Discussion forum for environmentally-friendly alternatives to replace synthetic chemicals and fertilizers.
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#16 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Ohio
Posts: 33
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I just put a load of compost on my garden and it was like black gold.
Than I planted green onions and some strawberries I hope that with the leaf compost that I put on last Fall and the compost that I put on Tuesday my garden will be the best I have ever had. The compost that I just put on they told me to only go 2 inches deep because this compost is very rich and you would only get vines if you went to deep. I am still loking for rock dust. Yes it is warming up here and by the end of May I will put my tomatoes out. |
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#17 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 252
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Sounds like you are off to a good start. Be patient with your progress in cool soil. The folks that use chemical fertilizer may get faster growth at first but you should catch up when the soil warms up.
Glenn |
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#18 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7
Posts: 3,207
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And, manure, its the best! Plus, fish emulsion, kelp and bat guano! Well, I guess bat guano counts as manure,lol. I also love alfalfa pellets from the feed store. The horse cubes come with molasses to hold them together, an added bonus. Soak in water until soft, add a handful to each plant. |
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#19 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Ohio
Posts: 33
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When it comes to weeds what do you do to keep them under control or do you use a per-emerge like Preen?
When coming to alfalfa pellets what is the smallest bag you can get? What does it cost? Here is a BIG QUESTION how do you keep |
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#20 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: zone 6b, PA
Posts: 5,664
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I use a scuffle hoe and mulch with grass clippings/shredded leaves/old straw/hay, etc. sometimes with wet paper under the mulch.
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#21 |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: Connecticut
Posts: 252
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Although weeding is not fun I find it is one of the best ways to observe what is going on in your garden. So, I mostly weed by hand or scuffle hoe as pictured in Kath's post. I'm also experimenting with mulching a couple of beds and find that helps keeps weeds under controll and easier to pull. Not sure you would want to use preen if your objective is to go organic.
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#22 | |
Tomatovillian™
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: California Central Valley
Posts: 2,543
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In my more established gardens, I like to encourage self-seeders, so I've learned to recognize the plants I like and distinguish them from weeds when they first emerge and are no more than a quarter-inch high. They're much easier to weed when they're small! The local pet store where I get my alfalfa pellets sells only one size: 50 lbs. for about $22 with tax. I store it in containers with lids. I need to store it outdoors, so I make sure the containers are watertight. I had a leaky lid one winter and either added the bucketful of alfalfa sludge to the soil or composted it. |
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