Using Low Tunnels In A Very Wet Marine Climate
We put up some low tunnels last year to help us with our project of over wintering produce. I limed the soil, fertilized, and added some composted manure, then rototilled it all in. I planted a variety of winter lettuce, kale, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, and garlic. The broccoli and cauliflower were an expirement in what will over winter and give us produce earlier in the spring. They died almost immediatly of course. The rest died when we had a really hard frost in December. So today I decided to go out and uncover the tunnels and see what the damage was and what I needed to do to try it again with early plantings, testing the limits of how early I can start in these low tunnels. Low and behold....I've got mold, although someone said it might be algae since it's been so wet this year. I sent a picture to an expert and we'll see what gives when I get an answer. If this is going to be a re-occuring problem I might as well wait until spring to do all that work before planting.
We put up some low tunnels last year to help us with our project of over wintering produce. I limed the soil, fertilized, and added some composted manure, then rototilled it all in. I planted a variety of winter lettuce, kale, onions, broccoli, cauliflower, and garlic. The broccoli and cauliflower were an expirement in what will over winter and give us produce earlier in the spring. They died almost immediatly of course. The rest died when we had a really hard frost in December. So today I decided to go out and uncover the tunnels and see what the damage was and what I needed to do to try it again with early plantings, testing the limits of how early I can start in these low tunnels. Low and behold....I've got mold, although someone said it might be algae since it's been so wet this year. I sent a picture to an expert and we'll see what gives when I get an answer. If this is going to be a re-occuring problem I might as well wait until spring to do all that work before planting.
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1 comment:
Did he say it was something that would effect the seedlings/plants? Maybe to shorten the tunnels & leave the ends open on windy warmer days would help. Or maybe mounding the dirt in your row so it won't hold as much moisture. There just has to be away to make it work I think-lol.
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