This year I was able to use my mother-in-law’s farm to learn to plant more things. I have learned a lot, and hope to continue learning to grow things. Here are some things I have learned:
- Tilling up a dry ground is hard
I have tilled up a little of the garden area that I am using. I started out bringing in a lot of compost, soil, etc. I would add in horse manure, and throw mulch over the top after I planted in it. This system was easier but a lot more costly. As I expanded the garden, I started to run out of garden money. I realized quickly that bringing in bagged compost and soil was not going to be sustainable for me. I started tilling up the ground in some areas, and I have learned that it is easiest to till it up a couple of days after a good storm. I have also realized my favorite tool for this is called a Mattock (garden ax).
- Rabbits like sweet potato vines
I knew when I started gardening over there that there was a high possibility that some of the stuff I was growing would get eaten, whither away, or just plain fail. I was starting in a new spot, with a lot of unknowns. One of the things I did know is there are rabbits that run free on the property. What I did not know what that they would love the sweet potato vines, and the pole beans. I have not seen them attack much else so far, but those they have loved eating.
- Fig trees don’t require a lot of maintenance and can even take a little flooding
So… I knew there was a high possibility of flooding in certain parts of the field. With that knowledge I attempted to put the fig trees I planted near where it would flood so that they could get all that good water. I ended up putting one of the trees right where it flooded, in fact, water sat there for at least 3 days.