Wow, I need to make those pics smaller,lol...just dont know how yet.

I'm probably not the only one looking at that field behind the garden thinking, "Weed whacker...mulch...mmmmmm"

ctdahle! As a science teacher I love your experiment! Can't wait to see the results. mk

Oh, gte66! I have Garden Envy! LOL! My little raised bed would fit in your garden ten times!

Today it rained here, and I went to check on the garden anyway, of course. I noted that the eggplant had fruited pretty low, and I stuck some straw under the fruit to keep it from rotting. One cucumber had also begun to grow, but it was on the earth, and not doing well; the leaves surrounding it were a mess.

I chopped off the bad leaves, and nasty cuke. The plants were fine as a whole; just what was resting in the soil wasn't happy, and there's not nearly the air-circulation in my little patch as there is in your beautiful garden.

My tomatoes are doing beautifully, however, as I'd trimmed all fruitless branches from the bottom 6-8" before I'd gone away. I haven't gotten around to getting to suckers higher up on the plants yet, due to time and circumstance, but that will have to happen, as they're really growing and the *ahem* volunteer cherry tomatoes from last year made an unexpected arrival.

Actually, those were the best cherry tomatoes I'd ever had, so I am loathe to get rid of them. The only issue with them was that they must have grown 7' tall at least!

As soon as I figure out how to host pictures somewhere, and the weather cooperates, I'll get some close-ups of the tomatoes for you.

But realise how incredibly humbled I am by your beautiful bounty there!

lol, I dont post pictures for that reaction, but thanx...actually, the space is there because if the weeds overcome me, I can till, and that is a reality this year.

If I weedwhacked that field and mulched with it...wouldnt my weeds get worse?

I look forward to your pics of your garden, TE, I love looking at others gardens and planting technique.

gte66, beautiful! Looking forward to seeing more...I love to see other's gardens as well...it's amazing what we can accomplish working with mother nature.

Sorry about your relative, Test Anxiety; you were kind to spend time when it was needed. Looking forward to seeing your pix as well.

Peace

Gail

quote:

Originally posted by gte66:
If I weedwhacked that field and mulched with it...wouldnt my weeds get worse?

Weed whack it before the weeds form seed heads and you will have mulch. Wait too long and you will have a weed factory.

Same with tilling. Till young weeds under and you add to the organic content of the soil. Till old weeds under and you are just planting weed seeds in a nice fertile bed.

Of course there are some weeds that will grow up from any scrap of living plant that is left, but most are not this way, but even these, if continually cut down, lose their energy and eventually give up.

Hello Mrs. K,

Since I was recently informed that this fall I will be teaching science, in addition to the math and reading I already do, I thought a science project would be in order!

Actually, my whole garden is a collection of science experiments. My garden notebook is really just a big laboratory log. If I was 20 years younger or didn't have wife/kids/job/home/bills/responsibilities, I'd go back and get a degree in biology/botany/horticulture. Unfortunately, our local college is not exactly receptive to the adult polymath. Apparently we "unfairly" raise the curve vis-a-vis the frat-party-hearty crowd.

Hellow ctdahle! Fellow teacher, I taught high school science for years, and this last year went to middle school math and science. I think that means I am regressing. It has been a challenge, and gardening helps! But I love it. I just love to teach. Mrs. K

Well, I pruned all my indeterminates...heres a better boy, I have pruned a brandywine and a cherokee purple the same way...a whole wheelbarrow load of limbs in all...hope it works,lol.

Heres the whole garden in July, the field is now full of seedheads.