Starting garden yet?

[Deere Hunter]

Thanks for the tips on the fire ant problem. I hate to put too much insecticide in the garden. And you nailed it on the Sandy Loam, I didn't work the garden at all last year, and the Ant problem has intesified. I plan on starting a compost bin this year, and will buy some compost to add to the soil before I plant the remainder of the garden. Never heard of Dry Molasses, but will look into that also. I was going to use Sevin, but will hold off until I can test out your method. Where should I look for Orange Oil?

Put in three rows of Kandy Corn, two rows of Bodacious, and three rows of Silver King today, worked the whole garden last night and today, but will work it again before I put in the Butter Beans, Peas, Squash, Okra, Maters, Cukes, Melons, etc. I will not plant anything else until April, I think.

 

[Ray2310]

Deere Hunter,

As wet as it is here...I can only dream of when I will be able to get my corn in. How do you like that Bodacious corn? My wife and I love it. Thats all we plant now.

Ray

 

[Deere Hunter]

This will be my first crop of the Bodacious. I have heard rave reviews, and can't wait to try it out.

 

[ScottOkla]

I have loved Bodacious since I first tried in 5 or 6 years ago, but we cannot get a good stand here most years.

My local horticulture guy last year recommended Honey Select as a similar taste but better stand. He was right. If any of you have trouble with Bodacious, Honey Select is a great Plan B.

 

[jinman]

Never heard of Dry Molasses, but will look into that also. I was going to use Sevin, but will hold off until I can test out your method. Where should I look for Orange Oil?

Many feed stores/farm stores carry both dry molasses and orange oil. I don't think you will find it at TSC, but Amazon.com carries Greensense dry molasses in a 50 lb bag for about $17.50. You can find this and many other things at natural gardening centers. Here is a link to an article about dry molasses by the Dirt Doctor. I don't garden completely organic, but I do follow some of the guidlines when they work for me. You might also look into using BT (bacillus thuringiensis) for killing caterpillars. I don't think it will work on fireants, but it sure keeps tomato worms under control.

Dry Molasses

 

[Deere Hunter]

Dang Right! Thanks for the link. I absolutely despise fire ants. I may have to spread some on the entire lawn. I started on the first mowing of the year yesterday, got the front half done. Might get finished with the mowing tonight, and then I'll run the weedeater for an afternoon.

The forecasted rain for last night didn't make it, so the garden got its first watering yesterday while I was cutting grass. The forecast for tonight is now 30 degrees! But it will be 79 for the high on Friday!

Gotta spray the dove field soon, as the ragweed is flat growing. Want to plant Clearfield Sunflowers mid-late April.

 

[Ray2310]

Nice day today here in Western, PA. Got a chance to get in peas, spinach and more onions, radishes, bibs and leaf lettuce.

If the weather cooperates I may be able to get permenant water and power supply run to the greenhouse.

 

[charlz]

Still way to early to plant anything here.... except garlic which was planted last fall and is doing great.

I mentioned in another thread that I found a neighbor who will bring me horse manure/shavings from their stables by the dump trailer load... for free So last weekend I took one set of my pallet compost bins out in order to make a big bin. First I took out what compost I had left from last fall spread it on out the garden:



This shows my 'drive on' raised beds, there is a plan to put grass in between to keep the weeds down but we will see if I get to it this year. I incorporated the compost just to make sure it wouldn't blow away before 'spring'. I have a 50" tiller for my b7100 and it works perfect... if you can drive straight. The beds are fed water by a 1" main that runs along and 1/2" risers to the drip. I lay a rock on it to keep it out of the tiller and drive on/drive off. Takes about 4 minutes and all the beds with compost are tilled:



The manure I got from the neighbor was left where he dumped it, two loads end to end. I worked it twice with the 3pt tiller and restacked it with the loader. Once I had the new bin constructed I moved it into the bin.... the stuff is still cooking away.



The back of the bin is made of really long pallets I got from a granite countertop place, they are about 12' long. Two of them are set on their side over some T posts. The ends are regular pallets with half a pallet on top. Looks like I could have skipped the half pallets but I wasn't sure how big the pile would be once stacked in the bin.

This pile should be ready in time for planting... mid May or so. I have another two loads 'on order'. By the time they are ready for a bin this one should be empty.

Charles

 

[tony123]

charlz, thanks for the photos! Looks great! I wish I had all that compost.

 

[Ray2310]

charlz,

I am completely jealous of your compost pile. I need to get some manure for my corn patch but its been way too wet..and its raining today..tomarrow. It just dosent seem like its gona end.

Ray