On Mon, 18 Jun 2007 01:16:58 -0500, Charlie wrote:

On Sun, 17 Jun 2007 13:19:12 -0700, Billy Rose
wrote:

In article .com,
richardg wrote:

About 6 weeks ago, I planted a lot of pole bean seeds around pole bean
towers. I don't use any herbicides. The area is a mess. There are way
more weeds than pole beans. The pole beans are numerous though.
1. Do I just let the weeds grow and pick the beans when they are
ready?
2. Is there an organic way of preventing the weeds from appearing
without just pulling them out by hand?
Thanks,
Richard

My pole beans have yet to push but my bush (I'm gonna have to change
that to "Freedom") beans have "Freedomed out and I've gotten enough for
two dinners so far. I planted 3" apart and there really isn't much Sun
under them and as a result, no weeds. Suggest you pull weeds, mulch, and
wait. Omelet's suggestion is sure fire though. Don't even have to pull
weeds.

What you are experiencing with the freedom beans, is one of the
principles, and results of biointensive gardening (not biodynamic).

You get your soil built up so that it can handle a much more intense
load of cultivars, and the resulting "canopy" creates a living mulch.
One can grow an amazing amount of food in very little space.

The method I am following and working towards is "grow biointensive",
John Jeavon's baby. Similar to french biointensive and some of the
Rodale work. Jeavon's book is well worth the money simply for the seed
starting, transplanting and spacing charts.

This is my goal.

Charlie Tutu


This is how I grow a lot of produce in tubs and containers. A 10 inch
flowerpot filled with enriched soil will hold 5-6 bush bean plants
quite comfortably. I grow my radishes in window boxes, my cukes (6-8
plants per) and tomatoes (2 plants per) in large tubs. Leaf lettuce is
a breeze to grow in small pots right outside on the kitchen deck.

I do grow things down in my garden, but frankly, I use it more and
more for garlic, corn and roses. I was providing too many groundhogs
with good eats before I switched to pots.

Boron