Gardening for Old Folks (Adaptative)

[chickadoodles]

Thanks NFC.
Your welcome S2BCM.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Now, I can finally use those reusable grocery bags that I am always forgetting to use!
What do you do after growing season is over? Keep the dirt or compost It?

 

[lazy gardener]

Hi. I haven't read through the whole thread and hate to admit that I am old. But, am considering container gardening to save my back. Any advice? Do I need to use certain soil? I am just used to tilling a section and doing back breaking work for some rewards at the end of summer. Thanks!

Hay or straw bale gardening gets your growing medium up off the ground so you can eliminate a lot of bending. It also eliminates almost all weeding. But you must have access to a good water supply.

Deep mulch can turn your garden into a no till garden. Greatly eliminates weed issues. Check out the scuffle hoe:
https://www.gardenersedge.com/proho...MI0Z_pyMae2wIVRUOGCh0gswGCEAQYAyABEgIPh_D_BwE

This hoe is razor sharp on all 3 sides, allowing you to eliminate weeds on both push and pull action as well as side swipes.

Trellises for all plants that can be trellised: My favorite trellised plants: Tomatoes, Fortex pole beans, sugar snap peas. All squash, cukes, and melons can be trellised. Cattle panels make a sturdy trellis that is totally indestructible. I also use old fashioned metal swing sets.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Hay or straw bale gardening gets your growing medium up off the ground so you can eliminate a lot of bending. It also eliminates almost all weeding. But you must have access to a good water supply.

Deep mulch can turn your garden into a no till garden. Greatly eliminates weed issues. Check out the scuffle hoe:
https://www.gardenersedge.com/proho...MI0Z_pyMae2wIVRUOGCh0gswGCEAQYAyABEgIPh_D_BwE

This hoe is razor sharp on all 3 sides, allowing you to eliminate weeds on both push and pull action as well as side swipes.

Trellises for all plants that can be trellised: My favorite trellised plants: Tomatoes, Fortex pole beans, sugar snap peas. All squash, cukes, and melons can be trellised. Cattle panels make a sturdy trellis that is totally indestructible. I also use old fashioned metal swing sets.

I will look into that! Thanks.

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

I'm finally getting my cold crops to come up just in time for 80-90 degrees with humidity.

My odds of getting a good salad this year has dropped drastically. A month ago we were buried in snow. Definitely not a salad year.

Good news is my tomatoes are thriving and blossoming, and my cucumbers are coming up. Time to remove my kozy Kotes off my tomatoes, before they bake. Hopefully we are done with frosts.

Certainly not as impressive as others gardens, we are way behind this year.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Hi. I haven't read through the whole thread and hate to admit that I am old. But, am considering container gardening to save my back. Any advice? Do I need to use certain soil? I am just used to tilling a section and doing back breaking work for some rewards at the end of summer. Thanks!

Welcome! Some people use purchased soil, some like me dig up the clay soil, add manure and sand, then put it back in the raised beds. Once its done, you can just toss more manure on top in later years, the worms will mix it in.
You should at least go back and look at the photos, lots of good ideas.

 

[Soon2BChixMom]

Welcome! Some people use purchased soil, some like me dig up the clay soil, add manure and sand, then put it back in the raised beds. Once its done, you can just toss more manure on top in later years, the worms will mix it in.
You should at least go back and look at the photos, lots of good ideas.

I will. Just didnt have time this morning!

 

[chickadoodles]

Now, I can finally use those reusable grocery bags that I am always forgetting to use!
What do you do after growing season is over? Keep the dirt or compost It?

You can store it in a garbage can with a lid and just add some new amendments to it next year. I do this for 3 years before I start over.

 

[chickadoodles]

The pics I posted are from last year garden. I just had to re plant most of my seeds this week.
All the rain washed them out I guess. And I only have a few sprouts so far. We had lasted frosts and had to set up beds.
So mine will are getting a late start. And the tomato plants look horrible. The ring of triple 10 fertilizer got washed into my plants and burned them. So I planted some new seeds.
But I bought some 40% shade cloth to put over the tomato plants in July and August to keep them going. I hope.

 

[sharron]

My potted growing is doing OK.
This is my Sorrel. Had to cover with wire to keep squirrels from digging up. Now will have to redo the covering with what is on second pix.
BTW DW made sorrel soup today. From what we had still frozen from last season. This crop will not be ready to start picking for maybe 3 weeks. I pick the larger leaves and bag and freeze portions. Carries us all summer. Use the leaves fresh as needed as well.
View attachment 1402694
These are nasturtiums. I did the new cages today.
View attachment 1402696
It is a slight pain in the neck to have to do this, but with the eatable items, I just have to protect them,,,,

never had sorrel before, how do you cook it and recipes?