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2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
+11
2SooCrew
slimbolen99
Marc Iverson
ETNRedClay
R&R 1011
landarch
walshevak
boffer
sanderson
jmsieglaff
Goosegirl
15 posters
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Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
Ah, 20 new beds - the stuff of dreams! We look forward to hearing and seeing how the expansion goes for you, Slim!
I am definitely adding more flowers and herbs this year. My asparagus bed is being turned into a Pollinator Paradise, as the phlox won't leave the box alone. Adding Love Lies Bleeding to it, along with some lower flowers for some contrast. I have 2 narrow beds (1x4 and 1x6) that were flowers last year, may be flowers and garlic this year. Moving my spiral herb garden back near the compost pile, and putting down pavers to make the old herb garden (edged by the narrow boxes) a small patio and reading spot . Trying orach this year instead of spinach to see if I have better success. Also making a self-watering planter for indoor lettuce cut & come again. This I can plant NOW to ward off the itch to start all my tomatoes, peppers, and such too early! If it works, I will attempt a few more self-watering planters for some indoor herbs.
GG
I am definitely adding more flowers and herbs this year. My asparagus bed is being turned into a Pollinator Paradise, as the phlox won't leave the box alone. Adding Love Lies Bleeding to it, along with some lower flowers for some contrast. I have 2 narrow beds (1x4 and 1x6) that were flowers last year, may be flowers and garlic this year. Moving my spiral herb garden back near the compost pile, and putting down pavers to make the old herb garden (edged by the narrow boxes) a small patio and reading spot . Trying orach this year instead of spinach to see if I have better success. Also making a self-watering planter for indoor lettuce cut & come again. This I can plant NOW to ward off the itch to start all my tomatoes, peppers, and such too early! If it works, I will attempt a few more self-watering planters for some indoor herbs.
GG
Goosegirl- Posts : 3435
Join date : 2011-02-16
Age : 59
Location : Zone 4A - NE SD
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
Well, only five of the beds are for vegetables -- the rest for herbs and flowers...hopefully we can find enough compost for the right price, and enough help to haul it from the driveway to the backyard.
slimbolen99- Posts : 185
Join date : 2013-01-15
Location : Shawnee, KS
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
Wow, it's not just that you're talking 20 beds, but 4 x 8! 640 square feet ... that's a mini-farm! What a wonderful abundance of stuff you'll have! I guess we know one person who is going to have lots of bees around this year ...
Marc Iverson- Posts : 3638
Join date : 2013-07-05
Age : 62
Location : SW Oregon
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
Theory turned into reality today.......first 2014 change, starting onions from seed. Sowed my copra seeds today! And with another blast of -20F on the way.
jmsieglaff- Posts : 253
Join date : 2012-04-15
Age : 42
Location : S. WI
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
Great info in this forum!
I'm going with a hoop house and I'm told that if I start my seeds indoors with a grow light I will be able to move them in the hoop house by April !
Trying hard to keep the snow off the roof!
I'm going with a hoop house and I'm told that if I start my seeds indoors with a grow light I will be able to move them in the hoop house by April !
Trying hard to keep the snow off the roof!
2SooCrew- Posts : 52
Join date : 2013-09-12
Location : Northern Michigan - near Canadian border - brrrr
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
Eliminate kohlrabi; i liked it but it took a lot of real estate for the yield. I would like to try zucchini/yellow squash again, maybe potatoes which I find intriguing.
herblover- Posts : 577
Join date : 2010-03-27
Age : 61
Location : Central OH
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
No cauliflower nor broc this year - plants did well from seed and got huge but produced very little. Onions, lettuce, and spinach out this year - hasn't seemed worth it the last two and want the space for other things...like peppers - no fatalii peppers this year and fewer aurora pepper plants. The choc beauties, anchos, and santé fe were so much more useable. Going to try some hot Portugals too...
Ground cherries - we mistook these for being a novelty (shame on us!) and as such they were relegated to a potted existence. We got just enough fruit to make sure they have a serious place in the garden this year! What a treat it was to experience a food and flavor that I have NEVER, EVER had before. Really yummie!
Salsify! Does anyone have any experience with the "vegetable oyster"? I find it intriguing but perhaps it is just a novelty?
Will do squash this year -especially the scallop variety. We got absolutely addicted to thinly sliced scallop squash (from the farmer's market) tossed with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Once our thai basil matured we added that to the mix and truly had a salad straight from Shangri-La!
Need to figure out where I will cultivate my seedlings - space used previously was commandeered for year-round usefulness - with three curious "helper" kitties and an unheated garage I am not sure what we will come up with...
Endeavor to get a drip irrigation system in place so we can get out of town for the weekend a few times this summer.
Tried to make this post succinct but am just so excited for "round three" of my garden experiment! Especially with the cold, wind, and snow outside! BURRR!!
Ground cherries - we mistook these for being a novelty (shame on us!) and as such they were relegated to a potted existence. We got just enough fruit to make sure they have a serious place in the garden this year! What a treat it was to experience a food and flavor that I have NEVER, EVER had before. Really yummie!
Salsify! Does anyone have any experience with the "vegetable oyster"? I find it intriguing but perhaps it is just a novelty?
Will do squash this year -especially the scallop variety. We got absolutely addicted to thinly sliced scallop squash (from the farmer's market) tossed with some olive oil, salt and pepper. Once our thai basil matured we added that to the mix and truly had a salad straight from Shangri-La!
Need to figure out where I will cultivate my seedlings - space used previously was commandeered for year-round usefulness - with three curious "helper" kitties and an unheated garage I am not sure what we will come up with...
Endeavor to get a drip irrigation system in place so we can get out of town for the weekend a few times this summer.
Tried to make this post succinct but am just so excited for "round three" of my garden experiment! Especially with the cold, wind, and snow outside! BURRR!!
elysia- Posts : 76
Join date : 2012-03-23
Location : SW South Dakota
Drip irrigation
I used old milk jugs filled them with water yand put a very small hole in them then placed them on the edge and they worked well - but I was only gone 2 days
2SooCrew- Posts : 52
Join date : 2013-09-12
Location : Northern Michigan - near Canadian border - brrrr
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
Good idea. I will have to give that a try. I have used like liter soda bottles but did not have much success and they are not high enough capacity...
elysia- Posts : 76
Join date : 2012-03-23
Location : SW South Dakota
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
still bouncing ideas around, but
1)earlier start... last year i started late and had to direct sow everything around May. all things considered, I did okay despite this, some things more than others, that is. no peppers came up for me, but I traded for plenty at least.
2)I think I may be scaling up tomatoes this year, focusing on heirlooms (which I hope come in the mail as returns from trades I have sent off, as well as some gifts to me).
3) more greens
4) more herbs
5) more companion plants (if I can get some in trades)
6) better organization, less crowding
7) more root vegies of all types
no corn? I also had little output from my corn compared to space, but perhaps if I use them in a three sisters tek?... but likely not since this entails squash....
9) no squash and pumpkin (or cucs or melons)? they take up a huge amount of space with lots of vines and huge leaves that cover a ton of ground, all for little fruit. the cantaloupe wasn't even very good, and I had so few cucs it wasn't worth pickling (and I don't care for raw cucs much, I really only like them pickled).
10) beans are another space killer with little payoff for me, but less so than the 2 above.
my space should be measured in square inches, so space needs maximized.
revisions to come
1)earlier start... last year i started late and had to direct sow everything around May. all things considered, I did okay despite this, some things more than others, that is. no peppers came up for me, but I traded for plenty at least.
2)I think I may be scaling up tomatoes this year, focusing on heirlooms (which I hope come in the mail as returns from trades I have sent off, as well as some gifts to me).
3) more greens
4) more herbs
5) more companion plants (if I can get some in trades)
6) better organization, less crowding
7) more root vegies of all types
no corn? I also had little output from my corn compared to space, but perhaps if I use them in a three sisters tek?... but likely not since this entails squash....
9) no squash and pumpkin (or cucs or melons)? they take up a huge amount of space with lots of vines and huge leaves that cover a ton of ground, all for little fruit. the cantaloupe wasn't even very good, and I had so few cucs it wasn't worth pickling (and I don't care for raw cucs much, I really only like them pickled).
10) beans are another space killer with little payoff for me, but less so than the 2 above.
my space should be measured in square inches, so space needs maximized.
revisions to come
changes
have to change everything...the city is doing a 2-year street project and my SFG's are in the right-of-way (my sunniest spot is right along the street in the front yard). I'll need to move my Mels mix, move the boxes, new weed barrier, re-install everything a few feet away. Not sure how my garlic will transplant.
landarch- Posts : 1152
Join date : 2012-01-22
Location : kansas city
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
Landarch you've got your hands full just to move things over a few feet. Ouch.
I have to remake just about all the critter cages, the 1" x 2" wood base lasted 3 years or less. Been mulling the idea of using conduit with elbows as a base, like the original trellis material. And a very simple gizmo to secure the base to the top of the bed so wind doesn't blow it off. Anyone want
to brainstorm I'd appreciate your thoughts. Pvc doesn't sound durable enough for long term sun exposure.
Promised myself that a new bed, number 10 is the final expansion for this 2 person family. I've reached my level of energy and interest to make the compost necessary to support the beds and the other non sq ft. areas of the yard.
Streamline what is grown instead of wanting to try everything.
I have to remake just about all the critter cages, the 1" x 2" wood base lasted 3 years or less. Been mulling the idea of using conduit with elbows as a base, like the original trellis material. And a very simple gizmo to secure the base to the top of the bed so wind doesn't blow it off. Anyone want
to brainstorm I'd appreciate your thoughts. Pvc doesn't sound durable enough for long term sun exposure.
Promised myself that a new bed, number 10 is the final expansion for this 2 person family. I've reached my level of energy and interest to make the compost necessary to support the beds and the other non sq ft. areas of the yard.
Streamline what is grown instead of wanting to try everything.
llama momma
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 4921
Join date : 2010-08-20
Location : Central Ohio zone 6a
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
llama momma wrote:Landarch you've got your hands full just to move things over a few feet. Ouch.
I have to remake just about all the critter cages, the 1" x 2" wood base lasted 3 years or less. Been mulling the idea of using conduit with elbows as a base, like the original trellis material. And a very simple gizmo to secure the base to the top of the bed so wind doesn't blow it off. Anyone want
to brainstorm I'd appreciate your thoughts. Pvc doesn't sound durable enough for long term sun exposure.
Promised myself that a new bed, number 10 is the final expansion for this 2 person family. I've reached my level of energy and interest to make the compost necessary to support the beds and the other non sq ft. areas o f the yard.
Streamline what is grown instead of wanting to try everything.
LM- You could use something as simple as zip ties to connect your cage to conduit.
Im starting beginners bee classes next week, so thats a new change for the year.
R&R 1011- Posts : 293
Join date : 2013-02-22
Age : 40
Location : London, OH -Zone 5B/ 6A
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
Good luck with the bee classes. Love the concept of owning bees. Can't get over my fear of them. When Autumn arrived I could see the neighbors yards better and discovered a second neighbor with bee hives. No wonder I saw so many bees last summer.
The zip ties are what I plan to use and the price looked better over at Big Lots too.
The zip ties are what I plan to use and the price looked better over at Big Lots too.
llama momma
Certified SFG Instructor- Posts : 4921
Join date : 2010-08-20
Location : Central Ohio zone 6a
Re: 2014 N&C Midwest - What are you changing for this year?
my boxes are under a foot of snow...may have to dig them out to move them...hopefully the frames are not frozen to the ground.
landarch- Posts : 1152
Join date : 2012-01-22
Location : kansas city
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