BYC gardening thread!!

[mick10940]

I tried it last year in only 2- 20' rows . The corn and beans did well, but the squash was a little to shaded to get fruit. My spacing was about 5' center between the rows and 30" or so in the row between the corn. I surrounded the corn every 6" with pole bean seeds and the squash was in-between the rows of corn every 3'. I think shorter corn and smaller winter squash would do better. I dried the beans for winter, and ate the corn the day it was picked. I'm going to try it again this year.

 

[Angelicisi]

Emptied barrel composter into 2 separated, stackable pallets on the ground outside rabbitry. I plan on putting melons and pumpkins in them as above ground, no dirt (compost only) temporary season beds.
Added fresh load to barrel. Turned 2 compost bins in about 20 minutes by taking top pallet and setting behind stack. Then same with the next. Making a new stack right next to original AMD turned contents. Most compost material slides over easy, anything firm I shovel right over as I go. loving these pallets lol planted excess beans and peas around in sunny spots in the woods we don't utilize enough of too(to make dried hay for rabbits) and have a lot of crop to share

 

[marktoo]

I saw an experiment at a demonstration garden several years back. The volunteers had planted one plant in plain dirt (I don't remember what was planted) one plain compost & one in mix a of the two. When I happened by, the one in the mix was clearly in the lead. I didn't return to see the end results, with only one set of plants it wouldn't have proved much anyway.

 

[urbanchange90]

Also with the three sisters method I like to use zucchini instead of squash. Never had a problem with it not getting enough light

 

[mick10940]

Thanks, I'll try that.

 

[PotterWatch]

I've done vegetable gardening for many years now in Southern California where we can garden year round. At the end of last summer, we moved to south central Virginia and it's a whole different ball game! I've got some seeds started and I'm working on my garden spaces to get them ready. The farm we are at now used to be the home of a master gardener and much of her stuff was left behind which has been very helpful.

I have a great greenhouse with planting tables and pots galore. I have never had a greenhouse before so I'm not sure exactly how to judge when windows and vents should be opened and closed. One set of roof vents is controlled manually and one is on a motor. I'm assuming the motor kicks on depending on the temperature inside the greenhouse. Some of my seed trays from a week ago and the controller:

I'm assuming that if I have it set at 80, the motor will only kick on and open the vents if the temperature goes above that. Anyone know if I am correct on that? Any other tips on using a greenhouse effectively? I have been bringing my trays in at night and only putting them out during the day because nighttime temps are still pretty low. How high should the outside temps be before I can leave the trays in there all the time? Thanks for any advice!

 

[lazy gardener]

I am drooling with envy. Please give me a bit more to drool over! How big is it? Can you post a pic from the outside?

 

[heartsizedfarm]

I'd like to try 3 Sisters this year. My info says corn first, pole beans a week later, and squash a week after that. I'm in Canada, so that might make a difference, but does that sound right?

 

[PotterWatch]

This is the only outside picture I have.

It is probably about 10 x 16 but I couldn't say for certain. It has a large planting box thing with dirt in it, probably about 4x4, one side has two 3x6 tables, the other side has one 3x8 table, and there is a 3 foot walking area in the middle. There are doors on both ends and shade cloth covering the outside walls. A water spigot is right outside one door in the garden area. There are raised beds surrounding the outside walls. It's a great greenhouse. I just need to learn how to utilize it!

 

[PotterWatch]

I'd like to try 3 Sisters this year. My info says corn first, pole beans a week later, and squash a week after that. I'm in Canada, so that might make a difference, but does that sound right?

I've done three sisters several times and I find I need to leave more time in between planting corn and beans because my corn was quickly taken down by the beans if it wasn't further along.