greeneyes - Forgot it was garden thread day. Whew, it was 90-something yesterday but today is nicer in the 70s and through the weekend. We’re having company tomorrow and I had planned on getting the little seedlings transplanted today and tomorrow. I did get some salad fixin’s and peas (yes, late) planted this morning and hubby worked on the hoses so the garden has water again. Will read up on the compost links as I have a kitchen bucket for that sort of thing.
VA - Nightshades include most of our garden favorites including tomatoes, peppers and potatoes. They contain alkaloid which causes some people joint and digestive problems. That’s why you’re supposed to eat potatoes that have turned green.
You’ve got the right idea with planting something tall by the wall so it’ll get the sun.
Johnny - I saw that big red weather radar spot headed your way last night and wondered how your plants survived. Heard there was grapefruit size hail at Denton. Two waves were barrelling down on us so we moved the seedlings into the garage but the storms split at nearly arm’s reach from us so nothing.
Erik - Nice set up.
I am learning some new stuff reading the links, and of course relearning stuff I had forgotten. I eventually want to be able to provide all the compost I need by using the remains of my harvest and kitchen waste. Don’t know if that is really possible. Hence the research.
I need to clarify something on the info for the cost of the various organic fertilizer. The per lb amount references the per lb of nitrogen, which is a common way to compare fertilizer costs.
The lb. referenced is not the weight of the bag. For example the soy bean meal is $6/lb of nitrogen. Divide 1 lb by 6% to find the weight of the bag which is 16.7 lbs.
Now compare that cost to a popular lower cost organic fertilizer found in Walmart and other garden centers:
Miracle Gro Organic Grow fertilizer for example costs $24/lb of nitrogen @ 7-1-2 the bag is approximately 14 1bs.
The soybean at $6/lb of nitrogen compared to the miracle gro $24/lb of nitrogen, obviously a cost savings.
What’s even better, is grass clippings and used coffee grounds which will give you nitrogen for free. However, many do not have adequate supply for their gardens especially when first makig the beds, hence the search for the cheapest organic fertilizer.
I make no comparisons regarding the chemical fertilizers, because I don’t use them. Nothing wrong with them - I just don’t know about them since I don’t use them other than the slow release granules I use in my potted plants that I grow indoors.