So I have been experimenting with a "lasagna garden" this year. Last year I had a regular tilled organic garden, while this year I have not tilled. The results have been amazing. The first few weeks after I put in my lasagna beds I pulled numerous grain/grass seedlings due to using fresh/green manure. Since then I have spent more time individually planting, training & tying vines, and harvesting the garden than pulling weeds.
This morning I went out and tended the garden. I spent about 10 minutes tying my tomatoes. I have to do this every 2-3 days because some of the vines grow 3-4 inches a day. Then I trained my cucumbers to their trellis, about 10 minutes. The ones that were too short were tied to the 2"x4" wire mesh with some cotton string. Then I moved to my pumpkins, melons, gourds, and winter squash I have given them an obstacle to grow over. It is less of a trellis and more a way to get them to use more vertical space than ground space. Training those vines took about 10 minutes too. While doing all of these task I kept an eye out for weeds. I spent maybe 5 additional minutes pulling weeds.
For the past few weeks I have spent more time harvesting greens than pulling weeds. I have also been keeping an eye out for squash bugs, cutworms, and vine borers. Saturday I found 3 cut worms on my tomato plants and one of my pepper plants has been cut half in two (but it should survive). I pick these three off of my plants, but leave most other bugs alone. Wasp do most of my insecticidal work. I don't bother picking bugs off of my greens, I have an abundance and it gives a constant food supply to the wasp. There are also a couple of sacrificial plants around the garden. I planted Amaranth (for seed) and japanese giant red mustard which is really hot. The bugs love both of these and leave most of the other plants alone. I have also planted Sweet Asylum thru the garden which attracts other predatory insects.
I will keep you posted on what I think of this method of gardening, but for now I am sold.
This morning I went out and tended the garden. I spent about 10 minutes tying my tomatoes. I have to do this every 2-3 days because some of the vines grow 3-4 inches a day. Then I trained my cucumbers to their trellis, about 10 minutes. The ones that were too short were tied to the 2"x4" wire mesh with some cotton string. Then I moved to my pumpkins, melons, gourds, and winter squash I have given them an obstacle to grow over. It is less of a trellis and more a way to get them to use more vertical space than ground space. Training those vines took about 10 minutes too. While doing all of these task I kept an eye out for weeds. I spent maybe 5 additional minutes pulling weeds.
For the past few weeks I have spent more time harvesting greens than pulling weeds. I have also been keeping an eye out for squash bugs, cutworms, and vine borers. Saturday I found 3 cut worms on my tomato plants and one of my pepper plants has been cut half in two (but it should survive). I pick these three off of my plants, but leave most other bugs alone. Wasp do most of my insecticidal work. I don't bother picking bugs off of my greens, I have an abundance and it gives a constant food supply to the wasp. There are also a couple of sacrificial plants around the garden. I planted Amaranth (for seed) and japanese giant red mustard which is really hot. The bugs love both of these and leave most of the other plants alone. I have also planted Sweet Asylum thru the garden which attracts other predatory insects.
I will keep you posted on what I think of this method of gardening, but for now I am sold.
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