BYC gardening thread!!

[Sparkyfam]

So I have no Idea how to change directions on this thing, but that is what I've been working on for the past two days. The bottom layer is newspaper that's been left out to get nice and nasty, then grass clippings, peat moss, compost and finally garden soil. The two long poles that are barely visible hold a string net for my string peas, cucumber, and zucchinni to climb once they're big enough. In the back row I have 3 different tomatoes species, but I didn't label them (I'm a genius). In the left border I've got my Rasberry bush. The left half has a row of radish, carrot, brussel sprout, and beet. I'm hoping that my peppers will be ready to plant by the end of the month. They were a bit of a late bloomer. The rabbit fence is to prevent my dogs from rolling in the stinky dirt. Apparently compost is to my dog what catnip is to cats. Only the smell stays forever and ever....

 

[Angelicisi]

Omg! Can't wait to see yours fruit! I wanna see a artichoke bloom! Lol I was so excited about ours and then so disappointed it just sat for years (still sitting but at least growing this year) lol was so upset I stalked a large Thistle on the property (closest family of the chokes I could get lol ) took pics as it grew.

My old garden is now mostly an herb garden, but the artichoke is finally taking off so it got to stay.

 

[Angelicisi]

Thanx, I need to do raised rows, it would help keep it airy. I do a couple and some mounds but carrots I usually tried in the potato bed along the outside, I have a few peas here and there which dump nitrogen in the bed...whoops! Totally explains the hairy, skinny salad mini carrots I always got lol

Sounds to me like you have an amendment issue.  Soil needs to be "fluffy" and not hard packed.  Good amendment of organic but not too much nitrogen (causes hairy carrots...not pretty).  The more clay and stone in the soil the more you need to work it to get it fluffy. I use leaves in my beds to get the soil light and airy.  Mow the leaves until they are tiny pieces and turn the soil over to incorporate.  If you have already planted but the shoots have not come up yet put a layer of the shredded leaves (half an inch or so) on top to keep moisture levels up.  The carrots will push through and if they haven't done so in two weeks or so give a light raking to loosen up the leaves. 

I know some of this is basic stuff but I would like all children to succeed at gardening so they maintain an interest.  If we can keep it fun and productive for them the benefits are lifelong.  In all facets of life. 

Peace

-Cam-

P.S. If i step on toes here i apologize ahead of time for that.

 

[Angelicisi]

Excellent job.

Well, I don't actually get fresh coffee yet, but I'm sure looking forward to it. I don't know how big the garden is exactly. It's a large, fenced area with raised beds. I don't have any good photo's of it handy, but here's one from when we were building it. I had gotten too excited and started planting in it waaay before we finished building.

This is just a small section of the garden. To the left of the tree is a section that houses my compost tumbler and more garden space. Also, next to the ladder and tree and just out of the picture is a big stainless prep table with a faucet and sprayer for washing produce and hands and whatnot. The 'workbench' my husband is using is actually one of my brooders we attached to the end of the raised bed. In the warm months, I house my chicks in it and let them have the run of the garden until they grow up and move in with the big girls (the fencing has been extended up another 4 ft. higher.) The lights above extend the width of the garden, and there are 6 in total- (to give you an idea of how much of the garden is not pictured). A little pond is to the right of where I'm standing when I took the picture, and there are additional beds to my left, not shown.

 

[chickenstricken]

I've already cut that one off (it's getting eaten tonight). There are 3 more growing on it now.

I may let one flower, but these are mainly going to be eaten.
Here is a pic of my buddies plant from last year after it flowered.


If you look closely, you can see there are actually bees in it. This is the first one I'd ever seen flower. They do look awesome.

 

[Angelicisi]

That's just beautiful! Good job!

I've already cut that one off (it's getting eaten tonight). There are 3 more growing on it now. I may let one flower, but these are mainly going to be eaten. Here is a pic of my buddies plant from last year after it flowered. If you look closely, you can see there are actually bees in it. This is the first one I'd ever seen flower. They do look awesome.

 

[Angelicisi]

Watched a Thistle until bloom hoping to get an idea lol since my chokes were just free loading... It was very hard to keep from weed whacking it down, it took 2 seasons to bloom too :-/

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Watched a Thistle until bloom hoping to get an idea lol since my chokes were just free loading... It was very hard to keep from weed whacking it down, it took 2 seasons to bloom too :-/

Good pics!

 

[Cam-n-Sara]

Although many people wont agree, I find the slightly bitter ribs of the thistle quite tasty. If you remove the whole leaf, and flip it over (rib side up), cut off the leaf sides leaving just the central rib with no thorns, it tastes similar to celery and can be used in a similar manner. Chopped in a salad, in a soup or stew, or just dipped in a dressing. As far as i have experienced Canadian Thistle (aka. Bull Thistle) is the best, as a young plant. The older it gets the tougher and more bitter it gets. Good to know if you ever get lost in the woods I guess but in town with the proliferation of toxins sprayed on everything i wouldn't eat it unless i knew it was clean

-Cam-

 

[Angelicisi]

Good tip Cam, I love incorporating wild edibles into our meals. Everything I grow here is grown with no pesticides. Seems its more time consuming to keep everything in order and the pests at bay but the last few years of using trap crops and predatory insects has been awesome! I don't wanna worry if the kids or dog or chickens are eating off the vine...I just picked up cattails for a small pond garden project I have going, they are also edible! I can't wait. I will try your suggestion on the Thistle, I love saying "shoot, I need blahblahblah!" And just having to run out to the garden...