Lessons learned for next year #3

UMass. agricultural extension service. Who is Doug?

Sorry, Dave, I meant Dave but you know, Dave, Doug, Dagwood, Dan, Dale, Dean, Damion, Dante,there are a lot of names out there, Dave,and while I'm typing I have to look at the keyboard and not at your post, Dave. Sorry.

xxx, Carrie (hanging head in shame)

LOL

Usually the extention services in any county can do soil testing. If you have a large property (I saw this on HGTV and on my local PBS gardening shows) put soil samples in paper bags, mark what area they are from and turn them in. The analysis will tell you what you have and what amendments are needed which can vary from one area of a large yard to another area.

We can pick up bags at garden center that the U of Minnesota supplies them with and send in our soil samples to the horticultural school.

But I really am the only one who eats anything remotely resembling a vegetable. It's ok... I'll continue to fear wood dust from pressure-treated wood, etc., e'en though it be totally irrational.

xxxx, Carrie

Carrie,
I understand.
Doug

Oh I eat vegetables, I get delivery from an organic farm co-op. I don't rally have the room to grow enough of them. I live in an urban area and all I can manage is flowers.

One could make the arguement that buying vegetables is cheaper!

We hope... it can be hard to compete with commercial grower's economy of scale. Ever see this, "The $64 Tomato" ?

http://davesgarden.com/gbw/c/2045/

I heard the author being interviewed on CBC radio - it was sooooo funny! Obviously, this man has much, much more money than I have! He spent a fortune in landscaping, bringing in topsoil etc. Then he does a cost-benefit analysis!

This is like the "This Old House" syndrome. There is no way we can afford to restore Our Old House the way it is done on the tv show. Some people may have a spare 40 grand to redo the kitchen - but not me. Anybody with enough money can hire others to make their homes, gardens, etc. look spectacular.

Those with more modest means must be creative - and smart. Any dummy can throw money at a problem.

As to whether one should grow or purchase veggies - if one factors in the cost of one's labour, opportunities lost (I could be doing something else rather than weeding) obviously buying veggies is the choice. But, if the objective of gardening is something else (for me it is the sense that I am attempting to create beauty in the world - a rather worthy goal, I thought), then the benefits clearly outweigh the costs.

There is no way I could buy the joy I get out of gardening. I had a choice buy the flowers or vegetable and I chose to buy the vegetables. Now if I was buying them at the grocery store that might make a difference.

My benefit is the quality of the vegetables as well as the sheer joy of the flowers and shrubs/trees.

Believe me if I had room I would have both.

Growing up in Connecticut my parent's bought a large 2 level 2 family home which are pretty common in New England. The yard was completely barren--I mean nothing in it except for a large outcropping of rock sticking up in the center of the large yard making it into a weird U shape. My pop had tons of soil hauled in and worked like a maniac to have his trees, grass, roses and veggies. The upstairs neighbors thought he was nuts but once they saw the veggie garden thrive they asked if they could have an area to plant for themselves. We only lived there 6 years but we've maintained out friendship with that family for decades--my parents have passed years ago but we all still stay in touch.

Their family even began a large family garden at one of their homes. Everyone makes the trip out there on the weekend to do the chores and maintain the garden and they all get to spend time together. They do big group canning, freezing and baking with the stuff from their garden.

Sometimes it's not just about the food...=)

Claypa, Yes I know the book.
And yes I will continue to grow my own veggies even if it's not cost-effective. Sad thing is that by the time I'm picking them, they are dirt cheap and decent at the market.
But nothing is as good as what you've grown in your own garden. It's a hobby, not a part-time job:)

Lesson learned: Sow the seeds and allow them to germinate - then transfer them into little paper pots :-)

And do fewer of each type of seed - who knew so many would germinate?

isn't it great!!!??

Oh - something else! The clear plastic containers that Costco sells grapes in appear to be absolutely perfect for winter sowing containers :-) I plan to eat a lot of Costco grapes between now and December.

Oh what a wonderful reason to eat grapes. Time for a Costco trip. I love the red ones frozen. Just wash, drain and freeze. Then pop them in your mouth.

from a gardening supply store:

How would you like to be eating tomatoes from your garden before anyone else in the 'hood? Plant seeds and seedlings earlier, and protect your young plants from spring frosts. Protects from snow, frost, wind, drought, birds, insects, chemical sprays, and excess moisture. Durable Jiffy Hot Kaps have a 10" X 10" base, and are approximately 9" high with a hole in the top for ventilation. Stacks and stores easily. 5 plant covers per package.

at $12.99 for 5, I still think we're better off with 2L soda bottles. Plus, we get to drink the soda first!

xxxx, Carrie

Carrie,
How true.

I tried a couple of 24oz soda bottles...didn't have any 2liters handy. I like them. think I'll do more next year.

Eighteen 24 oz. soda bottles fit just great in a standard 10" x 20" nursery flat. And I got some 'totes' that the beverage distributors transport 2 liter bottles in at our town's recycling center, very handy! There are different sizes for different numbers of bottles. Worth looking around for, I think.

I figure with the temperature at 17º and flurries this morning I am going to do some last minute winter sowing. Nine days ago the temperature was 81º here. That is Minnesota for you. My DH reminded me that 3 years ago we had a total of 26" of snow in April. The poor little seedlings don't know what to do.

Zen, we were HOPING for some precip last night and today before temps plunge tonight, but NOTHING, not a drop. We are going to go from a high today of about 80 to a low of 40, then a high tomorrow in the upper 50's and lows in the lower 30', then mid to upper 20' for the entire weekend, then slowly rising again. That's Central NC. I misted all my wonderful seelings today.

That sounds like a real roller coaster ride there.

Cut milk jugs in half. Use the bottom to sow the seeds, use a gallon-size zip-lock baggie as the top. Much easier to cut the corners for ventilation.

Use the top of the milk containers to protect wee plants early in the season from frosts.

Learned the hard way: if you use 2liter soft drink bottles, and remove the big label that goes all around, be sure to write the container number on the lower part. When I started taking off those tops, I just stacked them one on top of the other, and if I did not recognize the seedlings, it was really hard to reconstruct.

I made that mistake once too - I always mark the top and bottom of each container.

Even better!!

One thing i learned this year was.... not to "soak" the seeds.

every single seed i soaked - because i read to do it (though not on a WS forum)
the seeds molded, or just plain, didn't germinate.

I lost all of my Bean Vine (and i wasn't sure what they were, now I can't "watch" them to see what they were) and I lost a bunch of morning glories.... though i had A LOT germinate for me.

Has anyone else found this to be true? the soaking - i mean.

as for the 2ltr bottles, i wrote on the bottom portion.

seandor -- i will use your idea of using the tops of the milk jugs to cover newly planted plants from cold weather or frosts.... good idea.

terese

Terese, I must confess, the idea didn't originate with me . . . someone else did that, but I couldn't remember the thread. I did remember the idea, and have since used it myself. I thought it was good enough to be recorded on a sticky.

I'm pretty sure I posted this before, but I guess it can't hurt to mention it again.

I put all of my containers in cardboard boxes when I put them outside (not my idea, but I wish I'd thought of it). I tried it for the first time last year, now it's part of my routine. Having the bottoms of the containers in the shade seems to keep the soil moist, but the tops still get sun. And when it rains, the boxes hold the water just long enough to bottom water....the rest of it drains away. Plus.....I can use the cardboard for mulching when I'm done.

Now that is a good idea!

I like that idea.

merry -- i read that too.... i am using 1 box, and it seems to be working well.
next year i may stock up on them too.

I like the idea too! Some of my soda bottles are on top of container plants but it's not the same thing just means I don't have to bend over.

xxxxx, Carrie

merryma, I heard you before and put about 1/3 of mine in boxes. I liked it and will do it next year.
Dave

Mine are in cut-down boxes.