Time is slowly nearing for the gardening season. Is everyone getting ready?
I would like to do more but the weather has not been too kind to us, Last week the chickens had been
moved into the garden to help with unwanted slug eggs and other critters, and they like the dirt and fresh
greens on the side, then it snowed again. Can't waite till spring. Who is planting what? Any projects? I am making a solar dehydrator for fruits , vegies etc. and hope it works. Also going to try Potato's covered with straw instead of dirt. Allways have to try something new. Still have to crop the old grape vines as long as it is cold but the ugly cold, wet weather has not given break. I only need a day or two to get that done. And getting on a ladder to trimm the apple trees on a half frozen ground in the snow is not what I want to do.
I guess the spring fever is comming upon me :-)
Replies
@Dianna
Sure, Ive even grown tomatoes on the north side of my house to see how they grew aand they took longer but they did reach maturity, although the taste was not as intense. East and West both work. Sometimes too much sun wilters the plant during the day and then it quickly re-gains its strength after the sun goes away.
Tommy-toes luv da sun. They like bright sunlight all day long.
Would the East side of the house, where the sun comes up, be a good place to plant tomatoes? This year I am planning to get out in middle of March, or sooner, to begin the yard pick up, and trimming.
Sure. I read it somewhere and it really does work. Just keep it spread out, not bunched up.
Wow Cheryl I'll have to keep that in mind. Thanks!
I use wide strips of nylon (pantyhose) to protect my tomato plant stems from being cut. I just add more strips as they get taller.
@Jim
I have had a few years that storms knocked over my sweetcorn and I had propped them back up with thin metal and wooden posts, anything I could find. It was a real battle with the elements, but most survived. The only problem was tying or fixing them to the post not to restict the growth. I used hemf string and kept re-tying them as they grew. Off topic but I am still enjoying corn on the cob from last years crop. I freeze them shortly after harvesting vacuum sealed, sometime with and sometimes without corn husks. Depend on what we are planning to cook. The husks smell fresh just like in summer.
Oh, and now I also have a willow fence about 3 feet high on the north side although the bad storms come from south west for me. But it also helps with the northern drafts. The fences help a lot to reduce the cold drafts and stunt growth.(just my observations) I would chance it and grow what you like and see what happens :-)
I have been thinking about planting time too. I want to try all underground stuff like radishes, patatos, beats, carrots. That way wind storms and rain wont destroy them. ,
Miles Stair has grown potatoes above ground under hay: http://www.endtimesreport.com/gardening.html. I've finally got a couple of old tires I'm going to use to grow some. I also usually grow tomatoes. This year, I'm going to add in green bell peppers and I don't know what else yet.
Well it is fun to see that I am not the only one thinking about gardening. Unfortunately, it is still too cold to plant any thing, but it is rewarding to put seeds into small pots and watch them grow. I am planing to plant my heirloom tomatoes, ground cherries, peppers, lettuces, kale, carrots, beets, etc. I took cuttings from my grape vines last year. They are just barely budding their leaves. This year, I have to place my garden out of shady area of the yard. This will be a challenge. I do not have any chickens to take care of slugs. I usually hand pick them. Having potatoes growing in straw works well too. I have to cut the old raspberry canes before long. Lots to do, but it is so rewarding.