Gardening 101
Probably the hardest part of gardening on the Windmill Ranch is the preparation. You have to be prepared to keep the critters out from all directions. Rabbits, deer, javelina, quail, gophers, lizards, rats, neighbors dogs….well you get the idea. All of my beds are raised with a barrier on the bottom to deter the gophers. I have also put netting over the top to discourage the quail from flying in and helping themselves to the goodies.
If you’re not totally worn out by now, it’s time to prepare the soil. I was very lucky in that the spot where I put the garden had almost zero rocks. Backfill your beds with soil, manure and compost if you have it. Get a compost pile started and at the end of harvest compost all of the plants.
Seed selection is important. I’m breaking old habits and going to the non-genetically modified seeds. The reasoning behind this is that (1) The nutrients in your harvest will be better and (2) You can seed saver and when you plant the following year it, being from the mother plant will be true to the species. Hybrids won’t be true, who knows what you’ll get. Sorry, I don’t have time for that experiment.
Don’t get in a hurry to plant, I have volunteer tomatoes produce before the 4th of July every year. Late April should insure that your seedlings won’t get frost nipped. Peas, spinach, lettuce, kale, kohlrabi, radishes, carrots, mustard, turnips and beets can be planted mid-March. The only thing that I plant indoors to get a head start, are the chilies and peppers. Everything else is direct in the ground.
When the seedlings pop through, put some mulch around them. (no cedar) I water twice a week, if you train them that they’re going to get a drink twice a week their roots will go deeper. Fight the urge and pull some weeds or talk to them if you think that’s what they like. Personally, I like to sit in the shade shack and read!!
I like to use manure tea or fish emulsion for the in between fertilizing. Corn meal works to get rid of unwanted bugs, just sprinkled around. I also sprinkle sugar or diluted molasses in the beds while they are dormant; it helps keep the microorganisms pumped.
All you have to do now is reap the harvest and do maintenance. All in all it’s very rewarding.
The Tomato Lady
