what do you do in your garden that's different?

[cecilsgarden1958]

I put drain holes in back side of bags of potting mix and plant tomato in the front side, then cover bag with mulch. I then erect a teepee above the plant made out of 7' tall bamboo poles.

[Labradors2]

Originally Posted by Tom A To

I like dill to grow everywhere in my garden. i like to catch a whiff when i brush past it. I planted some years ago and have had many many volunteers ever since. When it goes to seed, I whack the top with the back of my hand to spread the seeds.

I also like Society Garlic to grow everywhere. I like that smell to waft thru the garden as well, plus the flowers on it are very nice.

Lastly, I plant Four O'Clocks all around the garden. To me, those flowers have the best smell of any plant, period. They also come back year after year.

Interesting about the Dill. I don't think it likes to grow here on clay as it never re-seeds itself! When I lived in VT it was quite the weed, but great for adding to potato salad as well as for feeding the lavae of the Swallowtail butterfly.

I have read that 4 O'clocks are good for deterring Japanese Beetles. I wonder if it's true?

Linda

[Labradors2]

At one end of my veggie garden I have two 7' "structures" which enable me to use the "greenhouse string" method to tie up my indeterminates. The determinates are caged. I plant Purple Peacock pole beans on the six upright poles which is great for the beans, but I am re-thinking that idea for next year as the beans interfere with air-flow for the tomatoes.

I grow a few Calendula plants to trap aphids and to provide some colour.

My garden is near a huge pond. Most years we pump water into a rain barrel and water from that, but the last two years we've had a lot of rain, so I just water with a watering can, filled with the nutritious pond water.

Oh and I have to add a low fence around the whole garden to keep my dogs out. As it is, they lean over and help themselves to the ripe tomatoes.......

Linda

[Noreaster]

Originally Posted by beeman

A few years ago I got fed up with all the weeds and soil bugs I had to deal with, I had just read an article on soil solarization using clear plastic so decided to try it.
Spread the plastic and waited. Weeds grew like the was no tomorrow, not satisfactory.

So determined to win, decided black plastic would be better. Sure enough, the heat sprouted the seed, but lack of light prevented it growing. Success.

Now I remove the final crops, add compost etc, till and water, then cover with black plastic sheet, tight and weighted down round the edges. It stays like that all winter, in the spring I peel back the plastic and plant.

Advantages. No weeds, even till late in the season. No compaction from snow or rain, and in spite of what has been written healthy soil and plants. We do not suffer with Potato beetles, only if we don't black plastic the area where the plants are growing this year.

This is exactly what we do as well. Use 6mm BLACK plastic to cover all raised beds, all year.

Does a number of things:
1) Prevents weeds.
2) Stabilizes the amount of water in ground.
3)Stabilizes the ground temperature.
4) Slows down the late blight, which hits us every year.

Every April, I cut open the plastic to amend, fertilize, and turn soil, then tape back. Plastic covers are good for 3 years before replacement.
Beds themselves are made with natural pine (afraid to use treated), and rot out after 4 years.











































I open the plastic up every April to amend and turn soi

[Labradors2]

I am using some plastic, but thinking of covering the whole tomato area next year.

How do you water? Drip system, or large holes in the plastic around the plants?

Linda

[COMPOSTER]

Originally Posted by Tom A To

I like dill to grow everywhere in my garden. i like to catch a whiff when i brush past it. I planted some years ago and have had many many volunteers ever since. When it goes to seed, I whack the top with the back of my hand to spread the seeds.

I also like Society Garlic to grow everywhere. I like that smell to waft thru the garden as well, plus the flowers on it are very nice.

Lastly, I plant Four O'Clocks all around the garden. To me, those flowers have the best smell of any plant, period. They also come back year after year.

I have similar volunteers of dill and cilantro. Always brings a smile to my face when I unknowingly brush it and am treated to that wondeful fragrance.

[TNTiger]

I have dill, cilantro, basil and marigolds all around my tomatoes. It looks beautiful and I also love the fragrance - plus, it's really handy to have plenty of herbs when I need them. I plant more cilantro every few weeks just to keep it going!

[Noreaster]

Originally Posted by Labradors2

I am using some plastic, but thinking of covering the whole tomato area next year.

How do you water? Drip system, or large holes in the plastic around the plants?

Linda

Once plastic is set up , I only need to water perhaps 3-4 times for the entire season. Once a month on average.

To plant, I have round holes cut say 6-9 inches diameter, then pack on mulch.
Water by hand, setting a long water extension tool on "soak", holding it close to the mulch to prevent splashing. A good amount of water each time.

And that's it ! Made tomato-ing easy as could be !

[Alfredo]

That's a nice looking garden Labradors2 (Linda). Those tall structures add an appealing vertical element to the design.

~Alfredo

[Labradors2]

Thanks Alfredo . We used large sticks for the cross-members instead of lumber so that it would look rustic.

Linda

[Labradors2]

Originally Posted by Noreaster

Once plastic is set up , I only need to water perhaps 3-4 times for the entire season. Once a month on average.

To plant, I have round holes cut say 6-9 inches diameter, then pack on mulch.
Water by hand, setting a long water extension tool on "soak", holding it close to the mulch to prevent splashing. A good amount of water each time.

And that's it ! Made tomato-ing easy as could be !

Thanks! This year, I made very small holes in the plastic and found it difficult to aim the water at just the right spot from a watering can from some distance away! Larger holes and mulch sound like a good idea, although one year when I put some straw mulch close to the stems, several of my plants had a fungal disease at their crowns.

Linda