Beets and radish can be planted pretty much around the pea time frame, perhaps a little later but not much As for carrots, same as the peas.
Methinks you'll be planting soon, eh!? I know how it is...this time of year, on a nice day, you're just itchin' to get something in the ground! (Hmmm....onion sets can go in real soon, too! I can't wait to see a bumper crop of onions! Luv 'em!)
That's it. "Itchin'."
Thanks, Shoe.
I think I ought to put down a nice blanket of fine, then course, leaves...
I just want to direct-seed as soon and as much as possible. I have a great-aunt who says that one can plant carrot seeds in the fall right before the ground freezes. I have not tried it myself.
But dang, the carrots from the garden of late have been incredible. Does anyone want to know the scientific reason why January carrots are the Gardener's delight?
Suffering badly from that fever we all know,
Kenton
Thanks for all the pointers. I have re-landscaping and extending my front flower beds. For once I've taken my time, and used some of the tips here. I think I will conclude that the manure way is best. Although for my first forray - I used composted cow manure that I bought. My first dabbles with it left me a bit gun shy- and now I can pick out my mistakes. I've usually gone to the cow pasture and selected dry manure - but really didn't know what to do past that. Anyway - thanks for sharing..my beds in front were totally devoid of life, and now there are worms..( I relocated some from the mulch bin) and the soil looks great.. I have been working with the soil since the first week in january.
Up the thread a way about the daturas. I have a variety of Black Currant Swirl (not sure of latin name) but they shocked me when I planted them in the ground. They are litterally 11 feet tall. Like was said, they are scraggly and I do have them on supports. I just used ordinary soil, although they are mulched with oak leaves..mutant strand? I had them in pots for a couple of years, and decided to put several in the ground..and they took off in one season. I think the mild climate here may have something to do with it?
Cheers,
Rj
Hello Everone
This yr i m trying Llama poop, The rancher who gave it to me said , i can use it fresh, because it does not burn like other animal manure.
Does anyone else have any infput on Llama ? has anyone ever tried it?
Added it to my soil in Oct, looking forward to some good soil this spring.
thanks
sue
Hello Everone
This yr i m trying Llama poop, The rancher who gave it to me said , i can use it fresh, because it does not burn like other animal manure.
Does anyone else have any infput on Llama ? has anyone ever tried it?
Added it to my soil in Oct, looking forward to some good soil this spring.
thanks
sue
Well i have to update my thread. i typed in my question with Ask Jeeves and came up with some interesting stuff.
Llama beans their is no odor, insects, very good nitrogen low salt , low organic matter so it wont burn.it will also scare deer away.
Here is the site if you are interested.
extension.ag.uidaho.edu/mg/southeast/apr03.htm
hope you find it interesting as i have
sue
What an interesting thread! We now have chickens and my husband mulched with a layer of old bedding/manure right out of the chicken coop and onto our empty garden. We were planning on turning it under before we get ready to plant. So was that good or bad? We do have a compost bin, but we mostly just put smaller things into it, like kitchen scraps and weeds. I don't know if it would fit all the chicken house worth of manure/shavings. And the time I tried to make a pile to let it compost for awhile, my husband mowed over it and flung muddy poop all over so it's not really usable (maybe we'll have nice grass there). We're just guessing on how to do this... any suggestions for us?
Thanks,
Dana
Dana;
I don't think the chicken litters in your empty garden will damage anything. If it has time to incorporate into the soil, it will be fine. I would personally till it deeply. Come fall, when you can collect lots of dried leaves, that would be a good time to compost the chicken manure, as it is quite rich.
I think my husband put it on about a month ago. But we have to clean the chicken coop throughout the year. I'm not sure what we should do with the manure/shavings during other times of the year. When you say to compost it in fall, do you mean on the garden beds, or in some other manner? Composing and using manure sounds so great, but when we actually go to do it, we realize we have no idea what we're doing!! Once we get this figured out I bet it will be a good system. ;)
Danak, I'm so glad I'm not the only one here that is trying to figure out what these "experts" are talking about..... They all sound so well versed and experienced. I read gardening books all the time and my DH is so proud that I want to grow up (LOL) and be a gardner... but I feel really dumb! I have gotten some wonderful advice from DG people. They are truly the best!
Compost hot manures like chicken in a pile. A nice big pile.
Horse/Llama Manures can be added directly to soil, only the freshest could burn sensitive plants.
I realize I never got around to the salt test results...
http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/PLANTS/index.html#http://www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/PLANTS/mgp.html
As the link does not appear to go directly to the page I want to show you (concerning salts of common manures),
In the left list of green options, click on "Cultural Considerations." within that, go to "Soils." Scrolling down the soils page, you will find a section under "Soil Salts" that says Manures. Given is a table of Salt content of manures, and an explanation that tells you if you should worry about it or not.
And Llama is the best!
Cheers,
K. James
Re: Peas
Roger Swain, "The Suburban Gardener" on PBS, started peas indoors and transplanted them out. He said, "You may laugh, but I'll have peas before you do."
Does anyone start peas indoors?
missgarney, Yep! I've started peas in pots, flats, newspaper seed tapes...works great! I have only done it for Sugar Snaps though; my regular garden peas I tend to broadcast and till under. (I've also started bush beans in pots/flats, etc and set them out as well...again, works great!)
taynors, I sure wish I had some llamas nearby...would love to try their "cast offs" (or is that "cast out"?). However, I've been happy with rabbit and chicken manure over the years and that is readily available here on the farm.
Shoe.
A big pile of chicken manure. Okay, I think I can do that! I just leave the pile there for awhile and spread it on my garden later? Do I mix up the pile at all? How long do I leave it in a pile? (And this time I'll make sure my husband doesn't mow over it...)
It's silly how something sounds so straightforward until you go and do it and realize you have NO IDEA what you're supposed to do! I totally hear you, teateacher. :)
Thanks!
--Dana
Add to and build one pile as a second composts. Mixing, turning and watering will work down the older pile. You will be able to add lots of brown matter to a chicken-bedding based pile. Brown: Leaves, paper, wood fines. You will know that the pile is safe to add to the garden when it is of fine consistency and the best indicator : worms are attracted and living in it.
Time: If you work hard on the pile, turn often, monitor it's composition, etcetera etcetera, you can conceivably finish compost in a month. But, most likely, you will want to just let it compost in a low-maintenence way all growing season and apply the finished compost in the late fall. (That is when you can start a new compost with the leaves.)
You have potential for a really nice and smooth system.
Different from the average kitchen-scrap compost, your chicken compost has a superior offering of nitrogen. But unlike kitchen scraps, the chicken absolutely must be composted before garden-application.
I really want some rabbits and a source for llama manure!
K. James
Thanks so much for the info! It helps to have it spelled out like that. :) I'm sure we'll start our pile soon as our chicken coop is about reading for a good cleaning!
We are inundated with llamas in the Flathead valley. The person who inherited the Haines underwear fortune has a very large llama and alpaca ranch. Wait till I start collecting. Send me you coolers and I will fill them. Hey what about Buffalo or even Yaak? Lots of those also.
Again thank you Kenton for the knowledge.
This message was edited Feb 8, 2006 11:53 AM
Lucky dog, Soferdig (pun intended)
Well, find out how many stomach stages and what the diet is of such Bovines. I'll bet that if they are for meat production, their manures are just like beef.
K, James
Yes they are all 4 stage stomachs. But it is harder to collect bison doo doo because they don't don't want you near by. The yaaks are pretty friendly. My best compost material here in the Flathead is Mint composted for the dairy farm in the valley. When they have left overs after winter in the pit silo I get to collect all I want. If I'm lucky they will load me up. You should smell the garden for about 3 to 4 days! Then whenever I turn over the soil there is my spearmint all over again. It holds moisture well and stays fibrous so the worms love to travel through the mix and drop those pieces of nutrition.
If i only new how to send you Llama beans Shoe LOL
"yeah ,"Not many people into Llama beans, i really love it because it is small and light when shovleling it and tilling it in is alot easier, no wait time for aging gotta love it
Soferdig have you any chance getting alpaca yarn ?, very soft.
Jamesco i typed in ask jeeves and found a source can't remember the name off hand, i know buying manure isn't as much fun as getting it yourself for free, but if you are interested i wil l try and get you the names,
i personaly don't know how to ship the beans myself ,but will be traveling through Colorado in March ??? !!! on our way to Utah hhmmmm.
sue
My little dog caught an equestrian strain of E.coli from fresh manure on two different occasions. Either prevent contact or compost it first.
What did you find through "Ask Jeeves?" Llam dung? There are a few scattered Llamas about the valley, I will be able to get some.
Sue, Mi casa as su casa. We should have cup of tea, as Grand Junction is the only real way to get to any part of Utah worth visiting (Kidding here).
I can't seem to find the same site the last time is was on the ask jeeves site huh don';t understand.
ppphhhhttttt i looked at google hahahaha silly me
Ok jamesco www.extension.ag.uidaho.edu.com i think is the one i got most my imfo on or try www.goldrushllamas.com
in google i just typed in llama manure npk
we are headed to Nephi Utah anywere near you, Hey your a LEO,!! so am i !! Mi Bella.
oooh the sources of the sun signs Mewhahahaha
Hi Sue as far as Alpaca wool almost all of it here is comercially sold to where ever.
Kenyon I have never heard of Equine coliforms causing any significant diarrheas in dogs. All dogs feast and roll in horse doo doo and how I would be able to tell which source of E coli the cultures were from would be difficult. I did not know that laboratories ran those specifics in Cultures and sensitivity testing in veterinary medicine.
jamesco
ok so that was not the correct link." hmm " ,i m not so great with this comp stuff ,please be patient with me?
Hmm the uidaho extension is not getting me anywere but here it is again extension.ag.uidaho.edu/mg/southeast/Apr03.htm
my server might not be so good, but if you go to google and type in llama manure npk it will give you the sight there and it give alot of imfo
thanks
sue
Do yo always check the astological sign of anyone with who you might have tea?
I can't say it has much effect on the way I do things. I don't think of myself as a highly courageous fellow.
No one is good with computers, don't worry. They are too logical to argue with.
Nephi is south of Salt Lake. If you are driving, especially on interstate 70, you will drive though here.
I understand that Llama manure is much like an improved horse manure.
Now, apparently the Horse-borne E. coli is something that is common, according to the vet. Upon examining her, the vet said "Do you have any horses?" I imagine that a dog who is accustomed to rolling in it would be immune or something, but my dog is of the house-persuasion.
K. James
We all need to roll in shi.... to be healthier. I believe that eating more dirt is also a good immune stimulant. You betcha if no exposure your child could have trouble with such a feast of goodies. But it should pass without much difficulty. My dogs eat elk, moose, dog, cat, llahama, cow, yaak, bear, deer........ and come home to lick my face and pass on immunity to me. HAHA
Not necessarily jamesco, but i do like to seee the profiles and other gardeners imfo.
I just happened to notice you and i share the Lea and your bday is the 4th and mine is the 3rd.
The weather is cold here, artic chill about 12 not including the wind chill makes it about 6,wooopers it is cold.
I don't know soferdig rolling in it for healt? LOL lOL
JamesCo i do have a question on adding sand to my soil , do you know the ratio of how much sand to put in, i have a 10-15' area and will be extending it about 10 nmore ft to make room for watermelons. Any advice
What kind of tea are we talking ? organic LOL
What kind of soil do you have to start, Taynors? If it is clay, the exact amount for your area is none. And really, if it is any kind of soil. Sand is inorganic, and only contributes to structure, which can be solved with organic material as well. Organic material has fertilizer and water-capatiy, too though. Just add compost, compost, compost. As much as possible.
K. James
The first 4-6 inches is top soil, i had brought in last yr. Planted a garden last spring , basically for the soil, tilled it last fall, added more compost, then my Llama poop, tilled a bit more. I have composter that i have been adding to all winter, so in the spring when it warms up , i will add more layers to get it cooking and then add it over this spring, with a new garden , which i hope will produce a garden worth eating LOL
I am hoping to get some comfey, stinging nettle and some other herbs to help make an excelerator for my compost.
My dad is a A- 1 composter , he sends me samples in the mail of his latest batch, LOL he is a brat. LOL
sue
Ha! You're not only on the right path, you've worn a rut in it. Forget the sand, my friend, your soil will be two notches about great.
(I get a kick out of the mailing-compost bit. Where is your father?)
Have you dad do it right. If he is really proud have him send it in garbage mailing bags. We all want a dad like yours. You are fortunate.
Hi JamesCo and Soferdig
well what do you know " the blind squirell finds the acorn " LOL
My dad is in California, he has been doing the compost thing since the 60 s LOL so he is in his 70 s now.
He has a simple bin with a simple method, throw it in , leave it alone , turn it over , leave it alone , then sift it through. LOLOLOL
I ,on the other hand , bought a fancy tumbler with a stand, locking atached door, and i have "ppphhhttttfffft" didn't do anything last yr, i did get some liguid out of it , it drips, wich is ok, about the only thing worht on it. LOL
So i was bragging to my dad i have this new fancy tumbler . He comes to visit me last spring and takes a look at it, I m showing him how neat it is and how easy it is , ect.... I can get compost in 6 wks or less dad, i brag . He nods his head with a Hmmmm , i open it up and "YUK' what a mess ,sloop, goey slop, I wanted to DIE,LOLOL I did everything the book said .
I guess their is a moral to this story , but i m in DENIAL LOLOL, so that is when he started to mail me a small ziplock bag of his black gold every time he did a harvest . He atleast could send me a gallon size LOL
" Yes", Soferdig he is a character.
talk at cha later
sue
Oh no, the mucky tumbler is a topic in itself, I'm running away from temptation! K. James
the reason that I did not buy one was I wondered how soil bacteria got in to an elevated bin. I suppose you put a worm ladder up to it to get that stuff in. then how does the excess water get out...... I prefer to have gravity take out the excess water and worms to have access to the stuff on the ground. You would be surprised at all the centipedes, beetles, ants, and maggots that thrive on the ground. But maybe I'm doing what JamesCo was so polite not to do. Just think how easy forking the pile becomes when Dad says "well done"
BIG GROOOOOOOOAAAAAAAN :((((((((
i wish i could take the dumb thing back. it sounded like a good idea at the time.
yes after i looked at it i wondered how it breaks down with out worms. I did add a compost jumpstarter and it did heat up! ? but that was about it
worm ladder LOL Soferdig. LOL
i think i will use it for compost tea since it does such a great job at dripping and leaking LOLOLOLOL ouch that hurt . i might even cut it in half with a power saw and use it for a small raised bed ? with a few flowers? :)
i did keep my other bin thanks heavens for that , so i m filling it up. Tomorrow i go out to steal some of our neighbors leaves mewhahahahaha.
Ok JamesCo tell me your temptation. i m to curius. I won't get hurt feelings.Besides i know it is killing you not telling me "right" hmmmm:) what do you think Soferdig
sue
First of all JamesCo is a class act. I am not he is an expert in all he is exposed to and what he discusses. I on the other hand am full of shi....
Here is my theory. I want your composter cause I will have to make a soil mixer if you dont sell me yours. I always mix up soil types and have used a rototiller but it breaks the soil particles too small. I want a person who hates their composter to sell it to me and I am going to use it to mix potting soil, new bed mixes, break up finished compost, and tumbling seaweed to see how effictive it is here in montana. I have empty suitcases in the winter when I return from Kodiak so here comes Gulf of Alaska Beach droppings. By the way I'm serious anyone I want a tumbler!
taynors...it sounds like you did what is a common "happening" with the drum composters. It wasn't necessarily the composter itself but rather "operator error". Don't be offended by that term, it's very common! :>)
The reason you had GLOP is most likely due to too much green matter bogging it all down OR too much moisture in your overall mix (even if a perfectly mixed ration of greens/browns). Too much moisture will inhibit the bacterial life (causing rot instead of breakdown).
I wouldn't give up your composter based on a one-time use of it but would encourage you to try different ingredients and/or a different ration of greens/browns. As for the compost "jump starter" it really shouldn't be necessary.
As for the earthworms/ladders...Hah! Grinning here! What a wonderful sight that is in my mind! Love it! ( and no, you don't really need the worms to compost with in a tumbler.)
Soferdig, I'm with you, I'd love a nice tumbler! To me it is great entertainment, great project to play with, and in the end, a great product!
GIVE UP TAYNORS! I WANT YOUR TUMBLER. I'll pay half the cost and pay for shipping. Seriously. Don't listen to Horseshoe above. I'm coming back to Michigan this spring and I'll pick it up. I have to get a canoe from my dad.
