Farm Update - Fall 2010

A look at the cool weather crops growing on the farm

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• organic
• garden
• farm
• lettuce
• bees
• collards
• radishes
• potatoes
• peas
• broccoli
• cover
• crops
• green
• manure

[stymye]

hi mark , how did your tomatoes do last year ? we had the big nashville flood than drought than a serious round of blight .. not a good season.

[markhess]

@stymye Not as well as I would like; in fact, I think it was due a lot to lack of water. However, this year, I am installing a drip irrigation system so we'll see if they do better! In fact, I'll be transplanting them to the farm next week (how exciting - gardening season is finally arriving) - Mark

[MrSybertek]

Hi Mark, Sorry forgot to change it where it says from Miami. I moved here to Georgia in 2005. The day i messaged you there were no heads of broccoli but when I went out today one has a head on it now. I probably gave them to much organic compost tea in the beginning and they got to tall but i was surprised to see one had a head today so I am just too impatient I guess. Thanks for the great info. Yours look great by the way.

[markhess]

@MrSybertek ah, a neighbor! :) Yes, then patience is probably your solution . . . often the hardest solution. We are about 25 mins south of the Atlanta airport; if you are ever in our neck of the woods, let me know and I'll give you a farm tour. Actually, if you go to Google maps and enter "Back-2-Nature Farm, Georgia" you can see our exact location. - Mark

[MrSybertek]

Hi Mark, Glad to see you back on. Sorry about your chickens. Hey can you think of a reason why my brocolli has grown to almost 3 feet tall and has not given anything yet. They are super healthy and getting sun all day but I don't think they are suppose to get that tall are they?

[markhess]

@MrSybertek I have two "guesses." First, living in Miami, you might have planted them too early. Broccoli needs cool nights to form heads (may be a challenge in your zone). Second, you might have given them too much fertilizer. While broccoli is a heavy feeder, it might react similar to peppers with too much fertilizer and produce nice luscious plants but no fruit. Try using shade cloth to see if you can lower the temps some - that might help. - Mark

[hazzardd01]

that was a great educational video and i look forward to more(from one cuz to another)

[MIgardener]

so glad i found these videos! very good speaking and tons of land! love the videos!

[MrSybertek]

@markhess Hi Mark, hey sounds great. I will have to take you up on that one of these days when I get a break. I have become so addicted to growing and gardening that I cannot get enough of it, especially learning more from people like you. Actually one of your videos was the start of my gardening. It was the one where you showed you growing your melons vertically on the construction fencing then got into the heirloom seeds and organic route and all I can say is wow what a difference in quality.

[markhess]

@tvtoms Yes it is too bad, however, we'll try again this spring and make sure they stay better protected! - Mark