Bruce's Journal

[Bruce]

We certainly don't garden like you do! You were pulling food out before we even planted many things.

I was expecting the potatoes in tires (never got more than 1 on though) to be growing not only in the ground but also in the hay in the tires. Nope, even though I added hay as the plants grew which presumably causes them to send roots out, nada.

 

[greybeard]

I tried growing russets in 5 empty mineral tubs one year, just a little good soil in the bottom, planted the seed taters, and added soil as they grew until the tub was full of soil. The plants looked good and healthy. Really expected a lot of taters, but found just little tiny things when the leaves died back..and ants got into 2 of the tubs even tho I had the tubs up on cinder blocks and not right on the ground. Pretty disappointed.

 

[Bruce]

So it isn't just me with a black thumb!

 

[CntryBoy777]

Naw, I wouldn't say so....it is some very difficult conditions that ya have to deal with there and a short season to boot. I would check into cool weather crops....cabbage, broccoli, carrots, and such....check with locals on what and how they grow things....but the list won't be very long....fruit and berries would/should do okay....but, the soil could be a problem.

 

[Bruce]

Carrots and broccoli didn't come up, cabbage got eaten by something soon after starting. Didn't try carrots here before but both cabbage and broccoli were OK last year. Probably need to make a raised bed for the carrots and just fill it with potting soil given the quality of what we have to dig in.

 

[CntryBoy777]

With the cabbage and broccoli, start the seed indoors about 4-6wks before last frost and set in a sun facing window....and since there is less hrs of light up that way....use a flourescent grow light for a couple of hrs after sun begins to fade. That will get ya ahead of the game for days til harvest to produce the fruit....raised beds would be really good, just be sure to use some quarter to half inch hardware cloth on the bottom to protect from ground dwelling critters. The only plants we don't start indoors here are beans, peas, and corn...they are straight sown. If ya like leafy greens they should do good there. We have an array of grow lights that we utilize for house plants and seed starts....

 

[Mike CHS]

Is Alpaca manure hot or is it like sheep manure? We compost some but mostly we put right on the beds in the winter so it's broken down by planting time plus we put some directly on after the plants were up. We usually have a decent garden but we found sheep pellets to be great for the soil.

 

[Latestarter]

I believe carrots need sandy/loose soil to do best. I know to store them long term you lay them horizontal and cover with moist sand. When I lived in New England, I always had very good luck with swiss chard. The cold doesn't seem to kill it, just slow it down. As long as it gets sun, it will continue to grow until such time as it bolts. I used to harvest fresh chard right through winter. Never really got 2 years out of it, but if you let it bolt, it will self seed and you'll have new plants coming up with the spring thaw.

Since the alpacas drop pellets, like sheep/goats/rabbits, I'd expect you could use it straight up. A huge advantage you have with alpacas is they designate a dumping pile and try to always go in that same spot. So it's not like you have to collect it up from all over the paddock.

 

[Bruce]

Since the alpacas drop pellets, like sheep/goats/rabbits, I'd expect you could use it straight up. A huge advantage you have with alpacas is they designate a dumping pile and try to always go in that same spot. So it's not like you have to collect it up from all over the paddock.

Yep. Though their "pile" seems to be more of a "trail". They started in 1 location a year ago and have slowly "walked" it. Probably 30' long at this point. Makes sense I guess, you can only poop so high. The chickens have helped with the older stuff so that is where I like to "mine" as it is already broken down some and doesn't stick to the shovel as much.

And yes, you can use it as "laid" unlike chicken manure. If I could get my act together, I'd clean out the garden when everything is dead and move the 'paca poo into it.

@CntryBoy777 In the past I've bought started plants. Last year I did start the broccoli and cabbage from seed indoors but it got REALLY rangy. Probably started it too soon. It was amazing that any of them managed to grow outside, they were that scrawny. I'll have to try that again next year, just later. That HAS to be done with things like peppers and tomatoes. The peppers need to be started in February even though they aren't put out until Memorial Day. I've done OK in the past (except this year) with beans and cucumbers planted outside from seed.

 

[CntryBoy777]

If the plants are getting really thin and stringy, your light is too far away from the plant....it should be 1-2" above the top and adjusted as it does grow....also, a little dashboard sized fan will move enough air thru them for circulation....I have the lights rigged with chains and S hooks for easy manipulation.....