tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post8218565870732896454..comments2024-03-23T05:42:07.516-04:00Comments on The Deliberate Agrarian: My Garlic-Planting TemplateHerrick Kimballhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-56980135540230586972015-10-25T19:45:16.904-04:002015-10-25T19:45:16.904-04:00Anonymous—
I never water my garlic beds. The clov...Anonymous—<br /><br />I never water my garlic beds. The clove spacing in the bed is far enough apart that subsoil capillary action is sufficient to supply the water needs of the growing garlic. The soil is always moist under the plastic. If I were to plant with close spacing (as many people do in garden beds) capillary soil moisture would not be enough and some sort of artificial watering would be necessary. Also, this is central NY state and we do not have a dry climate, like some southern climes. Which is to say, this method works well for me here. It might not work the same elsewhere. Good question.Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-76801947357530723462015-10-25T19:35:12.041-04:002015-10-25T19:35:12.041-04:00Does the garlic get enough water through the holes...Does the garlic get enough water through the holes or do you add water drip lines under the plastic? Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-12374105972691785522015-10-25T12:48:20.662-04:002015-10-25T12:48:20.662-04:00Mary J—
As for plastic mulch.... after resisting ...Mary J—<br /><br />As for plastic mulch.... after resisting it's use for decades I succumbed to the temptation, and my garden has been all the better for it. I've written about my decision to try plastic in the following two essays...<br /><br /><a href="http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/2014/05/occulation-covers-in-garden.html" rel="nofollow">Occultation Covers In The Garden</a><br /><br /><a href="http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/2014/04/deliberate-agrarian-snippet-13-long.html" rel="nofollow">Long Lasting Plastic Mulch</a><br /><br />Thanks for asking.Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-32071645776210240532015-10-25T12:43:12.204-04:002015-10-25T12:43:12.204-04:00Hello MaryJ—
Yes, I garden organically. I've ...Hello MaryJ—<br /><br />Yes, I garden organically. I've been an avid organic gardener since I was a teenager and lived in a suburban housing project. A lot of people had gardens back then. Mr. Pezzolezi lived across the road. He was an avid organic gardener (obsessed with making compost) who had a particularly nice garden. He let me borrow some of his "Organic Gardening & Farming" magazines and they resonated with me. I subscribed in 1971. I think OGF was the first magazine that I ever subscribed to. I was organic before organic was cool. :-)<br /><br />That said, in my "Planet Whizbang Idea Book For Gardeners" I explain a couple of logical disconnects in the organic dogma, as espoused for decades by Rodale press and their organic advocacy. That isn't to criticize the organic movement in any way— only to say that nutrient density (nutritional value) of food does not come from an absence of chemical pesticides, and compost alone is not the universal answer to proper fertilization. I wish it was.<br /><br />Best wishes.<br /><br /><br /><br />Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-17539817274629174222015-10-25T10:54:47.459-04:002015-10-25T10:54:47.459-04:00Hello Herrick,
I totally love all of your blogs p...Hello Herrick, <br />I totally love all of your blogs posts, they are so interesting and informative. Hoping one day to really read and study some of your gardening practices. I do have a couple questions: do you garden organically and what was your reasoning behind switching to the plastic. I don't mind why if you have already addressed that question, if you will link to you post.<br /><br />Thanks, and God Bless all your efforts.<br />MaryMaryJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03313366699379478658noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-46332516154491349632015-10-24T10:02:07.722-04:002015-10-24T10:02:07.722-04:00Hi Scott—
There is no reason why the planting tem...Hi Scott—<br /><br />There is no reason why the planting template can't be shorter. It actually makes good sense because the long template is awkward for one person to pick up an move (windy days make it more awkward). And, as you say, storage would be easier. If my long template ever degrades to an unusable state (it's laying on the ground under my shop when not in use) I'll make a shorter one. Planting as you go makes sense too. Just put a clove in the center of each hole and plant it after you move the template. I like that! <br /><br />your comment is an example of good ideas being improved on, which is what I write about in the Introduction to the Garden Idea book. Thanks for the comment.Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-54248005318924353142015-10-24T08:51:08.992-04:002015-10-24T08:51:08.992-04:00Hi Herrick,
I bought your gardening and garlic bo...Hi Herrick,<br /><br />I bought your gardening and garlic books. This year will be my first experience with planting garlic and I'm going to plant two varieties...about 40-45 cloves, with the intent to save enough to expand my planting next year, and hopefully again, the year after that.<br /><br />For the template, I followed your guide but made it 2' x 2' for a couple of reasons: first, my "starter" bed isn't eight feet long, and, secondly, just to make it a little easier to store and carry and move myself. I figured it would be easy enough to just move and align as I go. I'm planting next week so we'll see how it works! I also made mine out of the thin plywood made for underlayment and gave it a coat of tung oil.<br /><br />Have you ever tried just planting as you go, rather than marking with flour and having to go back? <br /><br />Thanks for all the great ideas and inspiration. I really enjoy reading your blog.Scott Cooperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06553047245729094897noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-81073296242889766652015-10-24T06:50:25.373-04:002015-10-24T06:50:25.373-04:00Hi Bill,
I used to plant my garlic and mulch heav...Hi Bill,<br /><br />I used to plant my garlic and mulch heavily with straw, and no plastic. I was dead-set against the idea of using any plastic mulch at the time. Heavy straw works very well. But it has become a costly. This link has pictures of my heavy-straw-mulched garlic beds back in 2007...<br /><br /><a href="http://thedeliberateagrarian.blogspot.com/2007/07/making-pickled-garlic-scapes.html" rel="nofollow">Making Pickled Garlic Scapes</a>Herrick Kimballhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17116051416696885647noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13729569.post-61981859016883847962015-10-24T05:06:19.740-04:002015-10-24T05:06:19.740-04:00The template looks like a great idea! I find that ...The template looks like a great idea! I find that it's easy to "lose my place" when planting garlic. I may try to create something like that to use in the future (this years garlic is already planted).<br /><br />I immediately cover the bed with a layer of straw, but now I'm wondering if it would be best to leave it uncovered until after a rain. I'm not sold on the plastic idea (although the weed-free bed looks enticing), but straw helps with the weeds, even though some years I get a lot of wheat seedlings coming up with the garlic, and that is a pain.Billhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08859125602809246773noreply@blogger.com