Kuri squash
Blog post of Butte Cnty Master Gardners The Real Dirt Blog
In mid to late August, many warm season vegetable seeds will still have sufficient growing days to reach maturity. a new batch of cucumbers, a second round of summer squash, and some varieties of lettuce and Asian greens.
But what to do about all the plants already growing in the beds? (me, barely hanging in there) This is where the magic begins. Previously it was believed by many that plants compete with one another for nutrients and water. The planting bed had to be denuded of the early crop and maybe even left fallow for a time before replanting in that space. Newer research shows that plants grow better when a variety of other plants grow nearby. Dr. Christina Jones, a soil ecologist from Australia who speaks at regenerative agriculture forums throughout the world says, "Every plant exudes its own unique blend of sugars, enzymes, phenols, amino acids, nucleic acids, auxins, gibberellins and other biological compounds. The greater the diversity of plants, the greater the diversity of microbes and the more robust the soil ecosystem." These various soil microbes bring nutrients to the plant in exchange for sugars discharged by the roots. The wider array of available nutrints from a diverse group of plants increases an individual plant's ability to fight off diseases and pests, and increases the nutrient density of the plant. Basically, the plant grows better and is ultimately more nutritious when consumed.
and it goes on. is a WONDER Full post
Rather than pull out existing veggies when they are dying off, cut them down at ground level , immediately add some compost. Poke a hole the depth recommended for the seed you are planting. Drop seed into hole. Pull soil back over the seed and keep watered.
to understand the advantages of No Till planting, imagine the roots of your existing plants creating a series of subterranean paths. These are channels which allow water to penetrate more deeply into the soil. They're the highways through which fungi, bacteria, and a world of other microbes travel. The casing of a root is covered with this life. In a vital populated microbiome, it will take less time for roots of a new seedling to tap into this abundance than it would if it were being planted into a stripped environment. "
so…off i go to what was supposed to be the Best Garden Ever and is, in many ways, the Worst Garden Ever. shuffle through the packets….what's to lose? and just the thought of it….the words above….just the thought makes me feel good. Diversity. Temps in the balmy 90s in forseeable future.
and later, back Up from the above. Yes. many seed possibilities. Back to Morning Garden.
AND….Runble Strip VT podcast….Homesteading. Short and totally GREAT!
