Spring 2010

Spring is here, we might get one more spring snow but for the most part the cold days and nights are over for now.
I harvested some asparagus yesterday, about 3 lbs. Made some wonderful soup with it. It is looking like this year will be good for my asparagus. I have three rows they are 1, 2, and 3 years old so I should get just enough for us.
The elephant garlic has nice leaves on them now, and I have some table garlic that I must have missed last year coming up, so we should get some garlic. The onions have started to show along with some of the raspberry. I have decided to only plant ½ the garden in vegetables this year and the rest in herbs and flowers. I planted some field flowers in a area about 20 x 20 I hope that they come up it should be really nice.
I have planted carrots, beats, Swiss chard, and kale. I hope today I can get the beans, peas, and cabbage in the ground. (I know I am running late on that but that is my life right now)
I had a class on trough making, I think it went well. It looked like everyone learned something and had a good time.
Now I have some troughs that I will have to plant up. I will but flowers and herbs in my troughs. I think that troughs just mix up the garden enough to make it fun. If you haven't made a trough yet you may want to give it a try. Troughs are a fun way to garden.



Till next time

Happy gardening

More Troughs

I have written and put up videos on you tube (http://www.youtube.com/user/HighPlainsGardening ) and it seems that people can't get enough of them. (I think that is just great)
The troughs are made out of hypertufa, that is a mixture of Portland cement, peat moss, sand, and perlite. (That is the most common ingredients) They are lighter than stone or concrete. It is durable and once it is weathered and cured will hold up to the weather just fine. To make a trough you just add one part of each Portland cement, peat moss and perlite add just enough water tell the mixture is like cottage cheese but will hold together when pressed. Let stand for 10 or 15 minutes, this step is very important. After your set time check to see if the mixture is still holding together. If it is to dry add a little water, if to wet add some peat moss. For a mold you can use two boxes one smaller than the other. But the larger box in a trash bag with the opening on the out side of the box but mixture about 1 to 2 inches thick in the bottom and tamp down. Take the other box put in a trash bag with the opening on the inside of the box but smaller box in side toe larger box fill with play sand now make sure the smaller box is the same distance away from all the sides. Fill the sides with mixture tamp down. Let set for seven days to dry and cure. Remove sand, open bag remove box, remove bag. Now carefully tip your trough and box up side down and remove. If it wont come out you can tare the box to get the pot out. You can set the pot out side for a few weeks than put plants in your mew trough. For more information go to my you tube channel for videos of how I have made my troughs.
I hope you give this a try.
I give classes through the Pueblo County Master Gardeners program once or twice a year. Taking a class on hypertufa is fun and ease than doing it on your own. Classes run form $20.00 to $75.00 per person depending on where you take the class. Some classes are filled up a year ahead of time.


Till next time
Happy Trough Making / Planting