Rainy night

Rainy night tonight. No complaints from me!

Since last posting, the cucumber seeds came up. 

Strawberries look better but did suffer some sun scald because they were greenhouse plants. They seem to be okay, though.

Got plastic sheeting on most of the mounds in the garden a couple weeks ago. Then this weekend I got most of the tomato plants in the ground with tops sticking out of the plastic. Give it a couple more weeks and maybe start pulling the plastic off. I'll wait as long as I can, depending on how the plants look.

Planted carrot seeds. Not completely sure they'll germinate. I think there are just enough nights below 50 degrees for them to do so. Meanwhile, the container carrots are getting close to being ready to harvest. 

Got milkweed seeds in the mail. Had to stratify them for a couple of weeks. Got them started tonight. Hoping they flower this year. Be really good to attract lots of Monarch butterflies!

I have a couple dozen Gladiolus of various colors coming up. If I get them hardened off and in the ground they should flower in a few weeks. 

Wrapping the trees saved the plum and apple crops. Still hoping for blueberries this year. Not sure because the two different types bloomed at different times. 

Got the sunflower seeds planted this evening. Slightly late but not much. The seeds already in the ground in the back yard are just starting to come up. Not seeing Cosmos yet but they start late and then make up for it. 

Need to get watermelon, cantaloupe and pumpkin seeds going this week.

The irrigation system is completely up and running. No timer for the front zone at the moment. I have my vacation set up as two separate weeks, so I figure if I seriously soak the ground before leaving town for a couple of days, shouldn't be a big problem. But maybe I'll get a timer for that zone any way. I ran the two back zones for as long as 4 hours (with drip irrigation) at a time a few times to flush surface sodium as deep as possible. I actually hope that if I keep doing that, over time the salt will be flushed too deep for roots to reach. Maybe washed completely away, since the water table is so close to the surface. 

I'm working toward the future configuration of the garden. Tried to order some wisteria. Then Bank of America got their heads up their asses. The order was canceled. Have to reorder when I get a new debit card. Not worth going into all of it on my garden blog. In time, I'd like to have an arbor the length of the garden covered with wisteria. I had ordered seeds for Chinese wisteria before I knew it takes 15 years to flower! Instead, I'll buy Amethyst Falls wisteria, which allegedly flowers the same year and grows very quickly. I also want rows of tomatoes and a small vineyard. Plus a row of blueberry bushes, more apple and plum trees and one pomegranate tree. 

Tomatoes back outside

Moved the tomato plants back outside this evening. Most seem like they'll bounce back in a few days. One or two are gone. Cucumber vine is completely dead.

So, need to get more cucmber seeds going tonight. 

Zone 1 still needs some revision for the tomato plants. Was going to get that done tonight but ran out of daylight. 

Still waiting for the shade fabric and garden staples to arrive. 

Had good luck with plastic buckets this evening. (Guess it doesn't take much to make me happy, eh?) Got 7 buckets from the grocery store, varying sizes. Those will come in handy! 

Since starting this post I got the cucumber seeds started. Six containers, three varieties, two seeds each container. 

Seeing more things coming up inside. Strawberries aren't looking so hot. I may have planted them too deeply. If the crowns are covered even slightly they die off. I removed some soil from them today. If not looking better tomorrow, may have to pull them up and replant. 

Zone 2

Zone 2 of the irrigation system is up and running now. May have to replace one sprinkler. I think there's not enough pressure in this zone because the zone is too big. Either that or there's a pressure leak somewhere. I'm letting the system run for a few hours tonight, so hoping any leaks may be more visible tomorrow.

Letting it run to flush the system and the soil to leach off any surface salt. Also to get any remaining grass and weed seeds or roots to start growing so I can deal with them. It also wakes up earthworms and microbes for the spring, bringing them closer to the surface.

Installed the metal straps on the compost tumbler, so the door will stop warping in the sun. It's showing good results, composting much, much faster than the compost pile. In 2-3 weeks I think this batch will be useable. I do need to tumble it every day or two, now that the door will stay closed. I do have air holes drilled in the sides but if I don't turn it, the stuff on the bottom goes into anearobic decomposition, which smells pretty bad. More air mixed in speeds up composting, too. 

They referred to frost last night. In my area, it came closer to a hard freeze. The grape vines lost all their green leaves. Glad they hadn't flowered yet. I managed to avert damage to the apple and most of the plum tree with wrapping them. 

Lots of stuff

I think I'm just going to keep this saved as a draft and add to it during the course of the day. Gives me something to do when I take a break.

Last night I applied glyphosate to the garden. This morning I followed up with sulfuric acid.

I have gone full toxic this year to wrestle the weeds and unwanted grass under control.

I'm using full strength acid with no added water. The one thing I am adding is pure household ammonia. I applied pure acid one day and an acid/ammonia mix another day. It seems the mixture is much more effective. And then that effect is compounded if applied in direct sunlight. I applied acid one evening and had some effect but not quite enough the next day. This morning I applied the mixture in direct sunlight and was seeing the effects on the first section before I was done with the last section, so about half an hour. I'm hoping the whole garden is black by late afternoon. 

Right now it's 10 AM. 

My plan is to get the irrigation system partially running this weekend. Water the soil and apply clear plastic sheeting to the tomato section, then put tomato plants in containers out to weigh the plastic down and install irrigation to them. In 2-3 weeks the glyphosate should be dissipated/inactivated, so I can cut holes in the plastic, plant the tomatoes in the ground and anchor the plastic around them for a few more weeks. 

Right now I need to go drill holes in more stumps and apply Epsom Salt and acid. From what I can tell so far, it seems to be working. I am re-applying the acid every couple of days, to fill the holes I drilled. No signs of growth on the two stumps I've treated so far. I may just maintain that procedure through the summer, until I'm convinced I have killed off the roots.

However, I also need to trim smaller invasive trees and go get more glyphosate. Ran out. 

I had been letting the dog run around without the invisible fence collar. However, couple nights ago he turned over several tomato plants in containers. I think I managed to save all of them this time. He was eating the potting soil. So I powdered to op of the soil with cayenne pepper. Not good enough. This morning I went out to feed him and he had gotten out of the yard. He came back but I have a new cable run and put the collar back on him. He's laying around, looking guilty. He knows he did wrong and he knew it before he did it. Dogs know when they're doing something wrong but do it anyway. I am in no way sold on the whole poor short term memory for dogs theory. If they are getting into something and walk away from it and/or look guilty as soon as they see you, they understand completely but it doesn't stop them. In addition, eating the potting soil gave him diarrhea. Good! Hope it gave him stomach cramps, too!

A big problem with the apple tree last year was ants. I tried treating the ant piles but to no avail. Today I applied fly paper strips to the trunk. If I have to replace it that shouldn't be a problem. I get them at Dollar Tree, so they're 4/$1. One strip will treat up to 2 trees but if the problem is too severe I can use a full strip for each tree. I didn't see as many ants on the plum tree but I still treated that one as well, just in case. Think I lost most of the plums last year just because the tree was too young to deal with the winds. Still not quite developed enough but maybe have a few more plums than last year. The apple tree put out a few apples last year but most fell prey to insect damage. 

Now 2 hours after acid application and seeing a big difference. If not enough to my liking by late afternoon (while still in full sun), I'll do one more application. 


3:30 PM. Seeing a lot more effect that I wanted to see. It even has something of a burned odor, which I wasn't really expecting for some reason. Just because there's no actual combustion. However, I am going to do one more application.

I'm dragging butt. However, I went to Walmart and got more glyphosate. Cut down the nuisance trees behind and next to the shed and sprayed what was left liberally with the glyphosate, including the trunks but especially at the spots where I cut because that absorbs fastest, from what I understand. 

Like I said, dragging butt. I think it has to do with gastric problems. Took something for it and going to take some creatine in a little bit.

Okay, I did the last acid treatment. It is seriously looking like this is going to work! One of the best things about this is that it only takes a few hours to see where you need to apply more. It took 3 gals to bring things under control right now. I think all it should take the rest of the year will be spot treating. I hope it soaked down to the roots, as it appears to have done. 

I can part of the irrigation system running tomorrow. Need to order some new parts because Home Depot stopped carrying my preferred micro-sprinklers and never did carry replacement parts. Going to try out some new sprinklers that have a wider range. They cost more but with a wider range I would need fewer of them. 

Done with the garden for today. Need to get a few things done inside the house.

Long road

This year it's a long road to planting in the garden. Getting problems under control before planting anything outside. I am getting closer, though.

Got the unwanted trees cut down to size, drilled some holes and applied some Epsom Salt and sulfuric acid. Have to wait a while to see how effective it is.

Transplanted most of the tomato plants into large containers this evening. Only one which I have doubts will survive. Let them get a bit larger before I take any cuttings. 

Got two more blueberry plants, small ones for now. Plus a seedless green grape vine. All three are looking good so far.

Cuttings from blueberry bushes and plums seem to be taking. If they form roots, I'll be up to as many as 11 blueberry bushes. I'm actually more hopeful that the apple cuttings will take than the plum cuttings. They look hopeful but not certain just yet. 

After several days of strong winds, it finally died down today. I was able to get out and spread acid in the main garden. Diluted acid has not been strong enough to bring weeds and grass under control, so this time I used straight acid. Risky process and can even feel the fumes on my skin but no actual direct exposure or burns. Spots where I had applied acid to the tree stumps a few days ago turned black, so hoping to see the same in the garden now. The strong but still diluted solution I used a few days ago worked on some random weeds. I also sprayed some of the full strength acid during lunch and could see some effect by this evening. I'm applying this before tilling or planting anything this year. Going to try and avoid turning over surface soil as much as possible this year. Acid on the surface should kill seeds while foliage application should kill weeds and grass to the roots. 

So, just used the last of the 5 gals of acid I bought last year. I'm expecting to go through more than that this year because I'm going to apply it very heavily this year to wrestle control of the garden. Once things are under control, just keep applying with irrigation water to help soil acidity. 

The plum and apple trees have had lots of flowers this year! Hoping that means lots of fruit!

Finally got something which fits to plug the hole left by the broken gauge in the well pump. Could not find a replacement gauge or a bolt, so found a pipe nipple and cap, used pipe tape and it worked fine. The pump still works well, the only problem was the gauge. None of that means the irrigation system is up and running yet. That's going to take a lot of work, thanks to the dogs who chewed up a lot of parts. 

Winds have stretched out the solarium film. I have to get on the ladder and stretch the film tight again. I also need to order some shade fabric to control the temperature, now that weather is warming up. 

Break time

Taking a break. Looks like the rest of the tree branches will have to wait. The chain on the chain saw is too dull. I have another one ordered but it hasn't arrived yet. Oh, well. It should be here this week. 

I did get a lot of it cut down to size. I have to wait for the smaller branches to lose their seed pods before I run them through the chipper. Otherwise it clogs like every other minute. 

I still need to cut the trunks down lower before it will do much good to apply herbicide in any form. I'm trying multiple things on different trees. Epsom Salt on one, glyphosate on another and a strong ammonia/acid mixture on another. 

Speaking of which, apparently the mixture I made yesterday was not strong enough. I do not see any visible burn where I sprayed. Guess I'll make another batch, stronger and apply it again today. 

Moving ahead

Moving ahead from last post. 

The dogs ran away one day. I was able to pick one up from the shelter. The better behaved one. He is now snipped and chipped. Having a lot fewer problems with garden invasion but will still complete the fence for multiple reasons. For one, the old fence is falling down, victim of the dogs and the wind. New fence is considerably stronger. If dogs or wind knock this one down, the fence will be the least of my problems. Besides, it will continue to act as a trellis, as well. Plus I have part of it already built, including the gate. It would look ridiculous to have only part of a fence there. 

Now up to at least 18 tomato plants, all looking good!

I have one cucumber vine inside the house which is gaining size and very healthy. 

Got the sides of the solarium opened up. Still need to open one side, which will take more work. 

Cut down the row of trees along the back fence. Again. Still in the process of cutting them down to smaller pieces, which will let me stack some for firewood, other for burning but most shredded for compost. They had to go because their roots will strangle the fruit trees and they were contacting the power lines. 

Going to build the compost tumbler today. 

Sprayed the main garden with a strong acid and ammonia solution yesterday. If I made it strong enough, today I'll be able to see the places I missed. I haven't tilled yet, so I am hoping it will desiccate any seeds left on the surface. One advantage of this is that I can repeat it as often as every day because it will just help increase the acidity and nitrogen in the soil. It's warm enough to plant a lot of things out right now but I'm going to wait and put more work into bringing the weeds under control. 

Going to stick with a lot of containers again this year for the same purpose. If I have crops in containers, I can spray around the containers with weed killer or acid and not damage the plants. I may just lay down plastic sheeting under the containers and leave it there all summer in some spots. 

Hmm. Solarizing would be a good idea for other areas once I get the trees out of the way. If I do it now, I could plant those areas by early May and they would be in good shape. Of course, that's if I start seedlings in containers. 

I have come up with a design which will let me build long planters for around 15 dollars each for 5 ft long planters. Of course, that's not counting what it takes to fill them up. However, if I put unfinished compost in the bottom and a layer of potting soil on top that may work. Maybe compost garden soil so the heat kills off weed seeds that would also do it. Even if weeds are present in them, it's much easier to pull them and get them under control. 

I'm wandering. Just brainstorming. 

The down side to the early heat is that the broccoli is already beginning to flower. I need to order shade fabric for the solarium to reduce the temperature there.  

Getting started

Beginning to get things ramped up for spring 2015. 

One first step is rebuilding the fence. The dogs keep getting past the invisible electric fence, tearing things apart, crapping everywhere they shouldn't. I got the frame for one section of fence up but ran out of slats. I have a temporary fix in place which seems to be keeping them out for now. 

The solarium is doing really well. I've clocked temperatures as high as 121 degrees above plant level. Going to have to make the required alterations to open the sides up. 

Cilantro and broccoli are doing really well. Carrots are picking up speed slowly. 

Inside the house, tomato plants and a couple of cucumber vines are picking up speed. Apparently they've developed decent root systems. I have to transplant a few tomato plants which are in containers too small to get much larger and survive. 

Got a plastic barrel to build a compost tumbler. I think that should help a lot. Big problem here is how dry it is. Compost dries out too fast. So, the tumbler will help keep compost moist, elevate the heat enough to kill weed seeds and just look much nicer than the compost bin. Haven't gotten anything done with the barrel just yet but think I should be able to complete it in an hour or so of work.

Analogies

I have come to see an analogy between the way people garden and their approach to life.

Some people never plant anything. They expect others to do all the work and they just eat the rewards.

Of course, there are those who are willing to pay for what they consume. So, they do plant but in different forms of fields.

Some people plant only decorative plants. Which is fine when it's for enjoyment. Though some plant decorative plants because that is their only true concern- appearance. 

Some people plant crops only for the purpose of recognition. Think of competitive gardeners, which can be crops or decorative plants. Once again, appearance is their biggest concern and very little genuine enjoyment derives from their planting. 

Still others plant for subsistence. Many of these are hoarders in some way. Or they are fearful. Either one in and of itself indicates fear or greed. 

Then there are those like me. People who plant a combination of crops and decorative plants. I admit the decorative plants are beneficial because they help attract pollinating insects. Not going to say I have not been proud of some past accomplishments but the main issue for all of it is subsistence plus enjoyment. It's something I can put intense thought into when planning and intense work into when doing. 

It is balance, thought, environment, teaching, learning, work, exercise, recycling, food, pride and beauty all rolled into one for me. 

It's a reflection of life. Balance and enjoying the effort are most important. I may fail at times but still plant next year. Possibly a different crop but crops I really enjoy I keep planting. May have eventual success but even if not I enjoy the attempt. 

Getting ready 2015

Getting ready for spring 2015!

Right now is when the solarium is beginning to really come in handy. Ambient temperatures are still often dropping below freezing. However, I have things now growing in the solarium. Carrots, broccoli, spinach, lettuce and lots of cilantro are now growing in the solarium. I planted some garlic but so far only see one bulb sprouting. Cucumber seeds are questionable. Planted some but not seeing anything yet. It does have to remain warm for them to even sprout.

Inside the house, I have a number of tomato seeds started and an increasing number and variety over time. I'm going with a lower number of seeds started but in larger containers this year to prevent transplant shock later. Some I started weeks ago and they're gaining size. Others I started later which are just sprouting. A few more I just started tonight. 

Got a new pair of loppers yesterday. Need to start getting out this week and trimming trees. Plus use some nearly pure acid to spray the surface soil. Then start getting some gypsum and spreading that around. Taking the no till approach this year, try to kill off the seeds and existing weeds and grass this year before planting anything out.