Beware of Weeds Bearing Gifts

alternanthera-pungens

It was such a lovely little ground-hugging plant. I first noticed it growing in the paths between the beds. And, along with its loveliness, it was driving out the Bermuda grass. So, not only did I allow it to grow, but I encouraged it. It was soft, pleasant to walk on and kneel on to work the beds…a gift!

It spread readily throughout the garden that first year. Then, late in the season I went out to do a little weeding and knelt down upon this lovely little plant and…PAIN! It had developed thousands of tiny little stickers that stuck to me, my shoes, my clothes, knees and hands. I had been fooled! The pretty, little seemingly harmless plant was none other than Alternanthera pungens or Creeping Chaffweed aka Khaki Burr Weed! Apparently a problem throughout the known world but unknown at Charamon until the last couple of years.

So here is the lesson, never trust a weed! It may be pretty, it may have a lovely little flower, it may hold the promise of being beneficial. But then, when you least expect it, it will turn on you to become another enemy of the estate.

It is so pervasive now that I’ll probably never be fully rid of it. About the best that can be said is that, along with Nutsedge and Bermuda, it makes pretty good biochar.

Berry, Berry Good!

For those of you who hang on every word I write and can’t wait for the next installment, let me relieve the anticipation.  I’m announcing that the berries have arrived and found their place in the soil of Charamon garden.  I would insert a picture but there’s nothing to see.  The Raspberries consist of six sticks protruding from the ground.  The blackberries are six tiny plants lost in the background and the strawberries are basically invisible.

I will say that in each planting I coated the roots with mychorrizae and amended the soil with Texas Greensand, Bonemeal, Bloodmeal (in some cases) and Cottonseed meal (in some cases) and used my hard-won charcoal (biochar) until it ran out.  Now we wait to see what happens.

What I am expecting is lots and lots of berries.  Some we will eat, some I will sell.  In the meantime, eat your veggies…Nonnie and Pop said so!  The reality, however, is that my granddaughter refuses to eat peas no matter what Nonnie and Pop say.

The Berries are Coming!

Digging the Holes

Charamon Garden constantly evolves.  I give natural selection an assist by saving the seeds of several vegetables from plants which seem to do well (productive, tasty, nutritious) and, I am assured, become better adapted to our West Texas conditions with each generation.

The Amendments

Take my tomatoes (a neighbor actually took that too seriously while we were absent).  I have lost track of the original strain now and I try to add more genetic diversity each year.  To my mixed-up heirlooms, I am adding genetic material from a Russian variety called Black Krim this summer.  We will enjoy those delicious Russians and save the seed from those and the original strain which “do well.”  By the time I pass on, I hope to pass on a delectable tomato that grows especially well in our little corner of the world.

Mixing the Soil

Charamon garden also changes in composition.  This year I am adding berries.  Any day now I am expecting a shipment of Blackberries (especially suited for the South), Raspberries and Strawberries.  In regard to the former, once planted they are supposed to last for fifteen years or more.

My response to that longevity is to make sure their soil is the best it can be.  Given my native soil, that’s quite a challenge!  That means I have to make certain amendments.  So, in preparation for the new arrivals I have dug seven holes spaced about three feet (0.91 meters) apart.  The dirt from each hole goes into the cement mixer.  To that I add Texas Greensand, bone meal, blood meal, charcoal and composted manure.  As it mixes, I try to break up all the clods before dumping the improved earth beside the hole.

When the plants arrive, I will sprinkle mychorrizae around the roots and fill in the holes.  I hope it makes them very happy and productive.

I told my wife I thought this post needed a little sex-appeal and asked her to take a picture of me to add to this blog.  When she finally quit laughing she obliged me while gently advising me not to expect too much.  So, please feel free to comment, but hold the offers of marriage…I’m very happily wedded to my high school sweetheart.

In the meantime, eat your veggies (and berries).  Nonnie and Pop said so.

Doctoring the Orchard

Holes ready for charcoal and mychorrizae

Auger and cordless drill

Mychorrizae tablet

Well-seasoned charcoal

Loading the hole

Some orchard!  Only three fruit trees: one Peach and two Plums!  I also have two fig trees but they are not in the “orchard.”

The peach has done all right but the two plums have produced only a few fruit and all of them fell off before ripening.  I think the trouble lies in the soil.  Both plums and nearby roses have exhibited signs of severe chlorosis (yellow leaves).

From all indications, the soil around these suffering trees must be highly alkaline and have difficulty absorbing iron.

Adding Texas Greensand helped a bit but more obviously needs to be done.  So I have inoculated the soil around the drip lines with mychorrizae and included a dose of charcoal in each hole.

Then I gave the whole area a dusting of sulfur to acidize the soil.

Now we wait.  It would be helpful if we could have a few inches of a slow rain.  We haven’t had any precip since October!  I am thankful for my faithful water well which keeps everything alive.

Yes…now we wait!

In the meantime, eat your veggies…Nonnie and Pop said so.