Gardening Gardening

This will be my first time trying Black Krim for real. A few years back I bought some seeds off Amazon, but they turned out to be some weird hybrid. I’ve always had stellar results buying from this outfit in Missouri though.

 

Baker Creek has an awesome selection but they did send me wrong seed before lol. Do they still have the William Woys Weaver collection?

 

Yes I believe they do, although I haven’t gotten anything from that particular collection yet. I really like how they have so many obscure seeds from all over the world.

 

About 12 years ago I took a few week gardening course at WWW's farm. I remember him talking about trying to find an outfit where the seeds he had would be preserved and multiplied for market. A few years later I saw Baker Creek promoting his stuff. I have his PA Dutch cook book which he was kind enough to autograph for me.

 

Wife just pulled the last bag of peppers out of the frezzer that you gave me at Walt's last fall. She made hot sausage with peppers and onions, they were delicious. Thanks again Brother!

 

For us, a garden is secondary. I'm more concerned with the cost of inputs. When the cost of fertilizer has tripled (46 went from 15 a bag to 50), that is a concern for me. Same applies to pesticides and herbicides. My 'garden' is 150 acres plus. We have a small plot we grow taters and sweet corn in, about an acre or so.

 

And you didn't call me?!?

You are welcome, Brian. Glad you enjoyed them.

 

I tried the black krim tomatoes one season about 5 years ago. My recollection is that they don't produce much quantity. But go for it. I have always tried lots of different seed varieties, but this year I decided to just go with my German Johnson, Better Boys, and some bush tomatoes. Usually I plant over 100 plants, but am cutting back to maybe 20.

 

I have lots of room now, so I'm planning to try a bunch of different tomatoes.

 

I thought my planning on 30 plants was a lot. 100 . Wow.

 

Usually pick by the wheel barrel load

 

Started to make some new raised beds. I cleared this hill 2 years ago, but never put any beds in. Of course it got overgrown.
Had to do a terrace garden. This hill gets the best sun on the property. Used some BL logs I had bucked for the sides. (Dont tell buZZsaw BRAD) Still lots of work to do, but it's a start.

 

For a second i thought those were outdoor lounge chairs. I have some milled BL that ill be making some four leg planters out of. BL sides and bottom with cedar legs.

 

Had to go back and look, but you nailed it!! Lol

 

Lol. I don't have anytime for lounging. I have to level them because it bothers my OCD with the pallets being crooked like that.

 

Will the pallets be trellis for a crop or something else? I don't know diddly about making/growing in terraces. With the BL sides, you and the next generation will have lots of time to use it.

 

Can't wait to see pics of veggies growing in them.

I'm itching to get the tiller out and turn some dirt. I've been throwing my ashes in there and I put lots of grass clippings and leaves in as well.

 

Yes, the pallets are for cucumbers to creep up on. I don't know much about terrace gardens neither. So it will be a learning experience. Property is mostly all hills, and this spot gets the best sun by far.

 

Go no-till. There's no need to destroy the soil life with the tiller.

 

I tried this. I think my soil has too much clay in it. In theory, the worms should be able to keep the soil loose enough to allow oxygen to the roots to promote growth. In practice I didn’t find this to be the case with my garden. Perhaps I have not built up enough soil carbon. My seed starts this year were started with pro-mix that is supposed to have endomycorrhiza spores in it for nutrient and water uptake. So when I till, I guess I destroy the existing fungal network but the seedlings I’m planting should already be inoculated when I plant. So I will have less reliance on the mycorrhiza and more on root growth. At least in theory.