Backyard Gardening Basics

[apeci]

Growing ones own food is not only a satisfying way to spend time outdoors but also an important skill to learn in order to survive independent of any societal infrastructure. When oil prices threaten to halt food shipments and what does make it to the shelves is constantly reported as being contaminated, knowing exactly where and how your food was grown can be very relaxing on the mind. I will focus on growing vegetables and herbs on a very small plot of land in a typical backyard. This is by far not an all-inclusive writing, but it should be enough for anyone to get started.

The crops you grow will more-or-less depend on your hardiness zone (http://www.arborday.org/media/graphics/2006_zones.png). Zones should be used as a rough guide for selection but with proper protections virtually any climate can be adapted to suit a desired crop. The location of your garden relative to the house will depend on the crops you select. If you are planting a cool weather crop, plant on the east side of the house so your garden will be shaded during the hot afternoon sun. Herbs usually want as much sun as possible, so try for a good southern exposure. A book on farming specific to your region can be a valuable reference.

Once you determine where you are going to plant, you'll want to know exactly what and where you ultimately want your crops to be. It is best to draw out your intended garden. We're not planting in rows like large mechanically operated farms use. Instead the backyard garden benefits greatly from high density bio-intensive planting. In this arrangement crops are located on interlocking hexagons. In addition to making use of all available surface area, this will produce a canopy of foliage that more closely mimicks a natural environment which will promote a healthy soil ecosystem. Traditional rows closely mimick deserts with large expanses of dry lifeless soil between rows. With this in mind, plan your garden with places for you to walk. I prefer 3-4 foot square segments so the entire planting can be reached from the edges. My own garden uses cinder blocks for walkways. The soil being double dug, as described below, is level with the top of the blocks.

Now that you know where everything's going to go, it's time to prepare the soil. Many people only till the first few inches of soil, but not the serious backyard gardener. We loosen soil to 24". This promotes deep root growth with excellent soil aeration and drainage. You'll want to do this after a couple days without rain so the soil is easier to work. Start at one end of your plot and begin by digging a trench from side to side, putting the soil in a wheel barrow or somewhere else out of the way. A spade is best for this, but a shovel will work too. Dig to about 12" then drive your spade down an additional 12" and work it around to loosen the soil. Next move over and dig another trench, filling the previous trench with this soil. Try not to mix the soil from the top 12" with the bottom 12" to preserve the natural layering. Continue these steps trench by trench until you reach the end, with the last trench filled with the soil you set aside at the beginning. If your soil is overly clay, mix in some sand while digging. Also mix in several inches of compost. When you're all done you should have a bed of very loose soil that is fluffed up and raised well above the surrounding ground.

Before planting you should decide how you want to irrigate. Forget sprinklers that spray water all over the foliage. This will promote fungus, rot, and burning. You want to get water directly on the soil with a slow and steady watering over several hours. The best way to do this is with drip lines. Soaker hoses will work too but they are prone to clogging after a few months so don't expect to use them season after season. They are also designed for line pressure, so if you're running a rain barrel you may have a problem getting the pressure high enough. Drip lines come in a variety of packages anywhere from professional grade T-Tape to simple flat hoses with holes punched in them. I prefer the latter as they're more economical for small gardens and there's fewer parts to mess with. In my garden I have attached drip hoses to PVC pipe assemblies which locate the hoses where I want them without having to bend them, but you can always just run them around with short lengths of garden hose connecting them.

When you plant decide how you want to harvest. If you want a perpetual harvest, only plant a small section at a time. Time your plantings so the amount you expect to yield will last you between harvests. Aim low on your expected yields to account for losses. Leafy greens such as lettuce can either be planted perpetually or just left in the ground with only the older outer leaves harvested as needed. Also as the backyard gardener is going to be low on space you will want to maximize on time. Start seeds indoors and transplant them when the soil is ready. This will shave 2-3 weeks off growing time and that's how long before a harvest you should be starting the next seed. Do not transplant root crops however as this will damage the root and the root is what you're trying to grow.

Companion planting is an excellent way to deter pests and promote soil health. Growing various spices and select herbs along with your vegetable crops will help keep away unwanted insects while attracting wanted ones. Netting will help keep birds and rodents from eating young vulnerable plants. And a shotgun does well to deter thieves. Or a motion light... personal preference. Pay attention to your garden. Check it daily to see how it's doing. A small problem caught early can prevent the loss of an entire crop. Become familiar with pests local to your area and common diseases for the plants you choose. Bio-intensive practices help suppress weed growth, but some will still manage to pop up before the canopy forms. Pull them early when the soil is dry so you can get the root. Be gentle so you don't damage the roots of your plants. Once the canopy forms if any more weeds appear just pinch them off at the soil line so you don't cause any unwanted stress.

Occasionally add a little compost dressing here and there to add fresh nutrients to the soil. Mix in several inches between plantings. Avoid planting the same crop in one location season after season as this will diminish soil quality as well as invite plant-specific pests and disease. Never plant one root crop after another.

There's nothing quite as pleasing as eating fresh food grown with your own hands. I welcome any comments, suggestions, tips or anecdotes. Do share!

[Ducky]

Unfortunately, I don't have access to large planting areas, as I live in an apartment. However, I'm deriving some satisfaction with the little balcony garden that my son and I planted a few weeks ago.

What we have:

* Flowers
* Herbs (medicinal & culinary)
* Few Veggies

My Beef steak tomatoes are already a few inches high, and when they're tall enough, we're going to transplant them to a device called the Topsy Turvy (https://www.buytopsy.ca/?cid=652398). We picked ours up at Canadian Tire for under $20.

I'm using Miracle Grow (http://www.miraclegro.ca/faq/) potting soil and plant food.

Even though we've had a few colder nights in the last while, I left my plants out on the balcony regardless, as it wasn't too cold for frost and just basically letting the sprouts get used to the different temperature changes. They're thriving pretty well so far.

[boycotteverything]

Dear Farmer Apeci,

My biggest problem is my livestock rooting and shitting in my peppers. Three head of cat and one head of really fat dawg. Got any tips?

Signed,

High desert lawn farmer

[lala]

Blow up ballons and bury just under ground . . . . put chilly, black pepper around :thegeneral:

[guinnessford]

Ducky, do you have access to your rooftop?

Its a great place to plant, away from rabbits and squirrels and other undesireables. (sp?)

Plus your neighbors wont steal your goods!

Most stuff wont take up much space, either.

New type of tomato thingy on t.v. I saw, too, where they hang upside down. Looks neat.

Good stuff, Apeci

[boycotteverything]

Blow up ballons and bury just under ground . . . . put chilly, black pepper around :thegeneral:well that might scare Kiwi but my livestock are smarter than that.

[apeci]

Awww, how cute. One of my first posts actually survived.

[Ducky]

Ducky, do you have access to your rooftop?

Nadda. Only the Superintentant/building Managers/Maintenance can go up there. Tennents would be in deep shit if they're caught up there. lolol


Its a great place to plant, away from rabbits and squirrels and other undesireables. (sp?)

Welllllll...lolol I've never seen any rabbits scaling the building lately, but squirrels? Those little bastards have been known to hook their claws into the bricks and hoist themselves up balcony by balcony. Funniest damn thing to see. There's a tree in front of the complex, and a few branches that are pretty close to my balcony. Good thingy kitty scares them off. He earns his keep that way. lolol


Plus your neighbors wont steal your goods!

Pretty far fetched to do that here at this apartment. Balconies aren't touching side to side. Everyone's lucky that way. Makes for great privacy as well.


New type of tomato thingy on t.v. I saw, too, where they hang upside down. Looks neat.

I know! Can't wait til the little darlins are big enough to try out the topsy turvy. My first crack at it. When they mature I'll take sum pics to show you guys.

[boycotteverything]

just grow them in pots for crissakes. they do very well.

[Alessandra]

for anyone in the southwest...

http://aces.nmsu.edu/pubs/_circulars/circ457.html

[GhostOfCaptSpaulding]

Awww, how cute. One of my first posts actually survived.

Back from the dead...

[boycotteverything]

But the fact remains that the bastard never addressed the issue of urban livestock.

[apeci]

They're called squirrels.

[GhostOfCaptSpaulding]

"It was so hot in New Mexico today the squirrels were using a garden hose to water their nuts."

[hp]

Eating home radishes currently.

[lala]

BE your'll have to get a lightsaber . . . there clever little buggers, we have not aloud them here :D
[attachment=1:2xa0p8x0]squirrels6se.jpg[/attachment:2xa0p8x0]

And I'd be careful of the boss :thegeneral:
[attachment=0:2xa0p8x0]bigsquirrell.jpg[/attachment:2xa0p8x0]

[boycotteverything]

Never mind, Lala. I caught the bastard that was trampling my strawberries.

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6649735,00.jpg

[Alessandra]

They're called squirrels.

I thought he was referring to land-whales.

[Ducky]

bump

I wonder if Apeci has his garden growing already? :D

[LaResistencia]

Good tips, Apeci! Thanks for the info. I've got a small plot in front of my place. The trailerhood association doesn't allow us to plant where there is grass, so we made due with what we got.

4296

I've got strawberries, eggplant, red and green bell pepper, tomatoes and cucumber. I think my hubby planted something else in there too. So far everything is looking good. I'm definitely going to try compost next year.

The sprinkler is the PVC with holes in it. And, the chicken wire was husband's idea for the squirrels.

[LaResistencia]

Silly question....What kind of animal poop is OK for fertilizer? Does it have to be a vegetarian animal?

[skunk]

Shouldn't matter all that much, you just want one that's going to be high in nitrogen. Cow, chicken, and duck manure are common sources.

[LaResistencia]

Shouldn't matter all that much, you just want one that's going to be high in nitrogen. Cow, chicken, and duck manure are common sources.
Hmmm, well not many of those in the suburbs. What I was really trying to ask without sounding like an idiot was if dog poop is OK? Like if I mix it with grass and egg shells and banana peels and stuff? My MIL's little ankle biter produces tons of the stuff, and it would be free. Since my hubby walks their dog, it would be easy to come by and free.

[skunk]

An old teacher of mine used his cat's poop as manure, but its generally not recommended because of the risk of parasites. If you compost the poop for a year or two you should be fine though.

Edit to add: Some additional information:

http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h238manure-dog-cat.html

[LaResistencia]

OK, thanks. Is it OK to put it in a damp dark place, or does it have to be out the open? I was thinking of storing it behind the skirting of my house so the trailerhood association wouldn't see it.

[13erk0witz]

OK, thanks. Is it OK to put it in a damp dark place, or does it have to be out the open?

I like to put it in damp dark places best. Being out in the open can get you put on a list like my uncle gary.

[FancyFree]

Hmmm, well not many of those in the suburbs. What I was really trying to ask without sounding like an idiot was if dog poop is OK? Like if I mix it with grass and egg shells and banana peels and stuff? My MIL's little ankle biter produces tons of the stuff, and it would be free. Since my hubby walks their dog, it would be easy to come by and free.

I don't know if I would use dog poop, LaR. Depending on what the dog eats, is there really much diff. between dog and people poop then? lol

[LaResistencia]

I don't know if I would use dog poop, LaR. Depending on what the dog eats, is there really much diff. between dog and people poop then? lol
Well, i got mixed views on Google. Mikey eats this really expensive dog food from the veterinary office because "the stuff they sell at Kroger is doggy junk food" apparently.

[FancyFree]

Well, i got mixed views on Google. Mikey eats this really expensive dog food from the veterinary office because "the stuff they sell at Kroger is doggy junk food" apparently.

I still don't know, I'm kinda iffy on dog poop and cat poop for that matter, but who knows, I haven't done any research on it so it might be perfectly ok. :)

Oh and a little FYI for peeps with dogs....

Almost all commercial dog food, even ones from veterinarians, are junk and poisoning dogs ... I gotta spread the word and raise awareness about this issue when I can. lol

[WITCH HUNT]

4296



That's a pretty cool setup LaR. How is the wire attached to the frame? I am thinking of using pvc pipe to make some rabbit cages and I am interested on how you did that.

[LaResistencia]

That's a pretty cool setup LaR. How is the wire attached to the frame? I am thinking of using pvc pipe to make some rabbit cages and I am interested on how you did that.
Thanks, Witch. I think he used zipties. But, honestly I haven't really looked at the fence. But, a bunny could chew through zipties just like they chewed off the noses, feet and hands of all of my Barbies! Varmints!

[WITCH HUNT]

Wire it is! LOL

I am planning on having enough rabbits to eat it twice a week and still keep a enough to trade or sell a couple a week. I can use their poop in my garden too. Pvc pipe will last longer than wood.

[apeci]

damn, blast from the past. I'm not even a double digger anymore. I do no-till.

yes my dear duckness. last season is all on facebook but this season I started a blog where I document everything, curiousapc.blogspot.com (http://curiousapc.blogspot.com/).

[FancyFree]

Wire it is! LOL

I am planning on having enough rabbits to eat it twice a week and still keep a enough to trade or sell a couple a week. I can use their poop in my garden too. Pvc pipe will last longer than wood.

Get some of these bad boys....Flemish giants. They are really sweet rabbits.

http://sunnyoaksrabbits.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/.pond/star.jpg.w300h336.jpg

[CoRiBu]

I have four tomato plants and its over 100 degrees from now until sept. They arent growing too swell now. Does anyone have any tips? Does anybody have anything good to say about neem oil?:alien:

[skunk]

Give them lots of water. I would recommend building a small berm/swale around them to catch the water too. To create a berm, dig a small trench around your plants in the shape of a bowl, and build a small wall (berm) around the edge to hold the water in.

This is not the best visual representation, but it gets my point across.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2308/2528319218_41c89164b9.jpg

[WITCH HUNT]

I have four tomato plants and its over 100 degrees from now until sept. They arent growing too swell now. Does anyone have any tips? Does anybody have anything good to say about neem oil?:alien:

Try keeping direct sunlight off of the plants. My tomato plants are in large planters that I can take indoors in winter.I put a large black garbage bag on the top to block the sun on extreme days. Try hanging a tarp or a beach umbrellla to shade your delicate plants. Do not fully enclose your plants, just keep the sun off of them.

I do not know much about Neem oil.



Neem oil is a vegetable oil (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegetable_oil) pressed from the fruits and seeds of the neem (Azadirachta indica (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Azadirachta_indica)), an evergreen (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evergreen) tree which is endemic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemic_(ecology)) to the Indian subcontinent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_subcontinent) and has been introduced to many other areas in the tropics. It is perhaps the most important of the commercially available products of neem for organic farming and medicines.






Neem oil is not used for cooking purposes. In India (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/India) and Pakistan (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pakistan), it is used for preparing cosmetics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmetics) (soap, hair products, body hygiene creams, hand creams) and in Ayurvedic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ayurvedic), Unani (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unani) and folklore traditional medicine, in the treatment of a wide range of afflictions. The most frequently reported indications in ancient Ayurvedic writings are skin diseases, inflammations and fevers, and more recently rheumatic (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rheumatic) disorders, insect repellent (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insect_repellent) and insecticide (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Insecticide) effects.[1] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil#cite_note-0)

IMPORTANT


Toxicity
Studies done when Azadirachtin (the primary active pesticidal ingredient in neem oil) was approved as a pesticide showed that when neem leaves were fed to male albino rats for 11 weeks, 100% (reversible) infertility (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infertility) resulted.
Neem oil and other neem products such as neem leaves and neem tea should not be consumed by pregnant women, women trying to conceive, or children.
There is some evidence that heavy use may be associated with liver damage in children.[2] (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil#cite_note-1)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neem_oil

[skunk]

Instead of using a black plastic trash bag, try finding a "shade cloth." Your local garden/hardware store should carry them.

http://www.instructables.com/image/FK2R8W7GCFX0JKP/Install-Shade-Cloth-cont.jpg

[WITCH HUNT]

I had forgotten about that Skunk. I am so used to container gardening and using what I have on hand that I had completely forgotten about things like the netting and framing. :D

[FancyFree]

Both are great ideas!

[WITCH HUNT]

Like Canadians know anything about gardening! What do you grow in your gardens? Ice cubes? :p

[FancyFree]

Popsicles and snow cones! Jealous? lolol

[WITCH HUNT]

I am jealous, I have always been jealous of Canadians

[FancyFree]

I am jealous, I have always been jealous of Canadians

lol why? Because you like snow so much?

[WITCH HUNT]

I like snow but Canada is so much better than America! In almost every way ;)

[FancyFree]

I like snow but Canada is so much better than America! In almost every way ;)

Canada's pretty much just like the US in most ways though. :alien:

[WITCH HUNT]

But we don't have any hot Inuit chicks though!

[DocVelocity]

I like snow but Canada is so much better than America! In almost every way ;)

Aside from a collapsing National Healthcare System, an oppressive Socialist government that banned private ownership of most firearms, outrageous inflation, extraordinary gas prices, and record unemployment, yeah, Canada is just the fucking cat's meow.

— Doc Velocity

[WITCH HUNT]

The Guess Who, RUSH, Gordon Lightfoot and Molson beer!

[FancyFree]

But we don't have any hot Inuit chicks though!

You guys have hot Mexican chicks!

[FancyFree]

Aside from a collapsing National Healthcare System, an oppressive Socialist government that banned private ownership of most firearms, outrageous inflation, extraordinary gas prices, and record unemployment, yeah, Canada is just the fucking cat's meow.

— Doc Velocity

Gas prices are ridiculous, that's for sure.

[WITCH HUNT]

You guys have hot Mexican chicks!

Yeah, but there is something to be said for a woman that smells like seal blubber!

[FancyFree]

Yeah, but there is something to be said for a woman that smells like seal blubber!

lol that must be an acquired smell!

[DocVelocity]

Gas prices are ridiculous, that's for sure.

Hell, they were ridiculous as far back as 6 years ago, last time I was in Canada. I pulled into one place where they were advertising gasoline at $1.19... I thought, Hot shit! Best price I've seen in a long time!

Of course, Canada sells gas by the fucking LITER, not the gallon. THEN, just to further piss me off, the gas station charged me an additional $80 USD for using my out-of-country Visa card.

Fucking canucks.

— Doc Velocity

[Red Skare]

The tragedy of Canada is that they had the perfect opportunity to enjoy French cuisine, British culture and American technology, and instead they ended up with British cuisine, American culture and French technology.

[FancyFree]

The tragedy of Canada is that they had the perfect opportunity to enjoy French cuisine, British culture and American technology, and instead they ended up with British cuisine, American culture and French technology.

American culture, yes, British cuisine no. And what French technology? lol

[DocVelocity]

I've talked with ex-pat Canadian gold prospectors up in the mountains of Northern Idaho... Those motherfuckers will tell you how it really is in Canada. We sat around their camps for hours and listened to all the reasons WHY they left Canada. Heaviest on their minds (at the time) was the fucking gun and ammo bans. These guys lived in the wilderness mountains and valleys, and they pack firearms all the time — it was their inability to go into Canadian towns and buy guns and ammo that really pissed them off, sent them packing for the USA.

Beyond that, I saw fucking hundreds of farms and rural properties for sale in Canada. It was sickening. One farm was most pathetic... It had several signs out by the roadside: "Horse for sale"... "Tractor for sale"... "Dogs for sale"... "Truck for sale"... "Car for sale"... "House for sale"... "Property for sale"... They were fucking hurting.

— Doc Velocity

[Red Skare]

parox and BE would love canada
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/world/story.html?id=9d9017a4-a76f-4238-a19a-1e4f20e6ceb9&k=73961

[FancyFree]

I've talked with ex-pat Canadian gold prospectors up in the mountains of Northern Idaho... Those motherfuckers will tell you how it really is in Canada. We sat around their camps for hours and listened to all the reasons WHY they left Canada. Heaviest on their minds (at the time) was the fucking gun and ammo bans. These guys lived in the wilderness mountains and valleys, and they pack firearms all the time — it was their inability to go into Canadian towns and buy guns and ammo that really pissed them off, sent them packing for the USA.

Beyond that, I saw fucking hundreds of farms and rural properties for sale in Canada. It was sickening. One farm was most pathetic... It had several signs out by the roadside: "Horse for sale"... "Tractor for sale"... "Dogs for sale"... "Truck for sale"... "Car for sale"... "House for sale"... "Property for sale"... They were fucking hurting.

— Doc Velocity

People need gun licenses here to buy ammo, etc. As for properties for sale.......the states is WAY worse, especially now. Our housing prices haven't plummeted like there in the US. So many canadians are going to the states now, particularily Arizona, and buying up dirt cheap places.

[LaResistencia]

The Guess Who, RUSH, Gordon Lightfoot and Molson beer!

Molson & poutine...... /drool

[Martian Exile]

Canada has one big redeeming quality as Art Bell puts it. Little green men think Canadians taste better and will eat them first.

[WITCH HUNT]

Molson & poutine...... /drool

That is what I call comfort food. Some eateries down here serve it but I find it's best when home made.