Author Topic: TBR Gardening Discussion Thread Week of 7-17-16  (Read 2300 times)

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Online Free Vulcan

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TBR Gardening Discussion Thread Week of 7-17-16
« on: July 19, 2016, 04:47:02 pm »

Welcome to the TBR Garden Thread for the week of July 17th, 2016! This is the thread for all things gardening....

It has continued to be a busy time in the garden with abundant rain, so busy that the Sunday's I'd spend doing the garden thread have been giving way to long days in the garden and crashing into bed soon after. We are starting to come to the end of harvesting the spring planted stuff like peas, carrots, beets, cabbage and broccoli and moving into the main summer stuff like corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers, squash, cukes, and melons. If the rain keeps consisten like it has, it will be a bumper crop.

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Variety of the week is Lemon Summer Squash. I love squashes for summer Italian cooking with along with tomatoes, fresh basil, home grown garlic, and pasta. Lemon is the smoothest, mildest, best tasting squash bar none. Have grown this one for years and can't wait till it starts producing so I can get to cooking with it.

You can find Lemon Squash seed at Baker Creek and Fedco.


This week we'll explore garden tools for working the soil. We have a large garden, approaching a quarter acre, which makes things like raised bed gardening that is so popular in the<a href-"http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/">Square Foot Gardening[/url] impractical because of the cost of the materials and such.

So as a result what I set out to do is to accomplish the goal of deep fertile soil of the square foot method by a different route. Instead of going up with raised beds, we chose to go down. Much of this was inspired by Eliot Coleman and his approach. Ultimately it evolved into something I called the Modified Square Foot technique.

The modified square foot system keeps the same ideas as the square foot system, but just adapts them to a large garden. The ideal layout for us ultimately consisted of 6 rotating plots that are 24' X 48' in size, with a 7th stationary plot that consists of herbs and plants we grow to save seeds. You might notice first of all the dimensions are numbers that are easily divided, both 24 and 48 are divisible by 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, and 24, with 48 also being divisible by 16. Those numbers make it easy to divide into halves, quarters, eigths, thirds, and other useful fractions. This helps with planting in proportions in line with the square foot concept.

We generally go with 1 ft. wide 'beds' with 2 ft. of path between. Each of these 'beds' can be planted up to 3 rows, though generally only 2 are planted. Sometimes these are planted in a block. For some things like tomatoes beds are 2 ft. wide, vines like cukes and squash 3 ft. to accomodate for fencing.

We keep the same layout for the garden, and simply rotate plots every year by one. For the stationary herb/seed saving plot, we also rotate by row and even within the row to keep things from growing in the same place every year. I've found this to be the most flexible system for us as the garden evolves to get to the goal of maximum food production. Attached is our garden plan that give the layout as it was planted. The garden is designed to separate heavy feeding crops from each other with either light feeding crops, implementing cover cropping or growing legumes prior to corn for example to put nitrogen back into the soil.

The other aspect of this is tools. Though we have a garden tractor with a large tiller that we use in the spring and fall, much of what we do is with hand tools. However, we have went well beyond the simple hoe, rake, shovel rotation common with most gardeners, and have expanded into tools that help keep the soil and garden in great shape, but cut down on the work substantially. I will list some of these tools and how we use them.

The core tool we use is the wheel hoe. Ours comes from Valley Oak Tools out of California. It is the best made wheel hoe IMO on the market. The full package will set you back some good coin, about $600, but it is more than worth it. We've had one for about 5 years and it has made gardening fun again because it cuts down so much work for us on the weeding, hilling, cultivating, and transplantin. Some pics of the unit and attachments:



The next tool we use is the broad fork. We got ours years ago from Johnny's Seeds which was designed by Eliot Coleman, it has been invaluable in helping to create a deep, loose soil without hardpan that can limit root growth while allowing nutruents to go to a lower level.



Some supplemental tools we use to help bust up soil after going down a row with a broad fork are the 3 tooth and claw cultivator. These are particularly excellent for preparing soil for root crops such as potatoes, carrots, and parsnips.



The main thing we use these for though is keeping a well maintained and fertile garden bed that allows for strong root growth and nutrient absorbtion, just like the raised beds of the square foot method, but in reverse.

Our main methods of improving fertility are via compost, cover cropping, manure, and the occasional use of natural fertilizer amendments like blood meal, egg shells, lime, and green sand. We mostly manure in the fall for winter break down, but we cover crop all year, sometimes whole plots, or partial areas, using things like mustard, oil seed radish, clover, alfalfa, buckwheat, canola, etc. Often times we'll plant bee friendly cover crops so they can add to the honey stocks for winter.

For weeding, we like to use stirrup and scuffle hoes. Though the wheel hoe has a scuffle hoe attachment, we do have some hand ones that we use from time to time. We also like scuffle hoes, which push along the top of the soil and  are great for precision weeding. I'm planning to expand my inventory with smaller widths than what we have now, and hand tools as well.



I'm also big on Warren and Swan Neck hoes for making rows for planting, both make nice rows for big and small seeds.



We also have many types of hand tools, and there are many other tools I'm interested in trying, including colinear hoes, bed prep rakes, pipe transplanters and others. There are an unbelievable amount of soil prepping, weeding, and planting/transplanting tools out there today that can greatly reduce the work of gardening and make your time more productive, while saving your back. Don't be afraid to explore and build your inventory.



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« Last Edit: September 28, 2016, 02:48:41 pm by Free Vulcan »
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Offline goodwithagun

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Re: TBR Gardening Discussion Thread Week of 7-17-16
« Reply #1 on: July 26, 2016, 10:12:11 pm »
I'm a Noob from that other site, and I'm so happy to see a gardening thread like the one I used to belong to! I'm in the process of snipping dried leaves from and branding much of my garlic harvest, all 300 bulbs! I want to sell at our farmers market next year so I'm increasing my seed stock. I'll plant 750-1000 cloves in a couple of months. If there are any market gardeners here, I'd love to hear your strategies!
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Offline mlizzy

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Re: TBR Gardening Discussion Thread Week of 7-17-16
« Reply #2 on: July 26, 2016, 10:23:12 pm »
I'm a Noob from that other site, and I'm so happy to see a gardening thread like the one I used to belong to! I'm in the process of snipping dried leaves from and branding much of my garlic harvest, all 300 bulbs! I want to sell at our farmers market next year so I'm increasing my seed stock. I'll plant 750-1000 cloves in a couple of months. If there are any market gardeners here, I'd love to hear your strategies!

Hey @goodwithagun ~ Welcome! Welcome!  :broc: :broc: Very happy to see you!  :laugh:
America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign. -Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Offline goodwithagun

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Re: TBR Gardening Discussion Thread Week of 7-17-16
« Reply #3 on: July 27, 2016, 12:07:16 am »
@mlizzy I'm literally crying right now! I was going to ask somebody here with FR posting privileges to send you a goodbye message from me. I say the prayer you sent me every time I go in for a test. My last PET/CT was clean! I'm so happy and so thankful I'm here! And you're here, too!
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Offline mlizzy

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Re: TBR Gardening Discussion Thread Week of 7-17-16
« Reply #4 on: July 27, 2016, 12:26:17 am »
@mlizzy I'm literally crying right now! I was going to ask somebody here with FR posting privileges to send you a goodbye message from me. I say the prayer you sent me every time I go in for a test. My last PET/CT was clean! I'm so happy and so thankful I'm here! And you're here, too!

@goodwithagun ~ Awesome! I'm very happy to hear about your test results. God is good!

Did you get ejected from Free Republic?

If you have any pictures of your [lots of] garlic ~ WOW! ~ please post, or post anything from your garden if you can. I love to look at gardens! Our garden is very tiny, but I still get a big kick out of it.

The marigolds you see are from scattered seed, and I believe they were only supposed to be 10 inches tall, but some have reached 30 inches. Pretty cool. Whenever I plant the "plugs," they stay small and not as impressive. There are some beets, Swiss chard, and radishes behind this "hedge."

Send me some pics! How is your family????



« Last Edit: July 27, 2016, 03:27:00 am by mlizzy »
America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign. -Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Offline goodwithagun

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Re: TBR Gardening Discussion Thread Week of 7-17-16
« Reply #5 on: July 27, 2016, 12:44:39 am »
I was zotted by the owner himself! Woo hoo! I suggested that it was time to allow constructive criticism of Trump. That did not go over well. Anyway, I ended up typing that Twitchy was better than FR anyway, which is soon to be an outdated forum due to the shutdown of certain topics. Mom MD saw it pretty quickly and although I was zotted, I was able to see her private message. So here I am, drinking a celebratory glass of wine for finally standing up to those bullies. Cheers!
I stand with Roosgirl.

Offline mlizzy

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Re: TBR Gardening Discussion Thread Week of 7-17-16
« Reply #6 on: July 27, 2016, 01:17:20 am »
I was zotted by the owner himself! Woo hoo! I suggested that it was time to allow constructive criticism of Trump. That did not go over well. Anyway, I ended up typing that Twitchy was better than FR anyway, which is soon to be an outdated forum due to the shutdown of certain topics. Mom MD saw it pretty quickly and although I was zotted, I was able to see her private message. So here I am, drinking a celebratory glass of wine for finally standing up to those bullies. Cheers!
Wow! Zotted?! Congratulations! :beer:

And I can't recall if I ever sent you a copy of the prayer we received from Mother Teresa @goodwithagun or if I just told you the prayer. So I'll post it here! With the way things are going in America, and throughout the world today, maybe others would like to see it too. :)



« Last Edit: July 27, 2016, 01:44:33 am by mlizzy »
America needs no words from me to see how your decision in Roe v. Wade has deformed a great nation. The so-called right to abortion has pitted mothers against their children and women against men. Human rights are not a privilege conferred by government. They are every human being's entitlement by virtue of his humanity. The right to life does not depend, and must not be declared to be contingent, on the pleasure of anyone else, not even a parent or a sovereign. -Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

Offline goodwithagun

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Re: TBR Gardening Discussion Thread Week of 7-17-16
« Reply #7 on: July 27, 2016, 01:23:48 am »
Amazing. I started attending the Novena on Monday evenings the night before my first test last summer. I got my first miraculous metal that night. We take the kids every Monday, now.
I stand with Roosgirl.

Offline XenaLee

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Re: TBR Gardening Discussion Thread Week of 7-17-16
« Reply #8 on: July 27, 2016, 04:22:58 pm »
@goodwithagun ~ Awesome! I'm very happy to hear about your test results. God is good!

Did you get ejected from Free Republic?

If you have any pictures of your [lots of] garlic ~ WOW! ~ please post, or post anything from your garden if you can. I love to look at gardens! Our garden is very tiny, but I still get a big kick out of it.

The marigolds you see are from scattered seed, and I believe they were only supposed to be 10 inches tall, but some have reached 30 inches. Pretty cool. Whenever I plant the "plugs," they stay small and not as impressive. There are some beets, Swiss chard, and radishes behind this "hedge."

Send me some pics! How is your family????



Hey, that PVC pipe structure over the tomatoes.....how did you build that, how do you plan to use it (draped with what fabric?) and how much did it cost?
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Online Free Vulcan

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Re: TBR Gardening Discussion Thread Week of 7-17-16
« Reply #9 on: July 27, 2016, 06:07:23 pm »
The Republic is lost.