Busy Days

[Penny_Plinker]

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1047863/STOCKPANELS.jpg



I tilled in compost and then set a row of Mortgage Lifter tomatoes and covered them with jugs. Mounded the dirt around them to secure and help keep in warmth. Today put more compost down in two rows and tilled it in before putting the cattle panels in place. Then planted Christmas Lima Beans and State Half runners. they should vine up the cattle panels. I like how it looks and am betting the back will feel a lot better picking these beans instead of the bush beans where you have to lean over.

I did MIL's garden the same way so she doesn't have to stoop to reach the beans. She and i worked together on this little project, i give her a little extra muscle and she helps however she can and gives some good advice for her 70 years.

Here's some everblooming strawberries: Planted in a 16 x 16 enclosure, they should produce a bountiful crop this, their second year.



http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1047863/STRAWBERRIES.jpg






Then for bug control, i have tenants in this housing (purple martins) that work all day for nuthing to keep bugs off the premesis. 48 cavities and i expect full occupancy within the next few weeks, that's 48 pairs, almost 100 feathered friends in charge of bug patrol.


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-7/1047863/SunsetInn1.jpg

[FirestarterKY]

The cattle panals are a great idea....think I'll try to incorperate them into my garden for beans.
Thanks!

[Faye]

I am using cattle panels this year for all my climbing beans and even to tie tomatoes to and let cantaloupe run up on. My DD owns a feed store so I get them at her cost. I'm thinking of getting a few more while I still can as they are thinking of selling the store.

[Deberosa]

Your garden is looking great! Cattle panels are a great idea. I bought bush beans this year but maybe next year. I know all too well what you mean by picking bush beans.

[Penny_Plinker]

Firestarter, i think you'll like the cattlepanels. It's my first year using them, too, but it's going to be better than tying up string for the beans and ought to last for years :)

Lucky you, faye to have someone in the business so's you can get a discount. Definitely get them while you can!

Thanks for the compliment Deberoso! I'm anxious to see how the soil on that side does with the compost. Plus, it overwintered with a cover crop of rye and hairy crown vetch. Hope it all helps, because it sure needed help.

Penny

[MooseToo]

i've been using the panels for several years now and am very happy with them - i find it more convenient to have the lower edge mounted about a foot above ground-level - permits easier weeding, picking, planting -
easiest way to do this is to set the panels on a couple of concrete blocks, etc, - wire the panels to the t-posts - and then drag out the blocks to go to the next panel - the panels are not cheap but will last for many years -

[RNMOM]

I loved the pictures. Yes, the panels are a great idea. I've been using them to tie up my tomatoes for 3 years. This year I'm going to do my cukes that way.

Hopefully the soil will warm up enough here to get planting. I did plant two tomatoes yesterday, surrounded by wall o waters. It's supposed to snow here tonight so hopefully they'll snuggle in well.

Where do you live? How long is your growing season?

[Penny_Plinker]

Moosetop, thanks for the idea, i will use the concrete blocks and get them elevated. Won't be that hard to change, they're only wired in four places.

RNmom, i live in West Virginia. It sometimes frosts in May and then in September. Most plant potatoes 1st week in April, plant corn when dogwood blooms. We did have a light frost last night so i put extra cover of cardboard boxes on tomatoes. I hope your tomatoes made it okay if you got snow.

Penny