tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post2348650256762436887..comments2023-11-17T12:32:11.301-05:00Comments on Daphne's Dandelions: Get Growing in AprilDaphne Gouldhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-85460192888686955232010-04-04T09:19:27.378-04:002010-04-04T09:19:27.378-04:00Thomas, I'm sure they would appreciate just a ...Thomas, I'm sure they would appreciate just a bit of shade for the first day or two.<br /><br />Villager, thanks.Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-90997368121757521682010-04-03T09:53:39.391-04:002010-04-03T09:53:39.391-04:00Wonderful series Daphne! It's great informatio...Wonderful series Daphne! It's great information for new gardeners and old hands alike.Dave @ HappyAcreshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03441364543023807886noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-32973812885942570212010-04-02T23:23:58.035-04:002010-04-02T23:23:58.035-04:00As always, great info Daphne. I transplanted my b...As always, great info Daphne. I transplanted my broccoli today. I didn't have chance to harden them off for as long as I should have. I'll have to find a way to shade them a bit during the next few days so they don't go into shock.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09303344546714641616noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-25515713737942961532010-04-02T10:03:22.955-04:002010-04-02T10:03:22.955-04:00This is really help Daphne. Thank you!This is really help Daphne. Thank you!Saradahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851821835556255668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-44729472257478538242010-04-02T07:52:08.283-04:002010-04-02T07:52:08.283-04:00Sarada, I never dispose of the soil. I build it up...Sarada, I never dispose of the soil. I build it up. Raised beds are wonderful things and if you keep adding to them over the years they will get higher. <br /><br />For digging I always recommend that if you can take it, double dig the bed before planting (not every year, but maybe every ten years, five if you have heavy clay soil). It is a lot of work and not everyone is up to it. It isn't necessary, but it really makes the beds more productive. If you can't handle that go down at least 12 inches the first year to loosen the soil.<br /><br />Beyond that I'm a no till believer. I will either just put the compost on the top of the soil or just dig it into the top few inches depending upon if I'm seeded or putting in transplants. I do fork over the bed every year. I just take the garden fork (a broadfork works better, but I don't have one) and put it into the soil and pry up a bit. I don't pick anything up or turn it. I just loosen and let the air in. <br /><br />If you put manure in make sure it is compost first or you have to let the soil sit for a few weeks to a month after turning it in (and with straight manure you should turn it into the top six inches). Straight manure can burn the plants if it isn't decomposed properly and it adds weed seeds to the garden (especially horse manure).<br /><br />As to how much to put on, everyone has their own ideas. I hear anywhere from 1/2" every year to 3" every year. The more the merrier. You can't add too much. I try for at least 1", but often have enough compost for 2". If it is a new bed I will try for 2" if I can pull it off. So a 10x10 bed is 100sqft. An inch is 1/12 of a foot. So you need 8 1/3 cubic feet of compost for a one inch covering. For 2" you need 17 cubic feet. For 3" you need about a cubic yard.Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-27139920108613255512010-04-01T22:06:53.249-04:002010-04-01T22:06:53.249-04:00Daphene, I have a question preparing my bed for Ve...Daphene, I have a question preparing my bed for Veggetables (tomatoes and peppers mainly), last year I put some manure but never dug it to fill it with compost and organic matter. How deep would you recommend to dig the bed and any idea how much organic matter I need for 10x10 bed for example? This may sound silly how do you dispose the dug soil? Trash? or put somewhere else in backyard?Saradahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06851821835556255668noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-39159940753747637532010-04-01T18:20:41.518-04:002010-04-01T18:20:41.518-04:00kitsapFG, my problem is the foliage touches the gr...kitsapFG, my problem is the foliage touches the ground with a lot of the Asian greens. Collars don't work well for those. For the broccoli and kale it would be great though.<br /><br />Anon, I've never tried putting dead slugs over the area. I usually feed my handpicked slugs to the birds. Maybe I should try it.<br /><br />Stafaneener, I think most of the Asian greens should be more widely grown. There are so many great ones.Daphne Gouldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17305049560953735881noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-60291105205990576682010-04-01T12:44:14.486-04:002010-04-01T12:44:14.486-04:00Mmmmmm, tat soi. I think it deserves a wider audie...Mmmmmm, tat soi. I think it deserves a wider audience.Stefaneenerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08422241601075022500noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-30869437562672670602010-04-01T11:58:51.377-04:002010-04-01T11:58:51.377-04:00living in the Pacific Northwest, we can get slugs ...living in the Pacific Northwest, we can get slugs as long as my hand, which produce lots of baby slugs in the spring. What i've found very effective (and cheap) as a slug deterrent is to hand-pick them in the morning off my bulbs (hyacinths, tulips, irises and daffodils), drown them in a pan of soapy water, and then pour the soapy water/dead slug mixture over the area I want to protect. the rest of the slugs won't go near an area that smells of dead slug it seems. Good luck!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3698134075709295915.post-57216311444457181532010-04-01T08:25:42.026-04:002010-04-01T08:25:42.026-04:00We live in the land of giant slugs and I use coppe...We live in the land of giant slugs and I use copper collars around the stem of my larger brassica plants (like broccoli and brussel sprouts) and it does wonders for keeping the slugs away.kitsapFGhttp://www.modernvictorygarden.comnoreply@blogger.com