2020 gardens

[DJ54]

My onions are looking great. Some, up to 4 leaves already. Easier to see since the grass mulch has browned down some. Warmer temps, with warm rain here have brought the potatoes up. Was up to 76ｺ here yesterday, supposed to get to 82ｺ this afternoon. I made the potato hills a little bigger than I thought I guess, thinking the rains may compact them down some, but didn't. May have been a good thing, to protect them from the cold.

Don't give up on your frost bitten potatoes Sonny, a buddy of mine had his turned black last week from the upper 20's temps, but he said they were poking new leaves out of the dirt yesterday evening.

The peas I planted last Thursday are sprouting. At least the one's I found yesterday evening that were partially exposed. I used the push planter, instead of the Brinly. to savesome time, since reseeding the hayfield took higher priority. I nudged some dirt over top of the exposed one's with my toe to cover them. Wouldn't be a bit surprised to see them poking through tomorrow, after the warm day today.

I need to mow grass today, but won'tbe using a portion of it for mulch. The Bluegrass is going to seed, so I'll Vac it up,and put it on the manure compost pile, to be spread on the hay field this Fall. Seems ironic I try ti kill weedsand grass in one spot, and not 100', or less away, growing grass for pasture & hay.

Planning on going after tomato plants later this week. May even get them set out next weekend. Weather Service has been changing the forecast back and forth between sun & rain twice now, in the last 2 days.

 

[CADplans]

This might be a crazy question, but, it is a situation I have never ran into before,,

We have received over nine (9) inches of rain over the last three days,, and several more inches of rain are forecast,,, :confused2:

My garden has so much organic material, almost no water runs off,, but, the water does go down through the soil
I almost never see runoff,,

So, my question is,, did all that rain wash away the fertilizer and nutrients that I added to the garden this year?
Do I need to re-fertilize the garden, or should I just wait and see?

I hate to loose my 2020 garden crop,,,

What would you do??

 

[DJ54]

I'd have to guess every one East of the Mississippi are in the same boat. That laststorm system coming in off the East coast has brought a lot of rain to outr area too. I'm not as bad here, ans a couple buddies within 3, and 10 miles respectively. I've gotten just over 2" in the last 3 days, where as my buddies have gotten nearly 7", and 5", in the last 48 hours.

I would have to say most has leached to a lower level. I'm pretty sure phosphorous will hang around in the soil better than the N & K. I checked my Peas last evening, and I'd say they aren't going to make it. They just started to sprout, just before the rain came in, but now afraid they have drowned, because of water laying in the planter press wheel track. I did seesome remnants of fertilizer left, but pretty sure it is the pelletized lime, that is used as the filler.

I mark out my rowswith the David Bradley cultivator tractor, trickle fertilizer down the row, then run back through the rows to stir it in a bit, then plant. This is just for astarter fertilizer. I have never side dressed with pelleted fertilizer afterwards. But, a couple years ago, I did try a liquid foliar spraymade by Monty's Montys Plant Food – Success you can see! on my tomatoes, and all I can say is the results were outstanding. I haven't had the chance to try it on other plants yet. I've been reading a lot about using Kelp also, as a foliar feed. This year, the plan is to use both. 1/3 of a row will receive Kelp, 1/3 Monty's,and the rest of the row,just the starter fertilizer, just to see the difference. Which ever looks the best after 6 weeks or so, I'll use on the one with "0" foliar fed, to finish out the season.

The only amendment I've broadcast on an entir section, was Sulfur this year in the section I planted potatoes in, to drop the PH down to a level they like better.

I suppose you could always side dress somewhere along the line. I use 12-12-12 as a starter, just something to give them a kickstart. Tomatoes I use a 1/2solution of Fish Fertilizerwhen I water them in, and they take right off,and keep going. But, my nutrient levels are up to snuff. Soil tests show I just need to add 1 lb each of N & K, per 1000 sq.ft. It'svery high in P, due to being in a garden since '53, and many years of starter fertilizer, manure being applied. Extensionagent said it will growsome awesome green beans, and it surely does..!!

 

[Ford850]

The more organic material the better, and it will hold nutrients longer. The little I have planted so far will get a little extra fertilizer once this rain period has moved on. I planned on planting most of my garden this weekend but that's not going to happen now since it's standing in water. I'll shift to splitting wood and mucking in some transplanted shrubs and perennials instead, and then get my garden in once it dries in a week or two. I've made the mistake (several times) of forcing in the garden while it's still too wet and the results are horrible. I've finally learned, and will wait until it dries. If it doesn't dry off in time I will plant a smaller garden whenever I can get it in, and move on. There's nothing worse than a lumpy weed filled mess that I can't get under control.

 

[Sonny580]

CADplans,----when it dries out so you can start tillin the garden, I would toss some more fertilizer on top and till it in. --- Fertilizers do tend to leach down and make it hard for plants to reach.
I still need to put some on whats left of the potato stand and more on the onions. We had tons of rain here too and more in the forecast for most of the next week.

 

[DJ54]

If you want to retieve some of those nutrients for in the future, plant some Daikon Radishes. I plant the along side my curcubits, and will also attract those pesky white butterflies that lay vine borer eggs. I discovered that I needed to do a second planting, maybe a 3rd, to attract the butterflies for a longer period of time.

Even with the single planting, I had no vine borer problems until after the radishes quit blooming, which extended their seasonby a few weeks, more than normal.

Daikon's will reach down 24" - 30+", and bring nutrients to the top, when they decompose the following year. They also aerate the ground, when their roots grow down through the hardpan. The only real problem for many may be the smell when the decompose come Spring. Think, rotting cabbage, is the smell it reminded me of.

If you have a local dealer that sells cover crop seed, that would be the least expensive route to go. And a 1/4 lb.will go a long way. The good news, radish seed is viable for 6-7 years, if I remember correctly.

I planted some along side my Cukes last year. But the Deer ate both the Cukes, and Daikon's. This year, the electric fence is going up before I set plants. In fact, that may be today's project, putting in T-posts back in, where I pulled the one's to dig sweet potatoes last year.

Deer have become a menace here in the last 10 years, since they made a property to the North of me, into a Metro Park, with no hunting allowed. And to the South, a 250 acre apple orchard. So I'm right in the middle of them, and it's like an Interstate through here for the local Deer population.

 

[lennyzx11]

You guys make my last 3 days of hard work look pitiful.

 

[CADplans]

You guys make my last 3 days of hard work look pitiful.

View attachment 656861

I learned my lesson about trying to garden next to a tree (s),,

A tree will grow roots right up into a raised planter box,,

I had a compost pile over three feet deep,, near a tree,, when I went to move the compost,, there were roots grown all the way up into the pile,,

A tree is a relentless feeder,, not to even mention how it will steal EVERY bit of moisture,,

 

[DJ54]

Picked up some plants yesterday. Good thing we went down in April, and I ordered/reserved 12 dozen of the Celebrities. Picked up 7-1/2 dozen more for friends. Only 3 of those flats are mine, the other one is split between a couple friends. Can't beat the price locally, so drive 45 miles to get them. $12 per flat of 72 plants, mix & match.

I was really surprised when I walked in the greenhouse. It was down to slim pickin's. The owner said they have been slammed for the last 2 weeks, and have pretty well cleaned them out. She too,seems to think people are fearing a food shortage, and anywhere they can stick in a few plants, people are doing it. I'd have to guess newbies will be all gung ho, until it gets hot, and the fun has worn off, then those little plots will be a weed patch. I've seen it before,wherea large local factory let employee's have small garden plots on some decent ground the company owns. About the time the sweet corn and tomatoes start to produce, 3/4 of the plts are nothing but weeds, and the only thing you cansee is the tassle on the sweet corn. The other 1/4 were well taken care of. That lasted about 5 years, then they stopped doing it.

Low chances of rain this week, hopefully, I'll get some of these set out. Potato hillsdried out well enough, I hoed/hilled all 5, 90'rows this afternoon. Not much to do in the garden, until the lower half dries more.

 

[oldballs]

Keep posting you garden friends. I feel so crummy with Shingles, that I don't do much posting ....but did get some garden in before the shingles set in.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[cqaigy2]

Keep posting you garden friends. I feel so crummy with Shingles, that I don't do much posting ....but did get some garden in before the shingles set in.

Cheers,
Mike

Sorry to hear. A buddy of mine got shingles, i don't want to experience what he did so was going to get vaccine, but Corona hit. Still getting one asap. Loving the gardens too. Will be trying out DJ54 radish trick.

 

[oldballs]

I learned my lesson about trying to garden next to a tree (s),,

A tree will grow roots right up into a raised planter box,,

I had a compost pile over three feet deep,, near a tree,, when I went to move the compost,, there were roots grown all the way up into the pile,,

A tree is a relentless feeder,, not to even mention how it will steal EVERY bit of moisture,,

I read somewhere IIRC that a full grown Cottonwood will use 300 gallons of water per day....to say nothing of the shade if nearby. I had to cut mine (about 3 foot diameter base) down in order to keep my garden going. My wife hated that because it shaded the play area for the grandkids.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[oldballs]

Here's some pics of my humble garden this spring. It was late in planting due to above average rain, late frosts, then the corona virus complications........and lastly my Shingles attack. Never have got the cukes, squash, cantaloupe and watermelons planted either.

The tomato and peppers plants I bought a month ago and have been nursing them along until planted a couple days ago.



Cheers,
Mike

 

[Billy Bee]

Finally got the garden planted, a cold wet spring made for a late start. Have cukes, summer squash, onion sets, swiss chard, beets, beans, radishes, a variety of tomatoes, and sweet corn.
Now, about the corn............ last year I planted enough corn to have about 40 dozen, but the 'coons got all of it. I did not get one ear! I trapped and killed 12 of them last summer, but apparently that was not enough. Now I know that I can't get them all and have to share with the masked bandits, but I plant more corn than I need so I am usually left with plenty. Not so last year. So this year I am not waiting for the corn to be nearly ready before I start trapping. I am doing a preemptive strike, I've been trapping for about a month now and got 8 so far, 4 females,so I figure I got rid of them and any future offspring. I am not going to give up on corn, I just hope I can thin them out enough so they will leave some for me. Fencing is not really an option, so trapping is what I need to do............ or go to the farmers market.
Bill

 

[DJ54]

**** Fencing is not really an option****

An electric fence works best. The first year outlay of cost is the worst. Roll the wire up and reuse,along with step in posts. A couple gate opening handles, to get in & out with what you till, or cultivate. For Racoons, you only need 2 strands. One at about 4"-6" off the ground,and one up 12" or so. A $20-$25 pet containment charger is all it takes. A protective cover on the charger, mounted on a post will last for years. I've ben using the same one for 10 years or so. You can make your own wooden stakes, or get the step in type, for less than $2 ea. Space them 10'-12' apart.Allwell and good if you have anelectric outlet close enough to power it.

I have to use T-posts and electric fence to keep 'Coon, groundhogs, and Deer out. In the past, I've had deer browse on tomato plants, but didn't really do any damage, but last year had one particular doe eat them off, as far as she could reach down in the cages. Wiped out 7 of the 12 Cuke plants, and riddled the beans, and sweet potatoes. I put the electric fence asap,and had no problems afre that with anything getting in.

 

[DJ54]

Got 4 rows of green beans put in yesterday. 3 different varieties, all stringless pole type. Much easier on my old back, and knees.

Planted down through leaf compost I put down last Fall, I Vac'd up from several neighbors lawns. Put them down about 6" thick, and over the winter they've settled/broken down some to about 4". They've done an excellent job of weed suppression so far. Had a few Wild Cherry tree sprouts popping up, but ran the Honda rear tine through, with the tail wheel on, I made early this Spring, and scratching only the top 2" or less, brought them to the top. Yesterdays hot sun pretty well cooked them.

The Brinly planter did well planting down through it. Helped a lot I think stirring the leaves up, and getting them somewhat loose, so they didn't gather, and pile up in front of the planting shoe.

Got what T-posts driven back in I had to remove last Fall, to get into the garden with the big tractors. Today will get some insulators on that need replaced, string the wire, and get the charger set, and plug it in.

The Snap Peas I planted are a bust. All of the rain caused the first planting to rot. Hopefully today's sun, and wind will dry part of the lower section, so as to replant those. I'll make a hill row this time, to keep them up out of the sautrated dirt. I don't think it will dry out enough in the lower section to get the tomatoes & cabbage out, but we'll see.

I guess the potatoes don't look too bad for the weather we've had. They were planted a month ago today. The hills had dried enough by Sat., I hoed around them, yesterday, it was dry enough to shallow till between the rows. Love to see those tiny white thread roots turned up for the hot sun to kill. Ought to be good for another week or so.

 

[oldballs]

Billy Bee,

I have had the same experience raising corn and trapping ahead of tassels . My fencing keeps out everything except the coons and possums. They climbs right over. I hate to bother with trapping. This year I'm too sick to raise corn and deal with the critters. I bet DJ54 electric fence would work.

Cheers,
Mike

 

[DJ54]

My home made transplanter earned it's keep for another year. 17-1/2 dozen plants set in about 1-1/2 hours. Well worth the time and effort to build. My old back, and knees appreciate it. Also got a row of Peas re-planted, that the first planting rotted from all of the rain.

Also got T-posts driven back in, and electric fence strung back up, and charger set, and plugged in. Hope it works, didn't check. Maybe the wire alone will keep that pesky doe out, until I get it checked out today. I have a spare, just in case...

Definitely a long day with this 87ｺ heat. Think I'll take it easy today.

 

[ovrszd]

Billy Bee,

I have had the same experience raising corn and trapping ahead of tassels . My fencing keeps out everything except the coons and possums. They climbs right over. I hate to bother with trapping. This year I'm too sick to raise corn and deal with the critters. I bet DJ54 electric fence would work.

Cheers,
Mike

Thanks for the garden pics Mike. Looks great to me!!!! Prayers for your health.

 

[cqaigy2]

Nice looking garden!