WEEKLY GARDEN THREAD VOLUME 11, MARCH 13, 2015

freerepublic | 3/13/2015 | greeneyes

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Ellendra:" Weedkillers. I'll be honest, I have a personal grudge when it comes to glycophosphates such as Roundup."

Me too ! Apparently, there were some quack roots on a farmers disk/drag that I hired one year to work a 2 acre garden one spring.
The first year, there was a 20 X20 area of infection in the north east corner of the area; by the next year, the quack had more than quadrupled, and was taking over that area.
Quack grass spreads by rhizomes and rootletts, faster than wildfire.
The "Round Up" knocked it down , but didn't totally eliminate it ; it took two spraying sessions to kill it .
But it still kept comming back, until I decided not to use that area for garden any longer .
Round up states that it has no residual effect, that it becomes inert after contact with soil - you can't prove it by me ! I won't use it.
I like Johnnys recipie for "soil steriliztion" with 6 mil transparent plastic for large areas .
I like your recipie for weedkiller for smaller areas and spot remover, and will use it. Thanks !

[Augie]

We shouldn’t have any extended periods of temps that low this late in the season, but it’s inevitable that we will have a few more cold nights.

I’m ready with a long power cord and a drop light.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Augie:" I’m ready with a long power cord and a drop light. "

That's exactly how I'd do it . Outdoor rated trouble light/ drop light.
But be wary of solar heat buildup especially associated when a cold front
results in a cloudless sky the next day.
I have heard of a temperture controlled thermostatic piston (non-electric)
that would raise up to a max 30 pound sash on a cold frame/greenhouse .
It would automaticly raise the top sash so that new seedlings wouldn't get 'steamed' by sudden temperature change
and would then close automaticly with temperature drop due to cloud cover.

[JRandomFreeper]

I used a bunch of 2 liter bottle that had been emptied (burp) and refilled with water. I left those there, year around. They absorb heat inside the cold frame during the day, and at night, release it. Almost as good as a drop lite, but free, and it gets homostasis.

If I was going forward working on the garden, I would have one of those automatic (non-electric) sashes on my cheap plastic cold frame.

But I have other commitments these days, and radiology wins over gardening. ;)

/johnny

[trisham]

I want to try endive and radicchio this year.

************************

That sounds like fun!

[greeneyes]

I hope it is successful.

[Tilted Irish Kilt]

Ellendra:" Weedkillers. I'll be honest, I have a personal grudge when it comes to glycophosphates such as Roundup.
If you decide to go that route, be super careful with it, and read the directions every single time."

You called it right ; use EXTREME CAUTION
For me , do not put it anywhere you plan to farm or garden for human consumable vegetation
Released today (3/20/2015) by the United Nations:
Popular weed killer deemed “probable carcinogen” by UN (glyphosate, e.g. “Roundup”) 3/20/15
www.http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_MED_CANCEROUS_WEED_KILLER?SITE=MYPSP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2015-03-20-14-25-36 www.
Can you imagine how that will impact commercial agriculture where there are pesky grasses or quack grass which spreads like wildfire ?
The price of many crops will porbably go up, nevermind drought or water shortages .