2020 SFG in Brooks, GA

I just turned my compost pile for the 2nd time since it was built.  The temperature reached 160* F.  When it declined to 100* F, I turned the pile.  What I am curious about is why isn't there any greyish ash from the heating.  Usually there is.  Also, the size of the pile did not decrease over the two weeks it was heating up and then cooling off.  That is unusual also.  Anyone care to speculate ???

3.5 ft by 3.5 ft by 3 ft


This picture was just after it was first built.  I left it open to the elements so the rain would add moisture.  Eventually it became the right moisture and I covered it.  The outside temps have been pretty consistent between 35 -55*F.  It took about 2 weeks to go up to 160*F and then down to 100*F.

If anyone can figure it out it is you. You always have the best gardens.

Okay, seed starting has begun.  I just planted (in seed starter trays) lettuce, Spinach, Onions, Leeks, Tomatoes (2 early), Artichokes, Broccoli, Kohlrabi, Bok Choy, Baby Choy, Swiss Chard.  I plan to use season extension on some of these.  Tomatoes will be transplanted into large pots and put on a wagon so I can pull them into the garage when the temps go below 50*F.  Our average last frost date is around April 1.

I need to cut down the cover crops in two beds so that I can plant peas and potatoes.  If it will ever stop raining long enough for the ground to dry out.  Last year I covered the beds and left the ends open so they could dry out without getting rained on over and over.  Then let them dry and incorporate the cover crop.

yolos wrote: Tomatoes will be transplanted into large pots and put on a wagon so I can pull them into the garage when the temps go below 50*F. 

This is one of the best ideas I've ever heard.

countrynaturals wrote:

yolos wrote: Tomatoes will be transplanted into large pots and put on a wagon so I can pull them into the garage when the temps go below 50*F. 

This is one of the best ideas I've ever heard.

I don't know why I did not do this the last two years, but here is a picture of my 2017 tomato wagon.

Wow!  I guess it is seed starting time for some of us!  (Mildly distracted by Baby Yoda)

No explanation for the temp flux in the compost...

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'
Get them maters Rollin'

Potato bed is ready except it is too wet to plant.  I have covered it with 6 mil plastic to keep the rain from drowning the potatoes.  So I will be chitting and cutting the potatoes and waiting for them to  heal.  Then plant out in a couple days.  Can't wait.  Wish it would stop raining.

Planted my potatoes in my 4 x 8 bed that I had been preparing over the last 2 weeks.  I had already cut down the winter peas at ground level and put the top growth in the compost pile, added compost and fertilizer, covered the bed with 6 mil plastic and put in Christmas lights.  Waited a few days for the soil to warm up and the potatoes to partial chit.  When I checked it this morning the ground temp at 6 inches deep was 50* F.  This evening, after a day covered by the plastic, with the lights on and with the sun shining, the soil temp increased to 60*F.  I planted the potatoes and I then added straw and misted the straw to keep it in place.  Now all I have to do is wait 3-4 months for them to mature and hope the vines do not get killed by disease.

I planted 8 squares of Yukon Gold, 8 squares of Red Norland, 4 squares of Blue Adirondack, and 12 squares of Russet Norkotah.  1 per square.  I usually just plant the Russet but I have read that it is not what I should be planting in Ga due to the short spring.  I decided to see how the other varieties fair in my garden.

I still have another 5 x 5 foot area that I will plant full of the Russet Norkotah after the next cold snap (Friday it is going down into the mid 20's* F.

I will be planting my bush English Peas (Strike) after the Friday cold snap.  The ground in the 2nd potato bed and the pea bed have already been prepared and are just waiting for a window of opportunity to plant between cold snaps.

Sounding good, Yolos.

Seedlings are coming along.  I have planted all potatoes (2 beds), and the pea seedlings.  Still have a lot left to plant but waiting until this weekend when the temperatures should moderate.

Tomatoes and a few onions and spinach


Peas (which I planted today)


Spinach and lettuce


Kholrabi, Broccoli, celery, Chard, Bok Choy, Baby Choi

Good morning Yolo! You live pretty close to me. This is my first time gardening in Middle GA and also first sq foot garden. I have gardened in other states but not sure about the heat factor. I would love to pick your brain

Yolos, When did you start the seedlings? I was at least 2 weeks late

sanderson wrote:Yolos, When did you start the seedlings?  I was at least 2 weeks late

I did not record the dates this year for some reason.  But this set of seedlings was planted around the first and second week of Feb.  This week I am planting a flat of lettuce.  Most of the lettuce is Johnny's Salanova lettuce but it is 2016 lettuce seeds so I don't know if any will germinate.  I planted some Alaska peas in the ground yesterday - a 20 foot double row not in the SFG.

Planted my Brassica Bed yesterday.  There was too much wasted space between my Broccoli plants so I added a lot of cool weather spring crops in between the Broccoli.  Celery, Boc Choy, Baby Choy, Kholrabi, and lots of Broccoli.


Also planted my Tomato wagon yesterday.  I can roll it into the garage if the nights are too cold or if there is too much rain.


Picture of my Lettuce/Spinach/Chard transplants.  Getting ready to go out and plant these in the garden.

yolos wrote:Planted my Brassica Bed yesterday.  There was too much wasted space between my Broccoli plants so I added a lot of cool weather spring crops in between the Broccoli.  Celery, Boc Choy, Baby Choy, Kholrabi, and lots of Broccoli.


Also planted my Tomato wagon yesterday.  I can roll it into the garage if the nights are too cold or if there is too much rain.


Picture of my Lettuce/Spinach/Chard transplants.  Getting ready to go out and plant these in the garden.

I have been jealous of your tomtato wagon for a year. Now, I just realized there might be a way I can do it, too. Gotta wait and run this by Bob. He always helps me figure out the best way to execute my pie-in-the-sky ideas.

I planted my Lettuce/Spinach bed today.  Also added some Chard and Sorrel.


Carrots have just started to grow again.  I planted them in the Fall and they just now started to grow a little bit again.

What is sorrel?  The beds look great!  Spring Fever!!

Scorpio Rising wrote:What is sorrel?  The beds look great!  Spring Fever!!

I am experimenting with Common Sorrel (Rumex acetosa).  Sorrel can be used for a variety of things.  I am growing it to add to salads and also because it says it can withstand frost I think?  Package says "One of the earliest spring green, add to salads for a lemony spinach flavor.

Yolos, you are my hero!!!
Everything looks fantastic.

ralitaco wrote:Yolos, you are my hero!!!
Everything looks fantastic.

. You are a true inspiration for all of us wannabes.

countrynaturals wrote:

ralitaco wrote:Yolos, you are my hero!!!
Everything looks fantastic.

. You are a true inspiration for all of us wannabes.

Enough of all the praise; I'm just jealous.

yolos wrote:Planted my Brassica Bed yesterday.  There was too much wasted space between my Broccoli plants so I added a lot of cool weather spring crops in between the Broccoli.  Celery, Boc Choy, Baby Choy, Kholrabi, and lots of Broccoli.

Are you going to add bridal tulle? A couple days ago, I watched a white butterfly flutter around the bolted broccoli. (I haven't pulled them out because 3 bees visit each day.)

Yes I will be putting up tulle as soon as these irritating rains end.  I don't seem to have enough time in the day between rain showers to do much in the garden.  I finally amended all my pots.  Yesterday I  amended and re-fertilized and re-composted the bed I will be planting my main tomato crop.  The hoops on the brassica bed are sitting too high for the tulle so I will have to re-engineer those hoops before dragging out the tulle.  I still need to cut down the mustard on the 3 corn beds and incorporate the mustard into the beds.  These are the three beds that were or may have been contaminated with the southern Blight organisms.