2020 gardens

[TnAndy]

My home made transplanter earned it's keep for another year. 17-1/2 dozen plants set in about 1-1/2 hours. Well worth the time and effort to build. My old back, and knees appreciate it. Also got a row of Peas re-planted, that the first planting rotted from all of the rain.

Also got T-posts driven back in, and electric fence strung back up, and charger set, and plugged in. Hope it works, didn't check. Maybe the wire alone will keep that pesky doe out, until I get it checked out today. I have a spare, just in case...

Definitely a long day with this 87ｺ heat. Think I'll take it easy today.

DJ......how about some more detailed photos of that homemade planter ? Looks very interesting !

 

[EddieWalker]

Had some rain and thought this was a nice picture of the raised beds while it was raining.

 

[DJ54]

It's pretty crude actually. I took one of the spare David Bradley chassis I had, added the engine, (It's a Tecumseh 5 hp with electric start..!!) hydraulic pump, oil tank, hydraulic valve, and other misc. parts for the power unit. I did add a flow control valve for the hydraulic oil, as I wasn't just sure how fast it would move. It will make just a tad bit of difference, and mostly speed up travel when tramming backand forth to the barn where I keep it.

The hydraulic valve for the splitter is set in the detente/return position, for oil flow to the hydraulic drive motor. I also utilized the OEM DB clutch, so as to pause to drop a plant. The one video showing setting plants non-stop, but I've always put a tsp. of Epsom Salts under each tomato plant, to help prevent blossom end rot. This was the first year I used it, and was more concerned with setting plants. Hence the stopping for a few seconds to add the epsom salts, drop the plant, then move forward the 24" -30" spacing. To simplify adding the epsom salts, I got a hand squeeze sugar dispenser off Amazon. It has several different pieces you put in it to dispense a certain amount of "whatever". It just happened to have the piece that will dispence 1, tsp. of what you need. Sure speeds up the process.

In that video, it pretty well shows the framework. Furrow shovel, drop tube, hiller to cover the plant, and packer wheels to tuck them in. The furrow shovel is what is called an irrigation shovel. Got it from I believe Norwest Mfg. They make all sorts of cultivator shovels, sweeps, etc. This works perfect for what I had in mind. 3" PVC for the drop tube, and a 3" to 4" adapter for a funnel top. The hillers are actually a middle buster for a tiller. I took the plasma cutter, and split it down the center. Welded some small angle iron on the back, so as to attach to the shank. Packer wheels are just some spare lawn mower wheels I had laying around. Tabs the wheels are mounted to are bent at a slight angle to pack the dirt inward, and give some spacing back away from the plant. I've found it worksbest to soak the plants well with water, while in the tray. Just the little bit of extra weight at the bottom,makes the plant stand pretty well straight up when you drop it down the tube. Occasionally I need to take my toe, and straighten one up, if a small clod of dirt rolls inwhere the plantwill drop,and make it fall over.

I built the frame, (way over built..!!) and used a set of depth gauge wheels from a bent up set of DB cultivators. Frame was bent, but the depth gauge set up was fine. I did make a larger set of wheels for it, as the OEM DB wheels didn't give enough space below the furrowing ahovel when tramming back & forth like I wanted. These are worn out opener discs for a no-till planter. I made the hub from 1-1/4" round stock, and bored the 3/4" hole through them on the metal lathe. The smaller disc that is welded to the hub, that bolts it to the "wheel were cut with a 4" hole saw on the drill press. And just used the holes that are in the wheels to bolt them on.

No plans were ever drawn up. No fancy computer programs involved. I just had a picture in my mind of what I wanted to build, and this is the result. Sometimes it's good, to have a good imagination, even better if you can build it. The only thing written down was some measurements for this & that, and degreeof angle needed to make the drawbar the same as other DB attachments. I do need to add one more thing at the moment. A tool box to hold several wrenches,pliers, and a hammer to make depth adjustments on the furrow shovel, hillers, and packer wheels. Other than that, I'm happy with the results, and works very well for me.

Sonny has built some cool things too, neat to see what others have made, and utilize. Using a chassis/pieces/parts from something, then transform in to your intended purpose, to make life easier, with all of the ginger bread.





MAH00190 - YouTube

MOV02153 - YouTube

 

[TnAndy]

DJ,

All those hydraulics to drive the planter ?

 

[TnAndy]

Our 2020 gardens are off to a pretty good start. We had said this winter "not gonna plant as much"....well, like most years, that plan didn't survive....ahahhaaaaaa.

Hoop house is doing great. Early potatoes, beans, peas, carrots, lettuce.

Photos from about mid April: (Plants in pots on cart are now out in the garden)

Row of strawberries beside hoop house drive. Roses below.

Today: Picking berries, roses blooming, couple rows of potatoes in this garden and in the other. Peas/tomatoes on cattle panel trellis

Pumpkins at top row with tomatoes beyond

Picked this morning:

4 gallons of strawberries, bowl of peas, about 1/2 bushel of green beans, few young carrots for salad today, and couple plants of Huckleberry Gold potatoes. Purple skin, yellow inside like Yukon Gold....supposed to be a lower glycemic index (lower about raising blood sugar), more diabetic friendly potato.....our first year raising these.

 

[jonathco]

@TnAndy, your place looks incredible! How do you keep the deer out of your Strawberries?

 

[TnAndy]

@TnAndy, your place looks incredible! How do you keep the deer out of your Strawberries?

Thanks.....lot of years in the making, considering it was all woods when we started.

This Photo is from the early days, 1982-83. Taken from about the same place as the existing garden view, the 'hole' up the hill was the initial clearing for the house site. Woods were THICK.

Deer wars:

5 1/2' fence, couple young dogs, and a .223 as a last resort.....but the first two have worked well for many years. Squirrels are a bigger problem.

One average whitetail deer that didn't get the first two warnings

 

[TnAndy]

Had some rain and thought this was a nice picture of the raised beds while it was raining.

View attachment 657382

What are all the yellow buckets about Eddie ?

 

[jonathco]

What a transformation TnAndy! Makes me feel a bit better about where I am at in year 3 of my 10 acres. Canned venison is the way to go; tried it with a doe I got last year and I am HOOKED!

 

[TnAndy]

Makes me feel a bit better about where I am at in year 3 of my 10 acres.

Or as I often tell people that visit: "I'm 30'sum years into a 50 year project .....and hopefully, the NEXT guy won't have to do near as much..... "

 

[DJ54]

DJ,

All those hydraulics to drive the planter ?

Probably looks like a lot, because it's so compact in one spot. Supply line to pump. From pump to valve, valve to motor, with flow control before motor, then return. Probably should have put a filter on the return line, but to be honest, not that much room, and not like it's going to have much of a chance to get dirty, or contaminated. It was a home made woodsplitter I used for parts, and it didn't have a filter on it. I figure the damage is already done if there is any.

 

[Sonny580]

some of the froze off potatoes that are trying to regrow---NOW the colorado potato beetles are on them already!!! ---probably wont have potatoes this year either.

this is what they looked like after the big freeze.

onions were untouched by the freeze.

So far I have been transplanting tomato plants from the hotbed and a few volunteer ones that are in the potato rows. The first planting of sweetcorn is in, carrots,beets,spinach, are planted.
Strawberries are just hanging,--not doing much, did see one medium sized one turning pink. green ones are not growing--they are just hanging there doing not much so probably wont make anything this year.
No fruit of any kind this year, no grapes either.


grape vines as of a couple days ago.

I gotta visit TnAndy! LOL!!!

 

[oldballs]

Dang, Sonny,

That freeze really hurt your garden this year. So far here, just some cool temps, too much rain and lots of weeds.

But Cheers Anyway,
Mike

 

[DJ54]

I use this on potato bugs. You are being redirected... It does a good job. They do have to injest it, before it kills them though. The first time I used it, about 6yearsago, I sprayed in the morning. Went back that evening to check, and disappointed that they were still there. But, when I checked closer, they were dead, still hanging on the leaves. It's rated for organic use, so I don't feel so bad about using it. I use it on every thing. Works great on sweet corn too for borer's, if the Captan on the seed doesn't do the job. Spray it on when the silk starts to form. Borer's eat a little silk, and takes care of them.

My grape vine got burned too, but it's coming back. But, I haven't gotten any grapes for 5-6 years, since we were invaded by the Drosophila Fly. They sting the grapes when they are green, and ruins them. I never used them, but always gave to a friend who makes jelly to sell, so don't bother with spraying them. Still trey to keep it pruned, because that vine is on the last piece of property we bought that was with another parcel. That vine was started probavbly back in the 40's, so want to keep it going.

My pole beans are up about 2" tall that I planted on the 24th. I'll need to be getting T-posts driven for a trellis soon. I'll have to use the tiller for in between row cultivation, because I planted down through the leaf compost.

Cut hay for snacks for my ponies yesterday, and man is it nice stuff..!! Really pleased with the re-seeding I did this Spring in the existing stand. Not so much where I did a kill, to get rid of Foxtail last Fall. We didn't get a hard enough freeze to honeycomb the dirt to pull the Fescue seed in, so tore it up a month ago and started over. That now is coming along nice, and it about 1" tall. I hope it matures into what this is.

 

[Sonny580]

I use spinosad of a different brand but it don't work either. -- I have tried everything known to man and still loose my potatoes to beetles!

 

[CADplans]

I have tried everything known to man and still loose my potatoes to beetles!

I am trying diatomaceous earth for the first time this year,, I had beetles yesterday, applied it,, no beetles today,,

This is just stone dust, they can not get immune to it,, you gotta reapply after every rain,,,

 

[DJ54]

**I use spinosad of a different brand but it don't work either. -- I have tried everything known to man and still loose my potatoes to beetles!**

It takes a little patience using it. As mentioned, they need to injest it for it to work. Spraying the leaves underneath on the eggs is a big help too, getting those little boogers as soon as they hatch, and start to eat. I buy the small pint bottle, because I read that shelf life is like 3 years. I need to look mine over close tomorrowfor any sign of them. Got bigger fish to fry today.

An older buddy of mine has used hydrated lime for years to keep attackers from bugs to deer from eating plants in his garden. I used it last year, to keep the Deer from devouring plants. Workd well, but as CADplans mentions, needs to be re-applied after it rains. Last year, I had to do that at least 4 times a week. Finally had enough, and put up the electric fence.

I tried one of those fancy hand crank blowers, which waspretty well useless with the lime. It would bridge over, and humidity was always so high, it didn't help matters either with it packing. The light bulb finally came on to use one of those containers you sprinkle Parmesan Cheese on with. Use the side with the 3, large holes approx. 3/8" . Makes an almost perfect applicator. It does pack in there sometimes, but a quick shake loosens it up. I just shake it sideways, and start by just leaning it a bit from straight up, and tilt more as the amount gets less, to keep from plugging the holes. I'm thinking this one is an 8 oz. container, and I could do 2, 90' rows with it. I just filled a 2-1/2 gallon icing bucket from the local big box bakery about half full, and take to the garden with me, and fill the shaker out of that. Scoop it in, and away you go. A bit messy, but washes right off.

Here's a picture of my latest weed slayer, for between wide rows for the tomatoes & potatoes. Narrow sweeps in front are the OEM Sears sweeps, and are 7-1/2" wide. Rear middle one is an OEM Sears/David Bradley sweep from a DB Southern cultivator for a walk behind. The large 14" sweeps are from Agri-Supply. I could have set them wider, but I have them set as wide as the tires, and use them to gauge distance from plants. Worked great..!!

And, a short video of using the tail wheel on the Honda tiller. Man, I'm loving this thing. Got the depth set to just scratch about an inch or so deep, to turn those litle weed thread roots up. The wheel allows it to float across that leaf residue I put down, and not gob up/drag along on the drag type depth gauge. MAH00553 - YouTube

 

[herm0016]

cut worms and flea beetles are terrible this year. the worms have gotten about 4 of our little squash plants, and the beetles keep damaging our tomatoes and some of the lettuces. we are using diatamacious earth, have applied nematodes and have some green lacewings coming this week. we really try to stay away from the chemicals in the garden, but it may come to that soon.

the beetle population seems to be dropping. every time i go out there i look over each plant and get what i can manually also.

 

[Sonny580]

Around here if you dont use chems. --you dont have a crop! sad but that kinda leaves you no options for pest control. I usually try different rates and different chems to keep the bugs from getting used to any certain one. Keeps them guessing,---I hope. Anyway the first of July the jap beetles emerge in this area starting another problem to deal with.
This is one row of the froze off potatoes. I did hill them after pic. was taken.

 

[Sonny580]

Got 6 more quarts of strawberries making a total of 9 for the year so far -----might be a few more out there later. They will taste good in the middle of the winter.