This blog is allied to, http://www.organicsforbeginners.blogspot.com/ as well as http://www.underberglabyrinth.blogspot.com/. I feel it is necessary putting my results as a seperate blog because this, like the labyrinth, will be an ongoing learning process for me and anybody who would like to join me.
I have been gleaning information from people on the internet who are already using the method of cultivation so I thought I would try and adapt their ideas to suit my system.
I do have ready access to composting material but want to try not using compost per se. I want to experiment using the "Deep Mulch" method.
I have already started experimenting here at home with my veggies on a small scale to see how things go and am really looking forward to the challenge. I have cut back on my planting here due to the monkey problem I have to deal with.
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| The Bed |
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| Beans Planted |
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| Covered and awaiting Germination |
I must mention my "Pestibag" experiment which I am also trying out.
Last season I dried Oreganum, Garlic Chives and, Kakibos which I use in my organic sprays with the idea of putting the mix into little bags which you soak in warm water overnight, then put it on plants. I decided to try putting the bags on the soil to see whether they would keep bugs from chomping my seedlings. (they do have a strongish smell.) Being organic, when used they just get dug into the soil and thus returned to whence they came.
So far so good in that respect because after the week nothing has been eaten........ yet. (I have a little slug problem)
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| 26/11 Transplanted and ready for Mulch (the white bags are pestibags) |
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| The lighter material is Hay Mulch and the darker Calf Bedding mulch |
Now Underberg is the ideal place for this because I do not have any monkey problem there. There are chickens around but them I can deal with.
The last time I was there I noticed that the weeds had started to take over so I figured this would be an ideal time to try getting rid of them using the permaculture method. My plan is to plant runner veggies in the area rather intensively and see whether they will not suppress the weeds. I will open areas by hand using a hand slasher and deep mulch from then on.
So, I dug a few areas where I intend planting pumpkins (to start with) and will work from there.
I did mulch the strawberries and a couple of grapes and fruit and nut trees but to save me repeating myself that record will be kept at the "Underberg Labyrinth Project" blog.
This experiment therefore officially started on 26/11/11. (I wonder what the significance of those numbers are?)
10/12
I cannot believe it is already 2 weeks since I started this little experiment. The way things have grown............ Well see from the pics. Our rain, which is very late has finally arrived so things are growing again. Even so it has been rather cold for this time of the year. (sign of the times).
I have been transplanting mostly Dill and Parsley, all with deep mulch and none watered so far. I do put a little compost in the soil as well but just as a booster.
Yesterday I decided to pull out some of the "Elderly" Parsley to make space for a few beans. (I am waiting to collect the seed). Last season I grew Spinach (Fordhoek Giant) in the same area and did the same thing as I have done with the Parsley, ie, pull them out and leave them in between the rows of Beans to break down to a mulch. I also planted Wheatgrass in a part of the area (see Wheatgrass and Cancerbush) for making powder from as well as it makes an excellent mulch and breaks down rapidly in the soil.
I do use my bath water on this section of the garden, having a pump connected to the bath outlet. I use glycerine (vegetable oil) soap which is organic.
What I can already see is the benefit of deep mulching.
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| The beginning of the experiment 2 weeks on. |
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| This Dill I planted during the drought but only mulched 2 weeks ago |
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| A mulched Bean row with seeding Parsley on the left and "composting" Parsley on the right |
I did go to Underberg this week and planted a couple of Peanuts, not knowing anything about how to plant them, so lets see how it goes.
I also transplanted some Spinach (Fordhoek Giant) and some Chinese Cabbages. These are all with deep mulch.
The Strawberries are really doing well with the mulch. I did not mulch the Tomatoes because of my "other" experiment with them (the mini hot houses).
Everything that I have planted there I have now mulched.
No photos because of the rain.
14/12/11
Underberg today so here are a couple of pics from there. There are a few more on the Labyrinth site.
Things there are really behaving well under deep mulch. Nothing is taking stress and I hardly water after planting seedlings (I water then but thereafter the mulch does an excellent job of keeping the moisture in the soil). It is the rainy season here now but Underberg has not had good rains yet.
I do seem to be having bad luck with Pumpkin and Beans germinating under mulch but it might be too soon to tell yet.
With the Tomato mini tunnels I cut at the top in the middle so water can run onto the plant when it rains and this works amazingly well. I have a photo on the Labyrinth blog of the Tomatoes growing through the roof of their tunnels....... so to speak.
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| Mini Tunnel Tomatoes growing well. These are not deep mulched. Just composted |
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| Deep Mulched Strawberries |
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| Deep Mulched Mint planted today. |
16/12/11
I had a look at the beans I planted on the 10th and am happy to say that one or two are starting to germinate. .
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| Beans starting to grow |
I have also had to put down some grasshopper deterrent because they are chomping a couple of the tender seedlings. (I cannot remember what they are called). As can be seen from the photos I have put down some Kakibos plants to keep them away. I use this so called "weed" as a base for my pestibags and organic sprays.
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| Grasshopper damage |
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| Kakibos around the seedlings |
24/12/11
I have been experimenting using Mint powder in my candles to see whether it will work as a fly deterrent (with a little more experimenting it might work). I mentioned it to a lady who used to have a Herb Society here and yesterday she gave me some Penny Royal (mosquitoes) to plant as well as some Basil (flies) and a couple of Catmint varieties (my cats had discovered a Catnip plant growing close to the house which I have taken rootings from).
These are all planted and I also did a little expriment with a small patch of Wheatgrass where I have been taking seed.
I decided to dig in half of the bed and leave the other half to see which is the best method.
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| From Left to Right. Catnip, True Catnip and Penny Royal with Basil in the background. |
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| Basil surrounded by mulch |
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| Kakibos seems to have helped |
The Kakibos dries very quickly and I have already had to replace it. This is great though because it will be a lovely mulch and hopefully will keep its "aroma" for quite a while.
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| Beans growing through the mulch |
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| Wheatgrass before cutting |
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| After cutting |
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| The section on the right I have dug in. The loose grass on top I will dig in just before planting. |
The pics are of Kakibos which I laid next to beans that are germinating and being targeted by grasshoppers.
I was not sure whether it would affect the Beans germination so am happy to say that NO, they do not.
I have already shown that it is a deterrent with other plants as well without affecting their growth.
The "Pestibags" that I tried with in the beginning take approximately a month before the bag breaks down and all becomes one with the soil again. I use cheese cloth as the bag.
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| Kakibos in between the growing beans |
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| Bean with grasshopper damage and Kakibos |
