We have a new row of Raspberries planted

I recently purchased twelve raspberry plants form Stark Bros. I purchased 6 Crimson Night and 6 Double Gold raspberries. Also ordered 4 American Cranberry plants but haven’t found the location I want for them yet.

We installed a new metal roof on the barn lean over the summer and never got around to cleaning up all the old asphalt shingles. So I always new I wanted some kind of berry line along that wall. I decided to knock out two things at once. With the clean up of the shingles and got started inspecting the weeds. I pulled all the vine weeds and raked the soil very well to ensure there wasn’t anymore roofing nails, shingles, cedar shake.

After the cleanup I measured out a 30 foot row and tilled out the row to about 3 foot wide. Once this was well tilled I added organic all purpose garden fertilizer. Tilled Berry row

Then once again I tilled it in. Now I am a good tilth to about 10 inches deep. For the final step in soil preparation I added 3 to 4 inches of compost. This is my own compost form the manures on the farm. Finally the soil is perfect and full of nutrients perfect for the new raspberry plants.

Planting the Raspberries

I planted my plants about 6 inches in front of the drip line of the lean roof. We plan on adding gutters in the future and drain it into the back pond but for now this will work. Also I spaced the plants a little more than 2 feet apart. Between the two types I added an extra foot of space. this was to leave room for the soon to come trellis support.

I plan on making a “Clothes line” trellis. With three upright 4×4’s and a T-brace on top. I will run metal cabling every two feet up the trellis and foot out in front and back at the top. This will spread the canes to allow more air flow.

Keep up to date on the new raspberry row here!

Different types of Manures

I am always looking for new and old methods for gardening. It’s that time of year where most of the garden will get pulled and prepared for next year. That means all the improvements, soil and fencing, are needed to be accomplished. Any expansions and amendments, like manures, to the garden should be done in the fall.

NPK of Manures — Chart from https://www.thespruce.com/adding-manure-1401910

While looking for ideas I came across an article on manures. (Read the article here) I do have lots of that. We are up to 64 animals currently. Also the compost bins are getting pretty full. So, I did some digging around about manures and found from this article that I was blessed with the best poop! Yes, the best poop. Chicken, rabbit, llama manures are all high in NPK ratio. I found that duck manure is similar as chicken manure.

Why add in the manure in the fall?

Adding the manure in the fall allows it to rest for several months before growing vegetables. “Hot” manures like chicken and duck manures need to be composted or have rested for 6 months. This protects you from burning the garden plants. Adding manure in October, the manure would have rested in for six months by March.

Also adding organic matter into the soil in the fall improves the soil structure, attracts beneficial microbes, and earth worms. This gives me a head start on the next growing season. The ground will be soft and not compacted, easy to work with. Another benefit of adding to the garden now is that the unfinished compost will finish in the garden when you till it in.

My plans for this fall

I am planing on expanding the garden by 4 times its current size. The test location I created this past spring proved successful but not without its setbacks. The garden will be wrapped with a three rail split rail fence. Also the fence with will lined with 2×4 welded wire. One of the largest issues I faced this past season is the ducks and chickens stealing my veggies.

Next on the garden project list is to turn over the new expanded plot and till in all the compost I have in the bins. Since the bins are all full currently it will be a big relief to clear them out for winter. This will give be instant better soil structure. I will also be using the lawn sweeper to gather lots of leaves to till into the soil as well.

Finally I am adding a couple cold frames so I may keep harvesting greens all winter long. The rest of the garden is receiving a “green manure” which is a cover crop mix. This will help with fixing the nitrogen in the soil as well keep the freshly tilled garden loose with its deep roots.

More to come in the following weeks!