are a bit acidic, so they say, I have yet to test mine.....( bought 2 test kits!) I figure to bring in some soil, and mix the 2, and put everything in 2 ft high boxes made of 2" x 12" lumber, about 2' x 8' in size..... Not having ever planted anything up there, I have to go to the local nursery and contact the agricultural agent to see what I may need to do.... In Phoenix, if it gets wet, it will grow, well at least until summer, then it burns! Every year I have a great grop of raisins on the vine! Anyone familiar with volcanic soils?
Some stuff we plant outside, and some stuff we do in EarthBoxes in the greenhouse. We get leaf lettuce and spinach year round, just can't harvest the spinach when it's frozen. We plan on expanding the strawberry patch this year, and building another greenhouse in the spring.
This will be my first year in over 10 years to plant a garden. That might give you an idea where my head is at right now. Problem is I have moved and I need to fence the garden area or its just deer food. And, my dog died a couple years ago and I have not been to the pound for a replacement. I am concentrating on the new house, and a new aquaculture (catfish) venture I am going to start in march or april. rabbit and chickens are back in my near future as well. It's all in a near impossible flux right now, but I will get there. as for the garden, I am concentrating on heirloom seed variaties of the three sisters(corn, beans, and squash) plus tomatoes and peppers.
I need to get the tobacco started now inside. It was way to slow to start from seed in march. But I still got three plants out of 4, it cured nicely in the garage and smoked well. Also need to work on the corn. last years first planting was devistated by bugs in a month at a few feet tall. so I replanted and using silicon dioxide as an organic pesticide I got 2 ears from maybe 10 plants, still lambasted by bugs. the beans, peas, carrots, dill, sunflowers(were amazing) onions, banana peppers, bell peppers, lettuce and romaine were all great. Going to work out staggered plantings this season so I have harvests every week. May enlarge it as it is only 6'x10'.
Good soil amendment site http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/altsoilamend.html volcanic soils http://www.eolss.net/ebooks/Sample%20Chapters/C19/E1-05-07-13.pdf
Wow! Thanks SLugomist! The info on volcanic soils is fantastic! Now I have a plate full and need to do my homework, before I even try to plant, or even mess with the soils.... Seems I can do more damage by "tinkering", if I don't know what I'm doing! ( I don't!) I'll have to get some samples and get them analyzed prior to doing anything.... Thanks again!
I myself have a larger scale garden of about 5 acres and 2 greenhouses in Michigan. I grow Stawberrys, Rasberrys, Ginseng, Sweet Corn, Eucaliptus plants, and Tobacco. The Ginseng is grown in my forest area. The corn is used as a wind breaker for my Tobacco. Stawberry's are a hot seller which takes up about 3 acres. If anyone is interested in adding anything like this to there garden. Please take a look at my website at www.peacefulfields.com
Right now, I'm about 9 weeks from the "last frost date", I figure in about 10 weeks I can have plants in the ground, that puts me in the first week of April. In one to two weeks I'll start some seeds in doors, mostly heirloom, but some hybrids as well. Hopefully this weekend I'll borrow my FIL tiller and work on expanding the garden area an put some of my matured compost down and work it into the soil. Let the FUN begin
Started putting out the seedlings last night. 15 tomato, 12 pepper (bell & jalapeno), squash. Also put out the onion bulbs. Tonight I'll be planting some seeds: Watermelon, more squash, cucumber, radish, peas & beans. I'll probably try some leaf lettuce again this year, but bugs were so bad last year we couldn't harvest anything
Got peas, lima beans, squash, zucchini, okra, tomatoes, jalapeno, and sweet peppers all growing and the asparagus is really coming in good. Blue berries are all bloomed and looks like a bumper crop. Lots of blooms on my apples and pears and peaches. Oranges tanked last freeze, so did lemons.Muscadines are doing well. Should have five new crops of bunnies next week. Meals at the Casa Seacowboys is definitely looking up for late spring.
Going to try corn, beans, beets, carrots, sunflowers and potatoes using the tire method. Trying to get a fig tree going too. First time gardening EVER. We have deer, rabbit and squirrels that will need to be addressed. I have one thing going for me at least: A HUGE pile of well seasoned rabbit manure!
When you figure that out, cut me in. Nothing is safe from them up here. (Well, they haven't chewed on the treated lumber deck. Yet ---)
JWR had a good post about it. Might try some of these suggestions. Garden Defense -- Repelling Four-Legged (and Two-Winged) Pests, by Jason - SurvivalBlog.com
A lot of folks here use mylar balloons to scare deer (and birds). The silver reflective ones. Some say that they draw eyes on the balloons. I haven't used it myself, so I can't speak of it's effectiveness; but it sure makes for a fun garden .
Got it, thanx. Will implement a couple of those ideas as a test. Confounded deer ate my lilies last year. (And daffodils, and crocus, and I don't know what all else.)
