Thread: In the Garden 2015

Frost hit Michigan Oct 15th. I need to spread mulch and rototiller before the snow flies.
About those blackberries, unless you get more below 0F than above . We just wait to see how they winter. In Spring trim the tops of whats alive so they bush. If bitter winter you can mulch or straw around the base. No fence deer food if green. just saying.

Yep I got frosted too.
Plants are done.
Here's the last of the peppers. Just sucks, cause its back in the 70s ever since.

Was really hopeing to get enough red ones, so i could make a nice batch of Red pepper soup.
Stuff will kill a cold in no time

I told my Dad that we need some dead fish to plant in our garden next Spring. Those peppers are HUGE.

Yeah... Im stuffed peppered out for this year, they hold around a pound of your favorite stuffing. The rest go in the vacuum and freeze. Great for Hungarian goulash soup and fresh bread knots, in the cold months ahead

Still enjoying tomatoes, eggplants, zucchinis, and squashes.
Going to plant garlic this weekend. I think this is the last of the 2015 crop for CO as well.

Wow! These are some wonderful peppers! I never had any luck with peppers here in CO...

Originally Posted by ultrasoundguy2003

Frost hit Michigan Oct 15th. I need to spread mulch and rototiller before the snow flies.
About those blackberries, unless you get more below 0F than above . We just wait to see how they winter. In Spring trim the tops of whats alive so they bush. If bitter winter you can mulch or straw around the base. No fence deer food if green. just saying.

Good idea about the mulch and straw I will use that

Can't do anything about the fence I have to take it out for winter or risk losing it to Snow Crush

I got in a load of Steer Manure today and covered almost the whole garden area, I might add a layer of mulch before first snow, but I think I am going to leave it all to sit over the Winter and till it all next Spring..

I am hoping that will be it for tilling for quite a few years, the way I have been reading and what my neighbor is telling me less tilling = better soil in the long run...

I have heard both theories LOL I guess it might be a YMMV type of thing

But for sure after next year, we are going totally Heirloom

That tilling thing is true. Its based on your soil, how dense it is. If you get snow crush it will apply that much pressure to the soil.
As for the manure, do you want it to leech into the soil ? or do you want it to be broken up an in the soil?
Aerated soil works best for seedlings to send out rootings. I am going to guess that you are growing your seeds in the window in Feb-Mar. to get a jump on your reduced outdoor growing season.

Originally Posted by ultrasoundguy2003

I am going to guess that you are growing your seeds in the window in Feb-Mar. to get a jump on your reduced outdoor growing season.

Yes I actually bought a Mini Greenhouse for starts

We tried a few seeds directly in the ground this year and it was successful to an extent Beans, Spinach, Sunflowers

I am back and forth about the tilling

My OCD loves the perfectly turned dirt hehehe

But I keep reading and hearing that the Worms and Bacteria in the soil don't like it

I have read using a broadfork is better for the garden than tilling. Has anyone used one?