I have tried for some 6 years to be organic. I do what I can and sometimes it just doesn't work.
Onion question.....
The only time I use chemical fertilizers is on seedling grown indoors, and then only because I have found "damping off" to be a problem with organic fertilizers.
Once the plants are set outside, they are fed organic-only fertilizers. For the past 59 years I have never sprayed anything I'm going to eat!
Shoe, I am usually never totally accurate, yes, the dark of the moon is different every month. Tater planting time by tradition is to be done by March 17th, we plant by Feb 17th in Houston...Farmers Almanac has always directed folks to plant by the dark of the moon for underground fruit, full of the moon for above ground fruits, My calendar is not handy and our seasons have been delaying themselves the last 2 yrs, I believe the dark of the moon for Feb was abt the 2nd this yr. I haven't seen a farmers almanc for my area in a long, long time. When, by the way is Easter this year, anyone Know? It changes too, from March to several weeks into April, and affects our winters more than Punxsatawney Phil...Was sitting that nite a moment in Houston, am watching the weather in Salt Lake City tonite, see you guys when I get back out of Seattle. Fertilizer, yes, that will help after the ice
Kittianan, this is one of those years when Easter comes late, April 24th. I guess "traditions" vary per region regarding when to plant what. Lots of folks around here used to always plant their gardens on Good Friday; I'd hate to wait that long this year. And my sis in NY could never plant potatoes on March 17th, eh?
I think some folks also confuse "the dark of the moon" with the New Moon, which are two different things. But, we have a forum designed specifically for that topic...
Houston, Salt Lake City, Seattle? My goodness, you're really getting around. I hope you're home in time to plant a garden.
Thanks,
Shoe
no garden, sigh, why i am so rusty, i get to see you guys tho, chuckle. Yup, the planting times also changed for the zones- I grew up on the Red River Valley, Okla side- now I adjust for opposite water conditions as well. Houston has wet summers, I was accustomed to dry ones- with a bow to Mother Natures changes and active hurricane seasons...My sweet dau gave me a 4x4 plot to stick stuff in when I come home, she likes butterflies, I see worms eating my dinner, chuckl...I keep herbs now, onions and a few plants to feed her butterflies, and she waters and cooks. Since everyone in the house works full time or has a legitimate claim to teenager, our plants have to be sturdy and thrive on neglect, hehehe.
"has a legitimate claim to teenager," Heheheh, yeh, got one of those, too.
Well I hope one day you can find more time to garden again. Maybe some self-watering containers for a couple tomato plants, eh? But after all, the butterfly gardening is a beauty, too. And yep, they (larvae) sure can eat some foliage down, can't they?
Hang in there, one day you'll have more time at home. Meanwhile stick a tomato plant in a flower bed, along with a few okra plants...they're pretty, too!
Best
Shoe