Heirloom vegetables/Vermiculture

[country lady]

Babsodon, do you think maybe chicken manure might be too hot? I wonder. I would think rabbit might not be as hot. How about composting it first--wonder if that would work. Maybe someone on this website would know for sure.

 

[IcedMochaChick]

No heirloom veggies, YET. We do have a worm bin going in the garage, where we have our two silkie chicks. They love catching the fruit flies that come out when I open the bin

Our bin is just a 10 gallon rubbermaid bin that I drilled some holes in. They (the worms) seem to like it. We're going to have lots of castings for the garden next spring!

 

[Carolyn]

I don't have worm beds but you all have given me some great ideas. I also live in W TN with clay soil.

I have been doing heirloom veggies a couple of years. This was to have been a big year and I had several pots started but had a lengthy case of mono that sorta messed up my plans.

How do you save tomato seeds? I have managed to save a few but not too sucessfully. I've read some where you have to ferment them. I also tried to save some yellow crooked neck squash seeds but they looked awfully small and not as mature as the ones I've bought even though it was a monster squash.

 

[AK-Bird-brain]

Quote:
Nope I would do it, un composted chicken poo is way to hot for a worm bin. I use rabbit poo in my worm bins (red wiggler, and European night crawlers). Even with the rabbit poo its best to rinse the urine out and then let it dry before adding it. excessive urine makes the bin to acidic and to much moisture makes mites and fruit fly populations explode.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[MissPrissy]

Chicken poop is way to hot. It has to be composted. When I was talking to a local guy here about a worm farm he told me that rabbit poop is most excellent for them. I haven't started one yet. I have been using my rabbit's poop for my garden spaces.

 

[eggzettera]

Chicken droppings would probably be too "hot".

I know that you can put rabbit droppings directly on the garden & not worry about "burning" the plants but you have to compost chicken droppings before you apply to plants, otherwise its too much too soon.....

 

[setter4]

Quote:
Nothing tastes better than a big pink Brandywine tomato right off the vine! YUMMY!
I have been surfing the net and the seed catalogs already looking for new stuff to try. My GD wants Rainbow carrots this year. lol
My garden will be about double last years size since we took down the pool and I can have that area for garden and we extended the other area too. YIPPEE!
I can't wait for Feb. so I can at least get some things started indoors...well, I do have some lettuce in a planter and DH brought in a pepper plant to see if he can get the little peppers to mature before it dies. lol

 

[country lady]

Carolyn, you can goggle "How to save tomato seeds" and get instructions. The process is too long to explain but it doesn't sound very hard. I haven't done it yet because there are usually 25-30 seeds in a pack. Every year I try new varieties. So far my favorites are Arkansas Traveler, Brandywine, Krim, Cherokee Purple, Amish Paste, and a new one last summer, Granny Cantrell German Red. I also like to try different peppers. The zucchini and yellow squash I just buy a 10 cent pack from Wal-Mart and never use all the seeds. Squash is not easy for me to grow. I don't use chemicals so I have to check the leaves every day for the insect eggs. I use a row cover and hand pollinate at first and that works. I can hardly wait for the seed catalogs to arrive--how about you? Check out Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds at www.rareseeds.com.

 

[bantamfan]

Hi Folks;

I've had bantams and a garden all my life til I married a gal from the big city, then moved to her home. Now I have a tiny plot for veggies until I retire and we move to our summer place.
I've been reading about open pollinated plents and want to begin raising those so I can save my own seeds each year, and maybe do some trading with someone. I've already ordered some seeds from a place called Victory seeds.
I love tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, and others, but have started with those. I worry about our great country going to pot and then we'll have to raise our own veggies if we want quality garden veggies.
When I get going I would like to do a little trading of seeds with other gardeners who raise their own seeds for following years.
My birds, and my garden keep me sane.

Bantamfan

PS, Thanks country lady for the thread