What's your garden strategy?

[Libertine]

Re: What\'s your garden strategy?

Bob_Surka:

<font color="blue">I suggested to the lovely Mrs_Bob that she might want to buy me a 2 row planter, the one I have my eye on comes set at 30" row centers but is adjustable. </font>

If you're doing veg, you might consider the earthway planter. They're actually made near you and come with 12 different seed plates for different seed sizes and spacing and you can even get the company to special make. You can use it for rows, or, bolt a bunch together for closely spaced stuff (if you're going to beds). I like mine, but the only problem with it is very, very small seeds and the seed bed has to be "just right" - too trashy, too many clods, too wet etc doesn't work so good. But when the bed is right it works really spiffy. Of course it is hand push, but unless you're planting acreas of stuff that hardly matters. They're available a lot of places. To see different seeders on line, try Johnnys Selected Seeds (I don't have the URL handy, but will look it us). They handle lots of stuff and you sendem a check, and 10-12 days later there it is. Good folks and they have lots of herbs, etc. in addition to vegs. I bought some valerian root from them I plan on planting soon. They have an excellent selection of stuff.

<font color="blue">that pesky herd of deer that trample over and eat everything that I don't fence in! </font>

Yeah, I don't mind the critters eating a bit for themselves, what really pisses me off is they eat a little from each item. Had racoons (I think it was racoons anyway) who ate a bit from each each of corn I had, and birds eating peaches - they're welcome to some of them, but not taking a bite out of each piece of fruit. Ugn.

JEH

Here's ref. Really good folks and give good service - out of Maine Johnnys Selected Seeds

 

[ducati996]

Re: What\'s your garden strategy?

Great Info Guys !! Looking to start a garden in the spring and can use all the ideas and advice I can get....It may be late in the season but pictures always help too !! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Ducati

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: What\'s your garden strategy?

<font color="green"> If you're doing veg, you might consider the earthway planter. </font>

The unit I have my eye on is a JD that has been rebuilt and restored, it is only a few miles from where I am, and is a 3pt mount for the tractor. Will do beans, corn, melon and other large seeded fruits & veggies. I like the Earthway units too, but I want a tractor implement!

As for the animals, I have enough that I don't mind sharing, but I totally agree with you about the ones that damage a little bit of everything. That is when drastic measures come to mind. I'm going to be looking at an electric fence. Worst case, if that doesn't work, some animal is going to be staring down the barrel of a 223 or 308. Sometimes you got to do what you got to do. I will share, but I have to have mine first.

 

[RICHARDG]

Re: What\'s your garden strategy?

Well then,,Iowa can just forget next election,,,we must not need their vote to figure out whos the next president???They would save a lot of work and money,,,wonder which other states we don't need???A little state like ours,[w.va.],it seems,,meant a lot,,,we got tired of the unaccustomed, traffic jams on all the little two lane roads here,well,,we do have a few four lanes,,,every time you turned around,,mr. bush was somewhere,,,course he won this yellow dog state ,democratic state ,twice,,don't think thats happened before,,,GO GET EM BUSH,,,thingy

 

[PineRidge]

Re: What\'s your garden strategy?

Bob too bad your not closer to me. I have a rebuilt Allis two row planter that I'm getting ready to let go of with multiple seed plates. It has adjustable planting width and I understand that the plates interchange with the JD planters. See my attachment.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Re: What\'s your garden strategy?

PineRidge, that is pretty much what I am looking at locally. The unit that is my first choice is newer, but basically the same thing.

 

[DUMBDOG]

Re: What\'s your garden strategy?

How about this planter, will plant about anything in the seed book with adjustable rows from about 9 inches apart and up.

 

[Libertine]

Re: What\'s your garden strategy?

Bob_Surka:

<font color="blue">I want a tractor implement! </font>

Ah yes. Well, I guess we can put you, DUMBDOG & Pineridge toward the "extensive" side of the ledger. Have seen the type you're looking at (almost bought one at an auction, needed restoring but everything there & even had the original manual). Are you planning to use it for gardening, or, is it just something "neat" to have? (I can relate to that - I bought a older working McCormick hay baler & rake in Jan this year just to have it, went all through it to see how it worked, etc. and sold a few months later for a few hundred dollar gain).

Pineridge:

Nice restoring job. But, if it's an A-C, why is it blue instead of burnt orange? Or, guess that's a silly question, given your tractor.

JEH

 

[PineRidge]

Re: What\'s your garden strategy?

Colors Important! At one time I was offered a good price on a box-blade but it only came in JD green so I passed on the deal. I couldn't be dragging that behind my blue tractor now could I? /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

BTW Did I say that I have the Allis manual for my 2 row planter? I do! (see attachment) And I guess the planter could be painted any color that one might desire, even orange. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[Libertine]

Re: What\'s your garden strategy?

Pineridge:

<font color="blue">I guess the planter could be painted any color that one might desire </font>

Of course, it's your planter. I understand the feeling - I like my colors to match too. Did you do a test on your soil to check its structure (suggested above)?

Went to Small Farm Trade show in Columbia, Missouri yesterday. Always see neat stuff there & pick up lots of info. Saw an Imants spader (have heard of them, but never seen them in the flesh). They work sorta like a tiller but use spades that lift the soil - supposed to be the closest mechanical action similar to using an actual shovel to raise, mix, open up (for air). Claim is improves soil condition, doesn't pulverize (the way a tiller does), increases bacterial activity, etc. and tests show a 10%-15% improvement in output WITHOUT any other changes - again, that's the claim. Have never seen one worked, but logic sounds good. Am including a ref (they are available for both 4 wheel tractors and 2 wheel tractors)

Imants Spaders

Lots of info on hoop houses for veg etc production. Am including a ref to those below:

Hoop house info source

Of course, this type of system definately leans toward the "intensive" type of gardening.

I'm still curious how those of you who have posted on using 4' or wider beds handle harvesting, i.e. reaching in from the walkways between the beds??? Before I decided to go with 30" beds, I laid out a bed on the ground, walked it, "pretended" to do the various things you do in planting/cultivating/harvesting. I bought my tiller width etc to fit. If harvesting low growing crops 4' and wider beds can't be stradled (unless you're REALLY tall!), higher crops would be difficult to reach in from the aisle, etc.

So . . . ?????

JEH