Get the most out of your garden

[Britesea]

I tried growing basil in between my tomato plants, as I'd read they "love" each other; it didn't work though-- the tomatoes overran and shaded out the basil too quickly.
I've decided the only thing I can do with brussels sprouts is grow them as a trap crop. They always end up covered with aphids, who seem to ignore everything else in the garden.

 

[Beekissed]

I take the "can't be done here" as a personal challenge. Thus, I spend time planting peppers, and carrots, and onions, and now egg plant. Some years, I disprove the hypothesis! Kind of like being a gambling addict. Just a tiny little reward is enough to spur me on to further time and soil investment.

I try three years, then I move on to something that actually produces. Space is limited here in this garden, so everything has to have a purpose, even those things that look pretty and grow well, like the zinnias. I give them space as they are a proven entity.

Everything else, especially food or plants that are supposed to help grow food, must produce or else. This garden isn't a hobby, but a food plot, so I like to count on reliable producers that will give me a sustainable supply of food year after year. That's one reason I don't experiment around with different tomato varieties or tater varieties any longer...it's too serious a business to me. I'll be depending more and more on a clean food source in my life and trying to work away from buying so many staples from commercial sources.

This fall I intend to extend the garden back almost to its original size, which will include the new apple trees...one or two of which will need to be moved to accomplish this. This will keep the apples from those low growing trees from getting nipped off by sheep and deer, plus those trees will benefit from the nutrient flow from the mulching.

 

[NH Homesteader]

I'm very much a beginner gardener so I'm just going to be following here...

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I'm very much a beginner gardener so I'm just going to be following here...

You can still tell us what you are trying!

 

[Beekissed]

I've used companion planting(some worked, some didn't), sacrifice crops(to good effect), and cover crops. I'll have to think awhile, rev up the memory on just what I have used over the years and how they all performed.

GREAT thread!!!

 

[Chic Rustler]

I planted ALOT of herbs in the garden last year. Basil, thyme, oregano, cilantro and they did well mixed in with other crops. But i dont think it did much for pests as they say it will.

 

[Hinotori]

How about the "rule" that fresh chicken litter is too hot for any plants. I've found that squash absolutely loves it.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

I planted ALOT of herbs in the garden last year. Basil, thyme, oregano, cilantro and they did well mixed in with other crops. But i dont think it did much for pests as they say it will.

I have not found that any of the companion planting has done squat to prevent insect damage. More likely, spacing plants out in a diverse planting so that you don't have all of the plants that are attractive to a particular insect makes it more difficult for those insects to find them then congregate and chow down. Many insects release pheromones. For example, when the first few cucumber beetles find your cukes or squash, their scent attracts more cuke beetles until the plants are covered.

But, what I have found is that certain plants do well together, either b/c they have similar nutrient needs, or opposing nutrient needs... or they have complimentary space needs.

 

[Hinotori]

How fresh, and what was the bedding? Any guess about the ratio of poo to bedding? And how did you use it? As a top or side dressing? Or buried in the hill? How much per hill or foot of row???

Ive done it with actual fresh from right under the roosts. The lower levels have decomposed pretty well as there are worms at work in there. I only toss in a bag of shavings twice a year maybe so it's almost totally chicken poop and worm poop. Now it doesn't stay fresh on top for long. Only a few days worth at once. There is never any smell.

When I set up the 8 inch deep planter bed on the back of the chicken coop I filled it halfway with just chicken litter as I didnt have enough bags of potting mix to fill it. I had 15 zucchini plants in that 5.5' x 2.75' space. All did superbly.

 

[Lazy Gardener]

Interplanting / Living mulch: I am working on establishing groundcover in my garden as part of trying to go no-till. I started some white clover last year. I will be adding more clover and also creeping thyme this year. I used a lot of herbs as well and let them go to seed. I am hoping to choke out all the weeds! If a weed can grow there, why not an herb?

The white clover will increase the nitrogen in your garden. I'd love to see a progress report, especially if you can do a comparison of yield with the ground cover and without the ground cover. Thyme may act as an insect deterrent. Both would make great amendments to your coop bedding. Especially, the thyme in your nest boxes.