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Post by Raeven on May 2, 2015 3:26:27 GMT
I just thought of another possible problem that I can foresee with using a cover crop.
I like to companion plant and do quite a bit of it. Actually I do it in every garden bed and it seems to be working quite well for me. Part of that is to include garlic and onions in the front of the beds and then have peppers and basil behind that with the tomatoes in the back row. The garlic is planted in the fall, the onion in early spring and the tomatoes and such in late spring. I guess that I am going to have hybrid beds that will be have some things already growing in it, some parts covered with straw and the rest planted with a cover crop.
This is getting very complicated, my brain is smoking, the hockey game is over and I am tired. LOL, go to bed... you're making it too hard. It'll all look easier in the morning!!
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2015 17:18:15 GMT
So when you figure it out you are going to share your newfound know-how?
LOL, here's a link I like: Pay Attention!!
Nice article at the other end of that link. It reinforced my desire to continue using a cover crop on at least some of the beds that I have. I still do not understand why you thought that the title of the article was "Pay Attention!!"....
I just thought of another possible problem that I can foresee with using a cover crop.
I like to companion plant and do quite a bit of it. Actually I do it in every garden bed and it seems to be working quite well for me. Part of that is to include garlic and onions in the front of the beds and then have peppers and basil behind that with the tomatoes in the back row. The garlic is planted in the fall, the onion in early spring and the tomatoes and such in late spring. I guess that I am going to have hybrid beds that will be have some things already growing in it, some parts covered with straw and the rest planted with a cover crop.
This is getting very complicated, my brain is smoking, the hockey game is over and I am tired. LOL, go to bed... you're making it too hard. It'll all look easier in the morning!!
Well I took your advice, went to sleep, got up in the morning, went out to the garden, looked around a bit and came to the conclusion that if I continue to companion plant I am going to have some beds planted in the fall with certain things, parts covered with straw and yet other parts planted with a cover crop.
I did have many beds this past winter that had garlic planted in the fall and either straw or a cover crop covering the rest. Now I will just have to plan for all three in a few beds. It is not a huge problem. It just requires a little thinking and prior planning. It will make cutting down the cover crop a little more interesting!
I am not even close to giving up on the companion planting. Last year was only the second year that I utilized it and the first year that I went with it full throttle, while in the first year it was just adhered to a little in certain areas. The first year I noticed what seemed to be a better crop output and less bad bugs. Last year I had almost no problems with bugs and some really great harvests from those vegetables that did not drown from the heavy rains. This year, so far, the only bug problem that I have experienced was with seedlings while still in their trays in the house. Still not sure where those came from. Hopefully the third year will be a charm!!!
If I can just figure out a way to keep the feral cats and neighborhood dogs out of my garden. The rabbit problem was solved with one bow shot and then put in the freezer.
I have found a single cabbage worm all year so far. I read somewhere that birds eat at gardener's tomatoes simply for their water content. I have since placed two bird baths at opposite ends of the garden and have seen the birds starting to use them. Hopefully the bird baths will take care of that problem.
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Post by Deleted on May 2, 2015 23:14:00 GMT
Yeah, TRe, you have to work with the best option for you. (As in many things in life.) I'm most definitely going to consult and use that Comp. Pltng. spreadsheet you gave me for this year, wherever I can. Didn't buy what was on my wish list this winter. so like all things Karl, it'll be a work in progress. Like your bird bath solution! I'll have to get back to you later, though, on what parts of the sprdsht. I'll be able to do this year. Right now I gotta load up a wheelbarrow full of wood for this years first fire pit night. CD's ready in truck? Check! Wheat beer on ice? Check! Whoo! Hoo!
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Post by Raeven on May 2, 2015 23:26:08 GMT
Sounds like a lovely night, Karl! Enjoy every minute! Happy Hef Night!! TRellis, I am fond of companion planting as well and would never give up on it. I suppose it depends on what combinations you particularly like, but with just the straw, I had no issues. I'd guess you've got something particular in mind to mix your mulches as you're planning to do. I'll be keeping an eye on your progress. Glad you got a good night's sleep and things looked better in the morning.
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2015 0:47:12 GMT
Yeah, TRe, you have to work with the best option for you. (As in many things in life.) I'm most definitely going to consult and use that Comp. Pltng. spreadsheet you gave me for this year, wherever I can. Didn't buy what was on my wish list this winter. so like all things Karl, it'll be a work in progress. Like your bird bath solution! I'll have to get back to you later, though, on what parts of the sprdsht. I'll be able to do this year. Right now I gotta load up a wheelbarrow full of wood for this years first fire pit night. CD's ready in truck? Check! Wheat beer on ice? Check! Whoo! Hoo!
Whenever you have a question about what is on the spreadsheet, just drop me a line.
And have a good time this evening. Do not set yourself on fire!!!
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2015 0:51:26 GMT
TRellis, I am fond of companion planting as well and would never give up on it. I suppose it depends on what combinations you particularly like, but with just the straw, I had no issues. I'd guess you've got something particular in mind to mix your mulches as you're planning to do. I'll be keeping an eye on your progress. Glad you got a good night's sleep and things looked better in the morning.
LOL...
You have no idea as to how far I have gone with companion planting.
I really think that I am doing much more than the average person. I even companion plant when I do container gardening.
It is a jungle out there in my garden.
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Post by Raeven on May 3, 2015 0:53:13 GMT
Well, tell us!! Don't keep all this hard-won knowledge to yourself!! Good grief, man, what do you think a Gardening forum is for??
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Post by Deleted on May 3, 2015 1:08:38 GMT
Well, tell us!! Don't keep all this hard-won knowledge to yourself!! Good grief, man, what do you think a Gardening forum is for??
You have to ask nicely and say the "Magic Word"!!!
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Post by Raeven on May 3, 2015 1:14:43 GMT
Well, tell us!! Don't keep all this hard-won knowledge to yourself!! Good grief, man, what do you think a Gardening forum is for??
You have to ask nicely and say the "Magic Word"!!!
I don't think they allow that sort of language on this forum...
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Post by bowdonkey on May 3, 2015 17:48:00 GMT
I just thought of another possible problem that I can foresee with using a cover crop.
I like to companion plant and do quite a bit of it. Actually I do it in every garden bed and it seems to be working quite well for me. Part of that is to include garlic and onions in the front of the beds and then have peppers and basil behind that with the tomatoes in the back row. The garlic is planted in the fall, the onion in early spring and the tomatoes and such in late spring. I guess that I am going to have hybrid beds that will have some things already growing in it, some parts covered with straw and the rest planted with a cover crop.
This is getting very complicated, my brain is smoking, the hockey game is over and I am tired. Which hockey game ya watching?
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Post by Deleted on May 11, 2015 14:39:13 GMT
When I get straw, I do inquire about how seed-free it is. Some straw bales are better than others, that's sure. It also helps that I run my chickens over it as soon as I lay it down. LOL, they'd clean up every seed they could find! I lay it out in full flakes, which are quite thick over the cardboard. I had one little patch that sprouted wheat... it was easy to pull up. I just laid fresh flakes over the sprouted bits and that took care of the problem.
Guess I need some chickens. When I tried it I got a nice crop of wheat.
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Post by here to stay on May 11, 2015 14:49:57 GMT
When I get straw, I do inquire about how seed-free it is. Some straw bales are better than others, that's sure. It also helps that I run my chickens over it as soon as I lay it down. LOL, they'd clean up every seed they could find! I lay it out in full flakes, which are quite thick over the cardboard. I had one little patch that sprouted wheat... it was easy to pull up. I just laid fresh flakes over the sprouted bits and that took care of the problem.
Guess I need some chickens. When I tried it I got a nice crop of wheat.
As have I had rice with rice straw, oats with oat straw. I have even had self planted rice make rice heads and harvested them. At least they are annuals. The only straw I've had that hasn't had sprouts is rye and that takes forever to break down.
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Post by whisperwindkat on May 13, 2015 10:58:15 GMT
I have been doing some reading on no-till gardening and I like what are said to be many of the advantages of gardening with this method.
I just have not been able to reconcile in my mind the no-till part with growing a cover crop and tilling it under for use as a green manure.
Can someone explain no-till gardening to me or at least point me toward some good reading about it (with step-by-step instructions), especially as it pertains to using this method in conjunction with raised beds? I don't till. I use permaculture and biodynamic techniques with permanent pathways and beds. When I changed over to this way of gardening I did double dig most of my beds like the biodynamic purists said to. However, with the last few beds I gave out and just threw loads of compost on top. Those beds are just as nice and grow veggies just as well as the double dug beds. I don't use a cover crop. When I close up the garden for the season I add a thick layer of compost and then a thick layer of mulch. Once I made the switch, my garden life became pleasant and we grew more food and have healthier plants. I love having the permanent beds because it makes the work so much easier and definitely less. I also use a lot less water. I have fewer weeds and what weeds need removing are very easy to weed by hand. I keep a heavy layer of mulch on my pathways. And then some weeds I simply let be because the plants are outgrowing the weeds and choking them out. The best way to learn is to google permaculture or biodynamic garden methods or even French potager gardens. My beds are not raised beds they are mounds so that I can plant the top and the sides, increasing my production area per bed. I love gardening this way...can you tell?! Blessings, Kat
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Post by Ken on May 13, 2015 14:16:04 GMT
I don't till. I use permaculture and biodynamic techniques with permanent pathways and beds. When I changed over to this way of gardening I did double dig most of my beds like the biodynamic purists said to. However, with the last few beds I gave out and just threw loads of compost on top. Those beds are just as nice and grow veggies just as well as the double dug beds. I don't use a cover crop. When I close up the garden for the season I add a thick layer of compost and then a thick layer of mulch. Once I made the switch, my garden life became pleasant and we grew more food and have healthier plants. I love having the permanent beds because it makes the work so much easier and definitely less. I also use a lot less water. I have fewer weeds and what weeds need removing are very easy to weed by hand. I keep a heavy layer of mulch on my pathways. And then some weeds I simply let be because the plants are outgrowing the weeds and choking them out. The best way to learn is to google permaculture or biodynamic garden methods or even French potager gardens. My beds are not raised beds they are mounds so that I can plant the top and the sides, increasing my production area per bed. I love gardening this way...can you tell?! Blessings, Kat I've been reading Gaia's Garden, good stuff. For all the mulching and composting you are doing, is that material coming from your land or are you bringing it in? That seems to be the big problem I see with people wanting to 're-green' desert areas, etc., is that they have to bring in all this mulch/compost to get things started. Once a good 'forest' is established with sacrificial trees, bushes, etc., those can be used for mulch. Have any pictures of your garden you want to share?
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Post by whisperwindkat on May 14, 2015 4:40:22 GMT
I don't till. I use permaculture and biodynamic techniques with permanent pathways and beds. When I changed over to this way of gardening I did double dig most of my beds like the biodynamic purists said to. However, with the last few beds I gave out and just threw loads of compost on top. Those beds are just as nice and grow veggies just as well as the double dug beds. I don't use a cover crop. When I close up the garden for the season I add a thick layer of compost and then a thick layer of mulch. Once I made the switch, my garden life became pleasant and we grew more food and have healthier plants. I love having the permanent beds because it makes the work so much easier and definitely less. I also use a lot less water. I have fewer weeds and what weeds need removing are very easy to weed by hand. I keep a heavy layer of mulch on my pathways. And then some weeds I simply let be because the plants are outgrowing the weeds and choking them out. The best way to learn is to google permaculture or biodynamic garden methods or even French potager gardens. My beds are not raised beds they are mounds so that I can plant the top and the sides, increasing my production area per bed. I love gardening this way...can you tell?! Blessings, Kat I've been reading Gaia's Garden, good stuff. For all the mulching and composting you are doing, is that material coming from your land or are you bringing it in? That seems to be the big problem I see with people wanting to 're-green' desert areas, etc., is that they have to bring in all this mulch/compost to get things started. Once a good 'forest' is established with sacrificial trees, bushes, etc., those can be used for mulch. Have any pictures of your garden you want to share? I have loads of mulch here. Lots of large pine, oak and pecan trees all provide mulch. I always have spilled hay in the barn after winter that mulches the beds that really need it most. when I started my first compost pile years ago, I did have to bring in material to build it up. I embarrassed the daylights out of my oldest daughter when I would stop and pick up bags of yard trimmings every time we went into town. I would add the barn cleanings and gradually built a very large pile. I also had a friend who would dump his barn cleanings in a pile on my property. He lived within city limits and would be fined if he let it get too big. so when he cleaned his stalls he would put it straight onto his flatbed trailer, when the trailer was full he would bring it over. I baked him bread, cakes and eventually had enough produce that I could share with him. It was a win win. Now, having had all of that the first year allowed me to get ahead. I now have several piles that all come from my property. I deep bed all the barns in the winter, so I have lots to clean out in the spring. I do need to take pictures because the garden is really coming together this year. I am still planting, but it is really taking shape and looking to be a good year. Hope I didn't jinx it by just saying that. I will try to take pictures tomorrow and figure out how to post on here. blessings, Kat
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Post by Ken on May 14, 2015 14:26:54 GMT
I have loads of mulch here. Lots of large pine, oak and pecan trees all provide mulch. I always have spilled hay in the barn after winter that mulches the beds that really need it most. when I started my first compost pile years ago, I did have to bring in material to build it up. I embarrassed the daylights out of my oldest daughter when I would stop and pick up bags of yard trimmings every time we went into town. I would add the barn cleanings and gradually built a very large pile. I also had a friend who would dump his barn cleanings in a pile on my property. He lived within city limits and would be fined if he let it get too big. so when he cleaned his stalls he would put it straight onto his flatbed trailer, when the trailer was full he would bring it over. I baked him bread, cakes and eventually had enough produce that I could share with him. It was a win win. Now, having had all of that the first year allowed me to get ahead. I now have several piles that all come from my property. I deep bed all the barns in the winter, so I have lots to clean out in the spring. I do need to take pictures because the garden is really coming together this year. I am still planting, but it is really taking shape and looking to be a good year. Hope I didn't jinx it by just saying that. I will try to take pictures tomorrow and figure out how to post on here. blessings, Kat Sounds terrific Kat! I am sooo anxious to find some property and get started with permaculture. Looking forward to some pics.
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Post by oneraddad on May 18, 2015 1:34:53 GMT
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Post by elkhound on May 18, 2015 17:15:21 GMT
oneraddad...i love seeing all you do on the homestead.one thing i have done this year is after trying out a much more sturdy and permanent trellis system i added more this year.another thing is i decided to grow a greater variety of tomatoes too. i have rutgers,golden jubilee,mortgage lifters,purple cherokee,husky,black cherry and the jerusalem tomato i been breeding and raising for over 20 years...one thing i am doing is i have a russian tomato i am growing out in my isolated garden to save seed from.i planted about an acre of sorghum last week too.its already getting very dry here and i am getting a bit worried if i can get seed to sprout.
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2015 0:10:25 GMT
whisperwindkat, Just out of curiosity... ... How wide are your actual garden beds and how wide are the pathways? Also, do you rotate your crops at all?
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Post by Deleted on May 21, 2015 0:15:00 GMT
I just thought of another possible problem that I can foresee with using a cover crop.
I like to companion plant and do quite a bit of it. Actually I do it in every garden bed and it seems to be working quite well for me. Part of that is to include garlic and onions in the front of the beds and then have peppers and basil behind that with the tomatoes in the back row. The garlic is planted in the fall, the onion in early spring and the tomatoes and such in late spring. I guess that I am going to have hybrid beds that will have some things already growing in it, some parts covered with straw and the rest planted with a cover crop.
This is getting very complicated, my brain is smoking, the hockey game is over and I am tired. Which hockey game ya watching?
LOL... I think that I was probably watching a Montreal Canadian game at that time...
Presently I have the Ranger vs. Lightning game on.
I do not think that either that Rangers or Lightning will be able to beat whoever wins the western division. The Blackhawks and Ducks are just too fast and strong.
But who knows!?!?!? That is why they play the games instead of just going by the stats.
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Post by whisperwindkat on May 21, 2015 1:39:18 GMT
whisperwindkat, Just out of curiosity... ... How wide are your actual garden beds and how wide are the pathways? Also, do you rotate your crops at all? Most beds are about 4 feet wide and the pathways are just wide enough for the wagon or wheelbarrow to go down. I got pictures finally today. Will try to figure out how to post them on here. Yes, I rotate. Blessings, Kat
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Post by whisperwindkat on May 21, 2015 19:16:01 GMT
Ok, I couldn't get photos uploaded to here from my computer and I don't have a photobucket account. I just made a blog post at with pictures and explanations about the garden. If you have any questions post them here and I will answer. Hope this helps. Blessings, Kat
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