Thread: In the Garden 2016

Originally Posted by ProudMarineDad

It would be even healthier without the tiller. I am a no-till advocate as you can tell.

I understand no-till from a business point of view as in lower cost per acre and less possible soil erosion. But what is the advantage to a small garden plot? I can see killing a few less worms but then the thoughts of soil compaction and improper mixing of nutrients come to mind. Digging your potatoes is an example of tilling and they don't grow worth a squat in dense soil.

Yea baby , down here in the warm climate most of mine is planted with plastic over them to ensure safety in case of cold, just a few hot weather guys that I,ll wait another 2 weeks on,, by the way Roy!!!!! Got the Walla Walla onions in today they held up fine from the travel, can't wait till next year when we rename them, maybe "Boars Nest Beauty's?" Or "Roy's Follies?" Tc

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

by the way Roy!!!!! Got the Walla Walla onions in today they held up fine from the travel, can't wait till next year when we rename them, maybe "Boars Nest Beauty's?" Or "Roy's Follies?" Tc

I was thinking of 'Tc's Tearless Sweets' or maybe Oil Driller's Tennessee Sweet Onions

Oil patch sweets, or roughneck tear jerkers , Tc

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

Oil patch sweets, or roughneck tear jerkers , Tc

I'll go with Oil Patch Sweets but there shouldn't be any tear jerkers. However that will all depend on soil and growing conditions. There is a Federal Marketing Order that to be called Genuine Walla Walla Sweets that they must be grown in a very limited area here in our valley.

Once outside that area the soil and growing conditions change and the onions aren't as sweet. They really are that sensitive to how they are grown.

Yours should be nice and mild and you should be able to judge from the Genuine Sweet Dry Onions that were grown here in the Federal restricted area that I'd sent you and that beautiful bride last year.

Even within the Federal area there are slightly different soils, rainfalls and other things that effect the onions. So since each grower raises his own seeds he has a unique strain. The same will be with yours and if you continue to plant your seeds and raise the onions then get seeds they will slowy adapt to your soil and growing conditions. This will effect how your onions will taste and how sweet they will be.

With all this said they should be a very mild onion.

It will be fun to see how they come out down the road a couple of years, you think I can sweeten them up by burying some Reese's pieces in the ground with them? I bet they cut just fine with my knife edges too! Tc

Originally Posted by 32t

I understand no-till from a business point of view as in lower cost per acre and less possible soil erosion. But what is the advantage to a small garden plot? I can see killing a few less worms but then the thoughts of soil compaction and improper mixing of nutrients come to mind. Digging your potatoes is an example of tilling and they don't grow worth a squat in dense soil.

While a rototiller loosens the top 10-12" of soil it actually compacts the soil below it where the tines beat the ground.
Also, I am an organic grower and tilling kills the soil food web that is alive under the surface. Beneficial mycorrhizae are destroyed from tilling as are the beneficial arthropods and earthworms as you mentioned.
Improper mixing of nutrients? Turn the soil over with a garden fork and you are good to go and it is best to stand on a board while you do so to avoid compacting the surface from walking on it.
You could till once and not again as well as I see nothing wrong with that. Add good compost each season and you are set. Square Foot Gardening is also a good thing to look into as it eliminates the wasted space of planting in rows.

This is educational on what I am talking about.

Originally Posted by ProudMarineDad

It would be even healthier without the tiller. I am a no-till advocate as you can tell.

That is the eventual goal, This is the 2nd year on this full garden, hopefully this will be the last year of tilling...

We tried the square Foot Gardening the first year in a raised bed, worked pretty good for us

I am really thinking of going BTE after this year and fully heirloom, we are still learning what works up here with the short season and what doesn't


Found some short season Sweet Corn that I am going to try out over in the new 1/4 acre section Along with the Walla Walla Sweets Roy sent up

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Once outside that area the soil and growing conditions change and the onions aren't as sweet. They really are that sensitive to how they are grown.

HA !!!! That explains it,, the ones we grew last year from the seeds you sent were pretty strong, I thought maybe I messed up somehow, and that they were rather small because of the short season maybe they didn't get the "Sweetness"
Shan and I loved them as we like strong Onions and Garlic and we seem to grow both here...