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Title: Home gardening, the easy way
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Published: May 12, 2012
Author: me
Post Date: 2012-05-12 13:04:48 by PSUSA2
Keywords: None
Views: 718
Comments: 21
The price of food being what it is, I decided to put in a home garden. But, digging up sod just plain sucks. I did some, and I am putting that to use in a compost pile for next year. But I knew there had to be an easier way. So, here is what I did. I had some contractor-grade trashbags and split them on the sides so they open up into one sheet. These I placed on the sod and put weight on the edges and corners to hold them in place, in order to kill the grass and leave bare soil. Obviously, a tarp or other plastic sheeting would work too, but I didn't have a tarp. I guess I only had to wait 2-3 weeks for that to take effect. Probably closer to 3 weeks. In the meantime, I had already seedlings growing. Those I grew in small plastic cups, which also happened to match the diameter of a small auger I had that is used with a cordless drill to dig the holes for planting. It makes it real easy to just empty the cups into a nice hole of the same size. I didn't cultivate the soil, I just planted directly into the cleared area. Also using well ventilated #10 cans for tomatoes and peppers. They seem to be doing well. And if people can use 2 liter soda bottles and get a crop, I'll just have to water them every day. And, a pack of seeds goes a long way.
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#1. To: PSUSA2 (#0)
If you want a decent yield, you need to till the soil around your plants. Their roots need room to grow. Otherwise, they'll get rootbound, which will prevent them from taking in nutrients and they'll die before they can produce anything. Try some 3 gallon pots and fill them with potting soil. I use something called Fox Farms Ocean Forest soil, which can be found at your local hydroponic supply store.
I did something similar last year and had a tomato crop until the first frost. But a tiller would only improve things. That is on a list for next year. I've been looking at these small cultivators that are about half the size of tillers for <$200 that would be about the right size. I wouldn't want to bust sod with them, but bare dirt should be OK if it's turned with a shovel first. And another thing: chinamart is outrageous on their plant pricing. Selling them would be a great opportunity to make some extra money. ------------------------------------------ "Those who believe the Bible are those who know the least about it". Thomas Paine (1737-1809), author and reformer
http://backtoedenfilm.com/ It is not too often that you see a serious prepper say that something they saw completely changed the way they are doing something so, when I heard LDSPrepper say that I sat up in my chair and took notice. After finishing his video I was sure that this method would work well in Texas but, there is no way that it could work where I live in Washington. Still, I followed the link to the Back To Eden movie and watched in amazement. I didn't notice it at first but, they kept saying Sequim Washington. That's only an hour from where I live. I called Paul up and a couple of days later I was standing in his farm. Paul was very inviting. He let us go anywhere, eat anything, video our visit and before we left he gave us some seeds. He told us to come back whenever we wanted and to call him with any questions we had. He loves to share his knowledge. Here is part of that visit. Back To Eden OFFICIAL FILM from ProVisions Productions on Vimeo.http://vimeo.com/28055108 Our Visit To Paul Gautschi's "Back To Eden" Garden Part 1 Chickens Back to Eden part 2 Our Visit To Paul Gautschi's "Back To Eden" Garden Part 3 Planting
A couple of years ago I got rid of my big tiller, switched to raised beds, and bought one of those mini Honda tillers, only place to purchase is from a Honda auto dealer, but the thing kicks butt, great little engine. I grow tomatoes-four varieties this year, potatoes, onions, garlic, carrots, lettuce, cukes, zukes, peppers, squash-butternut, and have pear and apple trees. I also use my little Honda during the season to weed between plants and rows, and can cary it with one hand, very handy. Last year I used it to start a raised bed garden wall of stone blocks, the cecorative type, tilled a trench, layed gravel then stones and filled with Gods good earth, my favorite bed, never been able to grow carrots or lettuce, but with this bed I can't eat everything gast enough:) "True Love and Homegrown Tomatoes" - two things money can't buy!!!! Not a bad country song either, and generally I don't care for country ;)
We grow tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers in 5 gallon terra-cotta pots. I tomato plant per pot, one pepper plant per pot, and three cucumber plants per pot. It works well for us and we don't have to deal with digging, weeding, etc. Of course we do not can anything (although we make fresh salsa) so we only grow as much as we can eat, which amounts to two tomato plants, 6 cucumber plants, and two pepper plants. Even that's hard to keep up with when they are going strong. At those times we eat tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers like mad men and have to give some away so they don't spoil. I'm thinking about growing garlic next year.
Calling Ron Paul an isolationist is like calling your neighbor a hermit because he doesn't come over and break your window - unknown Jesus said, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do. Evangelical Fundinuts say, "kill them all who will not bow down to the Zionist Jew." - F.A. Hayek Fan
I looked that up myself and found that it is planted in the fall, and sets until spring. I'm glad I bothered to look that up. I almost made a mistake. here's a source www.thedailygreen.com/gre...ing/growing-garlic-460709 And if you have extra tomatoes, try dehydrating them. They're good. I have about 15 plants and that is what I will do with the extra. Take out the water and they shrivel up to nothing, and the flavor is concentrated. ------------------------------------------ "Those who believe the Bible are those who know the least about it". Thomas Paine (1737-1809), author and reformer
A better alternative to hard sided pots are soft sided growing containers made of a permeable fabric. Olefin is the most common. Most of my garden is grown using that type of container or raised beds, and I grow quite a bit - usually around 20 tomato plants, melons, and a variety of peppers, lettuces, herbs, etc., .... I love the appearance of hard pots and do have quite a few of them as well but they are mostly for the pretties. Oh, and tomatoes work better in a larger container - I use ten gallons as a minimum although Roma Tomatoes and a couple others will produce in a 5 gallon if you over fertilize with a good organic fertilizer. Gardener's Supply Co. sells a good variety of the soft sided containers and you can buy them direct from the manufacturer as well with a growing number of other outlets to boot. HOMEGROWN TOMATOES:
There is no substitute for a ripe tomato freshly picked from your own bush. I made a 5 variety salsa last year that people were wanting to buy from me.
Did it break up the soil, or was it already broken up? I keep wondering if it has enough torque ------------------------------------------ "Those who believe the Bible are those who know the least about it". Thomas Paine (1737-1809), author and reformer
I'll be right over with a bottle of Red :) I did some Romas last year, made some sauce, parboiled them to remove skin, then strained to remove seeds, added a little garlic, onion, italian seasoning, etc., even my 20 something twins couldn't get enough, just YUM !! This year I'm trying Pomodoro, an Italian favorite for salsa, and sauce. They grow in grape like clusters.
Here is my little work horse: I've never had to pick up a shovel, take your time, pulling backwards on it seems to work best and dig deepest, but I have used it on established lawn with no trouble. It starts every time. I guess if Honda engines are good enough for Indy 500, they are good enough for me. I tired of the big old tillers, heavy, getting clogged, won't start, storage, etc. Oh, and I have never used it with the little wheel on the back, take it off, you will get much better depth.
Thanks for the tip. I'll have to look into those, especially for the tomatoes. Calling Ron Paul an isolationist is like calling your neighbor a hermit because he doesn't come over and break your window - unknown Jesus said, "Forgive them Father for they know not what they do. Evangelical Fundinuts say, "kill them all who will not bow down to the Zionist Jew." - F.A. Hayek Fan
I could hear the interviewer just fine. But the interviewee was like trying to read lips. I need to dig out my other speakers anyway. ------------------------------------------ "Those who believe the Bible are those who know the least about it". Thomas Paine (1737-1809), author and reformer
watch the full movie vimeo.com/28055108
Another one to try if you can find it is San Marzano Redorta. You can buy them online from Laurel's Heirloom Tomatoes and you can buy the seed online from Tomato Fest. They are larger than the plum tomatoes (about twice the size of Roma) and the best for cooking that I have found - and I have grown 50 to 100 different varieties over the last 20 years. You are most welcome. The brand name for them is "SmartPots" and they do have a web site at smartpots.com but I buy them locally at a discount and don't pay shipping. I'm pretty sure that is who makes them for Gardener's Supply but Gardener's has some custom sizes and shapes that are not available elsewhere. I have them all the way from five gallons up to 100 gallons and at this point have 20+ of them. Another thing that helps a lot with tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, melons, and peppers is to add extra calcium. I tried a liquid organic one from a local hydroponic dealer, where I buy the SmartPots, and it worked really good. Jaune Flamme' (or just Flamme' depending upon who is selling it) is my favorite orange/yellow culinary tomato (an old French heirloom) and they are very susceptible to "Blossom End Rot". When I used the liquid calcium it stopped it cold and I did not lose a single tomato to "Blossom End Rot". Thank You !! I've been looking for a site like that for some time :)
If you can find Louisiana Pear tomatoes, give them a go. When I gardened, they were some of the best, most prolific plants I'd ever seen...even through the heat of our Texas' summers. For the fall crop, I'd just cut all the plants down to about 4-6" keeping the roots intact, and let'em rip for an even better return. Break the Conventions - Keep the Commandments - G.K.Chesterson Glad to help. Laurel is good people - I've spoken with her on the phone, and when there was a goof in one of my orders she bent over backwards to make it right. If you do plant buying and such online then a good reference to know about is "Garden Watchdog". It is part of the "Dave's Garden" website and gives ratings of the best, and worst, online and mail order seed and plant companies. I was happy to find that all of my favorites were already in the top 20 - and that includes Lauel. ;-) Thanks for the reccomendation. I wonder if it is a different name for the small Red Pear heirlooms that I've grown on and off since I started - or before since my mom grew them. If it is I had one get over 12 feet high one year and because the first frost was real late was still picking them up to the week before Thanksgiving. :-)
#2. To: Obnoxicated (#1)
#3. To: PSUSA2 (#0)
(Edited)
#4. To: Obnoxicated, PSUSA2 (#1)
(Edited)
Tiller
#5. To: PSUSA2 (#0)
#6. To: F.A. Hayek Fan, all (#5)
I'm thinking about growing garlic next year.
#7. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#5)
#8. To: Original_Intent, F.A. Hayek Fan, PSUSA2, Obnoxicated (#7)
#9. To: Lysander_Spooner (#8)
#10. To: Lysander_Spooner (#4)
. Last year I used it to start a raised bed garden
#11. To: Original_Intent (#9)
I made a 5 variety salsa last year
#12. To: PSUSA2 (#10)
(Edited)
Did it break up the soil, or was it already broken up?
#13. To: Original_Intent (#7)
A better alternative to hard sided pots are soft sided growing containers made of a permeable fabric. Olefin is the most common. Most of my garden is grown using that type of container or raised beds, and I grow quite a bit - usually around 20 tomato plants, melons, and a variety of peppers, lettuces, herbs, etc., .... I love the appearance of hard pots and do have quite a few of them as well but they are mostly for the pretties. Oh, and tomatoes work better in a larger container - I use ten gallons as a minimum although Roma Tomatoes and a couple others will produce in a 5 gallon if you over fertilize with a good organic fertilizer.
#14. To: Itistoolate (#3)
#15. To: PSUSA2 (#14)
#16. To: Lysander_Spooner (#11)
(Edited)
This year I'm trying Pomodoro, an Italian favorite for salsa, and sauce. They grow in grape like clusters.
#17. To: F.A. Hayek Fan (#13)
Thanks for the tip. I'll have to look into those, especially for the tomatoes.
#18. To: Original_Intent (#16)
San Marzano Redorta. You can buy them online from Laurel's Heirloom Tomatoes
#19. To: Lysander_Spooner, Original_Intent, gardeners, 4 (#18)
#20. To: Lysander_Spooner (#18)
#21. To: Lod (#19)
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