Over the weekend my 4 year old and I went outside to play for a while, then turned our attention to the garden. I ended up breaking down the compost pile and moving the bulk of it into the garden area to be tilled under. Also moved a grass pile I had to the side as well as several bales of straw. I’ve got more straw on the front porch that needs to be moved as well, PLUS I need to empty the chicken coop and clean all the litter out of it and toss it into the garden plot.
Tons of work to do still and I’m hoping it all works out. The chicken litter has been sitting for six months in the coop as a deep litter method. The only moisture it gets is ambient and any water that is spilled from the waterer. Know they say to let it age so that it’s not too much nitrogen. Plan on letting it simmer in the ground after tilling for at least a week as well.
Since we had a southern blight issue last year with our tomatoes (Thanks Lowes & Walmart!), we’re moving the toms to the BACK of the lot. I’ve got some soil issues with the back part, so I ‘ll be using the chicken litter all back there.
I’m also planning on beta testing a new method of supporting tomatoes this year as I’m SICK of stakes. We’ve got 4 cattle panels standing by that I’ll be setting up as a “fence” of sorts along the row. The tomatoes will be trained up into it for support. Think I should have got more panels though.
Also this year I’m testing out a green mulch on at least two rows, instead of straw.. Though I love the straw since it gets tilled in.. I thought I’d try a green mulch too.. I’ve got a bag of inoculated red clover standing by that I’ll be seeding in the rows when we plant. The rest of the rows will be straw.
We’re also cutting back just a bit this year on how much we do, so the rows will be a bit wider through the garden. If I’m lucky I’ll be able to fit the bigger tiller down the center of the rows.. Though I’ve got to sleeve it’s in tank fuel line.. Got a hair line crack and once fuel gets down to half tank or so it dies… PITA.
-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b
7 comments so far
Robin
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2146 posts in 377 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 152 days ago
You are way ahead of me, our ground is still frozen! I have a question about the green manure idea. Are you planning on planting the clover in the early spring and then tilling the clover into the soil before you plant or are you letting the clover grow all spring and summer as a cover crop on your paths to keep out weeds? If so, how tall does your red clover get? I use winter rye as a green manure over the late fall/winter and till it in come spring and I have always used straw to cover my paths. This year I am looking for a good nitrogen-fixing, low-growing, green cover crop to grow between my rows to hold moisture and block out weeds for the summer. I have read that there are white clovers that don’t get too tall, any ideas? Has anyone ever tried this?
I am moving my tomatoes out of the regular garden this year too. I have been moving them from corner to corner, but I think my garden is too small for that to be a successful practice. To give the ground a rest, I am moving them to a raised bed away from the garden.
Have fun out there and I will be joining you when the weather gets a bit warmer.
-- Robin, Massachusetts - "Live simply so others can simply live." M. Gandhi
MsDebbieP
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hardiness zone 5b
posted 152 days ago
once again I got worn out just reading about what you did and plan to do!!
I seeded a lot of white clover last year in my raised beds. This year we should see its impact.
So much to learn, so much to try!
-- - Debbie, SW Ontario Canada (USDA Hardiness Zone: 5a) http://www.execulink.com/~yohan
Scott Hildenbrand
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1657 posts in 885 days
hardiness zone 6b
posted 152 days ago
Robin: The later is the plan, allowing it to grow through the season and to act as a green mulch, keeping moisture in and creating nitrogen (inoculated) as it grows.
THIS is my plan for the tomatoes, however larger scale. Plan on using three 8’ fence stakes per panel.
So tired of stakes… Feels like all we do is pound them in.. pound them in.. pound them in… I figure, 2’ of the metal fence posts jammed into the ground will offer better support. And if NOT and if the fence DOES need further support from slumping, I’ve got another plan in mind for next season, making a serpentine pattern with the tomato trellis fence. But.. That’s just a back of the brain idea.
-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b
Bon
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4999 posts in 894 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 150 days ago
I like your idea for the tomatoes Scott.Can you plant different kinds of tomatoes side by side or do they cross pollinate.I have all heirloom seeds and I don’t want anything to change them.
-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more
Scott Hildenbrand
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1657 posts in 885 days
hardiness zone 6b
posted 150 days ago
You’re better off keeping them separated then as they will indeed end up cross pollinating, so if you’re saving seeds from the crop, they will end up as cross hybrids.
-- Planting Daylilies in Kentucky, zone 6b
Bon
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4999 posts in 894 days
hardiness zone 5a
posted 150 days ago
Thanks Scott I will keep the different kinds seperate.Now I really gotta build a new garden this spring.(lol)
-- Bon,Hastings,Ont.....zone 5a....Always room for one more
Robin
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2146 posts in 377 days
hardiness zone 5b
posted 150 days ago
Let me know how the cattle panels work, Scott. They look like a good idea.
-- Robin, Massachusetts - "Live simply so others can simply live." M. Gandhi