Epson salt – tell me more. is that to guard against wilt? Every year my plants hit the wall and turn yellow from the ground up no matter what I try.
Long story short, it adds magnesium to the soil, which is necessary for photosynthesis and fruit production. Soils with a high pH (basic) are most at risk of a magnesium deficiency because they are high in calcium and potassium, which rob magnesium from the soil.
Have you got any black walnut trees near your garden? Juglome disease from soil tainted with the black walnut residues will ruin a tomato plant right about the time they set fruit. Have the soil tested to see if theres another sort of toxin in there.
I found that out the hard way. Also, raspberries and bell peppers are a no-no near a black walnut (as well as peonies). Green beans, carrots, hot peppers (jalapeno, cayenne), onions all did fine for me, though.
I set about to upgrade our raspberry patch yesterday. After hauling 80 of those blocks (27 lbs each) up the hill, I was about ready to keel over, but it looks good and is a big improvement.
Next up is the veggie garden, which means about 145 more blocks up the hill. Then, some soil for both plots. Ugh.
Verry nice! Are they dry stacked or glued? If not glued yet a quarter sized dollop of concrete adhesive on each overlap will keep them in place while still being able to dismantle later on.
Verry nice! Are they dry stacked or glued? If not glued yet a quarter sized dollop of concrete adhesive on each overlap will keep them in place while still being able to dismantle later on.
I was going to just dry-stack them, but I changed my mind and glued.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>glenn57 wrote:</div>
OH AND SO DOES MY JOB!!!!That would suggest you actually work. Be real now and fess up. You only go around starting arguments and then ducking out of the ensuing fights. Not much work involved in being a trouble maker.
The pot doesn’t stir itself! 
Does anyone plant sweetcorn? I understand without a very large area to dedicate to it it probably isn’t worth it. I would still like to try some. How many ears does a “plant/stalk” usually produce?
Where can I take my soil to be tested so I know exactly what it needs for tomatoes?
Thanks.
Where can I take my soil to be tested so I know exactly what it needs for tomatoes?
You can do your own generic test with a kit you get at any place that sells gardening stuff for only a few bucks.
Tomatoes prefer a slightly acidic soil and require a fair amount of nitrogen. If your pH is in the 6’s and you have adequate nitrogen, your tomatoes should do fine.
As mentioned before, adding a spoonful of Epsom salts to each plant every few waterings will add magnesium and really help them flourish.
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Tom Sawvell wrote:</div>
<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>glenn57 wrote:</div>
OH AND SO DOES MY JOB!!!!That would suggest you actually work. Be real now and fess up. You only go around starting arguments and then ducking out of the ensuing fights. Not much work involved in being a trouble maker.
The pot doesn’t stir itself!
Does anyone plant sweetcorn? I understand without a very large area to dedicate to it it probably isn’t worth it. I would still like to try some. How many ears does a “plant/stalk” usually produce?
HEY TOM, you know how I can tell if I did my job right???? If the blood vessels in there neck start bulging and his face gets beat red!!!!!
Here’s a before and after of my berry patch.
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lookin good!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
I put some cool weather stuff in the ground yesterday in a bed right up next to the garage wall where some heat from the building helps to keep the ground a bit warmer early like this.
geez Ralph my back hurts just looking at that! I’ve had heavy duty gardening fabric over most of the garden for a couple of years. I’ll do 3-4 types of tomatoes, a couple of each. 3-4 types of peppers, and 3 hills of watermelon to cover the garden with vines. I have about 40 yards of raspberries along the fence. Trying to re-establish the strawberry patch after a tough winter kill. I’m really leaning toward doing the straw bale garden. Been doing my research and need to start getting the bales conditioned this week. My brother started doing this last year and his plants looked amazing. Anyone else look into straw bale gardening?
“How many ears does a “plant/stalk” usually produce?”….Belletaine
As a rule, 2.
That looks great Ryan! What a lot of work, but it’s worth it. Is that whole thing going to be rasberries? That looks like a lot of space, but I’ve not grown them before. Do they take up a lot of space? I’ll be more than happy to eat some for you if you have too many! 
ihprop1 – Are those test kit pretty accurate? I walk by them and ask myself that question.
Does using pine needles as mulch for tomatoes help acidify the soil
Ya know….Glenn is a union guy so he should be able to get those to where you need them without hurting his back and if he does he’s already admitted to having Epsom salts to soak his back. I’d send him your address and tell him there’s a case of warm Phfiefers in the sun on top of the stack of block you want moved. Leave him a little map so he knows where to haul it….another union must ya know….the map. Like a blue-print. Maybe you take a block out back and leave it where you want the others in case he doesn’t bring his glasses. Of course after a beer or two he’ll be like a sheep and follow his own trail out back and back out front again.
Ya know….Glenn is a union guy so he should be able to get those to where you need them without hurting his back and if he does he’s already admitted to having Epsom salts to soak his back. I’d send him your address and tell him there’s a case of warm Phfiefers in the sun on top of the stack of block you want moved. Leave him a little map so he knows where to haul it….another union must ya know….the map. Like a blue-print. Maybe you take a block out back and leave it where you want the others in case he doesn’t bring his glasses. Of course after a beer or two he’ll be like a sheep and follow his own trail out back and back out front again.
they still make pfieffers?????????
Back to gardening, I heard last year that chicken manure is especially good fertilizer and that there is a good source for it in the River Falls area. I cannot remember who told me this or where that source is.
Anyone else confirm the bird poo as fertilizer fact and where I might get some? Besides a city park bench?
I am also interested in knowing if Pfeiffers is still made?
ET
ihprop1 – Are those test kit pretty accurate? I walk by them and ask myself that question.
Does using pine needles as mulch for tomatoes help acidify the soil
I guess I’ve never had my soil tested by the extension office so I don’t know how accurate they are, but I run a test every fall to see what needs to be done to prepare my soil and I always have a good yield.
My soil is in the low to mid 6’s (6.3-6.4 depending on where I take my measurement) for pH, so it’s about perfect for growing tomatoes. I’ve never had to acidify my soil, so I can’t tell you one way or another whether pine needles work.
personally I wouldn’t use pine needles but what do I know other then grass don’t grow under pine trees.
as far as poultry poo……yes its a very good fertilizer. just be careful with how much you put on. it has a lot of ammonia in it and to much will burn up your garden plants when it gets hot out. turkey manure is another option!
I put my nose to the grindstone and lugged all my block uphill. Now, to start digging!
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Menards has a fertilizer called chic-a-poo. They also have an organic one made of compost and manure. Pine needle are good if you have blueberry bushes.
DT
I’m putting my 3-year old to work!
Coming along nicely, here. Lot’s of work done, but a ways to go yet. So far, I am liking how it’s turning out.
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now that’s funny tom. Then he could take stinky 
