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Post by gianna on Nov 1, 2017 12:15:38 GMT -5
In my pursuit of no-till, I'm using several different approaches. This is determined by the soil type, and condition of the particular bed now, and what organic material is available. This property is on a clay hill, and previous owners (and me) have brought in topsoil at different times. As a result, I have mainly 3 areas with 3 different types of topsoil, plus the native clay. Each responds differently to different treatments.
This morning I've been preparing a bed that last year was no-till planted with winter squash. I just planted the transplants directly into the soil as it was, and mulched it very deeply with ground city mulch. This bed had previously been one of my rain catchment beds, and had had at some point, a covercrop, so in general it was in good shape. On this bed, I piled more fine organic matter, then covered it with courser organic debris, watered well, and then covered it with clear plastic to give moist decomposition a hand. That was maybe a month ago? A couple weeks ago we had major winds that blew part of the plastic off, so I removed it all.
I decided to plant some kale, collard, maybe baby pak choi, and basil transplants into it for their roots, but the main crop will eventually be red cabbage and cauliflower to be planted in maybe 2-3 weeks. The intercrops will be cut off at ground level as the cab and caul grow.
Anyway, after removing the more coarse organic material from the top, the soil in that bed is simply wonderful, and totally no-till ready. There are traces of some of the small leafy material I put in there a month ago, but it's mainly very composty and moist for several inches. No earthworms, but this particular soil-type never has had many. Ever. Even pre-drought. It is on the sandy side. Later today I plant to put in the various transplants and water them in. When the starts get a little larger, the bed will then be mulched with more city mulch.
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Post by gianna on Nov 2, 2017 13:50:25 GMT -5
The limited water is a big challenge. I expect that to continue when/if our local drought comes to an end. Just too many people wanting more. But as for gardening, it can be a 12 month endeavor.
As for organic matter, there is lots here too. And if I want more, I just order a load of ground green can waste from the county. They want us to mulch to conserve water, so they will give us a rebate for the cost of the order. There is a load of 7 to 10 yards arriving next week. I do wish there was a local compost facility, but sadly there isn't.
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Post by gianna on Nov 2, 2017 15:03:15 GMT -5
So I have intensively enriched beds in southern California that are my main vegetable beds. I just dont see too many earthworms when I have dug through those beds. I see a few but really not many. I also have in the past had a garden in southern England not a million miles from Charles dowdings and I saw many more earthworms there. I understand earthworms are native there and not here.
But my compost disappears at about the same rate here if not more quickly than there with tons of earthworms. So I wonder if there just is enough other critters in my soil or whether it is my low level of earthworms still do the job. I'm thinking that its not just earthworms but the whole community in the soil that really pulls it down and digests it. I like to think I have good soil, it certainly looks and feels good. I meant to comment on this earlier.. I also have never had that many earth worms here - with the exception of a cooled compost heap, where there can be many. But never like I see in videos in people's soils. I have some in certain soils, but not in all of them. (I have at least 4 different soils - native clay and at least 3 types of topsoil brought in). I expect the drought did not help. But even where I thought there surely must be some - in the decomposing mulch in the blueberry enclosure, where you can always find damp mulched soil beneath the pots - there have been only a few of the non red wiggler types. And just yesterday when I briefly went looking for them there specifically, I didn't find a one. As I've been setting up several of my beds up for no-till, the other day I did see 2 worms. Two. That's it. They must have gotten lost... I suspect the new moisture brought them up. Or maybe a bird dropped them, lol. But like in your soil, mine seems to decompose anyway. Mulch breaks down nicely. I do believe at times the poor mammal critters eat some of the mulch too when there just isn't anything else. (bunnies, squirrels)
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Post by gianna on Nov 3, 2017 19:02:11 GMT -5
As I've been setting up several of my beds up for no-till, the other day I did see 2 worms. Two. That's it. They must have gotten lost... I suspect the new moisture brought them up. Or maybe a bird dropped them, lol. I'm so pleased. I found a place with some worms - a small pile of the last delivery of mulch I had put some plants in containers on to catch any water run-off.... and there some were - right under those pots. Not scads of them, but 'some'. I'll make a hospitable place in the back for them (a pile of the old damp mulch) adjacent to the new compost area. Eventually they would have returned, but this will give them a head-start.
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Post by meatburner on Nov 3, 2017 21:40:48 GMT -5
Turning the soil in any way is tilling. I am confused about what this tread is about. Tilling is tilling and IMO is not good. JMO gianna,
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Post by desertwoman on Nov 3, 2017 22:43:53 GMT -5
I am confused about what this tread is about. I started this thread because I am converting to no-till and asked for advice on how to do that: simply layer organic matter and top with mulch? I've only had one direct response to my question. The rest of this thread has taken on a life of its own!
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Post by gianna on Nov 4, 2017 0:17:47 GMT -5
The rest of this thread has taken on a life of its own! I guess that's mainly my fault. I just find the topic of no till extremely interesting since switching over is what I've been doing the past few years. But I'll stop. Carry on.
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Post by desertwoman on Nov 4, 2017 10:24:42 GMT -5
gianna, I didn't mean that as a criticism. Just an observation. No need to stop.
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Post by gianna on Nov 4, 2017 10:36:45 GMT -5
Not a problem at all. I know what it's like to ask a question and not have it adequately addressed, or worse, lol. : )
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Post by brownrexx on Nov 4, 2017 13:02:01 GMT -5
I found this thread to be quite interesting.
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Post by datgirl on Nov 4, 2017 13:14:57 GMT -5
I found it interesting too. So many different ideas and opinions. The best part is, no one is fighting and arguing about the right or wrong way. Too much fighting going on in the world as it is.
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Post by brownrexx on Nov 4, 2017 13:27:51 GMT -5
So many different ideas and opinions. The best part is, no one is fighting and arguing about the right or wrong way. That's the best part. Different methods and ideas but we all get really good, fresh vegetables! Just look back at the pictures that we have shared throughout this year. For all of our differences almost no one was complaining about a lack of production.
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Post by gianna on Nov 4, 2017 21:49:35 GMT -5
After working more on my beds the past couple days, I'm zeroing in on what I think will work best for me and my climate.
I have sheet mulched two beds thickly. That is not going to be my preferred method. I don't have the patience to wait for the bed to be available. I removed all the 'stuff' from one of them, and tossed it into a new compost pile today. The 'stuff' was rotting nicely, but I want the bed sooner. I want more flexibility.
I also want to employ more cover crops. Mine will never 'winter kill', so I cant use the full range of available seeds. I also want to introduce some flowers into mine so it will be more meadow-like. I like the idea of cover crops since it's harvesting more sunshine year-round, as well as sucking in more CO2 to create more organic material in my own garden.
If I am going to want to plant in a bed with a cover crop growing, I'll kill it no matter what size it's grown to, even if still short. I will not pull it because I want the roots to decompose in the ground. At this time, the plan is to chop and drop cover crops, and either plant in the debris, or cover the bed with black tarps to kill/decompose whatever is left, including weeds. This should work since I plant mostly from transplants and would have a 2-3 week lead time.
I also plan on spreading compost on each bed after killing the cover crop. Applied just on the surface and planting into that. And then mulch.
At this time, I'm not planning on fluffing the soil any more, but you never know. It's not ruled out. In which case I'd consider myself 'light' or 'slight' till as many of the market gardeners are. But they have different goals than I do.
I still lust after a really good broadfork, Elliot Coleman style, but I really don't think it's either necessary or desirable for my garden. I suppose I could stand it up in the living room as a decoration. Santa? Are you listening??
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Post by meatburner on Nov 5, 2017 0:37:16 GMT -5
Please keep posting gianna,. Like was said before, it is interesting to see what folk do and so many different ways to have a successful garden. This forum is my favorite and I visit several times a day because we don't have the stupid fighting going on most forums have. The people here are so helpful and appreciate each other's different ways of gardening, and how they garden. I really appreciate the people here. Keep posting!
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Post by brownrexx on Nov 5, 2017 7:57:12 GMT -5
This forum is my favorite I really appreciate the people here That's nice to hear.
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