Thursday, October 2, 2008

A Veggy Garden... for the Fall

Ok so this is my own economic stimulus package as it were. Our tomatoes are long gone, the pepper plants made their last pepper a few weeks back, everything is overgrown and unkempt, basically the shine that was present in the spring had dulled over the summer and by the fall, had become an eyesore.


But with the 4 of us working about a whole day... Ok not really... 1 is too little, 1 is too stroke bound, this was a 2 person job. My 13-year-old still owed on her little vandalism escapade. So she got most of the weeds out of there (and paid off her debt in full). My wife did most of the fine tuning/actual planting. I did have a hand in the boarder (to hopefully prevent the grass from invading again) and some mulch, as well as bricks for the garbage can.


This is the first time that we have planted from seed. We always took some plants already started from the store. We know that as far as timing, we are late, but I'm hoping for global warming, or I can cover the plants with plastic. We have, in our little garden, some broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, spinach, and onions. I doubt that everything will take, as we have no skill or previous knowledge of farming. And it's going to be watered on the irrigation system, so perhaps some might get too much or not enough water.


But all things considered it at least looks better that it did, and so even if this garden fails we'll be that much more experienced when the spring rolls back around. Now we just wait and see.

3 comments:

WileyCoyote said...

That is AWESOME, MH!

What a lovely change! So what are you growing?

Yeah, it is probably a little late to start from seed. But the store plants always seem so limited; kale, collards, maybe some lettuce or broccoli (rare). The cold frame though can extend your garden for as long as two months, though - it just requires a little attention, like making sure it isn't over the plants when it gets up into the 70s and 80s (as it still occasionally will).

My collards could get HUGE by Christmas with a little attention to details like water and mulch. If you've got peas, they could climb up the side of the house if you tacked the plastic to it to drape over it (and fold up when it is warm). Since the REAL cold weather doesn't normally hit there til Feb, you might get more than you think!

(You may have released your daughter from her debt sooner than feasible, though, if you get my drift. Heh. Heh. Heh.) Oh well, there's always the excuse of family chore responsibility...

Mad Hatter said...

broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, lettuce, spinach, and onions. It's all from seed, so I don't know. I'm not going to plant peas since I know that shelling peas is not something I want to do. lol

Don't worry WC, I'm sure she'll do something else, there's always something else.

My wife and I are in disagreement about mulch. She wants to wait until the we have spouts and then put peat moss around it, whereas I would just put regular mulch. Any ideas?

WileyCoyote said...

I am a firm believer in mulch, especially the kind that rots, the quicker the better. The heat from the rot helps keep the winter vegies warmer, like a little blanket. Peat moss retains moisture and helps deacidify the soil as it deteriorates; the latter is helpful. But it doesn't rot as well, so it doesn't help with warmth. Rotten stuff encourages earthworms (free fertilizer) and looser soil with more nutrients gradually uptaken by the plants. Also provdes more micronutrients for heavy-demand vegies like Brussels and broccoli. You will WANT selenium and copper and other little things; more nutritious. Miracle gro or 10-10-10 feed the plant but not the soil. Better soil means better and more disease resistant plants.

Also watch for more bugs in the fall; the ladybugs and lacewings will not be as prevalent in the fall. If you can access fine bug netting to go over the plants for pretty days, you can keep a lot of the chompers out that are still hanging around. Otherwise you may have to follow a dusting or spraying regimen. (Diatomaceous earth is non-poisonous and acts like glass to bugs - cuts them all up. BWHAHAHAHAHAHA! And it doesn't lose its potency in rain or cold or heat, it just has to dry out and it's still good.)

Depending on how much rain you get or how much watering you do, peat moss can retain more water than you want - or it can be a godsend in a drought. Fall is usually your rainy season, though. I think I'd balance 'some' peat moss with 'some' mulch cover. I always mulch a little at first planting; it may take longer for the seeds to come up thru it but the plants that do push up will be stronger, thicker. Also watch for the peat OR the mulch to cause rot of the lower leaves in wet weather, and yellowing of the leaves is a sure sign of too much water. Keep a fungal spray like Safer (organic, won't poison your vegies) handy too; putting plastic over them in the fall will cause more moisture to be retained and cause rot if they don't get sufficient air.

A pvc half-round 'cage' with the plastic or netting attached is optimum; you can make it with pvc pipe and it is light enough to lift off completely with one hand, or put back quickly. Anchor on each end to 2x4 pieces.

It kinda depends on what type of weather you are having, as to what to use. PS whatever you do, watch for snakes around the foundation. Copperheads particularly like dug earth near a sun-reflecting foundation to dig their nests. If your plants are on the south side of the house they will get optimum sunshine, the house will provide a wind break, and the reflective white house will keep the babies warmer, too - you have built a micro-climate! Grin

I can think of more jobs for your daughter to do, if you like!