Time to till up the soil

[lighter]

We've tilled the garden this week..... will add amendments and till again before planting.

All very exciting for me.  I've had gardens, fairly large gardens, but never one this big before.

And this year we're planting mostly heirloom plants, non GMO, varieties. 

All sorts of wonderful things, some new, some well loved favorites.

Is anyone else planning a garden for this Spring?

Lighter

[sKePTiKal]

We're expecting 2-4 more inches of snow the next couple days, Lighter. I've been flipping through seed catalogs... and the raised beds are built - next step is liners and soil. Meanwhile, I'm doing a ceiling to floor "spring cleaning" - keeps me warm! 

[lighter]

sKep:

We got the soil tilled, and 10/10/10 fertilizer down, before the rain this morning. 

I'm sprouting 5 different varieties of tomato plants, and crossing my fingers on a number of other things.... will have to see

Cleaning and organizing is something I've been driven to knock out too.

Do you think these cold snaps will effect the bugs?

Lighter

[lighter]

When it gets a bit drying, will till up soil once again, and add the lime.

I have SO many seedlings.  So happy about it, began germinating many more.  Pumpkins, and watermelons, and squashes, and cauliflower, and....

turns out parsnip seeds don't last very well.  Have to get new ones, but everything else, everything is doing well.  Leeks, and broccolini and beets, and eggplant and everything. 

Very exciting..... grow light on and aimed at a tray right now.   Trying to figure out what to use as antifungal... cinnamon or charcoal, or tea?  Hmmmm.  Any suggestions?

lighter

[fraidycat]

Can't wait for growing season! We had a harsh winter and still have snow on the ground so it's going to take a while before the soil can be worked. I usually buy over the counter antifungal's that are specific to what I'm trying to treat. I have used homemade treatments for powdery mildew in the past, diluted milk (1 part milk 9 parts water) works for that. If you're worried about dampening off, cinnamon should work. I start my garden in late April and direct seed I also plant transplants from a local nursery when the weather is right so I don't usually have to worry about the early season stuff. Off topic but have you ever tried Readers Digest's gardening by the moon? They have a calender on their website for the best times and days to plant for your region depending on the weather and moon phases. I use it and have had good luck....not sure if the moon phases have anything to do with it though   

[lighter]

Thanks fraidy:

I started using cinnamon, and about that time separated what was left of the long straggely tomatoes..... less than 36 out of 120. 

All the sudden they sturdied, up and got happy.  Whoo hoo. Now, to keep the bottoms moist/wet and the top of the soil dry.... not a drop of water on the leaves, etc.... am using a turkey infuser.  Interesting for children to join in...... about 30 plants left by now, and I have many more germinating, just in case I kill these off too.  Looks good though. 

I put one tomato plant outside, in the sun, for a few hours today.  He was big enough to move to a larger pot, and I wanted to see if the sun helps or hurts...... learning as I go.

Ready to begin fertilizing them soon, as second set of leaves starting to pop out.

I haven't had Reader's Digest in the house since I was a teenager.  Will look it up on the internet.... love the sound of gardening by the moon. 

Obviously, I'm in a warmer climate than you.... already have some beans and snow peas in the garden. 

We removed a boulder..... large enough to seat 8 around the fire pit, from the garden yesterday with heavy equipment.  Always wondered why the tiller skipped there; )

Lighter
ps  Anyone love a particular fertilizer for new seedlings?  Thinking fish emulsion.

[fraidycat]

Sounds great Lighter! When you take them out to harden off start them in the shade for a few hours the first few days then gradually give them more time outside. After a few days they can take sun for a few hours and stay out over night if the weathers nice. It takes about a week to harden off. As far as the fertilizer goes if your potting soil already has fertilizer in it you may not need it, otherwise wait until they have true leaves (not the oval shaped leaves that come first) I till in compost before planting seeds or transplants then use fertilizer a few weeks later. After that about once a month and cut back when the plant sets fruit or flower. Really looking forward to spring this year, we had it rough this winter here. Best of luck!!

[Hopalong]

Awww, these are great Glimpses of Gardens.

Sigh.

Deer.

Hungry brave ones who sleep outside my window half the winter.

Is there any deer fencing that won't cost thousands to install and will still to the job and not be TOTALLY hideous?

Hops

[lighter]

Thanks, fraidy: )

Lots of information..... I moved little plants to bigger pots today. 

Walking meditation.

Hops, I think hog wire is the cheapest, but it's not pretty.   I'm guessing you wouldn't go for the "hog wire with 2 strands of barbed wire at the top version either.

I'm considering hog wiring in a dog run around the hog wired in garden, which the deer neatly hop over from a standstill.   

The possum climb it.

I was going to put the dog at one end of the garden, but those darned deer are SO smart....

they'd figure out they can neatly hop 3 sides, and eat their fill, while the dog barks at them from his lonely end.

lighter

[fraidycat]

I have the Scarecrow motion activated sprinkler for deer, it works great... if you remember to turn it on! It hooks on to your garden hose, I turn it on at dusk and off at dawn but have forgot a few times and took an unexpected shower!         http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7jHYV6nJksw

[lighter]

Hee. 

SO much easier than fencing.

lighter

[fraidycat]

At first I thought it was expensive for what it is (around $60 online) but still the cheapest solution so I gave it a try. I've had mine for about 10 years now and only have to replace the 9 volt battery once a year. It works on other animals too without harming them. Once you figure out what kind of animal or animals that are causing the problem and get to know their habits daytime/nighttime it's very efficient. I'm happy with it and have only had to use it at the beginning of the season for deer, they seem to remember and avoid it. Squirrels are a different story! I envy your early planting times, gardening is very therapeutic.

[lighter]

I'm going OK with tomatoes, beans, Okra, and squash, etc, but the beets, cauliflower, and other tiny little seedling aren't making it.  I find they're getting very thin at the soil line and dying.

I'm using cinnamon but that's not fixing problem.

Any ideas?

lighter

[fraidycat]

Is there a brown discoloration at the base of the plant near the soil line? If there is it is most likely "damping off". It's caused by planting in soil that is too moist and too cold. If there are any plants that aren't affected you can apply some clear plastic on each side of the row to heat the soil and kill the fungus that's causing it. Also there are chemical preventatives that you can use prior to planting, thirim or captain are applied to the seed before planting if your starting over. Delayed plantings don't run as much of a risk of damping off because the weather is warmer. Hope that helps.
 Fraidy

[lighter]

Is there a brown discoloration at the base of the plant near the soil line?Ya....::hanging head::... that. If there is it is most likely "damping off". It's caused by planting in soil that is too moist and too cold. I'll try putting the new seedlings back on the heating pad.  Darnit.  I have a fresh batch of dying eggplants, cauliflower, broccoli, and a few other skinny little hard to keep alive seed varieties.  If there are any plants that aren't affected you can apply some clear plastic on each side of the row to heat the soil and kill the fungus that's causing it. I'm able to picture doing that several overwhelming ways, and so will try another fix for now. Also there are chemical preventatives that you can use prior to planting, thirim or captain hmmmm.... I'm trying to go all organic, non GMO and heirloom, but it might be that I HAVE to do something if I can't figure this thing out.  Maybe a heating pad AND a fan to keep air moving?are applied to the seed before planting if your starting over. Delayed plantings don't run as much of a risk of damping off because the weather is warmer. Hope that helps.  I think I have enough seeds left to actually sew in the ground.  All your tips appreciated and welcome, Fraidy; )  lighter
 Fraidy