Posted on 04/15/2023 5:54:23 AM PDT by Diana in Wisconsin
I was shocked at how big some of the carrots were when I pulled them. You couldn’t see them from above.
The one bucket was so full of carrots I had to take up the whole bucket and pry the carrots out.
That sounds good to me. Did you just sew the seed then thin it out?
More or less. Probably didn’t thin them as well as I should have, but it was my first time growing carrots.
Our garden soil is too high in nitrogen for root crops, carrot attempts in the past have been pitiful. So I will try a big pot this year.
You should do well with onions and garlic then. They need the nitrogen for leaf development.
Yes we have good results with anything else and have garlic and onions. Just minimal results with potatoes, beets and carrots. Gave up on beets and potatoes. They are not big in our diet anyway.
Root crops don’t want a lot of nitrogen. Carrots and potatoes are pretty cheap and easy to find anyways in an agricultural area.
When I have really limited garden space, I grew more cost effective produce.
You did a BEAUTIFUL job! Can’t wait to see them in bloom and doing their thing to bring the Good Bugs to your garden. :)
Diana’s Beneficial Bug Mix: One standard-sized seed packet each of: Blue Bachelor Buttons, Cilantro, Dill (use a short variety), Calendula, Orange Cosmos (it’s more skinny and compact) and Persian Carpet Zinnia.
Did I forget anything, Mom? Combine the seeds and direct seed them when the soil is warm enough, or start inside in pots. A ‘plug’ in the corners of garden beds, or potted nearby, brings in Beneficial Bugs like Lacewings, real Ladybugs, those Wasps that lay their eggs on your Tomato Hornworms, etc. Plus it makes a pretty cut bouquet and you can clip and use the herbs as needed. Let the Cilantro go to flower - the Good Bugs really like that! :)
Also, I’m kicking myself for not saving cottage cheese containers all winter! I had to actually BUY *SHUDDER* some 6” pots because my tomatoes got a HUGE start with the three weeks of WARM we had, and now we’re back to ‘too cold in the greenhouse at night’ weather. Grrr! It has been MERCILESSLY windy here, too - so they’ll get trashed if I set them outside with no protection. I have a week to go of moving things in and out. It’s a PITA, but good exercise. ;)
When you originally posted the recipe I swiped the text and sent it to myself. This is it -
DIANA’S BENEFICIAL BUG MIX:
Cilantro
Dill (’Bouquet’ short variety)
Blue Bachelor Buttons
Orange or Yellow Calendula
Cosmos (any SHORT variety/color)
Persian Carpet Zinnia
Borage (just a little; it readily self-seeds!)
Mix together a standard-size packet of each seed, but go easy on the Borage. Trust me! I start this seed mix in 4” pots than either put a ‘plug’ of them here and there in garden beds or grow four, 4” pots to a big pot situated somewhere in the garden. These varieties bring in lovely things like Lacewings and REAL Ladybugs and other GOOD BUGS that will keep the BAD BUGS under control in your garden.
If you plant extra for cutting, this combo makes for the sweetest, prettiest little bouquet on your kitchen table. It’s a WIN/WIN! (smiley)
You left out borage. Shame on you for throwing out cottage cheese containers! After 45 years or marriage and gardening I finally have my hubby trained he asks me before he throws out cottage cheese containers or cardboard boxes.
I know! WHAT was I thinking? I was too busy saving TP rolls and egg shells for crushing. ;) Yeah, that’s it. That’s my excuse, LOL!
Mom and I were a tad zealous when we cleaned out my greenhouse last Fall because she saves EVERY plant container from everything she buys all season and then unloads them on me. ;)
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