Search This Blog

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Alternative Gardening



With the beginning of the growing season already here in most of the country, I thought I'd take a few minutes and share a couple methods of alternative gardening with you guys. One is super easy and highly productive and the other is a "full circle" complementary technique. Either of these works well, and will produce a "garden" but each strives to achieve a completely different goal.






The first I want to tell you about is the "Straw Bale" technique in which one plants their garden in straw bales. Make sure you get straw bales if at all possible, hay bales still have the seeds in them and you will grow some nice grass with these, but if that is all you have, use hay bales. Growing a garden in great soil is tough work, but in soil like my 100% clay is next to impossible. I can't even get what is basically a weed (raspberries) to grow here. Other people run them over with a mower to try to get rid of them... I have been nursing mine for three years now and have YET to see a single berry! Alas, I digress. Using straw bales, you can grow anything you want with little effort.

Straw bale gardening is about as easy as it comes. The hardest part is getting the bales! You can have the worst soil ever and grow a perfect small garden. It is also very "bad back" friendly as it makes for an elevated platform and you don't have to work the "soil" with hoes and rakes like you do with a dirt garden. Harvest time is also a breeze for things like potatoes where you just cut the sisal twine and break the bale open. Trust me when I say anyone can grow a nice vegetable garden using this method.

The first thing to do is get your bales and get them conditioning. This process takes about two weeks. Simply put the bales where you want them (pokey side up, strings visible all the way around) and fertilize them with a good slathering of cow manure an inch or two deep. Now water them thoroughly. Keep them good and damp for two weeks. After that, they are ready for planting.

Okay, okay... you can also use fertilizer. Sprinkle one quarter cup of ammonium nitrate on top daily and then soak with water. Stop adding ammonium nitrate on day ten and add one half cup of fertilizer for the next two days. The last two days you simply water the bales.

Contrary to some internet chatter, this method is FANTASTIC for potatoes! Plant your potatoes three inches from the BOTTOM of the bale. The loose straw will let your potato stems shoot up and out and the potatoes will grow all through the bale. This mimics the "hilling" that potatoes require. They require this because unlike the common belief that they grow as roots, they actually grow on the stem of the plant. The more you hill the dirt around a stem the more potatoes you get. Planting at the bottom of the bale is just starting with pre-hilled plants. Why don't they plant potatoes in dirt 18 inches deep? Well, because farmers have common sense and it's easier to hill the plant as it grows than to dig an 18 inch deep hole every six inches long the row to plant them that deep.

Most every other plant is planted just like using dirt... well, to be truthful, you will use some dirt. For planting seeds, you will add a layer of 50/50 potting soil and compost on top of the bale. For planting potted (started) plants, such as the ones on trays for the garden center, simply use a hand trowel and spread the straw (no added dirt here). Drop the potted plant into the straw to where the bottom set of leaves rests on the top of the straw and then push the straw closed. Easy right?

A few pointers for you here:

  • You must water these daily! Because the straw bales have a huge surface area they dry out quickly! Water them good every day in the evening. 
  • Water them twice a day if it is really hot and dry for a couple days. 
  • Once a month you need to add a drizzling of fertilizer to the top of the bale when you water. 
  • Also if you place your bales with the long sides touching, you won't need to use as much water. 
  • On each end of the "garden" at the end of each row with climbing plants you need to add a trellis. Simply drive a "T" post and add a 2x4 between the tops of the two posts. String baling wire between the posts every eight to ten inches going up the posts. If it is a long row (longer than eight feet) you will need to add more posts. 
  • Last year's bales make this year's compost! 
  • Use the bales with synthetic twine to extend the life of your bales. 
  • If planting corn or sunflowers or any top-heavy plant, make sure to stake the plant to keep the wind from toppling the bale over. 
  • Move the bales before the twine rots... unless you plan to make this spot a compost pile for next year, or you will be using a pitchfork. 



The next one I want to tell you about is the "Three Sisters" technique in which one plants a trio of plant that complement each other nutritionally. This method is a native American method used in the Iroquois tribes of the east. This is simply conventional gardening in dirt, but you plant groupings of sympathetic plants that help each other out.

The basic gist of the story is that the three sisters watch over each other and help each other out. The corn helps the beans by providing a pole for them to climb, the squash helps the beans by sheltering the roots from the scorching sun using her leaves. The beans help the corn by supporting the stalk during the high winds using her vines. Something like that... the Three Sisters story and ceremonies eventually became Thanksgiving.


The typical group called the three sisters and consists of corn, squash, and beans as stated above. They are all grown in the exact same hole. Space your plantings based on the diameter of the squash plant. Generally, about ten feet apart is adequate. One thing to keep in mind is that you cannot plant corn in one long row. It needs to be a group of corn for the sake of pollination. This can be overcome with the three sisters method by planting six corn stalks about a foot apart on the points of a six pointed star. Next plant six climbing beans between the corn plants, different varieties if you like. Lastly, plant three squash in the middle of the circle. There you have it!  After everything sprouts and is growing well, thin it down to  three corn, three beans, and one squash plant.

There is also the "patch method" for planting the three sisters.  This is simply planting a ten foot square area with a checkerboard pattern of the three plants. and letting it do its thing.  The reason I don't care for this method is that it's like trying to harvest a jungle.  I'd rather do several spot plantings using the method above.

Let me talk for just a second about fertilizers too. Cow manure and chicken litter may sound gross to the average person, but these are God's fertilizers. I tend to advocate for DAIRY cow manure as opposed to steer manure. Often it is easier to get the steer manure because you are basically asking a farmer if you can go muck his feedlot. What farmer in his right mind is going to turn that down? A dairy farmer on the other hand would be letting you go into his FDA monitored milking facility, or he'd have to much it up for you beforehand. You might even be asked to pay for it at a dairy.


So why dairy cow manure you ask? Well, a full HALF of every vitamin and mineral (nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus) that the cow eats goes out the south end a couple days later. They are also standing still and peeing and pooping on a concrete floor. It then gets all mixed together when it gets mucked out. The urine ensures that your fertilizer contains enough potassium, since that is primarily excreted in the pee rather than the poop. Cow manure also adds decomposing plant matter (compost) to the soil whereas chicken litter does not. It is rather low in value overall (like a 2-2-2 commercial fertilizer).

Chicken litter (all the junk on the bottom of the chicken house) in VERY rich and should be used sparingly! Put too much on and you'll burn your plants to death. It contains three to five times the amount of nutrients as cow manure, except for potassium. Think of it as organic 7-7-2 fertilizer.

Use the cow manure as a top dressing by lightly spreading it over the planted field, or adding a small amount to each plant hill. If you load it on and turn it into the soil in the fall when you plow your crops under it will be more efficient as this will give it time to leach into the soil a bit better. Using the direct application method you are only going to fertilize that tiny spot of dirt in that vast field. Using the loading method you are treating the entire field and it makes for a much more productive garden! It also makes for a lot more manure being needed!) I suggest the direct application method for a small garden plot of even potted gardens... use the field loading method for larger gardens where mechanical field turning will be used. One last note on cow manure; if you can you should compost your manure pile for a year before use and add grass clippings and shredded leaves to help boost the carbon and nitrogen content. Be sure to turn the pile every once in awhile as well.

Use the chicken litter in the same manner as the cow manure, but much more sparingly. Chicken litter MUST be composted for a year prior to use to kill off the pathogens that are naturally found in it. Keep your pile moist and turned regularly. It is ready to use once it resembles crumbly soil. You can also mix it into other composted material to speed it along a bit.

Enjoy your garden and share your rewards with those around you!



                        

22 comments:

Unknown said...

new york knicks jersey
cheap nike shoes
prada sneakers
uggs outlet
oakley sunglasses canada
russell westbrook jersey
gucci outlet online
atlanta falcons jersey
chelsea jersey
coach outlet store
seattle seahawks jerseys
dansko outlet
christian louboutin uk
burberry outlet online
ugg boots uk
true religion sale
golden state warriors jerseys
mulberry outlet
air jordan shoes
air jordan 13
nike air max,nike roshe,nike huarache
michael kors bags
mulberry,mulberry handbags,mulberry outlet,mulberry bags,mulberry uk
oklahoma city thunder jerseys
cheap oakley sunglasses
san antonio spurs jerseys
cheap wedding dresses
tory burch outlet
cheap nba jerseys
raiders jerseys
tory burch outlet online
hang0624

Unknown said...

qihang20150710nike blazer low
sac longchamp
christian louboutin
borse louis vuitton
cheap jordans
mont blanc pens
soccer jerseys
air max shoes
chanel online shop
jordan uk
tory burch outlet
nike tn
soccer jerseys wholesale
kate spade outlet
michael kors
pandora charms 2015
rolex watches
jordan shoes
ralph lauren
soccer shoes
oakley sunglasses wholesale
polo ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet store online
tory burch outlet online
prada handbags
cheap soccer shoes
michael kors outlet online
michael kors handbag
ed hardy clothing
louboutin pas cher
gucci outlet
coach factory outlet
michael kors uk
oakley sunglasses outlet
true religion jeans
coach outlet online
cheap true religion jeans
q

Unknown said...

20151020 junda
Coach Factory Handbags Outlet Store
nfl jerseys
coach canada
Michael Kors Outlet Deals Online
Abercrombie and Fitch Outlet Sale
louis vuitton outlet
Michael Kors Outlet Real Handbags Online
Jordan 6 Rings Powder Blue
michael kors outlet
louis vuitton handbags
cheap uggs
cheap toms shoes
coach factory outlet
Louis Vuitton Outlet USA
ralph lauren uk
ugg boots
Discount Ray Ban Polarized Sunglasses
Ugg Boots,Ugg Boots Outlet,Ugg Outlet,Cheap Uggs,Uggs On Sale,Ugg Boots Clearance,Uggs For Women
ugg boots
air max 95,nike golf,nike janoski,air max 1,nike canada,nike plus,nike shox,nike factory store
coach outlet
ugg boots clearance
coach outlet online
Michael Kors Outlet Handbags Factory Price
Louis Vuitton Handbags Factory Store
Michael Kors Outlet Sale Clearance
coach factory outlet
ugg boots australia
canada goose jackets
louis vuitton outlet

oakleyses said...

michael kors outlet online, uggs on sale, ray ban sunglasses, ugg boots, polo ralph lauren outlet online, chanel handbags, prada outlet, replica watches, tory burch outlet, christian louboutin uk, christian louboutin outlet, oakley sunglasses, longchamp outlet, louis vuitton outlet, jordan shoes, nike outlet, nike air max, michael kors outlet online, polo outlet, cheap oakley sunglasses, longchamp outlet, michael kors outlet, nike free, ray ban sunglasses, longchamp outlet, tiffany and co, uggs outlet, louis vuitton outlet, michael kors outlet online, nike air max, michael kors outlet, tiffany jewelry, ugg boots, uggs outlet, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses, louis vuitton outlet, burberry handbags, kate spade outlet, oakley sunglasses, replica watches, louis vuitton, gucci handbags, michael kors outlet online, christian louboutin shoes, ray ban sunglasses

oakleyses said...

vans pas cher, polo ralph lauren, nike free uk, nike air max uk, air max, coach outlet, hollister pas cher, polo lacoste, hogan outlet, converse pas cher, timberland pas cher, sac vanessa bruno, new balance, michael kors, hollister uk, michael kors outlet, true religion outlet, north face uk, nike air max, michael kors, ray ban pas cher, coach purses, louboutin pas cher, sac longchamp pas cher, michael kors pas cher, ray ban uk, nike air force, guess pas cher, longchamp pas cher, coach outlet store online, nike blazer pas cher, nike roshe run uk, true religion outlet, mulberry uk, sac hermes, coach outlet, true religion jeans, jordan pas cher, kate spade, true religion outlet, nike tn, abercrombie and fitch uk, north face, ralph lauren uk, burberry pas cher, lululemon canada, nike roshe, nike air max uk, nike free run, oakley pas cher

John said...

kobe bryant shoes
michael kors outlet
adidas originals
supra shoes
lebron 12
the north face outlet
uggs for men
jordan retro
gucci handbags
swarovski jewelry
kate spade handbags
uggs outlet
louis vuitton handbags
ugg boots
christian louboutin outlet
coach factory outlet
nike air max
coach factory outlet
north face uk
tory burch sale
ray ban sunglasses
ugg boots sale
ralph lauren uk
michael kors outlet
nike roshe run
cheap oakleys
north face jacket
coach outlet
michael kors outlet online
oakley sunglasses
ray ban sunglasses outlet
20151202yuanyuan

Unknown said...

lacoste shoes
lebron james shoes 2016
ferragamo shoes
ugg boots
nike air force 1
adidas superstar
true religion jeans
michael kors handbags
nike cortez
pandora
2016107caiyan

Unknown said...

louis vuitton outlet
ray ban sunglasses
true religion jeans
burberry sale
coach outlet store
louis vuitton outlet
rolex replica watches
christian louboutin sale
mont blanc pens
adidas yeezy
2016107caiyan

raybanoutlet001 said...

michael kors handbags
patriots jerseys
coach
ray bans
fitflops sale clearance
cheap jordans
michael kors outlet online
ralph lauren outlet
nike trainers
true religion jeans

caiyan said...

coach factory outlet
cheap nfl jerseys
christian louboutin shoes
louis vuitton handbags
michael kors bags
cheap jerseys
fitflops sale clearance
coach outlet
oakley sunglasses
coach factory outlet
0428shizhong

adidas nmd said...

rolex replica
ray ban sunglasses outlet
polo ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet
oakley sunglasses
bengals jersey
cleveland cavaliers
san antonio spurs jerseys
saints jerseys
fitflops sale clearance

Unknown said...

saints jerseys
true religion outlet store
pandora bracelet
cheap uggs
los angeles lakers
raiders jerseys
christian louboutin sale
cheap ugg boots
polo ralph lauren outlet
coach outlet store online

Unknown said...

ugg boots
dior sunglasses
fitflop shoes
north face clearance
oakley sunglasses
ugg boots
snapbacks hats wholesale
nfl jerseys
ray ban uk
mulberry uk
201710.6wengdongdong

chenlina said...

cheap jordan shoes
kate spade outlet
adidas stan smith shoes
supreme new york
coach outlet
discount nike
uggs clearance
coach factory outlet
ugg slippers
nba jerseys
chenlina20171109

chenmeinv0 said...

nike free
polo ralph lauren
insanity
north face
ray ban sunglasses
nike air max
north face
lebron shoes
hogan
guess
2017.12.2xukaimin

xjd7410@gmail.com said...

20180503 hxy
tory burch outlet
polo ralph lauren shirts
coach factory outlet
grizzlies jerseys
coach outlet online
coach outlet
lakers jerseys
ralph lauren
pandora charms
louis vuitton outlet

Unknown said...

off white outlet
cheap jordans
canada goose jackets
seattle seahawks jerseys
true religion outlet store
christian louboutin sale
oakley sunglasses
bottega verde sito ufficiale
nike outlet
ecco shoes online

Unknown said...

breguet watches
new balance sandals
oakley sunglasses
converse
armani handbags
beats pills
nike air max 97
stussy clothing
james harden jerseys
red bottom shoes
20185.30wengdongdong

Unknown said...

new balance
mac cosmetics
nike air max
mac makeup
jimmy choo
timberland boots
polo ralph lauren
mac makeup
wedding dresses
coach outlet online
2018.6.20chenlixiang

zzyytt said...

converse outlet
kd 10
jordan shoes
off white jordan 1
vans store
curry 5
red bottom shoes for women
ray ban sunglasses
pandora charms
lacoste polo

thashiez said...

useful reference his response discover this get redirected here over here Continued

satheysl said...

more info here dolabuy.ru view publisher site Dolabuy Loewe here https://www.dolabuy.su