Charamon Garden Report:Summer 2009

If you read this blog or live in this region you know: gardening in West Texas has some major challenges!  Our major challenge this summer has been keeping things watered.  We normally don’t get much rain here but that difficulty has been enlarged in the last few weeks with our extremely hot weather.  Hot and dry conspire to destroy!  Add to that the constant battle with weeds.  Gripe, gripe, gripe.

Early Summer Dew on a Young Blackberry

Thankfully, we can supplement our needs with well water…hard as it is.  Most of our plantings tolerate it well but the berries hate it.    Half of the blackberries that I planted bit the dust…literally.  But that means the other half seem to be making it.  The strawberries, on the other hand, require daily water and, lately, shade.  I believe they will make it…barely.  My experimental planting of raspberries failed.  Wrong variety, wrong climate.  But I’m not finished yet!  Next year, God willing, I will try some varieties better suited to our hellish conditions.  I hope it works because I’m getting old and I would like to grow and eat some berries before I die.

OK, enough of the complaining!  On the more positive side, everything

Baskets of Summer Fruit plus some Herbs

else seems to be thriving in spite of the water and weather.   Tomatoes, squash, summer peas, okra…all seem to be doing OK.  We have a bumper crop of figs this year…yum!  I am blessed with a huge garden area and soil that gets better every year.

Bermuda Wars Resume

Ah yes, ’tis the season of Bermuda…not that lovely Atlantic archipelago but the cursed and unwelcome grass that invades the homes of my vegetables.  All gardeners love to see things grow in the summer with the exception of certain weeds.  My weeds are, in order of despicability, Bermuda, Khaki Burr, Nutgrass, Bindweed and another kind of grass that has burrs that stick to any article of clothing that come too close.  Bermuda, however, remains the chief offender.   I like the way Carol Ann Sayle of Boggy Creek Farm put it.  When it looked like our Texas dry spell had killed the weeds…

The Bermuda grass had cheated of course, never meaning to die at all. During the months with no rain, it lay sullenly restricted, while its roots searched beneath the soil for elusive moisture. It was intent on keeping us on edge, and when the rain came, it sneeringly erupted and spread its runners vigorously, and flung its seeds where runners found it hard to go.

In Charamon Garden the Bermuda’s runners don’t find much of anywhere “hard to go.”  Well, gotta go, time for Bermuda patrol.  In the meantime, eat your veggies, Nonnie and Pop said so!

Freezing, Frying and Flying

See Photos at bottom

We can talk about the weather with anyone in nearly anyplace around the world (providing they speak your language…if not, sign language will work). Nearly every region has a line that goes something like this: “If you don’t like the weather in (any location) just wait a while and it’ll change.” West Texas is one of the most changeable. I’ve seen a dust storm, converted to falling mud by rain, beaten into mush by pounding hail and covered by a snow blizzard…all in one day!

The last few days have been notable (understatement). Monday, the high temperature was a sizzling 93F (34C) followed by a nocturnal freeze 27F (-3C). Today we have tree-toppling high winds. To top it all off, we are in a serious drought. Certainly hasn’t been boring!

For the freeze, emergency measures were called for. Fourteen tender new tomato plants were gently set out just days ago. I slid a brown paper sack over each one and slopped dirt on the edges to anchor them in place in hopes of warding-off the frost. Thankfully, it worked.

After frying and freezing, today things were flying. Grit and grime from New Mexico has tinted the parched wind a light brown and toppled the mesquite next door on to our power lines. It was shocking! Currently, the damage is limited to a severely smashed chain link fence. Number 1 took off from work and helped me chainsaw it free (I think he enjoyed the break). Power is out all over our town and the countryside is filled with brush fires. Other than that everything is OK.

Mowing down Hairy Vetch & Rye in future Tomato Bed

Paper sacks in place ready for frost

The morning after...safe and unfrozen

Danger! Mesquite over power lines!

Another electrifying view

The Asparagus Lesson

Most of what one needs to know to grow the luscious, luxurious spears of Asparagus in Texas can be found here. I agree with nearly everything except the use of chemical fertilizers and the advice to contact your county agent about insects and diseases since that person will probably recommend some chemical pesticide. We organic hippie-types believe that healthy vegetables are resistant to insects and diseases.

Growing Asparagus in West Texas (or anywhere else, really) is not easy (especially initially) for several reasons.

First, as you will notice from the site I gave you and the pictures that I graciously provided that one has to do a lot of digging. Do it now, because the older one gets, the more challenging it is to dig the trenches and descend into their depths to plant the crowns. It is, however, excellent exercise.

Second, one needs to properly amend the soil. I used my trusty cement mixer to add compost, Texas Greensand, a few handfuls of bone meal, and some blood meal (some sweat got in there as well). Expend the time and trouble because those plants will be around for the next fifteen to twenty years (unless you fail them in some way…more about that later).

Third, it apparently likes soil that is a little more acid than my alkaline soil and water. I deduced that from the chlorosis (yellowing of the fern-like leaves) that characterized my first planting. So, I work pretty hard (you’ll just have to trust me here) to increase acidity using cottonseed meal and adding Texas Greensand every other year or so. I also inoculate the roots with mychorrizae. We’ve had pretty good results at Charamon Garden but we have also learned some hard lessons.

Fourth: Asparagus likes frequent, deep watering. Our area is semi-arid so having a reliable source of water is crucial because, friends, it don’t rain much here. And here is where I failed last year. Part of the bed didn’t get enough water and the Asparagus, predictably, bit the dust…literally. I had to dig a new trench (short furrow in the picture) and replant.

Fifth: Asparagus requires an investment in time. If you are planning on moving frequently, don’t bother because it takes three years before the first harvest. So, for my new plantings, another three years to full harvesting capacity. I guess I deserve it.

Sixth: Our winters here tend to be on the mild side, but Asparagus likes them cold. My plants don’t die back naturally until winter is nearly over. So, they must be snipped off at ground level by the end of November. This allows one to begin adding compost and other amendments to insure health by March when new sprouts make their appearance.

Seventh: Bermuda grass is the enemy. Don’t let it get into your Asparagus! After it does, it is nearly impossible to control. It stealthily weaves its despicable and evil rhizomes and tendrils through the Asparagus and slooowly begins to CHOKE it! Aauugh! I know because it has tried to infest and possess my Asparagus bed. But I shall PREVAIL by dutifully pulling and digging out all of this foul demon contagion I can during the winter. Be vigilant my friends…be vigilant.

We savor tender, flavorful, fresh Asparagus sufficiently to suffer. The long trench in the picture is to fill the bed which the first planting didn’t quite accomplish. We may be gluttons for punishment, but we are also gluttons for Asparagus.

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

(top photo: Asparagus in the garden at Dirtpatch)

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.

“The Earth is Tired”

“Tè a fatige,” said 70 percent of Haitian farmers in a recent survey when asked about the major agricultural problems they faced. “The earth is tired.”

And no wonder. Virtually since 1492, when Columbus first set foot on the heavily forested island of Hispaniola, the mountainous nation has shed both topsoil and blood—first to the Spanish, who planted sugar, then to the French, who cut down the forests to make room for lucrative coffee, indigo, and tobacco. (National Geographic Magazine accessed January 8, 2009 at http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/09/soil/bourne-text)

We have a dirt problem on planet Earth. We are covering up some good agricultural lands with subdivisions, factories, and shopping malls and damaging the rest in innumerable ways. But this is the dirt that will have to feed us in years to come. We are fouling our own nest, biting the hand that feeds us, cutting off our nose to spite our face. Such shameless and ignorant disregard for our own well being is the rotten fruit of greed and stupidity.

Problems such as this don’t persist because there are no answers. They persist when we are not interested in the solutions. Here’s the reason: the solutions are not as profitable as the present corporate gang-rape of our farmland. Sadly, the cost will be incredibly high. Simply put, we are setting the stage on which we will act in our own drama of destruction…and…we are doing it willingly. There are none so blind as those who will not see.

I feel qualified to speak here because, as a small gardener in a semi-arid patch of West Texas I started with nutrient-poor alkaline clay and now have several inches of productive topsoil. I grow most of the vegetables for our family of six. How did I do it? I read, studied and worked hard. I have loved my soil into productivity and sustainability. I figure if it can be done here then almost anyone can do it.

If you have access to a patch of dirt, you have a blessing from God given into your stewardship. The soil is a living community. Like any living thing it must be cared for. It must be fed and watered. Its needs must be met. It must be valued and cherished. In return, it will give us food to sustain us. If we neglect, exploit and mistreat our soil, it will grow tired and sick. Then, like the precious soils and souls of Haiti, we will grow tired and sick also.

You might not be able to change the world but you can change your world. Here are some things you can do on your own land.

Practice organic techniques. This is a vast subject but my top five principles are:

1. Use only organic soil amendments and fertilizers
2. Avoid the use of chemicals
3. Practice composting
4. Practice mulching

Practice sustainable techniques. Another huge area but some things you can do are:

1. Avoid plowing and tilling unless absolutely necessary
2. Grow cover crops
3. Conserve water using drip irrigation
4. Grow crops suitable for your climate
5. Rotate crops

Winter Woes

I am not a lover of Winter. Outside the Charamon Garden, it is forty shades of brown. It is not a pretty time of year in West Texas. We had a good color display in Abilene this autumn but those beautiful leaves were soon on the ground.

Usually my garden is a green oasis in the midst of the brown. But the current freeze has been so hard I covered everything I could with floating row covers attempting to minimize damage (not working too well as my last inspection confirmed). So the beds with Carrots, Lettuce, Swiss Chard, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Kale and Collards are out of sight. The garlic and cover crops offer the only green with their wild winter grass, Austrian Winter Peas and Hairy Vetch. It has been so dry (well over 50 days now) that the places that don’t get water from the well are parched and dead.

I had hoped to supply greens for the folks brave enough to come to the market on Saturdays but the cold has brought everything to a halt. I usually go out for my morning coffee and break the ice in the birdbath for the thirsty avians but this morning it was frozen solid. This global warming is killing me!

It is even too cold to pull weeds. Some hardy souls may venture out to tidy things up but I figure it can wait until my fingers won’t turn blue. So, I stay in the study and write blogs like this.

Gardening in West Texas is a challenge. Eight years ago I began improving our sandy/clay/alkaline soil and it is really looking good and growing most vegetables well. Our water is not ideal as it is full of gypsum and sodium but it sustains things until the next good rain. The weather is unpredictable with a sunny warm day on Monday and bitter cold on Tuesday. We have gentle warm breezes one day and fierce and unrelenting winds the next. Now, now, stop crying…I knew what I was getting into! I don’t think I would know how to garden where it rains regularly upon fertile loam and the seasons are predictable.

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

Garden Report for December 2008

Winter has arrived in West Texas. So far, it is a dry one with no rain for more than 50 days! I am thankful to have a good well even if the water is a bit silty and hard. The vegetables don’t seem to mind.

We are still going strong with lots of Swiss Chard (Silverbeet), Kale, Collards, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots and Lettuce coming right along. We also have begun harvesting Sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichokes). We have cover crops of Austrian Winter Peas and Hairy Vetch growing well.

Charamon Garden has made its first venture into the market selling our greens and the last of the Eggplants.  We appeared at the market for three Saturdays but now, with the onset of cold weather, production has slowed to the point where there is not enough surplus to sell.

The market is something that has to be planned for…so…I will do better planning as spring approaches.

An Admirable Enemy

Weeds are a part of gardening that cannot be avoided (unless you garden hydroponically).  In the Charamon Garden we deal with several tenacious weeds.  Some have extremely deep roots and are very drought resistant…and…if you don’t pull out the majority of the root when weeding…it just comes back again.  A good example of this one is the Bindweed.  Get it all and get it before it seeds or it will be your constant companion.

Today I have been dealing with two very successful interlopers: Spurge and Nutgrass (aka Nutsedge).  Spurge is successful because it grows thickly and quickly, produces thousands of seeds (terrible little stickers) and has a long taproot.  Nutgrass is successful because of the way it reproduces.  At the base of the plant a “nut” or tuber develops.  That tuber immediately sends out side rhizomes to form another plant several inches away.  It develops a nut and continues the process (see photos).  The rhizomes become so thin that when you pull the plant out, it easily breaks leaving its “children” to develop independently.  And so the circle of life continues.  If you leave it alone you will soon have a “lawn” of nutgrass in your garden.  You have to admire this particular enemy…a worthy adversary.

Challenges

Charamon Garden is suffering in the heat! We are having very high temperatures the last few weeks and the more tender vegetables are threatening to burn up. I have recently returned from 8 weeks absence (been Down Under where it is winter) and, in spite of my caretaker’s best efforts, most things were looking dreadful.

Nevertheless, we are harvesting very nice eggplant, figs, okra, some green beans, some squash, and absolutely delicious cucumbers. The heirloom tomatoes look to be on their last legs…pity! They may recover if the weather cools off some. In the meantime, we are purchasing Celebrity tomato plants as a backup. We have also planted another bed of sweet corn…the previous attempt failed for reasons unknown.

I put down some dry molasses around some of the vegetables and sprayed all of them with diluted molasses and followed that about four days later with a spraying of homemade Garret Juice. This consists of compost tea, molasses, liquid seaweed and a little vinegar mixed with water. This has been a good “tonic” for the vegetables in the past…so we’ll see if it works this time.

It’s about time to think about fall plantings. In the meantime, eat your veggies…Nonnie and Pop said so!