Thread: In the Garden 2015

Garden is done for the year. Just finished covering the asparagus plants with oak leaves. No shortage of those around here. Winters are long and hard up here. I also cover the high bush blueberry plant bases with white pine (the Maine state weed) needles. Blueberry plants need the acid. The asparagus plants have been cut back and are along the back of the garden.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Thoughts on Natural Fall Leaf mulch cover for the winter,,, I did some Youtubing and it gets rather good reviews, has anyone else used to successfully ???

I have already added a load of Manure in there, then I got some meh news from my neighbor that Manure would contain Roundup and that might stay in the soil for 1 year
She said add more mulch to help disperse those bad effects faster, so I wanted to get any thoughts of the natural leaf mulch instead of bringing in a load of Wood mulch...

The thought is that the leaves break down much faster then the wood and the worms like them better

Thoughts ??? Experiences ???

Glen- I always use leaf mulch! I mix the leaves up in the compost and put a nice layer before snow falls in CO, then I repeat in the spring. I suggest that you use it, great source of carbon and breaks down way faster than sticks!

What I've been doing for the past few years is raking up the leaves and then taking the basket off and putting in a mulcher plug and going over them. It reduces them to a mix of 1/4 ~ 1/2 inch to virtual bread crumb size. Put what I need over my berry cane, etc. and pile the rest to used for tilling into soil later or building new soil for a bed...also, try putting an inch layer of the mulched leaves sprinkle lye, (feed store in large bags) mist it with water and add about an inch of dirt, repeat the process and cover it with black plastic...every month or so, take the plastic off and turn it...you'll end up with some beautiful soil for whatever...garden...Mrs.'flowers, etc. p

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Thoughts on Natural Fall Leaf mulch cover for the winter,,, I did some Youtubing and it gets rather good reviews, has anyone else used to successfully ???

I have already added a load of Manure in there, then I got some meh news from my neighbor that Manure would contain Roundup and that might stay in the soil for 1 year
She said add more mulch to help disperse those bad effects faster, so I wanted to get any thoughts of the natural leaf mulch instead of bringing in a load of Wood mulch...

The thought is that the leaves break down much faster then the wood and the worms like them better

Thoughts ??? Experiences ???

Thanks for the ideas gents...

Moved several loads into the garden today,, have about a 6 inch layer over the whole garden now...
I really like the idea of the Horse Manure, I can get it loaded into the truck for only $5 per


It has been crazy up here

Thursday we had Snow



Friday I came home from town to see this on the hillside above the ranch "Controlled Burn" I giggle a bit, as it turned into 3 fires pretty quick watching the hillside pretty close today



And today




Off to check on a load of Horse Pucky

Hey Glen,

Did ya get those onion seeds planted? Just wondering

[QUOTE=gssixgun;1562942]Thanks for the ideas gents...

Moved several loads into the garden today,, have about a 6 inch layer over the whole garden now...
I really like the idea of the Horse Manure, I can get it loaded into the truck for only $5 per


Off to check on a load of Horse Pucky

Save the ashes from the fire place and or the burn pile. The ph when mixed with compost/leaves/manure. Is like a magic hone for the garden



So first pic is year old manure composted with leaves
Second fresh manure sawdust still visible.
Last pic show composting piles. Pulled weeds, layer of leaves, layer of manure.Ashes from fires. Let sit.
Invert pile in Spring. Spread down isles. Come fall use up all old leaves and year old manure, post hard frost rototill.

Arlo and Janis Comic Strip, November 06, 2015 on GoComics.com

Shelling out the dried on vine seed, for next years crop of green beans.
And green and yellow pepper seeds.

Tomatoes always come back on their own, no need for saving those seed.

The last of the garden Mohicans. Some carrots, beets, and a few of the World's Greatest Leeks. You know what the recipes always say when talking about leeks: "Use only the white part and a little of the light green part". So use 12" or 18" of "white part" from one leek. I have a way of growing them that warrants you'll have more leeks than you know what to do with.

Are you 'hilling' around the leeks as they grow? Kind of like how 'white' asparagus is grown