Hello kay,
In 2005, the year I ruptured a disc in my back, I couldn't do my usual soil
building routine. I got someone to turn my soil and I used fertilizer. That
was the only year I got infested with aphids, and the ants that farm them.
It seems crowder peas don't particularly thrive in soil that's too good.
I looked at the pictures of your brocolli, collards and spinach, you've
got some excellent soil. If you try them again, don't do anything to the
soil after the previous planting. If the soil is a little tired, oddly enough
they'll be happier and maybe the aphids won't be such a problem.
I still get a few but not enough to be an issue.
The nights here are cool, but the days are still very hot. I started some lettuce, kale, radishes and collards a few weeks ago, they're doing so so. Something is alreading eating the young leaves of the radishes. I think I will wait until the days are a bit cooler to do some more planting. My pumpkins are just sending out flowers. I am having lots of butterflies, which means lots of leaf-eating caterpillers.
Yes ~ we do have some challenges here in FL. I am getting ready to plant lettuce. I'm fairly new at this so it is all experimental at this stage. Loving it though! Summer was my first garden!!! Uck!! I planted butternut early but it seems to be doing very well !
Have a growing day!!! Steph
We' ve been having some rain but not too much. I am happy for the rain cause the soil is very sandy and drains quickly. I have been harvesting my herbs, blending and freezing them. My okra, peas potatoes and tomatoes did poorly. I am now planting fall stuff, which does better for me. Thanks for the friendly invite.
Kay, How did your crops survive the rains? I lost bean and peas one squash ans one Cucumber My lettuce is doing horrid,too this year. Tomatoes are doing great Sorry about missing you feed store question...I don't think Yulee has anymore since Ace closed down maybe callahan..
Hi yes this sand is definably a challenge, I have plans of eventually having some raised beds and already do containers, We have 5 acres that I am improving using straw mulch, compost, cover crops and green manure to rebuild my little part of this beautiful earth, A big dream and a lot of work but one year it will be fertile and balanced again.
Kay
Thanks for your comment.
Allotment gardens in England are not as tidy as private gardens. They are generally designed wholly around efficiency & minimum work input. Aesthetic consideratioins are a lower priorty.
I like your raised beds, indeed i have similar ones in my garden at home.
My preferred proportions are 4 feet wide by either 8 feet or 12 feet long. This gives more flexibility of production plus more growing space per given area. If you find the need to cross at a mid bed location then use a cross over board to step on.
You now what I have two cats and 1 HUGE dog...I have only seen a handful in my 7yrs on this property. I grew-up playing with corn snakes. So I am only scared if they are poisonous...granted sometimes you don't have a chance to check!! But my cats are great hunters (well no so great sometimes,lol dead heads and body parts ...Yuk))
Conditioning has given snakes a bad rap and made a lot of people fearful when they don't need to be. Though it may even go back to our primate brain, because chimps apparently hate snakes with a passion. I've never had a phobia or negative reaction to them, but I was introduced to snakes at an early age at a herpivarium (not sure if that's the word). Christianity has made snakes into an evil creature, and it's really undeserved.
Snakes play a critical role in any garden, and as long as they aren't poisonous, they will eat rats and mice and gophers that can ruin your vegetable crop.
I suppose though that moccasins and black snakes can look pretty much the same though at first glance so being wary is a good idea. Come to think of it, when we lived in Maryland, we had a couple of black snakes in the house. We also had a copperhead that was resting on the front stoop, that I almost stepped on. Fortunately, I didn't.
terrific, Kay! I hope it works for you! Wish I had advice about the snakes. Water moccasins would concern me. I have gopher snakes and garter snakes in the yard, I'm not frightened of them at all, in fact I'm grateful they are there, but we can get rattlers here, so I'm always on the lookout. Cats can help keep snakes out of a yard.
Thank you for the email addy !! I am always looking for variations on the food I preserve !! Let us know how yours turns out !! You can`t have too many recipes you know !! I don`t think that I would add sugar till after the brining process !! It c...
You are forgetting one thing !! The person who will be eating the food you prepare !! Yourself !!! If it pleases you,,,I wouldn`t worry about anything else !! Cooking should be an adventure !! I wouldn`t make a comparison unless you have tasted th...
hi jeff, as i suppose you live in crete, do know anything more about the phrase "strafela", is this a usual word in greek?? or is it used just in certain parts of crete?? would be great if you could give me any info about it, thanks, georg
Wow, they are good sized plots. I wish we had allotment areas here in Adelaide.
Do you get to know the other allotment gardeners?.
We have almost finished our composting, pruning back, seed saving and planting out of our seedlings.
With a small ga...
Hi Kathryn
This image is a screenshot from Google Earth. The only drawback with Google Earth is that you cannot zoom in as close as you would like.
I have a greenhouse in the bottom right and a shed and covered compost bin at top right. A lot of t...
Hi Salma
I am lucky in that my allotment is only a short bicycle ride from my house. Some people in larger cities like London have to travel to theirs in a car.
It is interesting to find out from you just how things are in your country. I think as...
How times have changed. There was time when there was no food shortage and agriculture was not a profitable business. The poor farmer was having a hard time. After toiling in the field from dawn to dusk he failed to generate enough money to suppor...
Glenn!British allotment system is quite interesting. It should be initiated here in Pakistan.
Is this alloted land close to your home?
I mean you have to travel to your home kitchen garden to fetch your vegetables ??
I also recommend Seed Savers Exchange. Not only does Heritage Farm offer seeds they've grown, but you can become a member and exchange thousands of seeds with other gardeners. The beauty of seed savers is you can use heirloom seeds that you have g...
........So the story is that this land is under the unlawful use of big wigs.No body dares to touch them.As they are usually in govt.or are the relatives of those in power.That is why I was telling Salma,problem is not simple.It is so intricate,it...
Glenn! we also have the same allotment system.In which about 550 square feet ,(if I am not mistaken) or so is alloted to a family to grow fuel wood on it .Govt. only plants the trees and then the family looks it aftern grow what everthey want alon...
Several people have experienced difficulty putting working links into comments and blogs etc and I know it is clumsy.... so here is how you do it.....
First type the text you want to appear.... ie IAN'S PAGE
Then go back and highlight the link text.
Then hit the hyperlink button...a pictogram of a chain link.
Your browser may intervene and request permission to allow temporary scripting or some similar message. Allow it and go back and highlight the text again
Hi, I'm starting to put together a few guidlines on using the discussion forum on here.
I would be happy to hear any comments you may have. This is very much a work in progress so plese feel free to ask me to add anything you think is needed.
I don't want to make our community hide bound by rules and regulations but I think that, as the community has grown, some explanation of what is expected is needed.
Hi Everyone, I've started to collect together recipes from various posts on the site and put them all together here.
If you have a recipe you want to add on here, just post it on the site and leave a comment on my page telling me where it is and I'll go and fetch it back here.
They are organised in Contributor Order but I'm open to better suggestions!
AK - Alaska AL - Alabama AR - Arkansas AZ - Arizona CA - California CO - Colorado
CT - Connecticut DC - Dist of Columbia * DE - Delaware
FL - Florida GA - Georgia GU
Recently there was an excellent discussion about composting. I’ve pulled together all the various comments here. You can also watch KGI's video on composting here.
KATE’S ADVICE
I used to have a tumbler that we made from a wine-barrel but
Kay Robbins's Comments
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In 2005, the year I ruptured a disc in my back, I couldn't do my usual soil
building routine. I got someone to turn my soil and I used fertilizer. That
was the only year I got infested with aphids, and the ants that farm them.
It seems crowder peas don't particularly thrive in soil that's too good.
I looked at the pictures of your brocolli, collards and spinach, you've
got some excellent soil. If you try them again, don't do anything to the
soil after the previous planting. If the soil is a little tired, oddly enough
they'll be happier and maybe the aphids won't be such a problem.
I still get a few but not enough to be an issue.
I start from seed...so that is the planting I am doing. It is still hot here as well.
Can't wait for September!
Yes ~ we do have some challenges here in FL. I am getting ready to plant lettuce. I'm fairly new at this so it is all experimental at this stage. Loving it though! Summer was my first garden!!! Uck!! I planted butternut early but it seems to be doing very well !
Have a growing day!!! Steph
Ian
Thanks for joining the Preserving the Harvest group. I really am looking forward to sharing recipes and theories with all of you guys.
Angie
Thanks for your comment.
Allotment gardens in England are not as tidy as private gardens. They are generally designed wholly around efficiency & minimum work input. Aesthetic consideratioins are a lower priorty.
I like your raised beds, indeed i have similar ones in my garden at home.
My preferred proportions are 4 feet wide by either 8 feet or 12 feet long. This gives more flexibility of production plus more growing space per given area. If you find the need to cross at a mid bed location then use a cross over board to step on.
Snakes play a critical role in any garden, and as long as they aren't poisonous, they will eat rats and mice and gophers that can ruin your vegetable crop.
I suppose though that moccasins and black snakes can look pretty much the same though at first glance so being wary is a good idea. Come to think of it, when we lived in Maryland, we had a couple of black snakes in the house. We also had a copperhead that was resting on the front stoop, that I almost stepped on. Fortunately, I didn't.
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Notes
HOW TO - ADD A LINK
Several people have experienced difficulty putting working links into comments and blogs etc and I know it is clumsy.... so here is how you do it.....
First type the text you want to appear.... ie IAN'S PAGE
Then go back and highlight the link text.
Then hit the hyperlink button...a pictogram of a chain link.
Your browser may intervene and request permission to allow temporary scripting or some similar message. Allow it and go back and highlight the text again
… ContinueCreated by Ian Jun 7, 2009 at 7:28pm. Last updated by Ian Jun 8.
Forum Policy
Hi, I'm starting to put together a few guidlines on using the discussion forum on here.
I would be happy to hear any comments you may have. This is very much a work in progress so plese feel free to ask me to add anything you think is needed.
I don't want to make our community hide bound by rules and regulations but I think that, as the community has grown, some explanation of what is expected is needed.
Administration
You can refer any que
… ContinueCreated by Ian May 23, 2009 at 1:55am. Last updated by Ian May 25.
Climate maps
Hi following recent discussion I have put climate maps of the USA, Australia and Europe on here for reference..
Climate map of the USA
Climate map of Australia
Climate map of Europe
… ContinueCreated by Ian Sep 12, 2008 at 6:20pm. Last updated by Ian Apr 14.
Recipes, Recipes, Recipes
Hi Everyone, I've started to collect together recipes from various posts on the site and put them all together here.
If you have a recipe you want to add on here, just post it on the site and leave a comment on my page telling me where it is and I'll go and fetch it back here.
They are organised in Contributor Order but I'm open to better suggestions!
BEVA'S RECIPES
… ContinueCreated by Ian Jun 2, 2008 at 9:54am. Last updated by Ian Apr 13.
US STATES ABBREVIATIONS
US STATE ABBREVIATIONS
AK - Alaska AL - Alabama AR - Arkansas
… ContinueAZ - Arizona CA - California CO - Colorado
CT - Connecticut DC - Dist of Columbia * DE - Delaware
FL - Florida GA - Georgia GU
Created by Ian Jan 27, 2009 at 4:27pm. Last updated by Ian Jan 27.
HOW TO - MAKE COMPOST
Recently there was an excellent discussion about composting. I’ve pulled together all the various comments here. You can also watch KGI's video on composting here.
KATE’S ADVICE
I used to have a tumbler that we made from a wine-barrel but
1 you have to fill it up all at once
2. it seemed mostly
… ContinueCreated by Ian May 30, 2008 at 5:29am. Last updated by Roger Jan 15.
Notes Home
Welcome to Notes.
To view notes that are in the system hit the "all notes" button above.
ContinueCreated by Ian May 28, 2008 at 12:10pm. Last updated by Ian May. 30, 2008.
A Note about Notes
I have just written this note so that I can see what we can achieve by using this new feature.
If you read this and have any suggestions then please leave a comment on my page or email me.
Ian
ContinueCreated by Ian May 28, 2008 at 6:19pm. Last updated by Ian May. 28, 2008.
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