2020 SFG in Brooks, GA

Ok, got my tulle set up.  I had to wrap burlap around the top of the plastic fence which surrounds the bed because the top was prickly enough to rip the tulle.  And I cannot take the fence down because then the armadillos will get in the bed and dig it up looking for grubs.

Busy day in the garden.  
Got the tulle set up around the brassicas (see picture above).
Cut down one of the three mustard beds and incorporated the cuttings into the bed.

3 x 8 Bed of Mustard ready to cut down.


3 x 8 Bed of Mustard cut down ready to incorporate into soil.


Mustard incorporated into the soil where it is supposed to kill the southern blight fungi hopefully.  This is the fourth  year I have done this and then only planted corn trying to revitalize the 3 beds.

Beautiful tulle frame and cover.

yolos wrote: And I cannot take the fence down because then the armadillos will get in the bed and dig it up looking for grubs.

I had no idea there were armadillos in Georgia!!!

Now as for your tulle frame, it looks like you have the PVC going INSIDE some EMT. Is that correct?

ralitaco wrote:

yolos wrote: And I cannot take the fence down because then the armadillos will get in the bed and dig it up looking for grubs.

I had no idea there were armadillos in Georgia!!!

Now as for your tulle frame, it looks like you have the PVC going INSIDE some EMT. Is that correct?

I have to put up fences around every bed or the armadillos (we think they are this) will dig up any bed without a fence.  Our nice pristine lawn is continually dug up by the critters looking for grubs.  This year we are going to try some grub control on the lawn so maybe they will visit some other lawns.  

The tulle frame is made of EMT and PVC.  I use the 3/4 inch by 3 foot tall EMT as posts for my fence.  Then I buy that plastic pipe (which may be called PVC but not sure) that is smaller diameter than the 1/2 PVC. This smaller pipe will go down into the opening of the 3/4 inch EMT.  It is more flexible than the 1/2 inch PVC and is easier to bend.  I bend that over the top of the bed to hold the tulle above the bed.  I use this on my 4 x 8 beds.  I have no idea why I am using one setup on my 4 x 8 bed and a different setup on my 3 x 8 beds????    On my 3 x 8 beds I use 1/2 inch PVC on the inside of the bed to hold the tulle or plastic and then 1/2 inch EMT on the outside of the bed to hold the fence.  

4 x 8 foot beds.


3 x 8 foot beds

yolos wrote:I have to put up fences around every bed or the armadillos (we think they are this) will dig up any bed without a fence.  Our nice pristine lawn is continually dug up by the critters looking for grubs.  This year we are going to try some grub control on the lawn so maybe they will visit some other lawns.  

We have moles tearing up the yard and (#+*&$* squirrels digging everywhere.

yolos wrote:
The tulle frame is made of EMT and PVC.  I use the 3/4 inch by 3 foot tall EMT as posts for my fence.  Then I buy that plastic pipe (which may be called PVC but not sure) that is smaller diameter than the 1/2 PVC. This smaller pipe will go down into the opening of the 3/4 inch EMT.  It is more flexible than the 1/2 inch PVC and is easier to bend.  I bend that over the top of the bed to hold the tulle above the bed.  

Thank you for the explanation.
I believe the thinner, more flexible pipe you are using is PEX.

Tomato Wagon is setting fruit already.




Planted 6 tomatoes in the SFG garden.

That is awesome

yolos wrote:Tomato Wagon is setting fruit already.




Planted 6 tomatoes in the SFG garden.

Mine too! That was the best idea I've ever heard. Thank you so much for sharing it.

Looks great, yolos!!

AtlantaMarie wrote:Looks great, yolos!!

+1

Garden Update 05/01/20  (see pictures below but they will take forever to load now)

Tomato Wagon and fruit.  The top of the tomato plants are hitting the top of the garage doors when I move them into the garage at night so I will need to place the pots on the ground soon.


Sungold Ripening


Juliet not yet ripening but at max size so should not be long.


English Peas growing and I picked the peas after this picture was taken.  About a 4 foot by 5 foot area in this bed.  Strike peas.



My lettuce has been a success this year.  We have been harvesting enough for 3 adults to eat each day.  I have a 4 x 4 garden in the SFG and also a set up on my porch because I can keep it cooler on the porch and hopefully they will not bolt as easy.




I also have broccoli, Bok Choy, Carrots, Kholrabi, Corn, and Potatoes growing.  I am getting ready to go out and plant my Rattlesnake Beans now.  Yesterday I finally finished my irrigation in the Rattlesnake bed so maybe this year I will not be spending so much time standing around and watering.  I still have quite a few more beds to hook up the irrigation but I just gotta stop and plant more.  My Rattlesnake bed irrigation.

Harvested some Bok Choy, Celery, potatoes, carrots, garlic, broccoli, Juliet Tomatoes.




In the last week I planted some Baby Persian Cucumbers, Picolino Cucumbers, Spaghetti Squash, Tromboncino Squash, Partenon Zuc, and my annual planting of Rattlesnake Beans in my 2' x 9' bed.  The only problem this year with the Rattlesnake Bean bed is it is now right next to a big deep hole my 2 grandsons are digging next to the garden.  My 2-1/2 year old grandson keeps throwing rocks and clay clods in the bed.  I finally temporarily put up deer fencing all around the bed to keep the rascal out of the bed.

Harvested my first batch of potatoes today.  These are Norland Red and Yukon Gold and a couple Purple.


Still harvesting Garden Peas.  I have frozen about 12 cups of shelled peas and eaten about 6 cups.  I have had a good harvest of peas due to the long cooler than normal spring.  Powdery Mildew has just appeared so I don't have much longer to harvest.  I may try spraying them but not sure.

Lettuce is about finished.  
Still have Sorrel and Chard that is still growing.  
I will be ready to harvest garlic fairly soon.  
Tomatoes are really coming in and I have already started giving some away.  
Cucumbers, squash, zucchini really taking off with the heat.  
Two beds of corn are about waist high.  
Carrots are still coming in.
Rattlesnake Beans are about at the top of an 8' trellis.

I was bitten by a tick last week.  I noticed a rash and quickly went to see a doctor.  It was Lyme Disease.  I am taking Doxycycline which has given me a temporary side affect.  Hyper Photosensitivity.  I get a burn and red rash if I am out in the sun.  I went outside this morning with a hat, long pants, and long sleeved shirt.  Unfortunately one of the sprinkler heads on our irrigation system is broken and we had to turn off the sprinkler system so I have to water by hand.  Takes a long time so I waste the early morning and early evening watering.

And gloves! The backs of your hands can get sunburned, too. Garden looks awesome! How long do you have to be on the doxy for?

mollyhespra wrote:And gloves!  The backs of your hands can get sunburned, too.  Garden looks awesome!   How long do you have to be on the doxy for?  

Yes, I did wear gloves the two days after the the backs of my hands became sunburned.  The last two days I just stayed inside.  I took the doxy for 10 days.

Harvested some early tomatoes.  The Juliet and Sun Gold came from my tomato wagon planted early.  The 4th of July and the Early Girl were planted in the SFG.  I am still waiting on my large tomatoes (Brandywine) to start to turn color.

Those look SO good, Yolos!  

Harvested my Garlic today.  Most heads are smaller than normal.  I assume I did not fertilize enough in the early spring.

Beautiful tomatoes!! Are they protected with sun shade?

sanderson wrote:Beautiful tomatoes!!  Are they protected with sun shade?

No they are not protected.  About the only thing I try to shade now are the cool weather crops (all harvested now) and cucurbits because they really take a beating in the middle of the day.  Tomatoes I just do not prune after they get to a certain size and therefore the leaves shade the actual tomatoes.

Harvested a few things today.  The largest tomato on the plate is a Brandywine and weights 1 lb 5 oz.   Also harvested cucumbers and zucchini.


Harvested the last of my potatoes - Red Norland, Purple Something, Russet Norkotah, Kennebec, (Yukon Golds were already eaten).

Harvested my first Rattlesnake Pole Beans of the season. - 5 pounds.

Those potatoes are gorgeous! When do you plant them? My two 5-gallon buckets or small reds wrapped in aluminum foil have potatoes but the plants seem to be taking forever to die back.

Guess what I had along with dinner last night.  Also Rattlesnake Beans with new potatoes.