Mr Bill's Dirt Garden

Peasants · **Posted:** Sun Jun 03, 2012 6:02 pm

Looking good!! :thumb:

iammr.bill · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:19 pm

Finally got around to putting up some metal posts with string for the cucumbers to climb on. They are spilling out into the aisle ways and I'm running over them with the mower. Crazy things just keep on growing.
Nice, straight line of metal posts. They also help hold up the two volunteer sunflowers.

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06-05-2012 Permanent metal poles on raised bed #2.jpg [ 62.02 KiB | Viewed 13153 times ]

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06-05-2012 draped the cucumber plants over the strings.jpg [ 70.98 KiB | Viewed 13153 times ]

iammr.bill · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:21 pm

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iammr.bill · **Posted:** Wed Jun 06, 2012 12:29 pm

And I could use some help on this issue:
My rhubarb plant looks like its dying. I harvested some stalks about 4 days ago. Wonder if I took too many or did something to the crown to harm it? It was sunny and hot for two days, then rain for the next two days.
The two plants right next to that one are actually smaller. One is very healthy, one was being choked out by a couple of volunteer yellow cucumber but still looked healthy. I pulled the offending cucumber plants out and have tossed them into the compost pile. Removed all the stalks and leaves that looked bad, so maybe it'll live.
Have I killed it by harvesting too much? Is there a bug that eats rhubarb? Maybe I damaged the crown? Anyone know?

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06-05-2012 this rhubarb is fine and healthy.jpg [ 62.31 KiB | Viewed 13153 times ]

Peasants · **Posted:** Thu Jun 07, 2012 10:18 pm

I know my rhubarb suffered from the heat, so perhaps just that?

iammr.bill · **Posted:** Wed Jun 13, 2012 10:13 am

Well, that rhubarb plant certainly looks much worse now. I'll remove the dead stalks and see what happens to the crown. Hate to just pull it out.

iammr.bill · **Posted:** Mon Jun 25, 2012 7:50 am

iammr.bill · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2012 10:55 pm

My garden looks awful. Pneumonia, extreme heat, then rain every day right at 5 PM when I get off work, all kept me out of the garden. I've had to mow between the raised beds while it was raining (lightly), just to keep the place from looking like a jungle.

Some older pictures:

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6-30-2012 Lots of tomatoes, some ripening nicely.jpg [ 55.11 KiB | Viewed 12948 times ]

Been putting down some things to keep the weeds at bay, but haven't finished the row.

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6-30-2012 Newspaper, cardboard, beer cartons, and weedcloth will hopefully keep the weeds out.jpg [ 55.21 KiB | Viewed 12948 times ]

Carrots out of the garden, tomatoes look awful after sunburn, chicken damage, hornworms. But harvested enough to make some sauce in the winter.

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iammr.bill · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:03 pm

Got the urge to make some more wicking barrels. This was on one of my good days when I had some energy. Keep telling myself that this work will pay off when I can no longer play in the dirt. Wicking tubs are fast becoming a favorite!

Tossed in some scrap PVC pipe

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6-16-2012 Working on more wicking barrels.jpg [ 47.08 KiB | Viewed 12948 times ]

Covered with shadecloth and stuck a stick in the filler tube to keep from filling it up with dirt. Don't ask how I figured that one out!!!

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Using a bucket tractor is NOT cheating... its called "Using All Your Resources"

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iammr.bill · **Posted:** Thu Jul 19, 2012 11:07 pm

Friend - Writing spider?
and
Enemy - Nasty hornworm

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7-18-2012 Kill the hornworms.jpg [ 50.51 KiB | Viewed 12948 times ]

gazza · **Posted:** Fri Jul 20, 2012 10:21 am

Nice thread there Mr Bill! Looks like a nice block you have there, how much acreage?

I think I'm sold on the wicking beds, might grab a couple of blue barrels this weekend :thumb:

Simo · **Posted:** Fri Jul 20, 2012 11:38 am

That is a very impressive yield of tomatoes :thumb:

If I get bug eaten maters I just cut the bad bits out and make passata, green tomato chutney/relish or tomato kasundi.

Do you use dipel on your maters?

http://americanatural.com/products/inse ... ro-df.html

iammr.bill · **Posted:** Fri Jul 20, 2012 12:56 pm

Hey guys, maybe we can revive the Backyard Farming forum.
Have about 3/4 of an acre to work with for gardening. And I get my machine/wood shop for fixing things and drinking beer. She gets the rest of the acreage for pastures, barns, sheds, house, etc...
I don't use anything on my garden. The garden is an open plot and the chickens have the run of the place. They do an excellent job of bug patrol. Only have to keep them out of the broccoli and tomatoes. They leave the rest alone for the most part.

gazza · **Posted:** Fri Jul 20, 2012 1:41 pm

Broccoli must be the vegetable of choice for darn near every animal on earth! I had good success this year, but I'll admit to a little chemical assistance. I'd love to get some chooks, unfortunately our dog would also love for us to get him some chooks...

Simo · **Posted:** Sat Jul 21, 2012 10:53 am

iammr.bill wrote:

Have about 3/4 of an acre to work with for gardening. And I get my machine/wood shop for fixing things and drinking beer. She gets the rest of the acreage for pastures, barns, sheds, house, etc...

Sounds like you and I are in the same boat, my 3/4 is more than enough to keep me busy, especially as I also have to do all the work to maintain her 4 & 1/4 acres of pasture :duck:

You think chooks eating your broccoli is bad, should see the damage a horse can do to them :swing:

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