Whew, have we cooled off! Now 9:30 and only in the low 50's according to our atomic clock/thermometer....only 48 by AOL weather. Supposed to be 41 tonight! Looks like our planned wood splitting session today is not a bit too early. We have been delayed this year due to an excess of "other" projects and am beginning to feel pretty uneasy with the woodshed only having three ricks in it (6'x14"x7' ). Last year we used 7 of the 10 that we stored. So, we have a way to go. We are using some nice big red oaks that have fallen on the farm this year. Guess they must have some type of disease as they look entirely healthy one day and just keeled over to reveal NO roots. Amazing and a trend that I hope does not continue though it provides us with a nice wood supply for the moment. My favorite little Gray Japanese Banty came off her nest with 5 of the very smallest, little, black, puff balls on Tuesday. Had been hoping that she would hatch some of this setting as an earlier try produced no viable babies. Swept out and washed down the walls of a new "room" in the ancient hen house, put some bedding on the floor and installed her with the babies immediately. Last night we put a heat light in there for her....spoiling her a bit, I know, but she is the sweetest little thing and the only hen of that breed that we have. Sure hope some of the little ones are hens! Am busily gathering and collecting seeds from my zinnia bed. Had thought we would enjoy having some for cutting and we have.....will have a bigger patch next year. They were the most productive part of the garden this year due to our extreme temps and drought in July. We still have a considerable amount of brush hogging to do but have been beset by rains that have kept the undergrowth green and moist. After July passing without a drop of rain here it seems bizarre to have to postpone so things can dry out. Sure is great hearing what everyone is doing at this time of year....you all will hopefully keep us "on track". This is just our third Fall on the farm....moved here in '03 after living in SW Florida for 24 years. Love the change of seasons and being back "home" again but we are kind of out of practice in the "getting ready for winter" department!

Here's the question: In your opinion..do I really need to fertilize these plants in these conditions? Or would it be sufficient to feel the tomatoes (which I realize are heavy feeders) with a solution of compost or manure tea? I see so many points of information here and elsewhere that I admit I'm thoroughly confused. I realize the question I am quoting is from March 2006 and the thread has long since diverged into another (interesting) discussion, but I think the question posed is well worth spending a bit of time on. The question, as I read it is this: Do I need to fertilize (name the plant here) if I grow it in (fill in the growing medium here). The answer is, the plant will tell you. Unfortunately the plant won't tell you in a timely manner. It will tell you only after you notice the effects of the plant getting too much or too little of something. There really is no shortcut to experience and don't be in any rush to have perfect growing results from day one. There is always the farmer's market or grocery when the garden plants fail ;-) It simply takes time to learn what conditions a given plant does best in and all the guides in the world are, at best, approximations and often they are simply inaccurate or only accurate in the writer's growing conditions. As an example, srburk said in his OP that he realizes tomatos are heavy feeders. Now, where did s/he get that idea from? No criticism of srburk intended at all, it is a common misperception propagated by many sources. Tomatos are not heavy feeders, they are moderate feeders. This is an example of the kind of misinformation involved in gardening that is spread by many otherwise helpful and knowlegable sources. How on earth can the newbie seperate the wheat from the chaff? It can't really be done. Nothing short cuts experience with a plant. Whether or not a plant requires supplemental fertilization or not can really only be determined by the grower after observing the plant. If you know you are growing in a nutrient poor condition (like growing in containers) then you can pretty much be assured that supplementation will be required, but when growing in soil amended with organic matter, the plants simply have to be observed. There is no short cut.

I'm panicking to say the least! When I ordered the chickens the women said they would be here my the middle to end of May. Then yesterday morning I get an email from her saying the chickens would be here onthe 9th or 10th!!! Guess what?...I still haven't built the darn coop yet! Soo I spent (with list of stuff needed) 2 1/2 hours at LW's with a very helpful young man who helped me every step of the way as I had no clue whatsoever what I was doing. I was exhausted! My DH being a very busy recruiter that he is had no choice but to send me to do this. Now we have all the stuff and he plans on putting it together after work (and he has to work this Sat.) BUT it is raining the 3 days and so that leaves us 2 days to have this completed! I need a paper bag! No, I'm ok, just remain calm. It's not a big coop/run at all and the guy we bought the plans from said it should take no more than a day or two. We are going to be cutting it VERY close! On the bright side I am soooo excited that they are finally arriving! I actualy dreamed about them last night how silly I know. I will most definatley post pic's. Well first I have to get a battery for my camera. :O) Meghan

Memo, As you know, I have sandy soil too. I have a few suggestions, even though I know you are as likely as me to already know and do these things: 1. If you can, buy a big bag of Miracle Grow "potting soil" and lightly dig it in around your strawberry plants. One or two big bag should be enough to do all of your beds around the base of your house. You just want to add a little to amend your sandy soil, not replace it. That will help your sandy soil retain moisture better and give your plants a little boost to get their roots started. I have added bags of peat in the past two years and have seen much improvement in growing more kinds of plants in my sandy soil because it adds acidity and help hold moisture. It lowers the pH of your soil so it is not so alkaline. 2. Give your strawberry plants a shot of Miracle Grow plant food mixed with water. Use the tiny scoop size that comes in the package mixed with a gallon of water. This inoculation will perk them right up within a few hours or overnight. I often use it when I set out soft tissue plants, like annuals, as it prevents or at least reduces transplant wilt caused by shock to their root system - their roots no longer can draw up water and nutrients and produce the sugars they need, so they go into shock...or...transplant wilt. The inoculation is like giving a fix to a junky. :) Once a week will continue to help them and hold them over until they can sink their roots into the soil and do it themselves. 3. If you drink coffee or tea, start throwing your grounds (and other kitchen waste) in your veggie garden plot. It is amazing what that does to your veggie garden soil and will not burn your plants. You can dig it right into your spaces between plants, too. Just make sure you cut everything up into small pieces so it rots fast and doesn't attract stink and/or attract critters. 4. For your Veggie Garden and Strawberry plants: Make a bucket of manure tea to water/feed them. They will reward you greatly for it. Put cow, sheep, horse or rabbit manure into a gallon bucket, add water. Let sit for at least a week in a cool, shady place. Then, dilute it with water, two parts water to one part manure tea, and water your plants with it. You will NOT get Ecoli from the manure tea. 5. Put hay or pine straw around your strawberry plants. They do better if their leaves don't get wet. They tend to get moldy and diseases and then die. Don't overwater. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings. Once berries begin to ripen, stop watering, unless there you are having drought like conditions. The fruit will be sweeter and they will not rot. 6. Sawdust that has not been composted down will zap the nitrogen right out of your soil - BEWARE. Stick to hay and grass clippings or pine straw. Doing these things and using your grass clippings and hay mulch will really get things off to a good start. Even if you know to do these things, others might not. ~Annie