Gardening for Old Folks (Adaptative)

[sharron]

I don't blame you. I'm getting very tired of Maine winters. However, I don't know if I could be a snow bird.

since i was born and raised down here it wasn't hard for me, still have family here so its more like a long vacation but i did have to give up my animals except for the dogs and bird and a potbelly, those come with us and to be honest, been up there so long that i wouldn't want to live here full time again, we have a big garden every year in pa. i like playing in the dirt, drives me crazy not to be able to start seeds and things

 

[Leahs Mom]

Wanted to stop in and share a link. @Arielle2 has a thread in which are listed TONS of information and videos on gardening and orchards. There are a lot of videos with broad topics that you can pick through and listen to the ones that pertain to your situation.

I've been working my way through them. Especially like Stephan Sobkowiak. Even though his "permaculture orchard" is huge, you can do it small scale. He encourages starting with 2 groups of 3 trees. I actually went out and purchased his full length video after hearing him in the youtube shorts that are posted. I have wanted to incorporate my chickens into a small personal orchard for pest control with no spraying and very little maintenance. His permaculture methods, interspersing garden plants and perennials throughout, are just my "thing" - inspiring!.

Also, lots of other videos that are worth the look including some on sf gardening for small lot.

Here's the link...don't let all the technical info put you off. Just pick through what pertains to you and remember it's there if you ever want a handy reference!

Thanks, Arielle2, for the great reference collection!

Here's the link:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/th...our-organic-and-not-so-organic-foods.1227809/

 

[henless]

Asparagus bed! Gotta love it. Do you know you can interplant other crops in that bed? Such as brassicas and greens??? Get that asparagus planted, then tuck other garden crops in around it. They will all co-exist happily together. And the other veggies you plant will help to keep weeds from getting a foot hold there.

I've been looking into that. I thought about planting some of the brassicas late this summer for fall harvesting. Right now, I have mulched leaves on the bed.

Love the knock out roses, but have a brown- or blighted thumb when it comes to them. I planted some Austin roses last year and they look so sad, I am transplanting Drift roses in their place- I love the compact, constant blooming little things. I love the white, coral and apricot color roses. I never had a problem with blight or aphids or black spot on the Drift- granted, they are not as grand as the knock out, but I say play to your strengths- I really envy those who can do Knockouts..

I planted the knock outs since they are supposed to be an easier rose to grow. So far, they are doing good. I have a ton of buds and a couple have blooms. The Sunny's have such a lovely smell.

I finally have all my beds up. We also have the posts in for the muscadine arbor. Just waiting for the cement to set up. It's been so wet here, it takes a few days to get a good set.

Today we put up 2 of my trellis. I have 2 more to put up in the bed. Hope to start planting in the next week or so. I still have the last bed to amend before planting.

 

[lazy gardener]

Brassicas LOVE leaf mulch. They are also great plants to rotate through the garden for their nematode and disease control properties.

http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/NewsArticles/Brassicas Factsheet Final August 2011.pdf

 

[CayugaJana]

Does anyone know if this weed is good for ducks. I’m thinking of letting them clean up my front yard. Not one speck of this in my backyard where they are. So I’m assuming they have already ate it.

 

[CapricornFarm]

The violets are all planted and watered, plus 3 primrose. I really need mulch for the finished look. Come on stores, put it on sale already!
The hole is dug for one of my pear trees, Keiffer and Moonglow. Hubby says he likes pears better than apples. I need another apple tree to pollinate the one i have, looking for a good deal
The flower beds i planted last fall, tulips not in bloom yet.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Nice, , my yard still looks like this.

 

[oldhen2345]

Today has been nice out, so I have been in the yard all day- there is so much still to be done to get it in shape. I uncovered the shed landing- my brother leveled it to the lowest side, not the highest, so every time it rains, dirt flows onto the bricks and you can't even see the bricks anymore. I hoed it clear of debris and am about to go out and put an edging around it- hopefully problem solved- haven't done it before, because I like to just push the mower over the edge and get all the grass, now I will have to weed wack the edge, but ok.
Put out all the flowers on the patio, planted sweet mint and a marigold in front of the chicken pen, put dianthus around the chicken sand bath, put flowers in my bird bath (it leaks so bad, it is now a planter) Still need to rehome the jasmine and two hydrangeas- but I am making headway.

 

[lazy gardener]

More snow today.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

More snow today.

It was blustery here today. High winds, drifting snow, it's not so great an April so far. We have been having record lows in the single digits. Average this time of year is 40-50. So much for planting early this year.