SHOW THE GARDEN WHO'S BOSS

 

 

 

These last couple of years with the pandemic and life turned upside down, more and more people have decided to try their hand at gardening. As much as we seasoned gardeners welcome newbies to this venture, we are a little disheartened to find that seeds, plants, canning materials, pressure canners and freezers are in short supply due to the sudden interest.

Many of those digging in the dirt for the first time last year thought it was as simple as scratching up a patch of ground, planting their favorite seeds, enjoying the harvest and putting the excess in the freezer or canning it. Well, it’s not exactly that simple, as many found out.

This is evidenced by the number of freezers, canners and other supplies that are for sale on sites like Marketplace and Craig’s List now. Gardening is like any other venture, you don’t just decide to “do it.” It’s a process of learning, trying, learning, experimenting and learning all the way through. Even us old-hatters at it learn new techniques, new products and ways to improve year after year. It is the same with anything, if you want to be good at it, first you pique your interest, then you learn a little about it, then you try it (a little bit at first, not whole-hog) and go from there.

I am interested in just about everything. Even so, there have been things that I have tried in the past, only to find out they weren’t for me. Sewing is one of those things. I tried it, found out I have less than zero patience for it and don’t ever plan on touching another sewing machine. I did not, however, set up a sewing room, buy a gazillion yards of material and the best sewing machine before I actually tried it to see if it was for me. Get where I am going with this?

This is my point for this article. I am sad to see those that thought gardening was no big deal and that anyone could do it, try it and then give it up after only one season. Did we make it look that easy that they thought there was hardly any work involved? Even things folks enjoy comes with a little elbow grease and know how. Even extreme interests like rodeo stars will tell you how much they enjoy it but not one will tell you it is easy. So it is with anything, gardening is no exception.

Let me make it perfectly clear, gardening-or anything- can be done by anyone if you are willing to put in the effort. To do that, you have to have the passion for it, that is the key. You can’t be a good gardener because you are mad because the supermarket shelves were bare or because the prices were too high. You can only be good at something if you truly have a passion for it and it gives you joy.

So, if you think that you have even the slightest interest, I would like to offer a few suggestions to beginning gardeners. Unlike some other interests, gardening not only feeds us, but also feeds the soul. With our unstable world, it is a good idea to grow at least some of what you eat.

If you decide to give it a try, the first thing to remember is to start slow. Ideally, it is a great ambition to grow your own food and preserve it for later use too, but have you actually thought about what all this entails? Remember, many of us “old folks” have been doing this for years. We grew up with it and it was just a way of life. If you are new, you don’t have that advantage.

There is a lot to learn about soil nutrients, plant varieties, the best fertilizers, companion planting, how much to water, pest control and so much more. Then, if you want to freeze or can your produce, there are the various freezing and canning methods for each type of produce. Especially in canning, if done incorrectly, it can literally kill you with botulism. So, do you really want to learn all of this in a week or so? If so, you are a better person than me.

Take it slow, plant a few vegetables that are your favorites. Plant enough for your immediate use. See how this goes. Next year you can expand a little more, maybe delve into one preserving method and expand your garden. In this way, it won’t be so overwhelming. Try some of these other tips for success:

 

*Keep it simple. Remember, plants are like us, they like food, water and warmth. Those are the basics. Miss Google is full of good-and bad- information. You can spend literally hours researching the best fertilizer for your soil type, figuring out your pH of the soil and what nutrients it lacks. This is for succeeding gardens. For your first, use an all-purpose fertilizer, that is exactly what it is made for, to feed just about everything. You can get more detailed as you go.

 

*The same goes for water. You don’t want to drown your plants and you don’t want them in a drought. Middle of the road works best until you start to specialize.  

*Pay attention to the zone you live in and gauge when to plant by the date of the last projected frost. DON’T FOLLOW YOUR NEIGHBOR. I see this all too often with even seasoned gardeners and farmers alike. Even though they know their soil conditions, if they see their neighbor planting, then it must be right for them too. NO! Follow your own path. They may be planting cotton and you are planting radishes!

*With that said, DO pay attention to someone who always has a garden that catches your eye. If you have tried green beans and they just don’t seem to grow and you know a garden where they always look lush and productive, stop and talk to the owner. Nine times out of ten, he/she will love it that you think their garden is a show place and will be happy to share information.

By the way, this is the absolute best way to learn about anything, from someone who has been doing it a while and is successful. As long as I have been gardening, I recently did just this. The last couple years my potatoes have been scabby. I didn’t want to use commercial fungicide or insecticide on them so I talked to a couple farmers who grow potatoes commercially and it turns out that using Borax or sulphur on the seed potatoes should solve the problem. Go to the heart of it when you want answers.

Last, but not least, don’t let your garden-or any first-time project intimidate you. We all have failures, we all learn continually better, more efficient ways. That is part of the excitement and fun of a new project. YOU show YOUR garden who’s boss.

So, for all of you new gardeners, do yourself a favor and give it another try. Get in the dirt, learn as you go and you will find the secret why so many of us do it year after year.

GARDEN CROP ROTATION SIMPLIFIED

 

 

One of the biggest obstacles for gardeners is crop rotation. This sounds like a simple task but when you take into account which plants are companion plants, what type of soil each needs and try to work those into crop rotation, well it gets a little confusing.

Crop rotation is necessary whether you plant in a traditional garden or plant in raised beds. The bottom line is that soil needs to rest between different types of plants, no matter where they are rooted. Soil nutrients are depleted when a large number of the same plant family are grown in the same ground year after year. Also, certain pests like large numbers of the same crop. Rotation deters these pests.

When plants are grown in the same area year after year, the soil needs to be replenished. Often, this requires artificial fertilizers to rebuild it. Soil also becomes compacted if subjected to the same mechanical processes.

 

Of course, there are exceptions to the rule. For example, anyone who has ever grown mint knows how fast it spreads and it can literally take over a growing space. When growing mint, you may want to keep it in the same raised bed or spot in your garden. If in an open garden, be sure to plant in a metal ring or bucket with the bottom cut out to contain it. Perennial crops like rhubarb and asparagus also need a dedicated spot since they are not dug up every year.

 

This year I ran across an article by Henry Homeyer in THE OLD FAMER’S ALMANAC that helps to simplify this process.  Thank you to Henry as I am going to share some of his highlights of planting in quarters, https://www.almanac.com/four-bed-crop-rotation-chart-small-gardens?trk_msg=8EVQ35O1FEJ4J4FC0ME6FMBD8C&trk_contact=LJD along with some of my techniques.

 

 

ADVANTAGES OF CROP ROTATION.

 

*Different plants extract different nutrients from the soil so it minimizes nutrient depletion

 

*It reduces the spread of diseases that live in the soil. Certain funguses and bacteria can survive from season to season and planting their same host plants in the same spot year after year helps them to flourish.

 

*It lessons the need for pest control.

 

CROP ROTATION IN ACTION.

The simplest way to accomplish crop rotation is to divide your garden in quarters by establishing a central point and rotating crops around it. This works for beds and traditional gardens. For raised beds, simply rotate crops from one bed to another.

For regular gardens, if you grow the same vegetables every year and all members of a vegetable family fit into one quarter, this is fairly simple by rotating quarters. However, this hinders weed control a bit. If, like me, you like to rototill between the rows, then doing each quarter separately doesn’t work so well. Also, if you have more of one family of vegetables than others (like more tomato plants than green beans), then your quarters will not be equal.

For this reason, I like to rotate with the row method. Instead of a central point, I plant everything in rows like always. The first few rows that have vegetables of the same family will become the last few rows next year, the second few rows will become the first, the third the second and the fourth will move up to third.

Whichever way you choose to do it, the same crop will only be planted in the same garden spot or raised bed every four years.

Most soil-borne pests and diseases run their course after three or four years. This is why a four-quarter plan works well. If you are doing a row method or raised beds, a three-year rotation also works. A three-year plan doesn’t lend itself well for dividing the whole garden as managing a third of a garden is hard since no rows would be straight and of the same length.

Another important, and often overlooked fact, is to be sure and keep a chart each year. I know, spring comes and you just want to dive in and plant. Remembering next year what was planted where is easier said than done. Keep a chart, it doesn’t take that long to create and is great for future reference. I actually have a folder where I keep all of my charts so I have a history of the garden layouts.

 

*OTHER STRATEGIES.

As with anything, no one strategy will solve all pest and nutrient problems. Although crop rotation plays a big role, a few other things come into play to ensure a healthy, productive crop.

*Have a tall and short garden crop rotation. Tall varieties of beans, gourds, cucumbers and other vegetables can share trellis and fence space. Then plant vegetables that don’t need support in other parts of the garden.

We once had a pumpkin vine that got away from us and climbed up the pine tree. We actually had small pumpkins hanging in the tree!

*Some crops are heavier feeders than others. One example is corn which does well growing where nitrogen-fixing peas or beans have previously grown and built up the soil. Lighter feeders like carrots, lettuce, onion and squash families do well in soil where heavy feeders have recently grown.

*If you have the space, let the garden lay fallow for a year. You can divide your garden into two sections, planting one every other year. If you really have extra space, you can have an “extra” garden and rotate them each year, covering the idle one with compost and mulching heavily. To keep weeds at bay in the spare garden, you can plant cover crops like buckwheat. Just remember to cut it before it goes to seed.

*For those perennial areas where garlic, rhubarb, asparagus, etc. is established, it needs to stay in the same spot until there is a reason to move it. Just be sure and compost it every year and add some organic fertilizer.

*Even crop rotation can’t squelch die-hard pests like potato beetles and Japanese beetles. Wherever you move the host plants, they will find them. Predatory insects like ladybugs and certain flowers like marigolds can help control certain pests that just won’t give up.

Crop rotation plays a vital role in a healthy garden but it is only one of the components. Plants need 13 minerals and a bag of 10-10-10 only provides three of them.  Having good soil by applying lots of organic matter rather than commercial fertilizers and having a healthy environment for them to flourish will help ensure a productive garden.

 

 

 

 

BONFIRE TIME

 

 

Who doesn’t love sitting around a bonfire, sharing time with family and friends, eating some good food and sharing some laughs? If you are one of us diehard bonfire folks, you know what I am talking about and, if you haven’t been a fan, you may want to reconsider. For many of us in the Midwest, it is pretty much a way of life.

Two years ago, the Zika virus pretty much forced us to stay inside after dark and bonfires just aren’t made for the daytime. So, there were no bonfires. Last year we could go out after dark but, because of Covid, we couldn’t be with family or friends. So, there were no bonfires.

So far this year, things are opening up and Zika hasn’t reared its ugly head yet, so tis the season go get out and enjoy some old-fashioned, low-tech…uh, no-tech simple times together. Make no mistake, these aren’t just for us country folks either. With the right precautions and the proper burn pit, most city folks can also partake and enjoy.

A firepit is exactly that, a place to have a small fire. If you look on Pinterest and other places, there are elaborate pits made from bricks, concrete blocks mortared together with permanent seating around them. Like anything else, you can be as fancy and as detailed as you want when building one. However, remember, these types of permanent fixtures are just that…permanent.

 

Most of us tend to lean toward the “whatever works” type of pit. Large field stones laid in a circle works great. So do old cement blocks and bricks that are broken or chipped and are not good for any other purpose. I even have an old tree stump from a fallen tree last year that we pile small branches and pieces of wood on top and burn. We have our fire and are also burning out the stump at the same time. If you have a small space, don’t overlook the portable fire rings sold in stores. They have pre-fab covers and they can be set up anywhere and transported.

 

What is the draw of the firepit? Bonfires are spur-of-the-moment entertainment…or at least the best ones are. When we started having them, we would plan a week ahead of time, not only the night and time, but also the food we were going to have and every other detail. We also always had a large group of people. There’s nothing wrong with doing it this way, but we since have learned that spontaneous ones with just a few friends are the best.

If it is a nice night and we get our work done, we invite a few friends and throw something together quick like hotdogs on the grill or cook something in a cast iron pot over the fire like hotdogs in a pot of beans. We find that having a smaller group makes it easier to visit with everyone and it’s much more low key.

This is how we spend many spring, summer and fall evenings. Though we never tire of having a bonfire, when we do it so often, it can start to feel sort of routine. So, we have found some ways of changing it up a bit such as:

 

*ICE CREAM FREEZE OFF. Even though food is pretty much whatever you end up with, sometimes it is fun to center the evening around the food itself. You have heard of chile cookoffs, well we have ice cream freeze-offs. It all started because our family always made our version of homemade ice cream, the Hoffman ice cream. Then there is the Brueck version (my Mom’s family) which uses a different recipe altogether. So, we would make both kinds and everyone would have to taste both (what an awful chore!) and then vote on which they liked best. All in fun of course, there were never really any losers but it made for an interesting evening with lots of ice cream!

*GARGAGE CAN STEW. This is exactly the opposite of the ice cream freeze-off. Instead of using certain recipes, there is absolutely no structure to this game plan. We would start with a large, a very large pot, and put some beef and some stock into it. Everyone that came would be asked to bring one thing to add to it. We would usually end up with different vegetables, sometimes other kinds of meat, almost anything goes. We would let it all cook together and the result was supper. It usually was pretty good and was never the same twice.

*THEME NIGHTS. We always used to have a Halloween bonfire and decorate to the hilt for it, ghosts and goblins and all. Of course, there were always a fair share of ghost stories to accompany the eerie night. We took a lesson from this and, even though we love spontaneity, sometimes building a night around a certain theme was a nice diversion, especially when we were with the same group of people for a few weeks in a row.

We would have nights where anyone who played guitar, harmonica, or any instrument would bring it and make it a musical sing-along night. Before the night was over, a lot of old tunes would be played and with those came many an old memory.

Other nights we would pick a year such as “when you were ten” and each person would tell a tale of something they remembered when they were that age. This was only a starting point. Before the night was over, one story would lead to another and another and so on until it became nostalgia night and some old family tales were told. This is especially fun when most everyone there grew up together.

*JUST ENJOY THE NIGHT. Some nights are more melancholy than others. Just being outside under a twinkling night sky can be magical in itself. Listening to some oldies and enjoying the magic of the night sky can make for a relaxing evening. We actually moved our firepit further out from the mercury lights so we could enjoy the vastness of the night.

*COUPLE NIGHT. Sometimes everyone seemed to be busy. That’s certainly not a reason to forego the fire. We have found that enjoying the fire with just each other can make for a special evening. Sometimes in our busy world we just don’t take the time to talk and share time with those who are special to us. This works great for couples, but it can also be special for grandparents with their grandchildren, or even one on one with a certain grandchild or special friend.

Bonfires are one of the easiest ways to enjoy some quality time with special people without making a big fuss or to-do. It also gets you out of the house and away from electronics for a few hours while soaking up the evening air. There’s a simple magic about gathering around a fire that nothing else compares to and the best part is that anyone almost anywhere can enjoy this magic.