I "mulched" using that black plastic sheeting, but after speaking with my grandpa, he changed my mind on it. So I ripped it all up (sheesh, what a waste tracking that stuff down last week).

So, now instead of that stuff, I put down my wheat straw mulch. I'm thinking that will: 1) help the plants get more air circulation to the roots and 2) help get more sunshine to the roots. I hope for the best...

Black plastic sheeting is good early in the season to help sterilize the soil. This time of year I would not think it would be neccesary.
Wheat straw will 1. not help the roots get more air circulation, unless tilled in the soil and 2. Will definitely not get more sunshine to the roots, the roots will not tolerate sunshine.
The wheat straw as mulch will help keep the soil moist and help with weeds growing but thats about it.

water early morning every day

use this for fleas in the yard and house. You can spray the dogs and cats with a diluted orange oil sold everywhere.

http://www.dirtworks.net/Diatomaceous-Earth.html

You can also use this for grubs and stuff, but be warned, it will kill your earthworms as well and some benificial critters so don't go overboard.

Trust me, it works well

You're right; I worded it wrong. I meant it will get more air circulation to the base of the plant, as opposed to the black plastic which is not permeable by air, water, or light.


I woke up early this morning to water the corn. It was chilly, but didn't freeze.

It was a balmy 49 at 7:00 this morning down here in Paradise...So in the words of The Simpsons' Nelson, 'HA! HA!'

Make sure you don't breathe in the dust from diatomaceous earth. It's made up of the fossilized shells of micro-crustaceans and every grain is like a little ball of razor blades.

Works great on bugs.

need help with irrigation..i have a 22'x27' garden and its gonna be cramped so i need ideas for watering each plant...56 tomatos,onions,6 peppers,2 cuc's,and 2 okra..thanks

Soaker hose, if things are really packed you might need to thin the herd a little. Too many plants to close could cause a decrease in produce

the plants have enough room to grow but it'll be cramped trying to get to them...i am looking for some thing i can hook up to the sprinkler system so it can be automated

I would prefer drip myself but running 66 lines is going to be a big project in itself. Also space is cramped so if the lines are not buried you would be tripping over them. Either way would work just depends on how much money and time you are ready to spend. A soaker hose will take about 1 hour and 20 dollars and a drip would be a whole day and cost 3X as much.
Either soaker or drip you can buy a timer for the water faucet for around 20-40 dollars on the cheap. If you want to tap into your sprinkler system that would be easy I would think , Home Depot has every type of connector.

Just unloaded 2 cubic yards of mulch by the bucketfull. Garden looking good. Will post pictures after wife get the gnomes in....
Gnomes are not German peppers....

Almost done, just need to pick-up a few Tobasco plants...

Very nice.

Very nice...So did the Gnomes help with the planting?

Sure they helped, but they took forever to load and unload their share of the buckets....

Well in that case I won't ask you to send them over to help me finish up...

It was kinda like working with the Burger King kid with the tiny hands.....but by the bunch full...

Suspend the drip lines and you don't have to worry about tripping over them.

FYI: Lowe's has Thai chilis.

Already put in some Thai chilis. Need tobasco peppers for grinding into part of my rub.

where can i get some good info on fertilizer for my mater's

Here Ya go.