On Wednesday, August 6, 2014 10:21:28 AM UTC-4, Terry Coombs wrote:
songbird wrote:
Terry Coombs wrote:
The green beans get their own trellis or other support . I let
them go over onto the tomato cages because they were making the corn
that was supposed to support them fall over . This has adversely
impacted the sunlight to the tomatoes , and yields have suffered .
there are smaller versions of beans which don't
climb so much (or not at all).
Several other things I'll do different next year ... like not
grow corn . Mine sucks , and the yield/area isn't that great .
Lettuces and spinach will be in the ground before the snow if any
melts , I'm tired of it bolting as soon as it starts to produce .
I pick lettuce , spinach , red beet , bok choy as soon as the leaves
are big enough to make a salad . Too bad it all bolts before the
tomatoes are ripe . Potatoes are still on trial , we'll need to
see what the yield is .
without an electric fence growing corn here is
often a waste of space. we don't eat a lot of it
at the moment and nobody here uses cornmeal a lot
either, so it isn't a high priority crop in
comparison to tomatoes or beans.
Right now , the list for next year is topped by strawberries
worked hard to get them established ! green beans Kentucky Wonder
, I'm letting some seed tomatoes variety not decided green
onions we love 'em and a few varieties of squash , including
summer , zukes , acorn , and pumpkins .
each year can be so different from the last that
it is really tough to plan for the seasons exactly.
this sort of variation is why i plant multiple crops,
multiple varieties and in different types of soils
as i can find the space for them. each year i learn
more, something new, and figure out how to work a
little smarter (even if i'm not quite coordinated ).
songbird
There is a learning curve ... I'm groping kinda in the dark , this area is
so different from everywhere else I've ever lived . This year was better
than last , and I'm figgerin' out what's good use of the space I have for
maximum reduction in cash outlay for food . Pole beans are an efficient use
of space , they go up and not out . Lettuce needs to be planted where it'll
be shaded most of the day , that's going to be difficult apparently too
much sun is why mine bolts so early . Hmmm , plant it on the east side of
the pole beans ... and near the top edge nearest the woods , that'll limit
the direct sun .
Zucchini , squashes , and cukes take space , but we like 'em and think it
worth it - and they'll go in a different part of the garden , this year I
had/have problems with fungus . Tomatoes and beans won't be near each other
again , I learned that lesson this year with the beans shading the tomatoes
. Corn will not be on the list next year , mine sucks and we don't eat that
much - jury's still out on potatoes , but I suspect we may not grow them
next year unless I get a really good yield this year . Garlic and onions
will definitely be on the list , garlic is going in this fall . Tomatoes
will be separated a little more , the cages need a bit more room so I can
get between them . I'll be focused on max yields again , since we now have
room to store canned stuff - and all the equipment to do so .
--
Snag
And the strawberry patch will be allowed to double in size ... my original
14 plants from this spring are more like a hundred plants now .
Lettuce should be about finished by the time pole beans are planted.
I'm with you on the squashes. This year I have nine different kinds including two winter squashes. Squash is bad to get powdery mildew and die before it's time. I usually plant a couple of hills every two weeks until the middle of July or so.
I grow sweet potatoes instead of regular ones. Regular potatoes are usually cheap, so I buy what we need. Sweet potatoes have a lot more nutrient value(plus they're better for my diabetic diet).
I'm envious of the strawberries, they don't do well for me. I'll have to settle for blueberries. I've got about 700 plants or so.