I've been amazed by the number of people who don't connect peppers, tomatoes and lime together. I have found lime reduces the amount of blossom end rot and creates healthier, happier plants. Where I live, the soil tends to have a lot of clay. Throughout time, growers here have learned to dump bags of lime in soil prior to planting - and throughout the year. I typically add a quart of lime per plant at the beginning of the season and then another good handful halfway through the summer.
Greta Lint Asheboro, N.C. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Lisa Dufresne Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 5:35 PM To: Diann Dirks; Community Gardens; IMI 360 Subject: Re: [Community_garden] What to plant? Scott, I had insanely acidic soil (pH was about 5.2) when I first started gardening in my current home. Plants that adapted included potatoes, strawberries, raspberries (we're talking crazy happy), broccoli, cilantro, pickling cukes, brussel sprouts, and zucchini. What did really badly were tomatoes, basil, onions, carrots, asparagus, and corn. The tomatoes were pathetic. The things that grew bad got much better over the past five years of liming the soil. The tomatoes were the most profound. Corn too. But while peppers are better now (bell and jalapeno), it's not as significant as the other veggies. Don't take this as any kind of scientific study! But I've used lime and wood ashes to sweeten the soil and over the years it's worked wonders. Good luck! ----- Original Message ----- From: "Diann Dirks" <[email protected]> To: "Community Gardens" <[email protected]>; "IMI 360" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 4:20 PM Subject: Re: [Community_garden] What to plant? > Dear Scott, > Acid loving plants such as okra, blueberries, etc. would be fine. However, > I suggest you do a google search on sheet mulching (also known as lasagna > gardening) and build a soil bed where anything can grow. That way you > don't have to do much more soil tilling, and you control what you put in > it. > Best, Diann Dirks, Permaculture Designer > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "IMI 360" <[email protected]> > To: "Community Gardens" <[email protected]> > Sent: Tuesday, May 26, 2009 3:14 PM > Subject: [Community_garden] What to plant? > > >>> Hello all, >>> >>> My parents have just had a giant Blue Spruce removed from their back >>> yard (yes, I'm sad to see it go, I grew up in its branches...), and >>> they want to use part of the newly available space to plant a garden. >>> The process of digging up the roots has mixed up the soil fairly well, >>> and we have a good pile of compost to add to it, but we're concerned >>> that the soil will be too acidic from the spruce needles and that the >>> soil in general will be fairly low quality. >>> >>> So, I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for vegetables or edible >>> plants that would be: >>> +ok with spruce soil >>> +fairly hardy >>> +can be planted in the next week or so in Calgary >>> +could potentially improve the soil (ie. nitrogen fixing) >>> >>> My dad is thinking potatoes, but there's a lot of space so it would be >>> nice to mix things up. :) >>> >>> Thanks for your thoughts, >>> Scott >>> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of >> ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and >> to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org >> >> To post an e-mail to the list: [email protected] >> >> To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: >> http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.commu nitygarden.org >> > > > _______________________________________________ > The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of > ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and > to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org > > To post an e-mail to the list: [email protected] > > To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: > http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.commu nitygarden.org > _______________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.commu nitygarden.org _______________________________________________ The American Community Gardening Association listserve is only one of ACGA's services to community gardeners. To learn more about the ACGA and to find out how to join, please go to http://www.communitygarden.org To post an e-mail to the list: [email protected] To subscribe, unsubscribe or change your subscription: http://list.communitygarden.org/mailman/listinfo/community_garden_list.communitygarden.org
