What have you done for garden prep so far?

WGregMiller said:

As we all know, gardening is a learned thing. Experience is a great (and hateful as hell) teacher! I wish I'd paid more attention with my Mom and her parents and sisters....

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I have heard many people say that when shtf happens they will plant a garden and grow things then. Most of my fruit trees needed three years to start producing and five to really produce well. Same with the garden, building up the soil and learning through trial and error takes time. If you wait till a real disaster happens to get started you are going to starve to death.

Thats why I always plant something, even if it doesn't do all that well, it seasons the soil. If SHTF, I will plant a lot more.

Our garden is doing very good so far. Even with the heat everything is growing well. We've had two days of 92 degs and zero rain going on to 8 weeks now, and and nothing in sight. We picked our first tomatoes yestersday. I've forgotten just how much better tasting garden tomatoes are over store bought. Next year we'll be able to focus more on the garden.

We are heading into some very warm periods come mid week, they are looking to get around 107~108deg, I'm putting a filtered screen up over the garden. Looks like long nights for fire watch on top of everything.

Maverick said:

We are heading into some very warm periods come mid week, they are looking to get around 107~108deg, I'm putting a filtered screen up over the garden. Looks like long nights for fire watch on top of everything.

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That's too hot. Today we took the 200 mile round trip down the valley to the big city (pop 6,000) to get feed. It was 103 while we were there and 83 when we got home. I can see some smoke drifting over the mountains so there must be a fire somewhere.

Arcticdude said:

That's too hot. Today we took the 200 mile round trip down the valley to the big city (pop 6,000) to get feed. It was 103 while we were there and 83 when we got home. I can see some smoke drifting over the mountains so there must be a fire somewhere.

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Looks like you're going to be on fire watch too. If I go down into the valley off the mountain, this is the forcasted temps for the week and it's crazy

Was in the garden this morning and saw a set of very large bear tracks. He walked through the garden, orchard and next to the chicken coop. He didn't bother anything but it's just a matter of time. I think it's the same bear that's coming around the trailer every night. I'm going to set some traps out this fall and thin these bears out some.

well I have given up on all but a few tomato plants and my yellow onions ,,,from what I know no one around here had a good garden,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Maverick said:

Looks like you're going to be on fire watch too. If I go down into the valley off the mountain, this is the forcasted temps for the week and it's crazy

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At our elevation we're always 10-15 degrees cooler than the valley, winter and summer. The highest temp we've seen so far was 92. And it only lasts for 2-3 days. Even with the short growing season we have just about perfect weather for gardening, as long as we water at least ever other day. Our humidity is usually around 8-15% during summer so fire danger is always a big concern.

Arcticdude said:

At our elevation we're always 10-15 degrees cooler than the valley, winter and summer. The highest temp we've seen so far was 92. And it only lasts for 2-3 days. Even with the short growing season we have just about perfect weather for gardening, as long as we water at least ever other day. Our humidity is usually around 8-15% during summer so fire danger is always a big concern.

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Today's high is forecast for 90. Currently the humidity is 81%. It's gonna suck this afternoon...

Arcticdude said:

At our elevation we're always 10-15 degrees cooler than the valley, winter and summer. The highest temp we've seen so far was 92. And it only lasts for 2-3 days. Even with the short growing season we have just about perfect weather for gardening, as long as we water at least ever other day. Our humidity is usually around 8-15% during summer so fire danger is always a big concern.

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I'm 2200 feet, 103deg with about 36% humidity winds 8mph projected for today, yesterday was 101deg with a slight breeze 6mph. the warm breezy air is what concerns me drying things out quicker especially around the garden area, we had to screen the blueberries with a light diffusers, kids piped in overhead above the screens water misters.

We are only using the water misers for watering the garden, hopefully the garden will hold up, by the look of things we aren't seeing any relief in the foreseeable future 90s from August 3rd to August 12th no moisture.

Looks like Arctics got a bigger concern than I do here.
http://doomsdayprepperforums.com/index.php?threads/pacific-northwest-northwest-fire-incident.8662/

Maverick said:

We are only using the water misers for watering the garden, hopefully the garden will hold up, by the look of things we aren't seeing any relief in the foreseeable future 90s from August 3rd to August 12th no moisture.

Looks like Arctics got a bigger concern than I do here.
http://doomsdayprepperforums.com/index.php?threads/pacific-northwest-northwest-fire-incident.8662/

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Next year I plan to use a drip system for much of the garden. For me it isn't so much about saving water but more about saving fuel on the well pump generator. We're at about 5,000 ft elevation so at least it cools off at night. It's been 2 months now without any rain, and nothing in the long range forecast. Haven't even seen a cloud in a couple of weeks. So far there hasn't been any fires nearby, but the wife and I are putting together a bug out plan in case we're threatened by fire.

I have been talking to the neighbors around here,,,it looks like no ones garden was worth a flip this year,,,this makes me feel a little better about mine,,if those who have been gardening for 20 years or more had a piss poor garden,,,what chance did I have first time out the gate,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

grayghost668 said:

I have been talking to the neighbors around here,,,it looks like no ones garden was worth a flip this year,,,this makes me feel a little better about mine,,if those who have been gardening for 20 years or more had a piss poor garden,,,what chance did I have first time out the gate,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

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Just don't get discouraged! It will get better each season.

Look how many had crappy gardens last year. . . me included!! Thank goodness it isn't every year. With all the rain and cooler temps (86-89 & only 50-60% humidity) this last week, the tomatoes are coming back nicely now along with the melons but the squash is a hit and miss. Lots of green, but the fruit getting set are water logged. Still building rows and replacing nutrients. Went to till in a couple days ago but wheel came off and by the time that got put back on the rim, the rains started. . . 3 inches in about 2 hours. And then rained every day since so going to wait till we dry out some. I may just end up getting enough tomatoes to start canning them again. Looks like we are going to go thru hot sauce faster than I thought this year.

The garden is still doing good. We're getting a lot of hot peppers, strawberries and tomatoes. Looks like we'll get some blackberries and a few apples too. I wasn't expecting any apples since I just planted the trees this spring. We could get some corn if the frost doesn't come too soon. It's getting down in to the 40's at night now. And still no rain.

We have kept ourselves and relatives in squash , zucchini , cucumbers for the past weeks . Garden is starting to wind down .

Today after fixing the fence I planted the baby corn with marigolds for pests, Bonus variety. Cabbage, broccoli, tomatoes, herbs & peppers have sprouted in pots, everything else is direct sowed. First time planting this type of corn. The sweet corn will go down in 2-3 weeks. I have high hopes for this variety! I'm a zone 9b gardener so if I'm lucky I can get 2 plantings a year. June, July & Aug. are the months it's too hot. That's when I solarize the soil so I don't have to rotate crops.

First trees in bloom for the season. One Apricot and one Peach tree. Pic of the pruned back Grape vines. The last is the view from my backyard over the surrounding countryside.

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