Homesteaders

[KlopKlop]

So you're saying I should just buy onions... rofl

If you want big onions... Pretty much yeah

Next time you go visit the wicked witch keep heading south to Harmony. That is Amish country and that is where we go to the auction

 

[henless]

nope not renters. We paid cash so we don't even have a mortgage company. That's why everything is breaking, it's a 36 year old mobile home that was neglected for the last 33 years. That's also why we were able to pay cash, all we were charged for was the land and the buildings were thrown in free.

Don't get me wrong, I love my busted broke ugly tri color house. Its mine and no one can have it. However it's broke which makes for lots of fixing.

Nothing wrong with having a fixer upper. Then you don't have to worry about a 30 year mortgage.

 

[Chicken girl 15]

Sounds like a deal to me.  Now you just need to fix the things and you're doing it for yourself.  It doesn't hurt to get some advice from the experts and then do the work or as much as you can of the work yourself. 

Get lots of "free" estimates. 

Plus since you're doing the fixing you can do it right the first time. 

the best thing about owning is that my kids don't have to change schools or move away from friends.

 

[rancher hicks]

I think that the growing season is just too short up here in the north. I have watched and read a ton and everyone with big onions started them in a greenhouse then transplanted them. AND they all lived down south.

I did also learn that you should tie up the shoots. When the shoots fall over and crimp, it indicates to the bulb to stop growing.
Recommendations were to put up fence posts at the ends of the rows and run twine back and forth between them to make a sort of grid for the shoots to go into for support

So you're saying I should just buy onions... rofl

I can't say for Minn. but we do grow onions here in NYS.

You have to keep in mind that not all varieties of onions will grow in all locations. Some do in fact need a longer growing season.

I have the "Dixondale farms" catalog. It's a great catalog in that it specifies which varieties will grow where. There are quite a few "Long day varieties.

Also onions need the right kind of "Mucky/loamy" soil to grow in. The catalog is free so go on line and order it now so you don't miss the shipping dates.

Since so many things have to be started early for us Northerners I see no trouble starting onions too. Walla Walla is a long day variety. 90 days to harvest. Keep on mind those dates to harvest. They are important. I figure unless it's gotten in the ground by May 1st, it's a crap shoot whether there will be enough time. Starting from seed you definitely will not have enough time. Have your ground prepared and be ready to stick them right in when the mailman drops off your "starts". Order early. Dig your trench, lay some cardboard over it and when the starts come you can just lift the cardboard and plant without any weeding.

DW likes the medium sized onions for us so I'm hopeful I can grow at least half our annual usage. I like the "Redwing" but with 120 days to harvest it's not likely I'll try this one. "Highlander" 90 days and "Red River" 95 days might be better choices. As with most things preparations is important.

However why I stopped in was as you know I recommend getting books and videos from the public library. Some are good and some are not.

The recent video I watched was "Perennial Vegetable Gardening w/ Eric Toensmeier. It's not worth the time. I didn't find it much help.

 

[KlopKlop]

I work kitty cornered to the local library and since you started talking about going I have been meaning to! I remember going and checking out piles of books about ducks when I was young and first started raising ducks for 4h. I should stop in today and see what they have for pigs

 

[rancher hicks]

I work kitty cornered to the local library and since you started talking about going I have been meaning to! I remember going and checking out piles of books about ducks when I was young and first started raising ducks for 4h. I should stop in today and see what they have for pigs

If you have an account perhaps you can order things online like I do.

 

[wyoDreamer]

@rancher hicks Could you create a plastic cover for one of your raised beds to extend the growing season? You can put it out early in the spring to plant earlier and/or use it in the fall to extend the growing season. Think mini-greenhouse.

 

[Ameraucanas]

That is a really good idea. I have never actually thought about that.

 

[KlopKlop]

If you have an account perhaps you can order things online like I do.

You inspired me! I stopped in today after work and now have 3 good books on raising pigs. I have been struggling with figuring out the nutrition because now a days everyone on line just says to feed premixed feed and then supplement with veggies and whatever you can find free etc... i need info on mixing my own feed.

Here I have a book from the late 80's that has everything i need! I owe you one!

 

[rancher hicks]

@rancher hicks Could you create a plastic cover for one of your raised beds to extend the growing season? You can put it out early in the spring to plant earlier and/or use it in the fall to extend the growing season. Think mini-greenhouse.

I do hope to do this this year. Though i do use my mini greeen house / milk jugs.