Plastic Mulch

This year I am experimenting with using plastic mulch.  I have been using drip tape for several years,  it really changed how I water my crops.  Last year I used landscape fabric for Sweet Potatoes and Okra.  I was hooked.  Less weeding and earlier crops, I knew I am using more of this next year.

This year I am planting Tomatoes, Peppers, Okra, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Sweet Potatoes, Watermelon, and Canteloupe all in plastic mulch. 

It takes me 30 minutes to 60 minutes per bed to lay the plastic.  The plastic in the high tunnels is much easier than outside. 

Why Plastic Mulch? Here is a nice list of advantages from
http://uconnladybug.wordpress.com/2010/02/25/plastic-mulches-for-the-vegetable-garden/

Advantages:

1. Increases soil temperature, allowing earlier planting and earlier harvest, and promotes plant growth in cooler climates.
2. Soil compaction is reduced which improves root growth.
3. Fertilizer leaching is reduced because excess water runs off the plastic.
4. Water logging from excessive rain is avoided.
5. Drying of soil from evaporation is reduced.
6. Crops are cleaner and less subject to disease caused by soil-borne pathogens because they are not in contact with the soil or rain-splashed soil.
7. Weed control with black plastic eliminates the damage to roots caused by cultivation to remove weeds.
8. Weed control (black and colored mulches).
9. Harvest of crops can be 2-14 days earlier with black plastic and as much as 21 days earlier with clear plastic, depending on the crop and the temperatures.
10. The “chimney effect”:  CO₂, which is required for photosynthesis, builds up under the plastic and can only escape through the planting holes, causing a higher concentration around the growing leaves.

There are some disadvantages too.

 1.   Cost of mulch and irrigation equipment.
2.    Soil erosion can increase between the mulched rows.
3.    Weeds may grow through the planting holes close to the crop plants.
4.    Must be removed from the garden annually, along with the drip or   soaker hose irrigation tubes.  

However I believe the advantages over power the disadvantages.

 Here are some pictures from this year, so far.

Here is "Hoop B"  the big tomato building.




Cherry tomatoes


Cucumbers and Zucchini




Peppers




Watermelons








Okra




Sweet Potatoes





Enjoy!

Plastic Mulch

No Rain, Day 44 and Counting

The title says it all.  Today is day 44 without significant rainfall.  We had 20 or 30 drops several times, but that doesn't count.  To go with that, we have been having highs in the 90's and south winds at 25-35 sustained for the past 4 days.  Starting to understand what the Dust Bowl went through.  Wheat harvest is starting, (a month early), center pivots have been running non-stop and dryland crops look poor.  Nonetheless, I am pushing forward. 

I have been watering almost around the clock to stay ahead, most things are looking good. We are really starting to harvest a crops and sales are picking up at the markets. 

How dry is it, I spend 4 plus hours today putting down plastic mulch for my outside peppers.  I had to run the tiller back and forth to pulverize the clods.  I ended up with a decent bed, but the soil to cover the plastic looked like this.


Here are the 4, 70 foot rows.  The plastic mulch is covered with dust, that is why it is gray and not black.


The peppers in the high tunnel are really looking great!





Pickling Cucumbers are looking really good and I am picking every other day to keep them at the right size. I have sold out for the last three markets.  They are blooming and setting like crazy!



Inside Zucchini is looking good, Kinda concerned, it isn't blooming as much as normal. 


We have been picking zucchini outside for two weeks too.


Cucumbers are looking rough, the wind has really hurt them. I am hoping they start producing soon.


Not planted in this picture, but I got half of my melons planted and they are up. I hope they didn't fry in this heat in the plastic mulch.


Not planted in this picture either, but my Okra is really popping up.


Sweet potatoes went in on Thursday, not in this picture. Waiting for the last 100 to come in the mail soon.


Inside onions are looking nice, some really huge onions in there too!


Outside onions are bulbing up nice, like the crack in the ground?  They got a good soaking after this picture.


My pride and joy, tomatoes are LOADED!


Picked a few Cherry tomatoes tonight, big ones aren't quite ready.


Sold our first Green beans of the season on Saturday also planted the 4th planting on Saturday. 


Still need to transplant peppers (later this week), get more cucumbers and zucchini planted. 3rd planting of tomatoes are suppose to go in this week.  Also need to weed some things and dig potatoes (plants are already dieing too hot!)  I also have 3/8 of an acre of winter squash to plant.  Finally, I have to get thing harvested and sold.

Sorry for the long post, but I need to share some success.  We have had too many failures already.

Enjoy!

Jay

No Rain, Day 44 and Counting

Before, During and Now Pictures

It is 105 outside today, so I am being a good boy, I am working for a period of time, then coming inside and taking a break. I thought I would share some before, during and now pictures. There won't be an after, yet!

Hoop B, the big Tomato Building

Before


During






Now







Sweet potatoes
Before





Now



Cucumbers
Before


Now


Okra
Before


Now





More to come later!

Before, During and Now Pictures

Quick and Easy Summer Time Recipes

In the summer there is never alot of time to cook. With a healthy variety of produce available, here are two quick, easy and one pan meals. If this guy can make them then anyone can!

Sausage and Zucchini

1 pound Fully cooked pork Sausage (you could use ground pork)
4 cups cubed zucchini (1 medium sized)
2 cups Fresh chopped tomatoes (two small/medium)
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce, (optional) adds lots of good flavor!
1 teaspoon flour, (I added a little more)
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese

Cook sausage in a skillet and drain. Add the cooked sausage, zucchini, tomatoes, onion, lemon juice, oregano, salt and hot pepper sauce, Cook for 15 minutes or until the zucchini is crisp tender. Sprinkle with flour, toss to coat. Bring to a boil and stir for 2 minutes. Sprinkle with cheese. Remove from the heat; cover and let stand until the cheese is melted.

I think this recipe was for a smoke sausage not ground sausage, but it tasted great to us! If you are short on one ingredient and long on another it is ok. Finally, I added a bit more cheese, but it was yummy locally grown/made cheese but who is counting!


Zucchini, Okra & Tomato Medley

1 small zucchini
vegetable cooking spray
1 1/2 cups of sliced fresh okra
2 tablespoons of chopped onion
1 cup of chopped fresh tomato
1/8 teaspoon of dried basil
a dash of freshly ground pepper

Cut the zucchini in half lengthwise, cut into 1/4 inch thick slices. Coat a nonstick skillet with cooking spray, place over medium high heat until hot. Add the zucchini, okra, and onion, sauté for 4 minutes. Stir in he tomato and remaining ingredients. Cover and cook over low heat for 5 minutes or until thoroughly heated, stirring frequently. Makes four 1/2 cup servings

Enjoy!

Quick and Easy Summer Time Recipes

Fri...Tuesday's Featured Food: Okra

Sorry for skipping last Friday. We were so busy preparing for the Clay Center Grill-Off that just about everything that could be postponed, was postponed. (It was worth it, though!)

But now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.

O is for Okra. Okra is definitely a love it or hate it food; either you absolutely adore its unique taste or you can't stand it in any way. Luckily, our family loves it. I have always loved fried okra and pickled okra, but have only just recently tried it in sautes and casseroles.

Okra is a little green veggie that is shaped a bit like a pepper but with a different texture. The skin of the okra is soft, almost velvet-y, and it's filled with small white seeds. Okra is a good source of vitamin C and also provides vitamin A, iron, calcium, and fiber. (This site has lots of good okra info.)

We grow Clemson Spineless okra and, although we haven't picked any yet this year, the plants look very, very promising!

The biggest complaint about okra is that it is slimy. Rumor has it, the less you cut okra while preparing it, the less slimy it will be. That's why pickled okra is so good, because you pickle them whole. I slice the okra before frying it, but still don't notice the infamous slime. Trust me -- it's good stuff!

Fried Okra

• 1 pound fresh okra
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 4 to 6 dashes hot pepper sauce
• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
• oil for deep frying

1. Wash okra and drain well; cut off ends and discard. Cut okra crosswise into 1/2-inch slices. 
2. In a bowl, combine beaten eggs and hot sauce; add okra and stir to coat all pieces well. 
3. In a shallow dish, combine cornmeal, salt and cayenne. 
4. Dip okra pieces into cornmeal mixture to coat well. 
5. Heat oil in the deep fryer to 375°. 
6. Fry okra in batches until browned, about 4 to 6 minutes for each batch. 
7. Drain on paper towels and serve immediately.

Oh, this is making me hungry. I think I'll wander out to the garden and double check those okra plants.

Fri...Tuesday's Featured Food: Okra