I really hope we get a lot of rain (just a steady rain is fine) today. I created a rain barrel and added a spigot to run water to the garden. I had to dump about 15 gallons of water to drill the hole out, so I hope to at least fill it back up to that point.

Why not just mulch ? That would stop the weeds and keep the moisture in the dirt better than plastic IMO. At the end of the season you can till it into the dirt or rake it off for next season.

I'll still be mulching the rest of the garden (regular mulch), but I had heard the black plastic does wonders for warming up the soil under tomato & pepper plants (also melons).

Mulch worked good for me last year.

But why bother? Nothing a few minutes a day with a hoe can't remedy without having to buy a bunch of stuff and worrying about staking it down. Grandma never used plastic or anything like that. Just a hoe and a little sweat equity!

Oh ok I got you your not really worried about weeds you want the ground warmed up by the black plastic in cooler temps, i think we are past that phase. IMO I would be careful what you wish for since we live in tx the heat can be brutal... I also remember Home depot haveing different shades of organic mulch. I believe plastic would be cheaper though.

Tomato plant pruning

I tried doing this last year but still am not sure If I am doing it right and could use a little insight from those that have. There are some videos on You Tube about this I will look and see if I can pull them up. Do you pinch all growth growing inbetween the main stalk and the big leaves? What if it has blooms?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1WTCDFxPg8Y

heres a better vid
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eak7yj0tEvM&feature=fvw

Do you guys use soaker hoses or drip systems, just spray the whole yard? I used to just water and spray everything but I dont think thats the way to do it right. Last year I went to the depot and made a drip system with water lines going to the base of each plant, pretty cheap. I think i am going to do the same this year but install a timer on the faucet for even more convenience.

OK not trying to hijack this thread, but 22 trout and 1 crappie? Where do you Live?

Here's a question I'm hoping some of you long-time farmers can answer.

Today I built what I consider the "original" type of bed, as opposed to my Square Foot Garden raised beds. I've got about 6 rows, as you can see in the picture. So if I wanted to set up a soaker hose or some type of watering in this bed, would I run the water to the "valleys" or up on top of the hills, where the seeds are planted (corn, beans, & squash)? I'll be throwing quite a bit of hay on top of this in the next few days for mulch, so I want to get the water set up now on it.



Also, I am planning on fertilizing this bed when the corn sets its tassels, so would I put the manure on the hills, or in the valleys?

Thanks

What sort of hose did you use to make the drip system? Did you just poke a couple of small holes at each plant?

For soaker hose or drip, run the line on top of th bed. The old school design of bed and furrow was for what today is considered a type of flood irrigation. In this application water is pumped down the rows(valleys). Not very efficient, not only as far as water usage is concerned, but also when adressing cost of fuel to pump the resource.
That being said, I'm all about old school. In small plots the lack of efficiency is neglegable.
When fertilizing commercial corn, be it for fresh market or grain, I've always applied dry fertilizer before planting, or liquid at no later than knee high. I'm not suggesting you flatten those pretty beds, but manure is best incorporated into the soil. I would certainly side dress the beds with the manure before placing the hay as a mulch.
Hope this helps.

You can get a drip kit with accesories and 1/2" and 1/4" lines and 1-4gph "drippers" that you put on each tentacle you add to the main 1/2" line. They're like $20. I actually have several of those at some plants and then have a couple of small directional sprayers that'll hit an entire 4x4 bed at once.

Thanks sputterfuss. A few weeks ago before tilling I worked in some compost and manure, but you're right - I probably need to add a little more. I might also try to track down some fish emulsion or another liquid fert. for later on as well.

Hey man, if you've allready incorporated the manure then your good to go! Seriously anything more could be overkill. Never have used fish emulsion though, can't speak to it's virtures. Should make a fine liquid fertilizer at about knee high. Thing with corn is, once the silks are set on the ears and the tassle has emerged from the top of the plant, pollination has begun. At this time fertilizing the soil is unnecessary.

My onions are itty bitty things and the plant portion is stating to grow a flower. What does that mean?

It means the onions believe they have completed 2 life cycles...This can stunt, or 'bolt', the growth of the onion and usually will keep it from getting bigger...I generally remove the flowering stalk and leave the onion...It won't get as big as the others, but will grow some. This is caused because of the temperature fluctuations we have been experiencing...I've had about 20 plants that have done that and I just pinched off the flower before it had a chance to bloom...

I got some cilantro growing and it has flowers that are poping out. What does this mean? The last time it did that I got no cilantro and about 15 plants out in the yard the next season. Should I cut the part that has the flower, trim down the plant?

I've never grown cilantro, but from what I've just read, I would say it too is bolting...Apparently this can happen quickly, especially in warm weather...I've seen it suggested that once it flowers you take the seeds from there and replant them, harvesting the cilantro every couple of weeks...

Here is a link to a site I found with this info...

Clicky

Thanks LSS, appreciate it a bunch.