I did a native soil test today (thanks for asking RevJLB)... high ph, medium nitrogen, high phosphorous, low potash. Will have to run a few more tests with the native soil alone and with my potting mix mixture to confirm results and take appropriate action. Rigged up a solar powered pump and filter for the pool in case I feel the need to jump in again.
The lady bugs were too little too late for the bean plants. Seems that in the last 24 hours, the plants were totally infested. Picked off the last beans then chopped out the plants and stuck them in the burn pit. Had to cut back the squash plants quit a bit too. They might have to go next. Another thunderstorm just missed me this afternoon.... 75,99,69, .51,B, .23
LATE NIGHT UPDATE: Another storm passed through from 10 to 11 and gave me another .32". First storm was .19"
7 comments:
John, very glad you got and are using the soil testing kit. Money in the bank. pH is very important as well as biological health in the soil. You might consider making up soil mixtures and experiment with additives such as sulfur, molasses, etc. to promote a biologically active soil before use of the limited available water. Soil like plants is a living thing. Got to love earth worms.
Feed the plants (insects and all) to the chickens.
amen to Kris. My chickens just sit and wait by the garden gate anytime I am working in there. they are very pickey about the leaves they will eat but for sure will look through them seversl times to make certain they don't miss a bug.
RIP beans.... next time you're in town buy the big gun and keep it around as a weapon of last resort. Sometimes the soapy bubbles and buddhist chants don't work (I don't care what they tell you). There is a reason organic
cost twice as much ! If you are using peat in your mix,do that first and retest. If you burn those old pallets and they're not treated lumber you have a cheap source of potash.Use sulfer on that calcium carbonate (soil) you have there. You upgraded the tub...cool.
What ate your beans--and what is eating your squash? With beans, my problem is usually stink bugs, and with squash, it's squash vine borers and squash bugs. The stink bugs can be controlled with neem oil and diatomaceous earth. T squash pests are harder to control, but the above can help. When the squash plants become too compromised, then it's time to replant.
That test kit takes the guesstimation part out. Nice.
The pool is looking better all the time. You might attract bikini clad visitors.
Too bad the ladybugs didn't save the day. Maybe them being in the greenhouse now will help future bug problems. Good luck with it.
So, is the main purpose of the pool to create humidity in the greenhouse. I researched dome greenhouses and an important feature of the dome greenhouses is a similar water feature.
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