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Gardens
Nov 3, 2021 8:12:20 GMT -7
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bear likes this
Post by higs on Nov 3, 2021 8:12:20 GMT -7
Killing frost confirmed. The plants that weren't under the tarp are mush. The four hot lemons under the tarp look to have made it through the night, but the thai that was just covered with a fleece is zapped. That is the one with like 100 green chiles on it still. I'm considering freezing half and drying the other half. Maybe I'll fire up the smoker. There are also more than 100 hot lemons that are still green. That sounds like another fun experiment. |
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Post by higs on Nov 4, 2021 14:18:04 GMT -7
The last harvest from outside. There must have been 200 thai chiles on that one plant. A lot of the thai chiles froze slightly, so I didn't keep all of them. I bagged up 6 dozen and put them in the freezer. I picked out the biggest ones that didn't freeze to smoke. Maybe 4 or 5 dozen. I put 3 dozen or so in the dehydrator, but I'm not sure they are going to be any good after they froze slightly. They don't look right, like you can almost see through them. I pitched the smallest ones because they were so mushy, maybe another 3 or 4 dozen. I wish that I would have picked them a day sooner. Im not completely certain that the ones that froze are even safe to eat after freezing then sitting in the sun all day. The ajis in the foreground are in good shape except for a dozen or so that were against the tarp. I counted them for curiosity and there are 155! They would have ripened to yellow like the two to the right, but are still usable green. I'm going to smoke a bunch of them too.  |
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Post by dbg465285 on Dec 15, 2021 19:45:46 GMT -7
First of the broccolini  |
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Gardens
Jan 9, 2022 16:51:57 GMT -7
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Post by bear on Jan 9, 2022 16:51:57 GMT -7
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Post by SolarGarlic 🧀 on Jan 18, 2022 15:08:54 GMT -7
I’m lazy and don’t feel like reading this whole thread but for those that do raised beds, how are you initially filling them?
I’m finally a point where I have time for a garden and it’s the complete opposite of gardening in Illinois because the “soil” is straight SAND.
I’ve read a bunch of different ways but would like your input.
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Post by bussit on Jan 18, 2022 15:19:58 GMT -7
1st I would come up with a system for composting food. Compost tumblers are good. The dirt will be rich and free
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Post by SolarGarlic 🧀 on Jan 18, 2022 15:23:51 GMT -7
That’s part of the plan
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Post by higs on Jan 18, 2022 15:26:23 GMT -7
I spent way too much money buying soil over the past few years. It will take A LOT of bagged soil to fill a bed. Look for a landscaper or greenhouse that will deliver top soil by the scoop or see if you can pick it up if a truck is accessible. You're gambling what kind of soil you are really getting, though. I don't have a good answer. My method of gardening is not even remotely cost effective, but it might be cheaper than go to a therapist. Bah dum bum...
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Gardens
Jan 18, 2022 15:29:06 GMT -7
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Post by higs on Jan 18, 2022 15:29:06 GMT -7
I have a mound of sod and top soil out back I've been compiling for years and I add compost to it, but I know that it will have weed seeds in it and haven't used any in the raised beds.
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Gardens
Jan 18, 2022 15:30:03 GMT -7
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Post by SolarGarlic 🧀 on Jan 18, 2022 15:30:03 GMT -7
So you just do straight soil? I’ve seen people doing all kinds of shit with cardboard and tree limbs etc.
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Post by higs on Jan 18, 2022 15:33:38 GMT -7
I have four carts of seeds going on different sites. This is insane. I need a few acres where I can really get serious. I think I have about 30 different types of peppers between them and I'm trying to widdle it down to what I can defend to myself as a reasonable amount.
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Post by higs on Jan 18, 2022 15:38:22 GMT -7
So you just do straight soil? I’ve seen people doing all kinds of shit with cardboard and tree limbs etc. I've used cardboard, once a couple years ago to make potato towers, and in spots to lay flat and kill weeds and grass a few times. I have a bin/cage that I made out of chicken wire where I compost tree leaves, but I don't try to compost sticks or anything. I like to mulch with straw, but I will use landscape cloth under it usually. You can reuse the cloth most of the time unless it is really poor quality. You shouldn't need cloth in a newer bed, though. |
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Post by SolarGarlic 🧀 on Jan 18, 2022 15:45:40 GMT -7
I have four carts of seeds going on different sites. This is insane. I need a few acres where I can really get serious. I think I have about 30 different types of peppers between them and I'm trying to widdle it down to what I can defend to myself as a reasonable amount. Me too with the seeds. It’s easy to get out of hand. It’s also interesting being in a different growing zone vs gardening in the Midwest |
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Post by bussit on Jan 18, 2022 17:33:17 GMT -7
So you just do straight soil? I’ve seen people doing all kinds of shit with cardboard and tree limbs etc. I do straight soil and it works well but I've only been at it for a few years so there might be better methods. This last year I mixed blood, bone, and chicken shit in it. |
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Gardens
Jan 18, 2022 18:06:44 GMT -7
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Post by higs on Jan 18, 2022 18:06:44 GMT -7
I typically dress a bed that I'm about to sow with seed or transplants with bone and blood meal, but I've also found that the skunks or racoons like it too, so they might dig in it. I've been using this this past few years to dress the soil at planting and have had good results. It doesn't take much, just a fine layer and then I work it in with a rake, hoe, or cultivator. I've had good results. drearth.com/product/home-grown/ |
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Post by Amster on Jan 18, 2022 18:28:21 GMT -7
Depending on the size, yard or half yard of soil and equivalent of compost, if possible. If you can get soil and a bunch of big bags of compost, that might work. It's hard to say knowing your soil and climate is so much different.
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Post by higs on Jan 25, 2022 12:17:46 GMT -7
I ordered a bunch of seeds. Too many, but this will be fun.
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Post by higs on Feb 7, 2022 14:06:28 GMT -7
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Post by Not your moms 🌮 on Feb 7, 2022 14:38:22 GMT -7
I need to start planning this year's garden. Last year was the smallest and least effort in several years. It was easy. But by fall I was wishing we had grown more. Need to decide my desired effort/reward ratio.
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Gardens
Feb 7, 2022 15:37:59 GMT -7
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higs likes this
Post by SolarGarlic 🧀 on Feb 7, 2022 15:37:59 GMT -7
I have a tray of seeds going but of course the one thing I’m most excited about (sport peppers) hasn’t done anything. Hopefully it just needs more time
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