[Market-farming] garlic spacing
Marty Kraft
martyk at allspecies.org
Sat Nov 5 11:11:53 EST 2005
Thanks. It's clear you understand soils more than I. Let me explain
what I have done to the soil and what my intent is.
I am exploring ways to get the most out of precious little urban space.
My neighbor has a lawn service and provides all the chopped up leaves
that I can use. I have an 18X4 foot bed with a yard of last years
leaves mixed with ground alfalfa composting in a pile on that bed which
I will till in very soon. About two months ago I fertilized the bed
with Bioform fertilizer. I do not want to ruin my soil as I strive for
best production. I have been told that when I till I will introduce air
and the soil's nitrogen will be used as microbes eat the organic
matter. I thought that I had to replace both every year. I would like
any references that you would like to send.
I'm not sure about how the information about soil temperature above 60
translates into what I do in the beds or when in the year I do it. I am
also wondering if my sources of nitrogen and organic matter are
adequate.
Thanks again for your help.
Marty Kraft
Kansas City
On Nov 5, 2005, at 6:30 AM, Tradingpost wrote:
>
> Agree that's pushing it, esp since garlic is a heavy feeder as you
> say. What I was driving at is the matter of soil fertility and
> structure. The more intensive we grow, the more critical the soil
> condition becomes. And we can grow far more in less space if we
> respect the requirements for the healthiest soil. Otherwise people can
> grow any way they please or wear out the soil with NPK if they don't
> care or don't know better. Commercial growing has eroded or worn out
> half our best topsoil over recent decades. No secret there.
>
> To support the heaviest production and most nutritious produce, soil
> needs sufficient nitrogen to decompose sufficient organic matter (and
> time above 60 degrees), and this needs to be a continuous process from
> stable nitrogen-bearing organic sources that don't leach out and need
> re-dosing every three months. During this process the soil needs the
> full range of secondary nutrients and trace minerals for the humic
> acid being produced to chelate those minerals into stable forms that
> microbes can use to feed plant roots. This results in particle
> aggregation and the loose, moisture retentive soil that plants love.
> Proper balance of these elements and time builds the healthy soil for
> the kind of production that other growers won't believe. You don't
> need to "get big or get out". You need healthy soil for healthy
> people. Research on these things is available online if you want
> sources from me offlist.
>
> paul NM tradingpost at gilanet.com See you at
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OWL-OldWaysLiving/
> *********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
>
> On 11/5/2005 at 5:38 AM Marty Kraft wrote:
>
>> Paul
>>
>> I'm new as gardeners go. I have been told that garlic is a heavy
>> feeder. I am planting cloves very close together. It seemed to make
>> sense to use an organic fertilizer if I ask so much of the soil. I am
>> open to suggestions.
>>
>> Marty Kraft
>> On Nov 4, 2005, at 7:25 PM, Tradingpost wrote:
>>
>>>
>>> As a matter of curiosity, what's wrong with the soil that it needs
>>> fertilizing?
>>>
>>> paul NM tradingpost at gilanet.com See you at
>>> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OWL-OldWaysLiving/
>>> *********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
>>>
>>> On 11/4/2005 at 4:36 PM Marty Kraft wrote:
>>>
>>>> I planted nine per square foot and they looked pretty good. The
>>>> problem
>>>> is I haven't been growing garlic long so do not know what to
>>>> expect. I
>>>> would fertilize well and plant in October not at Christmas time
>>>> like I
>>>> did last time.
>>>>
>>>> Marty Kraft
>>>> On Nov 4, 2005, at 11:59 AM, Goodwill at Homefields Farm wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> we planted hardnecks: triple row in a 36" bed. will mulch and
>>>>> report
>>>>> back
>>>>> next summer.
>>>>> thanks,
>>>>>
>>>>> Scott
>>>>> Scott Breneman
>>>>> Farm Manager
>>>>> Goodwill at Homefields Farm
>>>>> 150 Letort Rd
>>>>> Millersville, PA 17551
>>>>> www.homefields.org/goodwill
>>>>> 717-871-3110
>>>>>
>
>
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