OK. I’m just getting started on the garden. My boxes are all weeded and new compost, manure, etc. added to fill them back up to the top.
I grew potatoes last year in those fiber bags. The potatoes were delicious, but I didn’t eat them all (although my waistline looks like I did.) The left over potatoes are sprouting all over the place. Can I just replant, or is there a point when I should just toss the whole mess and buy new seed?
I have 4 planting boxes — two 4 x 8 that are 4 timbers deep, one 4 x 8 that is 3 timbers deep, and one 2 x 8 that is 4 timbers deep. Instead of draggin out the fiber potato bags, I’m considering turning my 2 x 8 bed into a potato bed. Tomatoes grew there last year. Does anyone see anything wrong with that plan. I figure that I’ll get bigger potatoes if I give them more space. Should I remove some of the planting mix and then add it back in as the plants develop, like I did with the planting bags?
I’m planning to plant peas and beans in the bed that held corn last year. Should I also add 10/10/10 fertilizer to that bed before planting?
I’m moving the tomatoes to the bed where I had squash and melons last year. I’m moving the squash to where I had lettuce last year. And, I’m planting lettuce (from seed) in my perimeter beds.
Should I put my onions in between my tomatoes? Or, where?
I know this is a long question, but I really would appreciate your input. Y’all know why I got such a late start, and I’m trying to salvage the season.
For those who saw the pictures of my garden set up last year with it’s 6 ft. tall fence and arbor gate that my husband built to keep the deer out, you might be interested to see it after winter. You’ll have to use your imagination cause I don’t have a picture.
The deer broke the hinge and latch on my gate and came in to forage amongst the weeds. Then, they must have gotten spooked (probably by my dog) and tried to leap through my fence to get out. All they accomlished was to get sore heads and to bend my fence in extreme “pooches” facing out! Well, one faced in too, so it’s obvious that one tried to jump in at one point.
So part of the weekend was spent repairing the fence and the latch. My husband was able to take his pliers and bend the wire in each square to shorten it and to make it stand up straight again.
My job is to find some rag strips, or some sparkly foil, to tie along the fence at various levels to warn them that there is a fence there and to stay out!
With the gate open, a baby rabbit got in and was hiding in some weeds in the corner when my husband reached down to pull them out. I’ve never heard a rabbit squeal before. My. my. they can make a big noise.
The good news is the planting beds look beautiful, and the weeds were easy to pull. I’m going to try to get my purchased plants in today.
Welcome to the wonderful world weeds and critters. I always plant my leftover potatoes and even set some aside for that purpose however (comma) NOT if my spuds had late blight. I would definitely use the 10-10-10 in the former corn patch as they are heavy feeders and take a lot out of the soil.
A soil test is going to be your best friend in this situation. Peas and beans won't need the added nitrogen, as it will give you huge green plants, but not so much in the way of peas and beans. Use a fert with the first number being zero.
Planting potatoes in the bed sounds fine, and I don't see why you wouldn't use the same procedure as far as building up the soil height.
Onions between the tomatoes sounds like a good use of space, so long as the onions will receive adequate sunlight. My tomatoes are such lush plants that other plants wouldn't get much sun at all ... they are planted 2' apart on the row, and the rows are 40" apart.
Glad to hear that you are getting in the garden. Planting and tending are good activities for the soul. I wish you bumper crops and lots of good times!
I've really not contributed much to the gardening threads for some weeks now. DH bought me a new tractor with several implements, and I've enlarged the garden significantly. In addition to that he pinched 6 acres off of the farm for me to plant produce, and I've been able to get it all planted. Luckily, he had that 6 acres worked and ready to plant, or I would have had another couple of days of work.
Our temps in may have been incredible ... it was 97 yesterday and will be again today. It has been that way all month, except for two sets of a couple of days that cool fronts came through and it was in the 80's. No rain for weeks. It is as dry as a powder keg and my hose is going 24/7.
Here's my 2 cents, and remember I am pretty much a newbie.LOL.
I would not plant Tomatoes where the potatoes grew last year. Plant Tomatoes after squash, cucumbers, pumpkins etc.
I always plant peas, beans or other legumes after a corn crop. I do not add fertilizer to any of my beds, so can't really speak to that. In general I am trying to avoid chemicals.
I put a scoop of organic compost for each sq. foot and work it in. After heavy users of nitrgen I work in the compost and plant legumes or cover crop. For veggies requiring potassium I add banana peels or old over ripe bananas. I use crushed egg shells. I also have some fish bones in case I need them.
For tomatoes and melons, I put a banana peel and some crushed egg shells in the bottom of the hole, cover with soil mixture and then plant the tomato.
Tomatoes should be a good choice to follow squashes and melons.
Onions are okay to plant between tomatoes, but I usually plant 3 basil, and some carrots, around tomatoes and one dwarf marigold in an adjacent square.