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FOOD CORNER => Farming, Gardening, and Raising Your Own Food => Topic started by: stewie on February 12, 2017, 09:49:15 AM

Title: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 12, 2017, 09:49:15 AM
(yesterday) tilled a plot for a garden. maybe 30x20 when all said and done. even with that tiller is was back breaking work and i am a sore puppy today. we added in some compost (alpaca poop) into it and i may also throw in some pig crap too when we turn it again.

This plot is just for the first year - i need to pace myself and not take on more then i can chew. I have some trepidation about gardening because ... i've never really done it larger then a small raised bed planter and never did it from seeds i am sprouting myself. If this pans out like I hope, i will double the size next year.

the plan is for:

lettuce, brocolli, tomatoes, some heirloom corn, spinach, carrots, maybe try potatoes, asparagus (we have this on our land already growing wild believe it or not!) and some others. We found a nice species of heirloom cotton my wife wants to grow for yarn spinning as well.

all seeds are non-gmo heirlooms so i can save them and use again next year.

i am going to put up some ranch fencing around it with a little gate to keep the critters out and i've already installed a nice rain catching system with 2 275 gallon ibc totes about 50 feet from the plot so i hose out there is no issue. more pics down the road as i refine the water system a bit and get the fencing and gate up.

blackland prairie. dirt is BLACK.

(http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj411/fohshizzle/images/51171734-1B2F-4D92-94AD-A639F78115D3_zpsy8x0gsze.jpg) (http://s554.photobucket.com/user/fohshizzle/media/images/51171734-1B2F-4D92-94AD-A639F78115D3_zpsy8x0gsze.jpg.html)

(http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj411/fohshizzle/images/76ED4CE9-EE5E-4E77-A88B-95BFB5555456_zpsvstndot7.jpg) (http://s554.photobucket.com/user/fohshizzle/media/images/76ED4CE9-EE5E-4E77-A88B-95BFB5555456_zpsvstndot7.jpg.html)


Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stlaser on February 12, 2017, 09:54:30 AM
 :likebutton:

Taters are easy, in the future a 3pt mounted tiller saves the back & I bought ours used as they don't get much use (just twice a year) then you can downsize walk behind tiller to use just for weeding. We had a pony tiller for this use. Keep rows wide enough to run current roller thru for weeding is my only suggestion other than doing a soil test. This will help you add exactly what the soil needs so you're not wasting time & effort.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 12, 2017, 10:06:28 AM
:likebutton:

Taters are easy, in the future a 3pt mounted tiller saves the back & I bought ours used as they don't get much use (just twice a year) then you can downsize walk behind tiller to use just for weeding. We had a pony tiller for this use. Keep rows wide enough to run current roller thru for weeding is my only suggestion other than doing a soil test. This will help you add exactly what the soil needs so you're not wasting time & effort.

i think it'll be easier when i till next year. the ground wasnt broken into in a long time and needed alot of encouragement.
the plan is to do the rows going width-wise to allow better runoff from storms. there is a slight grade on the property so i dont want my rows turning into burns.

weeding will be a chore i know.

as for taters, what do u recommend?
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Farmer Jon on February 12, 2017, 11:24:20 AM
Looks good. I have raised beds along with a patch 50 x75 for sweet corn and the viney plants.

I see you have the same problem I have. No wind protection. More than once I've planted small plants only to have the wind blow a day or two later and dry them all out. Partally my fault. I didnt have enough milk jugs to cover them. A lot of the ones I had blew away anyway because I didn't have them staked down good enough.
Last year I got excited and started plants indoors too early. In February. They got tall and spindly it was a mess. None survived. I had to start over. I will start them the middle of next month.
Good luck to you. Save all your grass clippings to put between the rows it will  keep the weeds down.

Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk

Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Farmer Jon on February 12, 2017, 11:28:25 AM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170212/818990d05f2440c1f5c7e25d221926ea.jpg)

This is how we plant my sweet corn. I can't remember the last time I used a tiller.

Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk

Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Wilbur on February 12, 2017, 12:47:03 PM
Looks like a great start! Wind will kill seedlings pdq if you're not careful for sure. I have never had good luck starting seedlings indoors and transplanting them....I've had them get spindly or I kill then trying to harden them for transplant.

As a kid we always mulched the garden with hay. We rarely rototilled it and the hay continues to build nutrients for the soil as well as trapping water really well. That being said it does introduce weeds which need picking occasionally.

I want to try wood chips like this guy uses....I think it will do all the things I want out of cover (weed control, moisture retention and nutrient regen) but not introduce more seeds to the mix. Plus I can't help but enjoy his passion for what he's doing. One of the best parts about our garden is giving fresh produce to neighbors who don't have a garden. There is nothing better than produce that was picked minutes before being served on the table imo.

Www.backtoedenfilm.com

I will warn you the video is pretty long but lots of good stuff in this.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stlaser on February 12, 2017, 01:13:10 PM
We always planted russets & sometimes whatever else the farm store had for options, but mainly russets. I always pulled the dirt mound up 2-3x as well.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 13, 2017, 09:02:58 AM
im not going to plant everything until they're a few weeks old. to the south we have a nice tree line so that will help with the summer winds. for north/west winds i plan to plant the corn to use as a buffer. i've spent a lot of time studying how the winds blow and effect the property. it's much worse in the fall/winter when the surrounding fields do not have any corn growing on them.

as for the potatoes, we're going to grow them in a separate area in buckets/bins and we decided to go with "salad tables" for the lettuce/spinach. Now, i just need to build all this crap.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stlaser on February 13, 2017, 09:05:23 AM
When u start building & planting we will need pics
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 13, 2017, 09:05:30 AM
(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170212/818990d05f2440c1f5c7e25d221926ea.jpg)

This is how we plant my sweet corn. I can't remember the last time I used a tiller.

Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk

im far from that stage of planting. one we get more settled and learn a bit more, i have asked our lease/tenant farmer to teach me a few things. he just rolls up at odd hours of the day with tractors the size of my house. for a city boy, it's quite fascinating, lol.

i think i lost 10 pounds of breakfast tacos and gained 10 pounds of muscle mass between operating that tiller and moving all that rock over the weekend.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 13, 2017, 09:05:56 AM
When u start building & planting we will need pics

yup! ill be posting lots of pictures.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Wilbur on February 13, 2017, 10:10:07 AM
im far from that stage of planting. one we get more settled and learn a bit more, i have asked our lease/tenant farmer to teach me a few things. he just rolls up at odd hours of the day with tractors the size of my house. for a city boy, it's quite fascinating, lol.

One of my Uncles in Maine farmed about 500 acres of potatoes (which was a lot up there)...and with 8 kids they always had a big-a** garden. He layer it out so he could run his JD tractor through it to weed. Was always funny to see him come out of the fields of potatoes and take a few runs through the garden. But it kept the weeds down.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 13, 2017, 01:00:03 PM
im far from that stage of planting. one we get more settled and learn a bit more, i have asked our lease/tenant farmer to teach me a few things. he just rolls up at odd hours of the day with tractors the size of my house. for a city boy, it's quite fascinating, lol.

One of my Uncles in Maine farmed about 500 acres of potatoes (which was a lot up there)...and with 8 kids they always had a big-a** garden. He layer it out so he could run his JD tractor through it to weed. Was always funny to see him come out of the fields of potatoes and take a few runs through the garden. But it kept the weeds down.

ill probably be weeding by hand for a while as i learn more and more. I am an extremely hands on person and often would rather use a shovel and wheelbarrow to get a good workout then some chunk of machinery, but i am aware that the bigger i go, the more of a need machinery will be.

we are also fixing to plant some fruit trees (another subject i dont know much about) opposite the outlet for our tank.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Farmer Jon on February 13, 2017, 01:23:39 PM
Just space your rows so you can go down the rows with a tiller. That will save a ton of work. Or as I said before lay grass clippings. I often use straw out of the chicken coop too.

Sent from my VK810 4G using Tapatalk
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Wilbur on February 13, 2017, 01:49:17 PM
im far from that stage of planting. one we get more settled and learn a bit more, i have asked our lease/tenant farmer to teach me a few things. he just rolls up at odd hours of the day with tractors the size of my house. for a city boy, it's quite fascinating, lol.

One of my Uncles in Maine farmed about 500 acres of potatoes (which was a lot up there)...and with 8 kids they always had a big-a** garden. He layer it out so he could run his JD tractor through it to weed. Was always funny to see him come out of the fields of potatoes and take a few runs through the garden. But it kept the weeds down.

ill probably be weeding by hand for a while as i learn more and more. I am an extremely hands on person and often would rather use a shovel and wheelbarrow to get a good workout then some chunk of machinery, but i am aware that the bigger i go, the more of a need machinery will be.

we are also fixing to plant some fruit trees (another subject i dont know much about) opposite the outlet for our tank.

Stewie watch that video link I posted.....I'm following his lead in the spring....he uses wood chips.....keeps weeds to a minimum (like the grass clippings and better than hey which ive used), it also helps on watering and provides additional nutrients over time. There's no denying his success with it. I wish I had done it years ago.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 13, 2017, 09:47:44 PM
ill watch it tomorrow while i work.

below is my water storage system. it's a work in progress. i plan to replace the garden hose with PVC piping in the next week or so. Right now the water feeds into it via the gutter from my 24' deck. I will however be adding more gutters around the house which means probably 2-3 more totes in the future.

I devised this hose system when we lived in the burbs and wanted to catch rain. i found the "canned" systems to be crappy and actually waste water, so i made up my own which will collect 99%. I say 99%, because 1% overflows out of the funnel cone if the water is rushing hard enough. It's rather simple and only cost about $10 for all the parts. During a single thunderstorm i could collect 50 gallons of water off a 10x16 roof.

Now, i dont expect 550 gallons to last more then a month during the summer, but it's better then running up the water meter! We can always draw from our other 'free' water (our water table is VERY HIGH).

when its all done, i will be building an enclosure around it to keep it safe from the sun, stupid cat and make it a bit more aesthetically pleasing.

(http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj411/fohshizzle/images/2643A7D9-6C8A-42DF-8B1F-E61F40DBEBD1_zpssx8mjghn.jpg) (http://s554.photobucket.com/user/fohshizzle/media/images/2643A7D9-6C8A-42DF-8B1F-E61F40DBEBD1_zpssx8mjghn.jpg.html)

(http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj411/fohshizzle/images/281874C7-50D5-4639-AE37-B3624769468D_zpst4xkgldm.jpg) (http://s554.photobucket.com/user/fohshizzle/media/images/281874C7-50D5-4639-AE37-B3624769468D_zpst4xkgldm.jpg.html)

(http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj411/fohshizzle/images/DD4E06D3-6522-4EEA-84AB-0FC162E58FC6_zpsn4seammb.jpg) (http://s554.photobucket.com/user/fohshizzle/media/images/DD4E06D3-6522-4EEA-84AB-0FC162E58FC6_zpsn4seammb.jpg.html)
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Wilbur on February 13, 2017, 10:22:22 PM
 :likebutton: that looks great. Are you going to tie that with those trickle hoses (I forget what theyre called but they are like a sponge that releases water through the length of them a little at a time) that gradually release the water? I've not used them but have read they're much more efficient than sprinklers etc.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 13, 2017, 10:52:50 PM
:likebutton: that looks great. Are you going to tie that with those trickle hoses (I forget what theyre called but they are like a sponge that releases water through the length of them a little at a time) that gradually release the water? I've not used them but have read they're much more efficient than sprinklers etc.

probably. i tend to water in the evening when the sun isnt as strong so it may be a case of just opening up the spigot and soaking the ground.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: JR on February 14, 2017, 12:49:24 AM
 :likebutton: Great looking system there.

I was told watering early is a little better as you get a good soak in and less evaporation.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 14, 2017, 08:03:13 AM
so its been raining nonstop since 3 am here. I haven't really slept, so ive been checking on the rain collection setup. it's working, BUT i think it's overwhelmed by the water so water is overflowing out of the downspout.

i was going to convert the hose to 3/4" pvc, but i think now i am going to do it 1", possibly 1.25" to avoid losing so much liquid to the ground.

:likebutton: Great looking system there.

I was told watering early is a little better as you get a good soak in and less evaporation.

hmm, i may have to try it. in the 'burbs i did it in the evening. i guess being surrounded by other houses didnt make as much of a difference.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: JR on February 14, 2017, 11:55:13 AM
It also helps control fungus since was another reason.

Now you know every I learned about growing the 1 year I did it. Well it did help my welding skills but I never learned spanish,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 14, 2017, 12:20:42 PM
It also helps control fungus since was another reason.

Now you know every I learned about growing the 1 year I did it. Well it did help my welding skills but I never learned spanish,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

welding is something i wanna learn. I married into a puerto rican family... i can understand the language but only care to know the words required to have someone remove themselves swiftly from my presence, the presence of my family or my property.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on February 14, 2017, 07:05:10 PM
I use overhead sprinklers for my seedlings and then switch over to drip irrigation.  You can get drip hose with emitters every 12 inches.  My set up has a pvs "manifold" I made of pvc with tees to have a drip line going down each row and ties into a duolicate manifold at the other end of the garden.  A simple filter to keep particles out of the drip lines.  You may need a pump from the containers to make it work.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 18, 2017, 09:38:51 AM
I use overhead sprinklers for my seedlings and then switch over to drip irrigation.  You can get drip hose with emitters every 12 inches.  My set up has a pvs "manifold" I made of pvc with tees to have a drip line going down each row and ties into a duolicate manifold at the other end of the garden.  A simple filter to keep particles out of the drip lines.  You may need a pump from the containers to make it work.

can u post pics?

i was messing with the water in the containers yesterday and the flow out on a hose line is just enough to pour water, but pressure isn't the greatest so i will have to put a pump inline with the tank and the hose for sure.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 18, 2017, 09:40:38 AM
Looks like a great start! Wind will kill seedlings pdq if you're not careful for sure. I have never had good luck starting seedlings indoors and transplanting them....I've had them get spindly or I kill then trying to harden them for transplant.

As a kid we always mulched the garden with hay. We rarely rototilled it and the hay continues to build nutrients for the soil as well as trapping water really well. That being said it does introduce weeds which need picking occasionally.

I want to try wood chips like this guy uses....I think it will do all the things I want out of cover (weed control, moisture retention and nutrient regen) but not introduce more seeds to the mix. Plus I can't help but enjoy his passion for what he's doing. One of the best parts about our garden is giving fresh produce to neighbors who don't have a garden. There is nothing better than produce that was picked minutes before being served on the table imo.

Www.backtoedenfilm.com

I will warn you the video is pretty long but lots of good stuff in this.

so i started watching this movie. it's great and has given me a lot to think about. I took down 8 trees last weekend and instead of burning them, we're going to mulch them (just need a mulcher). i dont want to keep tilling the ground. so our plan for next year is to have the "covering" method in place.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Wilbur on February 18, 2017, 07:22:10 PM
It is addictive seeing his success and his methods make so much sense. I got my wife to watch parts ad now she gets why I'm pushing for woodchips. Good luck!
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 23, 2017, 08:46:36 AM
It is addictive seeing his success and his methods make so much sense. I got my wife to watch parts ad now she gets why I'm pushing for woodchips. Good luck!

i need a decent woodchipper. i felled 8 trees the other weekend and they're laying on the shoreline of my pond for final destination.

this weekend we're going to get some of our sprouts in the ground. they're growing SO FAST. We're using all non-gmo heirlooms so we can save seeds.
i need to get a simple fence up around the garden, small door and some trellis for the pees.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Wilbur on February 23, 2017, 09:40:40 AM
That's great....if you have room you might see if any landscapers/tree removal guys might want a place to dump chips (it's what the guy does in the video). If you can save them travel time they might love you for it. I just don't know how rural you are or if that's an option. I am going to get chips from a guy about a mile away...he'll load my trailer easy peasey and I think he wants $5 or $10 a yard. I need about 25-30 yards.

You doing real peas or sugar snaps? When our kids were little I always planted sugar snaps along one end of the garden (35' or so)....planted them every year and never once got a meal for the table. The kids would all line up eating them right off the vine. It was great. No whining for crap snacks. (Not that we ever had junk food anyway but just so great to see them enjoying "fresh" food like that!) Good luck!
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 23, 2017, 10:02:40 AM
That's great....if you have room you might see if any landscapers/tree removal guys might want a place to dump chips (it's what the guy does in the video). If you can save them travel time they might love you for it. I just don't know how rural you are or if that's an option. I am going to get chips from a guy about a mile away...he'll load my trailer easy peasey and I think he wants $5 or $10 a yard. I need about 25-30 yards.

You doing real peas or sugar snaps? When our kids were little I always planted sugar snaps along one end of the garden (35' or so)....planted them every year and never once got a meal for the table. The kids would all line up eating them right off the vine. It was great. No whining for crap snacks. (Not that we ever had junk food anyway but just so great to see them enjoying "fresh" food like that!) Good luck!

i have a wood source after the tornados, i just need the chipper. ill be on the hunt for that stuff next week. we're doing both real and sugar snap. ill probably plant them on the west side to provide some PM shade for the other plants. I am trying to sprout corn, but that's kinda either not working or taking a long time.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Bob Smith on February 23, 2017, 11:52:34 AM
Check with the local road supervisor, if they are chipping along the public roads, they need places to dump the chip truck. Chippers large enough to handle larger branches or trunks will be very costly to a homeowner.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: EL TATE on February 23, 2017, 12:06:26 PM
x2. ^^^ Rented one for my eagle scout project back in the way back and it was 90% of the project budget, but boy did it work! with all the tornado carnage, there's got to be lots of chipping going on and tired guys looking for an easy dump site.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 23, 2017, 02:44:09 PM
good idea. yeah, they're EXPENSIVE. the ghetto ones i see are for like small twigs and all - and they're still $500.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 27, 2017, 09:41:47 PM
when i got back from the office, i got the wood blocked out for the garden. It's a work in progress. I was going to dig post holes but opted against it because i may have to move the garden or expand it so i opted for maximum flexibility. I will add some rebar staked into the ground in a few spots to keep it square. 3' fence will wrap around it with a 36" gate. ill be adding some angle supports on the sides of the posts for looks and support.

salad tables are next up. i will be using ALL leftover and salvaged wood from other projects and stuff i found that was destroyed by the recent storms.

(http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj411/fohshizzle/buroaks/830A7F29-45A9-45BF-B5ED-0B2310F78BE7_zpswkm9jceq.jpg) (http://s554.photobucket.com/user/fohshizzle/media/buroaks/830A7F29-45A9-45BF-B5ED-0B2310F78BE7_zpswkm9jceq.jpg.html)

(http://i554.photobucket.com/albums/jj411/fohshizzle/buroaks/41229FE4-02D7-411C-8206-AD596633B986_zps2pllrpf0.jpg) (http://s554.photobucket.com/user/fohshizzle/media/buroaks/41229FE4-02D7-411C-8206-AD596633B986_zps2pllrpf0.jpg.html)
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Sammconn on February 27, 2017, 10:23:06 PM
Looks great. And if you do expand, no holes is a good thing.
The dirt looks fantastic, hope it produces as well as it looks.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 28, 2017, 08:54:00 AM
Looks great. And if you do expand, no holes is a good thing.
The dirt looks fantastic, hope it produces as well as it looks.

the dirt is nice and fluffy. I need to add more alpaca compost to it and i am trying to source woodchips as well.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Flyin6 on February 28, 2017, 09:12:58 AM
Whitetails must be non existent there. Here in the tuck, our deer would hop that in a NY minute. But what I know of the deer in that part of the country are significantly smaller, and likely not around you in abundance (No trees for cover)
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 28, 2017, 09:25:19 AM
Whitetails must be non existent there. Here in the tuck, our deer would hop that in a NY minute. But what I know of the deer in that part of the country are significantly smaller, and likely not around you in abundance (No trees for cover)

deer arent a problem where i am. the wooded areas a few miles away have a lot of them. my biggest problem is raccoons and coyotes.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Flyin6 on February 28, 2017, 09:43:02 AM
Whitetails must be non existent there. Here in the tuck, our deer would hop that in a NY minute. But what I know of the deer in that part of the country are significantly smaller, and likely not around you in abundance (No trees for cover)

deer arent a problem where i am. the wooded areas a few miles away have a lot of them. my biggest problem is raccoons and coyotes.
5.56...
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on February 28, 2017, 09:56:48 AM
Whitetails must be non existent there. Here in the tuck, our deer would hop that in a NY minute. But what I know of the deer in that part of the country are significantly smaller, and likely not around you in abundance (No trees for cover)

deer arent a problem where i am. the wooded areas a few miles away have a lot of them. my biggest problem is raccoons and coyotes.
5.56...

i think our neighbor's keep the coyotes busy. we've yet to have a problem.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on February 28, 2017, 07:41:12 PM
So I got my soil testing report back from Texas A&M today.  First time I've had my garden soil tested.  All looked OK except i had too much phosphorous, probably from too much mushroom compost.  Best $17 I spent.  I'll post more in my hide/retirement site.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: KensAuto on February 28, 2017, 10:18:22 PM
17 bucks, that's it? Sounds like a heck of a deal for that kind of info.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on May 10, 2017, 09:01:34 AM
so we had a real strong storm about 3 weeks ago. it pretty much leveled the garden and whatever plants were growing. we have 3 surviving tomato plants, the corn is doing well, squash and cucumbers died.

i can honestly say i need to re-work some of this for next year.

So I got my soil testing report back from Texas A&M today.  First time I've had my garden soil tested.  All looked OK except i had too much phosphorous, probably from too much mushroom compost.  Best $17 I spent.  I'll post more in my hide/retirement site.

i gotta get that done.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Wilbur on May 10, 2017, 11:12:15 AM
I got this kit from Amazon. 40 tests for $20. Just saw Walmart has it for $17.50 or so.

Yeesh...crazy link but it's the Environmental Concepts 1662 Test Kit.

https://www.google.com/search?safe=off&client=ms-android-verizon&ei=gZESWbSvDcOiwQTZvZXgBA&q=environmetal+concepts+1662+test+kit&oq=environmetal+concepts+1662+test+kit&gs_l=mobile-gws-serp.3..0i8i13i30k1.39807754.39825052.0.39826065.50.40.1.1.1.0.1110.17961.2-3j4j4j4j10j3.28.0....0...1c.1j4.64.mobile-gws-serp..27.23.13107.3..35i39k1j0i67k1j0i131i67k1j0i10k1j0i13k1j33i22i29i30k1j33i21k1j33i160k1.E25UWGO_nEI#xxri=0
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stlaser on May 10, 2017, 01:38:12 PM
so we had a real strong storm about 3 weeks ago. it pretty much leveled the garden and whatever plants were growing. we have 3 surviving tomato plants, the corn is doing well, squash and cucumbers died.

i can honestly say i need to re-work some of this for next year.

So I got my soil testing report back from Texas A&M today.  First time I've had my garden soil tested.  All looked OK except i had too much phosphorous, probably from too much mushroom compost.  Best $17 I spent.  I'll post more in my hide/retirement site.


 
i gotta get that done.

Greenhouse those plants that are prone to the high winds and then once spring storm season passes I would then replant to the garden. Up north this is how may of the "pros" do it so they have early product for the farmers markets that start popping up here just before memorial day.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stlaser on June 25, 2017, 12:40:44 AM
Update?
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on January 15, 2018, 09:11:07 AM
Update?

so 2017 was a very hard year for us. Rewarding but hard. we lost almost our whole garden during a terrible storm, but now we have sheep and goats and more chickens.

We shifted focus to the barn which is literally falling apart. that will be my project for most of the year along with this (http://real-man-truckworks-and-survival.com/index.php?topic=3268.0).
The barn needs to be systematically demo'd. the animals reside in one part now, so i need to make a temp structure (going to get a shed from home depot) before demoing the structure.
I hope to re-use the inner materials for other project but everything that faces the elements is rotted out.

i finally got the mini range setup and berms built courtesy of a friend who let me borrow his backhoe for a weekend. so i can actually enjoy myself on occasion.

it was so dry post-harvey i had the chance to get into the pond (tank) and get rid of all the trees and brush. it was so dry i was able to drive my car into it at one point. That took me 2 months of daily cardio and 3 chainsaw chains later it's done.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: KensAuto on January 15, 2018, 11:23:08 AM
Good to see you back....and remember to post pics !!
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on January 15, 2018, 11:25:37 AM
Good to see you back....and remember to post pics !!

photo bucket got cheap so i need a new hosting service, but i will.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stlaser on January 15, 2018, 11:32:06 AM
Imgur, nice to see you’re still plugging away. Couple different guys have asked about you from here over the last few months btw so you have not been forgotten.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on January 15, 2018, 11:37:36 AM
Imgur, nice to see you’re still plugging away. Couple different guys have asked about you from here over the last few months btw so you have not been forgotten.

busy. check my thread in the parenting area and it'll give u more updates.
stewie is alive and well.

i may need to make my own 2017 stewie thread.
i put myself in the hospital making honey wine, too.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Farmer Jon on January 15, 2018, 07:49:13 PM
Depending on how bad the barn is it might be cheaper to throw a match to it and build a pole shed. My barn is falling down but its so handy. I'd like to tear it down and put up a new shed.

Sent from my P008 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on January 15, 2018, 08:27:08 PM
Depending on how bad the barn is it might be cheaper to throw a match to it and build a pole shed. My barn is falling down but its so handy. I'd like to tear it down and put up a new shed.

Sent from my P008 using Tapatalk

there is much salvageable material in it, especially electric. i would LOVE to set it ablaze, but id kick myself in the butt afterwards.

we're going to get a portable garage (14x32') as a replacement and customize it a bit.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on January 15, 2018, 08:34:14 PM
Stewie, great to see you back.  I got a 1/2 acre piece of land out front of our property that I plan to plant a big garden, fruit trees and berry bushes at some point....but I'm buried over in a building project that is going on 5 months now.....
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on January 15, 2018, 08:36:08 PM
Stewie, great to see you back.  I got a 1/2 acre piece of land out front of our property that I plan to plant a big garden, fruit trees and berry bushes at some point....but I'm buried over in a building project that is going on 5 months now.....

ha, i have the same. i need to set it all ablaze soon and get wildflowers down for my bees (that's another exciting story i need to tell).

2017 taught me me that i am one man, and a limited resource. i have to plans and prioritize.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Farmer Jon on January 15, 2018, 09:00:27 PM
Stewie, great to see you back.  I got a 1/2 acre piece of land out front of our property that I plan to plant a big garden, fruit trees and berry bushes at some point....but I'm buried over in a building project that is going on 5 months now.....

ha, i have the same. i need to set it all ablaze soon and get wildflowers down for my bees (that's another exciting story i need to tell).

2017 taught me me that i am one man, and a limited resource. i have to plans and prioritize.
My first garden was big and more than I could handle. So much so that I gave up on it for years. I just got tired of it. It was too much work. When I got back into it I started small. Now I know what I can handle and add a little bit every year.

Sent from my P008 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Flyin6 on January 16, 2018, 08:34:08 AM
Stewie, great to see you back.  I got a 1/2 acre piece of land out front of our property that I plan to plant a big garden, fruit trees and berry bushes at some point....but I'm buried over in a building project that is going on 5 months now.....

ha, i have the same. i need to set it all ablaze soon and get wildflowers down for my bees (that's another exciting story i need to tell).

2017 taught me me that i am one man, and a limited resource. i have to plans and prioritize.
My first garden was big and more than I could handle. So much so that I gave up on it for years. I just got tired of it. It was too much work. When I got back into it I started small. Now I know what I can handle and add a little bit every year.

Sent from my P008 using Tapatalk


I think when it comes to "right-sizing" gardens the (not) redneck from texas has the concept perfected. Raised planting beds, overhead watering, composted soils, inside a critter proof cage. Do the mulching thing (Careful to keep your truck far away, mind you) and the weed growth should be minimal. His garden has been a model I wish to copy IF I EVER GET ANYTHING DONE DOWN THERE!
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on January 16, 2018, 04:37:26 PM
Thanks Don.  I will say that I've learned a few lessons along the way.

1.  too much compost is not a good thing.  I now have an over abundance of phosphorous.
2. A soil test from a local ag extension is a must to prevent item #1
3. You really need support from your family to weed and harvest or it gets overwhelming
4. If I had to do over I would like the sides of the enclosure lift up or swing open to make harvesting and maintaining easier.  It gets crowded in there
5. If you are going to go organic, as I have, make sure you have a good resource on pest prevention.  By the time I figured out what was eating my stuff, I lost a bunch of it.
6. In my climate, I need to start seeds indoors well in advance to keep the costs down.  Project number 827 will be a greenhouse to start seeds in during the winter.  LED grow lights are really cheap and affordable nowadays compared to the big power hungry metal halide and high pressure sodium of the past.
7.  One side benefit of having the top covered in wire is that you have built in trellising.  I tie twine to the wire and then to the cages and train the plants up on it.

I still have lots to learn, mainly how to not get over crowded, what works in my location, etc.

On a side note, I ordered some of these

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LE4RGOE/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s02?ie=UTF8&psc=1

to keep on hand.  I'm a big fan of non GMO heirloom

As for the larger garden, that will be another learning process but I have commitment from the family to help and still plan on automatic watering.  As I contemplate retirement, I hope to have enough experience by then to have a high performing garden and orchard by the time I retire.  I figure I have about 10 years to figure it out.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Bob Smith on January 16, 2018, 08:14:53 PM
I think you really need to look at that from the children's eyes. I really hated gardens while growing up
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on January 16, 2018, 08:58:27 PM
Interesting point Bob and thanks for the perspective. I look back on tending the garden with my parents and grandparent with fondness.  At the time, not so much.

My kids are on board. I’m not forcing them but they get the importance of pitching in for something that benefits the family.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Bob Smith on January 16, 2018, 09:48:50 PM
I can understand the family benefits side but when forced to weed water and harvest when the lake was calling was hard to swallow. I do not look back at fond memories of the garden or berry patches.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: JR on January 17, 2018, 12:45:31 AM
I would never get anything done with a backyard like that. Maybe when I retire, er wait,,,,,,,,,, :rolleyes:
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Mrwoody on January 17, 2018, 03:51:23 AM
Tex,
Try "Five acres and independence ".  It's an old (1940's) book but the information is solid and gives good info for gardens and distances between fruit trees
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: TexasRedNeck on January 17, 2018, 06:28:33 AM
Bob, that's idyllic.  wow.

Wood, I have that book.  Just need to find it now.....
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: stewie on January 17, 2018, 08:12:29 AM
i have a "black thumb" and kill anything i touch. Luckily my mother in law is living on the property now and she can grow anything.

Give that woman chicken wire and a cd player and you got the garden of eden in a few months.

I do plan to build a green house as that level of sustainability is on our radar.

But... barn first.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Flyin6 on January 17, 2018, 12:35:40 PM
i have a "black thumb" and kill anything i touch. Luckily my mother in law is living on the property now and she can grow anything.

Give that woman chicken wire and a cd player and you got the garden of eden in a few months.

I do plan to build a green house as that level of sustainability is on our radar.

But... barn first.
Stew,
Watch for the upcoming geo-dome greenhouse/fish farm thing I plan to build some day, err, week, err month, err year, errr, someday.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: cudakidd53 on January 17, 2018, 02:11:17 PM
i have a "black thumb" and kill anything i touch. Luckily my mother in law is living on the property now and she can grow anything.

Give that woman chicken wire and a cd player and you got the garden of eden in a few months.

I do plan to build a green house as that level of sustainability is on our radar.

But... barn first.
Stew,
Watch for the upcoming geo-dome greenhouse/fish farm thing I plan to build some day, err, week, err month, err year, errr, someday.

Don, as I read your post, all I can think of is the Pauly Shore/Stephen Baldwin movie "Bio-dome".... :facepalm:
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Flyin6 on January 17, 2018, 05:36:23 PM
i have a "black thumb" and kill anything i touch. Luckily my mother in law is living on the property now and she can grow anything.

Give that woman chicken wire and a cd player and you got the garden of eden in a few months.

I do plan to build a green house as that level of sustainability is on our radar.

But... barn first.
Stew,
Watch for the upcoming geo-dome greenhouse/fish farm thing I plan to build some day, err, week, err month, err year, errr, someday.

Don, as I read your post, all I can think of is the Pauly Shore/Stephen Baldwin movie "Bio-dome".... :facepalm:
Didn't that place go up for sale a few years back?
Title: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: wyorunner on January 18, 2018, 10:56:49 PM
i have a "black thumb" and kill anything i touch. Luckily my mother in law is living on the property now and she can grow anything.

Give that woman chicken wire and a cd player and you got the garden of eden in a few months.

I do plan to build a green house as that level of sustainability is on our radar.

But... barn first.
Stew,
Watch for the upcoming geo-dome greenhouse/fish farm thing I plan to build some day, err, week, err month, err year, errr, someday.

Don, as I read your post, all I can think of is the Pauly Shore/Stephen Baldwin movie "Bio-dome".... :facepalm:
Didn't that place go up for sale a few years back?

I think UofA in Tucson owns it. It’s north of Tucson about 45 minutes.

Here’s the link, I’m pretty sure this is what the shore/Baldwin movie was based off of....

http://biosphere2.org

Interesting place.
Title: Re: First time @ large(r) scale gardening.
Post by: Flyin6 on January 19, 2018, 08:51:56 PM
I remember flying over it a few times

Was doing paradrops for the Seals

Came down out of altitude with an hour to spare and went lookin' for mischief...

So we came across that glass thing and one of the crew chiefs says, "Hey, Big-D, if you come right across the top of that thing at about 150 knots, I'll bet you can crack a bunch of those windows"

So we did!
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