The garden has gotten off to a good start with the exception of some squash and cucumber seeds not yet sprouting. I might have to replant those. Maddox has been a big help. Our planter's paper tried to blow away with the crazy wind yesterday, but we managed to put some cages in so hopefully it will help hold it down today. I really like the planter's paper since water and light cannot get through it and eventually it will just decompose into the soil. The areas I used the landscaping liner I had to put newspaper down under it since it didn't block out the sun and water.
This is my 7th year of organic gardening and have found a few helpful ideas-
-saving eggshells from breakfast and crushing them up and placing in the holes when planting
tomato plants. I am not sure why, but the tomatoes love it.
-trimming any tomato leaves that touch the ground to deter pests from it and prevent diseases.
-picking green beans every other day and placing them in a gallon ziplock with damp paper towels on each side and placing in the refrigerator. Picking every other day seems to help the plants produce more and they keep well until you have enough for a meal. I am guessing the same would work with peas, however they never make it inside! My boys raid the plants daily and love to eat them fresh while they are outside playing. I am predicting some arguments this year.
-The year I planted corn the japanese beetles were awful. It was like a swarm in the garden constantly. In a small garden the corn took up too much room, produced too little, and attracted too many beetles so I no longer plant it. The japanese beetles still like my green beans, but only eat the leaves and don't touch the beans themselves so I don't worry about them much. I do occasionally pick them off by hand and squish them with my garden gloves.
-You would think pepper plants would like a lot of sun, but actually don't. I try to plant them so they are shaded by the huge tomato plants during the afternoon heat.
-Speaking of huge tomato plants, the cages from Wal-Mart and Lowe's just don't cut it. I use the ones my great grandfather made out of concrete wire (atleast I think that is what it is called) that has been rolled up. I also found some in the woods behind our house and we bent it into a large half-circle and it makes a great green bean trellis. Bonus- my boys love to hide under the green bean tunnel when it is covered in vines.
-Lettuce and spinach- some people think you just pull the whole plant up when you harvest it, but actually just cut off about a half inch from the soil and it will keep producing. Also since it will quickly go to seed when the weather warms I also plant some behind the tomato plants so they are shaded nearly all day so we are able to have salads all summer.
- Try to water early morning . If you water during the heat of the day it will quickly evaporate and if you water at night it promotes diseases. Honestly I don't water unless they are seedlings or we haven't had rain in a long time. It helps the roots to dig deep for water and helps during the hot summer months. Of course if I notice the plants look droopy during a hot afternoon I will give them a little drink of water.
-To conserve water, I place a 5 gallon bucket under a down spout when it rains to collect water for gardening. Then I just fill my watering can with it. I know drip hoses are great, but my plants aren't in rows and I haven't felt like springing for the price of one. Besides my boys love to water the plants themselves. A friend also told me that she watered her tomatoes with a hose and was so disappointed when the tomatoes had the plastic-y taste of a water hose and none could be eaten.
-I try to strategically place the plants according to planting times. Example- I planted some more squash seeds yesterday right next to some peas since the peas should be long gone by the time the squash plant is fully grown.
-For pest control, I have been using 'Pyola' from Garden's Alive for the last several years. It is a plant derivative and canola oil. Also I have their 'Soap Shield' to help with the powdery mildew my squash often has. I would like to try making my own homemade blends this year.
-Rain is a blessing, but my tomato plants can definitely suffer from too much. At the first sign of yellow leaves (blight) I cut that small limb off and it seems to make it just fine.
-Besides the tasty, free, and chemical free veggies we receive I also love the time I spend with my kids. Maddox loves when we receive the seed catalog and goes through it circling what he wants to plant that year. I definitely have to narrow down his choices! This year he chose some small starburst shaped squash that we are excited about. Also Maddox probably knows nearly as much about our garden as I do. He loves to show his grandmas around it and telling them what is growing. He also loves delivering them some of the harvest.
