Garden Thoughts and Plans December 2020

 Might not use the automatic watering for the grow boxes since they caused it to be a mosquito heaven. Might set up some drippers in each box and then fill up the reserviors with the hose every once in awhile.

I need to make another spot for compost. Need to stop filling the current one so it can all break down for later use.

Make sure I get good use out of the black plastic. Always cover after tilling to help with weed pressure.

#9 wire works good for quick covering of row crops with bricks to hold down

Never cover the garden with leaves again, you can till some in to the garden in fall but dot use it as a cover. bare soil is fine or preferably cover crops.

Have a quick way of hooking up the irrigation system so you can provide water in cold weather. make sure crops are getting 1 inch per week. pay attention to the rain totals each week. never water more than 2.5 hours at a time. 8 hours total runtime equals one inch for the garden.

Next fall have a good manure or compost ready to till in to the garden. Ask Melvin.

Do seed saving. Follow guide in green folder.

Don't go overboard with starting seeds inside. I still want to mainly direct seed and succession plant. Use milk cartons or row covers to protect little seedlings. Use bowl of beer to deter slugs.

Make sure you have a temperature gauge for the soil.

Go to Amish place near Liberal, MO in spring to see what they have. Shop local as well.

Learn more about root cellering. Good book is by Mike and Nancy Bell or use free university resources.

Start 2 of each johnnys seeds tomatoes inside. 

All onion seeds need to be started inside Jan 1st-15th. Sweet yellow spanish, Redwing. You can try to direct seed the other varieties to see what happens, if there is room.

Direct seed Spinach, 

Transplant Cauliflower in late july after four weeks inside

Try using some 10-10-10 in spots to experiment.

Might try to till up a four to six foot wide area all along the back of the yard for corn.

Peas don't usually work in the fall. start in early spring.

Late April, early may start direct seeding cucumbers, squash, watermelons






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