Search
Latest topics
» Need Garden Layout Feedbackby OhioGardener Today at 11:33 am
» Thai Basil
by Scorpio Rising Yesterday at 8:52 pm
» Happy Birthday!!
by Scorpio Rising Yesterday at 8:46 pm
» How best to keep a fallow SFG bed
by KiwiSFGnewbie Yesterday at 8:11 pm
» Preserving A Bumper Tomato Harvest with Freezing vs Canning
by plantoid 11/7/2024, 11:36 am
» New SFG gardener in Auckland
by sanderson 11/7/2024, 12:14 am
» Mark's first SFG
by sanderson 11/6/2024, 11:51 pm
» What Have You Picked From Your Garden Today
by OhioGardener 11/5/2024, 2:29 pm
» Greetings from Southeastern Wisconsin
by sanderson 11/5/2024, 2:01 pm
» N & C Midwest: Nov. Dec. 2024
by Scorpio Rising 11/3/2024, 3:51 pm
» Spinning Compost Bin-need some ideas
by rtfm 11/2/2024, 7:49 pm
» Kiwi's SFG Adventure
by KiwiSFGnewbie 10/31/2024, 9:55 pm
» Growing fruit trees in Auckland
by OhioGardener 10/31/2024, 4:23 pm
» Vermiculite -- shipping sale through 10/31/2024
by markqz 10/30/2024, 2:27 pm
» N & C Midwest: October 2024
by Scorpio Rising 10/30/2024, 10:38 am
» What are you eating from your garden today?
by Scorpio Rising 10/27/2024, 10:27 pm
» Old Mulch and Closing Beds for Winter
by sanderson 10/26/2024, 11:00 pm
» Ohio Gardener's Greenhouse
by OhioGardener 10/25/2024, 7:17 pm
» Hello from Land of Umpqua, Oregon Zone 8b
by sanderson 10/25/2024, 3:14 pm
» Hello everyone!
by SFGHQSTAFF 10/24/2024, 3:22 pm
» Senior Gardeners
by sanderson 10/23/2024, 6:09 pm
» Hello from South Florida
by markqz 10/23/2024, 10:30 am
» Confirm what this is
by sanderson 10/11/2024, 2:51 pm
» Harlequin Beetles?
by sanderson 10/7/2024, 3:08 pm
» N & C Midwest: September 2024
by OhioGardener 9/30/2024, 4:13 pm
» The SFG Journey-Biowash
by OhioGardener 9/29/2024, 8:33 am
» Fall is For Garlic Planting
by Scorpio Rising 9/28/2024, 12:19 am
» source for chemical-free lanscape fabric
by Woodsong 9/19/2024, 10:51 am
» Hurricane
by sanderson 9/14/2024, 5:42 pm
» Pest Damage
by WBIowa 9/8/2024, 2:48 pm
Google
2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
+7
Turan
ralitaco
countrynaturals
mlpii66
CapeCoddess
sanderson
Robbomb116
11 posters
Page 1 of 7
Page 1 of 7 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Well, I figured it was time to make a thread. Weather is still bitterly cold here. This morning is was -10 F with a high of 5 F today. Friday is supposed to get to 43 though, which is the highest we've gotten since November! I have received my seed order, which to be honest I might have went a little overboard. Got a lot of varieties cause I don't know which I'll like the best / have the most successful with. So each variety is only going to get a square or 2 most likely haha.
Anyway, here is my to do list:
Start 2017 thread... done
Prepare containers for winter sowing.
Possibly try to winter sow broccolini and leeks towards end of February.
Construct a 2x4 strawberry bed, and a 2x4 deep bed for carrots, parsnips, and leeks.
Fill said new beds with Mel's mix.
Turn compost pile once it finally thaws. Possibly add more coffee grounds to help heat it back up again.
Hopefully have compost sometime in May or June. I did start last fall, but I KNOW it's not been doing much frozen solid with temps below 0 almost all nights and some days.
That should be and good start for a 2 to list and should keep me fairly busy for the next two months when things start to really warm up again. In that time, there will also be planting various cold weather crops as well. There's still about 3 feet of snow covering my beds at the moment.
Anyway, here is my to do list:
Start 2017 thread... done
Prepare containers for winter sowing.
Possibly try to winter sow broccolini and leeks towards end of February.
Construct a 2x4 strawberry bed, and a 2x4 deep bed for carrots, parsnips, and leeks.
Fill said new beds with Mel's mix.
Turn compost pile once it finally thaws. Possibly add more coffee grounds to help heat it back up again.
Hopefully have compost sometime in May or June. I did start last fall, but I KNOW it's not been doing much frozen solid with temps below 0 almost all nights and some days.
That should be and good start for a 2 to list and should keep me fairly busy for the next two months when things start to really warm up again. In that time, there will also be planting various cold weather crops as well. There's still about 3 feet of snow covering my beds at the moment.
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
My seed order, overboard? Probably!
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Nah, you didn't go overboard. Looks like a pretty good assortment. Will you be starting them indoors?
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
I have zero space to start indoors this year, so I'm going to try wintersowing. If wintersowing doesn't work out, I'll buy local transplants probably. Even though I won't have the selection of varieties. If wintersowing works out, I'll probably keep doing that and not bother setting up a seed starting station. If it doesn't work out, I'll try to find room and money for one for next year.
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Sounds like a great plan!
CC
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6811
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Pretty sure I killed my garlic. I decided to remove the 6 inches of shredded leaves I used as mulch. I was worried that there was too much water in the leaves and the garlic would start rotting (which it looked like it had when I removed the leaves). Temps are averaging 40s during the and low 30s at night. I thought garlic could probably handle these temps even without the mulch as I know hearing how hardy it is... well yesterday we got a long rain pretty much all day with it being about 35, and then last night it dropped to 25 degrees. Rain then freezing temps lead to very frozen garlic this morning and it looks really SAD. Frozen foliage like that might be more abuse than garlic can take... we'll have talk see if it recovers I guess.
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
At this point, can you harvest and chop for freezing? If you have a dehydrator or oven that can be set 140-145*?F, you can dehydrate on a cookie sheet. I pulled my garlic yesterday. PS: You will have to open a window so maybe freezing at this time is the best.
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
I highly doubt there's anything the harvest haha. It's been entirely under 4 feet of snow since November. (Ok obviously the last few weeks the snow was slowing melting, hence how I took the mulch off)
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Just got home in this beautiful T shirt weather (47 F) and this is what the garlic looks like. Time will tell if it can recover.
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
It was a long hard one out here! SE Idaho here and all the snow is gone finally. Interested to see how your winter sowing goes.Robbomb116 wrote:Just got home in this beautiful T shirt weather (47 F) and this is what the garlic looks like. Time will tell if it can recover.
mlpii66- Posts : 93
Join date : 2016-10-02
Location : Idaho Falls, ID
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Here is the completed work from this weekend! Just need to make the grids on some of the new boxes and do some leveling.
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Good job, Rob. As one who is still sore from yard work yesterday, I can appreciate how you must feel.Robbomb116 wrote:Here is the completed work from this weekend! Just need to make the grids on some of the new boxes and do some leveling.
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
I think you garlic will be fine. Your boxes look great!
CC
CC
CapeCoddess- Posts : 6811
Join date : 2012-05-20
Age : 68
Location : elbow of the Cape, MA, Zone 6b/7a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Thanks, I thought they turned out pretty nice! Only problem is I just realized I forgot to put weed fabric down on the bottom of all the new beds... do you think it'll be ok? Or do I have to take out all the MM, put the weed cloth died and then refill them with MM?
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
So you're saying leave it be and see? They are a few inches off the ground, I could attempt to put weed fabric on the bottom haha. Maybe just "patch" the drainage holes with it.
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
I'm on the road. In retrospect, you probably should take out theMix and line the beds, bringing the fabric up the interior sides a bit. Road "brain fog."
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
First of all, your boxes look great!Robbomb116 wrote:Only problem is I just realized I forgot to put weed fabric down on the bottom of all the new beds... do you think it'll be ok? Or do I have to take out all the MM, put the weed cloth died and then refill them with MM?
In regards to the weed fabric...I would lay out a tarp and empty one of the beds and put down the weed cloth. Then I would fill that box with the MM from another box, etc. finally filling the last box with the MM from the 1st box that is on the tarp.
For my boxes, I also put down a layer of 6mm plastic and poked holes in it where the holes in the plywood are. My hope is that the plastic will help extend the life of the plywood. I am considering using that flex seal on my next one.
One note on the weed cloth, make sure you get the good stuff, it's kind of like fiberglass NOT the soft cloth as it rots quickly.
ralitaco- Posts : 1303
Join date : 2010-04-04
Location : Southport , NC
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Alright, thanks for the advice. Even though I was hoping it's be ok to leave it. I guess I'll get a bonus workout this weekend!
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
I bet that MM is nice and wet too...just like the books says
ralitaco- Posts : 1303
Join date : 2010-04-04
Location : Southport , NC
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Very much so!ralitaco wrote:I bet that MM is nice and wet too...just like the books says
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Been very busy. I did empty all the new boxes a few weeks ago and put down weed cloth. The new boxes also now have grids made out of nylon string.
So far in the garden I have transplanted my kale from my winter down containers, and next week I think the broccolini will be ready for transplanting as well. My peas I planted few weeks ago are doong well I think, the tendrils are out looking dor the trellis. Also in the sfg I have planted spinach, avalanche beets, Swiss chard, baby boc Choy, leeks, and my 2x4 strawberry patch!
Also wintersown right now is some lettuce, peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes. The peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes have not germinated at all due to the cold weather. I'm doubting they will be ready for transplanting when the time comes. My climate much just be too cold for wintersowing the reallt heat loving plants. If that doesn't work, local transplants for those crops will be purchased when the time comes.
I wanted to go out and take pictures this morning, but it's raining so that will hang to wait till another day.
So far in the garden I have transplanted my kale from my winter down containers, and next week I think the broccolini will be ready for transplanting as well. My peas I planted few weeks ago are doong well I think, the tendrils are out looking dor the trellis. Also in the sfg I have planted spinach, avalanche beets, Swiss chard, baby boc Choy, leeks, and my 2x4 strawberry patch!
Also wintersown right now is some lettuce, peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes. The peppers, eggplants, and tomatoes have not germinated at all due to the cold weather. I'm doubting they will be ready for transplanting when the time comes. My climate much just be too cold for wintersowing the reallt heat loving plants. If that doesn't work, local transplants for those crops will be purchased when the time comes.
I wanted to go out and take pictures this morning, but it's raining so that will hang to wait till another day.
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Thanks! And there are more than shirts with that quote, there's a whole song! Although the lyrics are more about video games, comic books, and star trek than math.TNGeezer wrote:You have an aesthetically, eye-pleasing design, at least to this math nerd. I hope you have a wonderful growing season and an abundant harvest.
My wife jokes that she is going to buy me a t-shirt that says, "Talk Nerdy to Me." They exist.
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Re: 2017: First full year of SFGing in ND
Proof of my short growing season: 2 weeks after it is finally safe to transplant peppers and tomatoes, I'm supposed to start fall peas if I want to get some before the frost comes in September.
Makes me wonder if fall peas will actually work for me, considering how in about a months span we go from the potential of 100+ degree days to the potential of night time frosts.
Makes me wonder if fall peas will actually work for me, considering how in about a months span we go from the potential of 100+ degree days to the potential of night time frosts.
Robbomb116- Posts : 363
Join date : 2016-07-07
Age : 35
Location : Bismarck ND, Zone 4a
Page 1 of 7 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7
Similar topics
» Monthly Avatar: January 2014~Out With The Old
» Square Foot Hero Gardens
» Starting the new year 2017 in the lower south
» New Year 2017 - NEWS FLASH Jan 7 - A message from the Administrator
» Mid-Atl - Feb 2017 - Farmers' Almanac Winter 2016-2017
» Square Foot Hero Gardens
» Starting the new year 2017 in the lower south
» New Year 2017 - NEWS FLASH Jan 7 - A message from the Administrator
» Mid-Atl - Feb 2017 - Farmers' Almanac Winter 2016-2017
Page 1 of 7
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum