Episode-2746- A Gardener Looks Ahead to Winter
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This is an interesting time for a gardener in Texas and much of the south, anything USDA zone 7-9 honestly. The heat has fully broken, some rain has returned, night are chilly but days are sunny and warm. Sounds like spring, and it is just like spring except we are going down into winter instead of up into summer.
My place is literally exploding with second growth in my gardens, some of it is things I have never even seen happen before. And yet I know it can’t last, 90% of what is growing now won’t survive the first good frost. The average date for that in my area is Nov. 9th, only about 33 days away. And yet some years I have seen the first frost arrive the week of Thanksgiving, in others not until almost Christmas.
Ah the unknown!
Still at this point actions must be taken, cold weather crops must go in, soil building steps must be taken, cover crops must be sowed and plans must be put in motion.
Join Me Today to Discuss…
- Observation and interaction feedback from 2020
- Asian Egg Plant is Amazing, but plant less
- Texas Wild Tomato is a fricken weed and is coming back after being cut to the ground
- Seminole pumpkin and trombochino squash are honey badgers
- Plant Red Noodle beans and Scarlet Runners Earlier Next Year
- I can grow Caledula though our summers
- Hydro tomatoes were a flop this year
- Leave larger gaps at the bottom or trellises on the back side of double reach beds
- Aviary production needs more simplification and frankly a reduction in total plants
- Things to be doing or planning now
- Get those winter crops in for me it is broccoli, kale, daikon and some others
- Seed saving selections
- Start preserving the surplus fast, you just don’t know when the final bell will ring
- Time to plan out the next years planting plan
- Fertilize, feed, mulch, cover crop, feed those worms
- Map out 2021 expansion plans (berry beds, herb beds)
- Irrigation system design and install must come soon
- Winter Production Plans
- Greenhouse hydro production will be more than we need for salad greens
- Gardens can product all winter long with many crops, broccoli, kale, carrot, etc.
- A compete shop rebuild will take up a lot of my time
- I am really looking forward to the holidays this year, big time, plan to do NOTHING and succeed at it
- Final Thoughts – What are you going to do in the next few months
Resources for today’s show…
- Follow Life With Jack on Instagram
- TSP Facebook Group
- Join the Members Brigade
- Join Our Forum
- TspAz.com
- You Just Can’t See Him from the Road – Chris Ledoux
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Chris LeDoux’s ‘Simple as Dirt’ might have been another good choice.
I wouldn’t use sawzall on the hog panels. I would use an angle grinder with a cutting disc wheel. This year I bought two expensive upper end rabbit cages and the materials to make and repair my own cages. I’ve made 4 and some rabbitry accessories. The wheel is way better than the recip saw for cage material, my point of view comes mostly from this experience. But I have also used panels for a raised potato bed and trellises too. Using the wheel you can back angle your cuts so they aren’t sticking out they are kind of beveled without leaving sharp artifacts.
I did both the sawzall gives a closer cut easier. As to the roughness of the edge there is no real difference. Key is again not letting the stock vibrate with the saw. Now like cutting more typical cage material, grinder all the way. Especially like 1/4 hardware cloth, etc.