Garden thread

[21hens-incharge]

I am about 6 more weeks from even starting seeds.

Maybe sooner for really slow sprouting things......

 

[Melodychick]

You can bury citrus peels and/or wood ash directly in the soil. Composting fruit and veg peels builds it in your compost.

I put lots of citrus peels in the compost (I have lemon and satsuma trees), but would it be better to bury them straight in the bed? Any idea how long it would take to build up the potassium?

soils here tends to be low in nitrogen because of rain leaching it all winter,

We’ve had a lot of rain here too and the county agent said always to add N around here!

 

[Nay]

Do any of you get your soil tested? My test came back a bit low in potassium, and I’m wondering, if after amending should I get it tested again to see if I did it right. Do those over the counter test kits work at all? That would be an easier and quicker check up test than sending it off again. Also what do you use for a potassium amendment? I am composting now, but don’t have enough for the whole garden although I have an abundance of horse manure!

I was going to get the soil tested. Then I put a spade in the ground at our new house and came back with..
builder's rubble
shards of glass
old plastic bottles
plastic bags
wire
giant blocks of cement

.... what a disaster. I have a big job to do.
Raised beds I guess.

 

[igorsMistress]

I put lots of citrus peels in the compost (I have lemon and satsuma trees), but would it be better to bury them straight in the bed? Any idea how long it would take to build up the potassium?



We’ve had a lot of rain here too and the county agent said always to add N around here!

The wood ash would be better. I just know I had my soil tested in CA and read that citrus peels are good just put them right in the soil. I imagine the smaller the pieces the better for faster breakdown. I used the wood ash in the soil, citrus and gruit/veg in the compost.

 

[igorsMistress]

I bought one of those testing kits and my soil tested high for everything and a perfect 7.0PH. Either I've got amazing garden beds or the kit was not very good. I'm undecided, honestly. Kinda wanna get a state test done.

@igorsMistress Welcome aboard! Still nothing but snow here. Snow for a long while yet - another month at least.

Hi there ChocolateMouse, thank you! You're quite industrious my goodness. I have tomato sauce envy

Since you have rabbits, do you add their poop to your garden regularly?

 

[Sequel]

I was going to get the soil tested. Then I put a spade in the ground at our new house and came back with..
builder's rubble
shards of glass
old plastic bottles
plastic bags
wire
giant blocks of cement

.... what a disaster. I have a big job to do.
Raised beds I guess.

Oh wow yeah that is unfortunate! I have an old place built in 1910 and back then they buried stuff. My chickens unearth broken glass, dishes bits of metal. We were digging a post hole once and found a handle for an old trash burner/kitchen stove. Another time found all four feet to a bathtub! Good luck whatever you decide to do!

 

[nchls school]

When it became necessary to redo my serama coop this winter I decided to combine it with my interest in gardening.

The top of the coop is planted to honey suckle, English ivy, lillies, decorative grasses and hosta. The sides have more ivy. Other fruit vines will be added in the spring. Now to wait for spring and watch it grow! The picture makes the coop look crooked; it's not.

 

[Melodychick]

I don’t really have any wood ash, though my oak tree has dropped a few large limbs I could burn (I usually leave them for wildlife). Has anybody tried greensand?

@Nay my neighbor had a similar situation. It was a lot of work, but her raised beds are producing well. Good luck!

 

[Melodychick]

When it became necessary to redo my serama coop this winter I decided to combine it with my interest in gardening.

The top of the coop is planted to honey suckle, English ivy, lillies, decorative grasses and hosta. The sides have more ivy. Other fruit vines will be added in the spring. Now to wait for spring and watch it grow! The picture makes the coop look crooked; it's not.
View attachment 2012611

Very cool! How did you construct it?

 

[Nay]

I don’t really have any wood ash, though my oak tree has dropped a few large limbs I could burn (I usually leave them for wildlife). Has anybody tried greensand?

@Nay my neighbor had a similar situation. It was a lot of work, but her raised beds are producing well. Good luck!

Thank you! I'm going to need a lot of luck here (& a lot of compost! )