my helper in the garden

[Tinker Joe 2]

I decide that picking up plants that are finished one a time and put them in the front end loader is getting old for an older fellow and my neighbor who gardens also is in his 80's and both our gardens are 100'X200' so I built this picks right though the roots and leaves the dirt behind, it's 4' wide with 40'' rods, 3/4" sucker rods, built it with like most of use what was handy, Joe

[ryanjones2150]

I'll take some of that cabbage, Joe. Mine did just barely OK this year. The carrots have been excellent though.

[Bls repair]

Nice

[Tinker Joe 2]

Thanks guys, Ryan I had all I want and gave a lot way, Carrots did great considering we had to much rain, my garden is 100'X200' had it filled with fall and winter crops, just go my potatoes in the ground planted 100 pounds, came out to 5 rows at 200' I think my next build will be a potato digger like the one on Utube, the ones that shake and vibrate, they have them in other countries, check it out they are cool might be a little to figure out the moving parts, Joe

[ryanjones2150]

My garden isn't nearly that big, only 90x15, but I live in a neighborhood and that's a huge garden considering the yard. Weather was so warm this winter my broccoli didn't do squat, never even considered putting lettuce in the ground and my cabbages have been smallest they've been in years. Brussels sprouts are slow going too. Potatoes don't really like my soil much, so I just stick with what my ground can sustain. These last couple years have given me a bumper crop of carrots though. I tripled my carrot crop over last year and that was at least double of the year before. Maybe I need some gardening lessons from you!

[Tinker Joe 2]

Ryan, it not lessons in the garden business it's like you said the weather, this was the slowest growing winter garden I have ever had, usually the cabbage is ready before January only the early variety made that date the big beef heart took until February, my Carrots did good are you still going to try some this spring, this is what the fall garden peas looked like made better than the spring crop, no matter what we will continue to say next year won't we.

[ryanjones2150]

These last few years, my fall and winter crops have been better than my spring and summer crops. Just too much rain, then once the rain stops, it's too hot for most things. My fall beans were way better than my spring ones again this year. Of course, first and only frost we had this year and they were done for. <br />
<br />
My onions never really get very big. I've never tested my soil, officially, just tested what likes to grow here. I raised a bed of asparagus for almost four years before I finally dug it up. I have done well with artichokes, but each plant takes up so much room. <br />
<br />
I like your tall furrows. I do the same thing. If not, the heavy rain would wash it all away. Your soil looks more sandy loam than the nasty gumbo I have.

[ryanjones2150]

What variety of potatoes do you plant, Joe? I am contemplating another go at them using a different planting method. Haven't had a lot of success with growing taters.

[Meltedmetal]

Your soil may be too alkaline. Potatoes like more acid soil. What is your potato problem exactly---Meltedmetal

http://articles.extension.org/pages/13046/raising-soil-ph-and-soil-acidification

[ryanjones2150]

The few times I've planted them, they're general quite small and look like they have sores all over them when I dig them up. I read about the soil ph potatoes like and I'd be willing to bet that you're right. You just can't grow every kind of vegetable in every garden. <br />
<br />
I was reading up on a different planting method where you basically just stick the seed potato in the ground until the bud is level with the top of the soil, leaving them uncovered, then cover them with 6" or so of thick hay. Had an idea that I might mound up some fresh composted top soil and give it try.

[Meltedmetal]

I do something similar here. I use and old harvester and cover my whole garden with about 4" deep of chopped hay. Then we part the mulch to open row and plant in the openings. After things are sprouted we cover the bare ground with mulch. It cuts way down on weeding. I hate weeding. I probably should put some nitrogen on it in the fall though to help it rot down and leave enough nitrogen for the plants I want to grow. Adds organic matter to the soil too which helps hold moisture if that is a problem there.
I need to get checking on what I need for this season. We start a few things indoors since our growing season can be relatively short and the clock is ticking.
---Meltedmetal

[ryanjones2150]

Seems like these last few years my planting timeline shrinks because we get so much rain and can't get out into the garden without coming out wearing cinder blocks for shoes. <br />
<br />
I should probably get out there and take some soil samples to my extension office and actually see what all the soil needs.

[Tinker Joe 2]

this past fall I had to find a better way to fight those weeds with all the rain so I tried TRIFLURALIN HF, made all my rows planted the peas and other thing spayed it and its got a lime green die in it so you can see if you missed, any who it worked great I am going to use it again, it only stop weeds from germinating last three four months, no matter what we will say next year will be better and try again, never give up and never give in, Joe

[Broccoli1]

100'x200' garden?

That's a house lot here