What did you do in your garden today?

FarmerJamie

Mr. Sensitive
Joined
Dec 22, 2010
Messages
9,964
Reaction score
19,020
Points
393
I have the last container of taters in the kitchen to put up this weekend. Yesterday, we had the electrician (younger guy) back to estimate some additional work (like running a connection for a possible hot tub!!). He started asking about growing potatoes, how to get started, what to do, how to put up. We did walk out to my little raised bed and he asked for advice. I enjoyed the convo
 

frustratedearthmother

Sustainability Master
Joined
Mar 10, 2012
Messages
21,094
Reaction score
24,827
Points
453
Location
USDA 9a
He started asking about growing potatoes, how to get started, what to do, how to put up. We did walk out to my little raised bed and he asked for advice. I enjoyed the convo
It's always nice to share some knowledge and know that it's appreciated!
 

LaurenRitz

Almost Self-Reliant
Joined
Apr 19, 2024
Messages
154
Reaction score
573
Points
105
Location
Kansas
I am trying to figure out how to fix my clay soil so I can do root crops. Potatoes and onions are two things I still buy. I am thinking maybe buy one or two of those big round hay bales and put pigs on it.

Greenhouse is looking good, only spinach and cilantro at the moment. Two arugula were transplanted from the hydroponics but aren't established yet. Lettuce is thriving in the hydroponics but didn't survive transplant into the greenhouse.
20241216_173344.jpg


The large pots have plum, grape, currant and black solanum (schwarzenbeeren) seeds to come up in the spring.
20241216_173416.jpg
 

flowerbug

Sustainability Master
Joined
Oct 24, 2019
Messages
7,066
Reaction score
13,989
Points
307
Location
mid-Michigan, USoA
onions will do ok in clay, but you do have to keep them regularly watered and make sure there is good enough drainage so they don't get waterlogged. but it doesn't hurt to grow them in better garden soil if you have it available (and if you don't or don't want to bother try growing bunching onions or green onions, they do fine about anywhere - same as green garlic).

but generally root/bulb crops is why i brought in enough sandy loam to raise up an area large enough (after putting down drain tubes) so that it would have the right kind of soil those particular plants needed (in my hopes it was a lot of tulips i wanted to do some cross-breeding with). doing a small raised bed for potatoes or carrots wouldn't be worth the effort or expense, but bringing in more to make a much larger area means it won't all get mixed in or washed away as quickly (and if you build up the edges with that heavy clay soil that will also help hold it all in place - as you don't want surface flows you want your drain tubes to do the moving of the extra water for you).
 

flowerbug

Sustainability Master
Joined
Oct 24, 2019
Messages
7,066
Reaction score
13,989
Points
307
Location
mid-Michigan, USoA
i didn't do anything in the gardens, but i did feed my worm bins and took pictures so now i have another project to keep me busy for a few hours/days... :) it was so good to see them and get some dirt therapy even if it wasn't as much as i'd have liked to do outside for some exercise. it will have to do.
 
Top