I planted this garden in the middle of two horse pens, in an area that use to house cattle. I never figured I would have to fertilize it. In talking to someone I explained my new squashes were turning brown on the ends, and he said I should think about fertilizating it. I have used Miracle Grow, I had thought that was fertilizer, but he said that was not enough. I have an endless supply of horse manure, should I chop that up and put it in my rows?
there's plenty of people here that can tell you waayyy more than i know, but... they might be getting too much fertilizer?
and, as far as i've heard and read concerning the horse manure... the older, the better. as long as it has composted for a few years, it's great stuff...full of worms.
the fresh stuff is too acidic, so dont use fresh manure. you got a pile of 6 year old stuff? Even BETTER!!
Oh I got it going way back more than 6 years, trust me. I also got some month old chicken poo that has not been used for anything. When I was digging some up some of the old manure for a container, there was a worm, I did not want to kill it, so I threw it back into the pile.
If the squash is dying, it could just be a pollination problem. If you want to fertilize, at this point of the garden's growth, I'd just put out some good finished compost or spray with a combination of liquid seaweed, apple cider vinegar, liquid molasses, compost tea.
I would take your old manure and start a good compost pile, adding in your grass clippings (if you have any) and raw kitchen scraps (fruits and veggies), coffee grounds & filters, tea bags, and any plant clippings you're getting rid of. I would think that straight manure, even aged, would add too much nitrogen to the soil promoting leaf growth, but not flowering.
Whatever you do, stay away from the Miracle Grow!
I'm looking at that picture. Are there supposed to be little rivers between the rows? :)
If you are watering and it's not draining in a few minutes, then you might have a drainage issue.
When you say the squash is turning brown on the ends, do you mean the individual fruit? It could be Blossom End Rot, which is typically from uneven watering.
MissJestr - those rows look far too wet to me - the roots of your plants will die if they stay too wet. Well-rotted horse manure (or any other manure) is a good thing to add to your soil, but it should not be the main ingredient.
OHHH light bulb is going off...
I figured since I lived in the desert, I needed to water alot, and well I fill out them "Rivers" between the plants every night. Actually I turn the hose on in the evening at a slow drip, then in the morning when I go to feed, I turn it off. I am thinking since I do this every day, I could be watering too much. Yep it was the end of the fruit that turned brown, but it has not happened since, Ok so I have only had 3 fruit and well the other 2 didnt get big before I picked them and ate them.
If I have a dranage issue, I should do what to correct it?
Bees are hanging out there around the plants, I have a guord plant growing on the fence that is flowering as well, and the bees started there and have moved to the garden. I have alot of coffee grounds, that I can add to the pile, and I found an old tub that I added some sticks from bushes, (Sorry no grass on the ranch) and old manure, so I was thinking I would add the grounds to that. I am afraid to put any type of food out in there, I have coyotes and the tub is located by my chicken house...
Thanks in advance for any help...
Missjestr,
Your drainage issue is easily solved. Water deeply and infrequently. If you can stick your finger into the soil at the base of a plant and your finger is dry up to the knuckle closest to your palm, turn on the drip irrigation. Probably twice a week will be sufficient.
Start a compost pile--you don't need a container (tub). Just start making a pile of green (kitchen scraps) and brown (manure, garden clippings, leaves) and watering it maybe twice a month. We, too, have coyotes and other scavengers, so I keep what we call a "vegan" compost pile--no meat, no dairy. I toss the pile whenever the mood hits me (it is a great way to work off frustrations!) and sift out the good stuff when I need it.
Fresh manure is a no-no. It needs to be composted, especially chicken manure. I don't use anything that is less than a year old, and prefer to put it on the compost pile to mix with the other goodies rather than using it straight.
Bless your heart for gardening in the desert!
You need to get a soil test to see exactly what the chemical makeup of you soil is.
Paul
Texasroses,
Thank you for your response, I will check it tonight. I am sure it does not need watering. Our Temps have cooled down the past week, before we were in the 90's now we are in the low 80's, That should have been a clue to me to cut back.
I will add the grounds in there, and split up the viggies I useally give the chickens and throw some in there. How will I know when I have good stuff? I have not cleaned out under the baby coop since I moved them about 2 months ago, I can add that to the pile.
I started the garden with my 3 year old boy BIlly cause I quit smoking. We used his tools, a kids shovel, hoe and rake to do it all, that is why the rows may look funny... I know I could use adult tools, but it was a challange to do it with his... I am trying....
I do know I am on well water and it has alot of nitrates in it, the store that is on the same well has to sell it as Non Potable, but I have been drinking it for a year now and I dont see any additional arms or ears growing.
As far as a soil test, I am afraid to know...
