What did you do in the garden today?

[Sally PB]

If it would rain gently, for an hour or two right before the sun came up, that would be about perfect wouldn't it?

When I am queen of the world, I shall command it to rain for the hours of midnight to 4 am, gently, three nights a week. Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Y'all ok with that?

The plants are taking off, now that the drought is over. Unfortunately, the weeds are plants too. I went after them with a hoe today. Off with their heads! (I'm practicing for my queen of the world gig.)

 

[pennyJo1960]

Okay then Sally I must be Grandma of the queen

 

[Elyrian1]

@Sally PB Yep that would do it! Be sure to invite us all to your coronation, lol. Don't forget the open bar. Rofl!

@TJAnonymous So how do you solve high phosphorous? Heavy watering? Would it flush out of the soil the same way as waste salts?

 

[Sally PB]

Okay then Sally I must be Grandma of the queen

There is no way you are old enough to be Grandma of the Queen. However, as Queen, I shall appoint you to the position.

 

[WthrLady]

My husband and I will be moving into our new home within the next 3 weeks, and have already decided where my garden will be. I decided that the rest of this year will be used to prep the ground for the spring. Without a tiller, I'm curious about what y'all would do. Is there a way to just weigh down the cardboard and not till?

Yup you can cover the whole area in DEEP straw and water away. The straw will compact and the worms go to town. If you can put down a layer of compost under the straw, and I mean DEEP straw like 12 inches plus, then that's even better.
==========
Turned on the garden water with the intent to water while I picked a vase of flowers. I forgot to turn it off and texted DH while I was on the road, water had run at that point for an hour. OOPS.
He didnt' GET the message for FIVE HOURS - thanks Tmobile- MAJOR OOOPS

Oh well it's on a hill, nothing I can do about it.
==========

 

[gtaus]

When I am queen of the world, I shall command it to rain for the hours of midnight to 4 am, gently, three nights a week. Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Y'all ok with that?

God save the Queen! Love your plan.

 

[gtaus]

I planted a 4X4 foot raised bed of corn this year using the square foot method. At 4 corn seeds per square foot, I had 64 potential plants in the ground. Only about 6 germinated and came up. Today when I went out to the garden, they were all gone. Don't know if they died or got eaten by some animal. Anyway, 64 seeds planted, zero left.

Probably going to replant with onion bulbs and radish. Need something that grows fast in Minnesota with limited growing season. Any other ideas appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Sally PB]

Kale? It gets better after a frost.

 

[Swiss]

Yup you can cover the whole area in DEEP straw and water away. The straw will compact and the worms go to town. If you can put down a layer of compost under the straw, and I mean DEEP straw like 12 inches plus, then that's even better.
==========
Turned on the garden water with the intent to water while I picked a vase of flowers. I forgot to turn it off and texted DH while I was on the road, water had run at that point for an hour. OOPS.
He didnt' GET the message for FIVE HOURS - thanks Tmobile- MAJOR OOOPS

Oh well it's on a hill, nothing I can do about it.
==========

Thanks! I started considering doing a lasagna garden, but in the ground, which kind of defeats the less work side of it... I like this idea as it is even less work than the full on lasagna method! I am so excited to move in and learn about my land!!

One time, when I house sat for my sister, I left the hose running all night long (8+ hours)!! I am very much going to need to put bracelets on all of my outdoor faucets so I don't forget to turn them off (saw this tip a few days after soaking the "valley" in their backyard).

 

[Elyrian1]

I planted a 4X4 foot raised bed of corn this year using the square foot method. At 4 corn seeds per square foot, I had 64 potential plants in the ground. Only about 6 germinated and came up. Today when I went out to the garden, they were all gone. Don't know if they died or got eaten by some animal. Anyway, 64 seeds planted, zero left.

Probably going to replant with onion bulbs and radish. Need something that grows fast in Minnesota with limited growing season. Any other ideas appreciated. Thanks.

You could follow up the radishes with an overwinter garlic plot. Just have to check what varieties do well in the frozen depths of a Minnesota winter. Lived through one winter in Minnesota. Never again!