Wisconsin "Cheeseheads"

[jvls1942]

right now I have 56 Roma seedlings waiting to be planted out.
I also have some Beefsteak seedlings.
about a half dozen of those.

One day a few years back I put up 90 quarts of tomatoes in one day all by
myself.
I don't remember how many plants I had, but I know it wasn't more than a dozen.. because I never ever planted more than that many.
the only reason I have so many Romas is because DD Barby gave them to me. she has way many more of them for herself.. I think she would like to sell a bunch because she lives in town and just doesn't have the room to plant that many.
she is mostly a container planter person.

I have plenty of room to plant all of mine, however, if they really produce, IDK what I am going to do with them .

Our apple blossoms came through the storms well, but the plum trees are not as sheltered and took quite a beating.

I would take all the mason bees I can get. they pollenate 100:1 over honey bees,, and they do not sting ..
they prefer 6" tunnels with 5/16" diameter.. you can actually buy supplies on Amazon..
maybe if I had a house for them, they would quit filling in the ground holes in the outside outlets..

......jiminwisc......

 

[Daethen]

I use my chicken poo for fertilizer and last year my tomatoes were over 6ft tall. I plant 2 rows and I put my tomatoes close together (18-24" at most). Then I use metal fence posts down each side of the row and use construction string to go between each plant. That way I have a wall of tomatoes. Train the branches to grow inside so you can walk down between the rows to pick. I was getting 1 or 2 five gallon pails full at the peak harvest time.

 

[speckled6]

I use my chicken poo for fertilizer and last year my tomatoes were over 6ft tall. I plant 2 rows and I put my tomatoes close together (18-24" at most). Then I use metal fence posts down each side of the row and use construction string to go between each plant. That way I have a wall of tomatoes. Train the branches to grow inside so you can walk down between the rows to pick. I was getting 1 or 2 five gallon pails full at the peak harvest time.

I must have a picture of that...sounds similar to what I'm planning for my tomatoes.
Since this is my 1st yr w/chickens, I don't have any chicken poo fertilizer yet...I hope I can get a decent harvest out of them this year. Next yr looking forward to loads of composted chicken poo fertilizer to add to the garden!!!

 

[bigzio]

Welcome speck6 to the cheeseheads. Plenty of good country folk here to help you out if needed. I plant 12 tomatoes and space them 3 feet apart in the row and 4 feet between the rows.....5 bushels of yield is no problem...we can and freeze enough for 3 families off a dozen plants. they love air and sun between them, and crowding them won't help the yield...just sayin. We also do the V8 juice, salsa and stewed.

Getting closer to the bash...don't forget the raffle and white elephant ideas. Hoping the turnout is good and the old friends can catch up on all the stuff that's going on...and new faces are always welcome....

Lawn here is gonna need baled again by the time we get around to cutting it.

bigz

 

[jvls1942]

hi all,

I just went outside for a few minutes.
sweater weather for sure.

I was curious, so I took a ruler and measured my garden. it seemsto grow a little each year.
it is 23 feet wide and 180 feet long.
180 feet is how long my potato row is.

I decided to make one row of tomatoes. I have 56 Romas to plant.
at 3 feet apart, I need about 160 feet of row. I can plant peppers in the remaining 20 feet of row..
I will plant beans in one row and that should take care of the long rows.
most of the rest will be shorter rows of corn and buttercup squash.

beets and onions will be in raised box beds. I still have to build a couple of boxes..

I prefer chicken poo for tomatoes, too.
If I use fresh, I put it in the bottom of the hole, then cover it with a few inches of dirt. by the time the roots get down to it, it is usually pretty well composted..
but this year I have a nice big pile of composted cow and chicken poo mixed.
I think there is enough there to side dress the corn with, too.

......jiminwisc......

 

[speckled6]

hi all,

I just went outside for a few minutes.
sweater weather for sure.

I was curious, so I took a ruler and measured my garden. it seemsto grow a little each year.
it is 23 feet wide and 180 feet long.
180 feet is how long my potato row is.

I decided to make one row of tomatoes. I have 56 Romas to plant.
at 3 feet apart, I need about 160 feet of row. I can plant peppers in the remaining 20 feet of row..
I will plant beans in one row and that should take care of the long rows.
most of the rest will be shorter rows of corn and buttercup squash.

beets and onions will be in raised box beds. I still have to build a couple of boxes..

I prefer chicken poo for tomatoes, too.
If I use fresh, I put it in the bottom of the hole, then cover it with a few inches of dirt. by the time the roots get down to it, it is usually pretty well composted..
but this year I have a nice big pile of composted cow and chicken poo mixed.
I think there is enough there to side dress the corn with, too.

......jiminwisc......

Oooh, thanks for the idea with fresh chicken poo, Jim!
Since I still need to go buy plants (my seedlings have all but croaked) I will have to try that.
My garden is 58 x 18 and we're planting 3 rows of tomatoes the 18 ft direction. We live on a hill...i.e. always windy and lots of sun.
We have a big family (7 total and with 4 being teens, well...lots of food gets consumed! ) so the bigger the yield the better!
Should be late summer sometime when we start getting our first eggs from the Chickie's. I'm on full rooster watch right now. I'm new to this, but pretty darn sure of 3 roosters with a few more showing signs they are fellas. Have to decide what we're going to do with regards to possibly hatching some eggs before deciding who goes to freezer camp...not looking forward to that part, but it's a part of it.
I so wish I could make it to the bash...next year for sure I'm blocking it off on my calendar! sorry if this post comes out crazy big, I'm trying to make it a little bigger/easier to read and on my phone it's tricky to judge

 

[jvls1942]

with my failing eye sight, I appreciate big print.
i select #5 from the font selection.
and to make it more interesting, I select B for bold..

.......jiminwisc... (#7)

 

[babylady4]

Don't expect us until after 7; I'll be doing a heck of a drive that day! Might have to kick Terri off the grill and cook our own steaks!

I have a obstacle course race the next morning, so the grape juice consumption will need to be kept to a minimum.

No word on the land; in Indianapolis at the moment for some Quality training. Tomorrow I anticipate driving for 8 hours minimum..... good thing I have a rental for the majority of the wear and tear. I will say I am enjoying the temps here; it has been in the 80's every day!

 

[chickisoup]

I got 3 BLRW from a breeder in Mazomanie, NPIP certified. They are taking orders currently, I can get you her info if you're close enough.
jean

thank you, not quite sure where that's at but we do the occasional "road trip" so i would appreciate the info!!!

 

[chickisoup]

with my failing eye sight, I appreciate big print.
i select #5 from the font selection.
and to make it more interesting, I select B for bold..

.......jiminwisc... (#7)

Thanks for the reminder Jim! Sometimes I forget tho so don't be afraid to "remind" me