The chickens are putting themselves to bed a little earlier every night, but I refuse to believe that summer is over. Temperatures will remain in the high 80’s for at least another month here in Los Angeles. Soon we’ll be starting seeds for fall, but right now it’s harvest time. Enjoy this Wordless Wednesday as summer fades.
Enjoy these final weeks of warm weather and sunshine. Fall will be here before you know it and cool season crops will sparkle once again.
Hi Christy (aka Gardenerd)
I live on Moore St – you helped plan out my raised beds a few years back. Things have been good. This year I saw more weeds in the beds then the last two years prior. It is the first year I decide not the turn the soil before planting due to reading about different schools of thought about that. I read about sequestering carbon in the soil by not turning it and about leaving the biology of the soil as it is and not disturbing the layers of action going on by turning, but I am wondering if it caused more weeds to show up. Curious if you have a thought or answer about my wonder. And what are your thoughts on turning soil in raised beds.
Also, I read a previous newsletter of yours that you mentioned your husband thinks the goji berries taste like tomatoes and you wrote “explain that” – well…..they are in the nightshade family that’s why. 🙂 They are related. He was spot on without knowing. Thought I would throw that info your way. Love all your pictures and advice and sharing and knowledge.
Thank you
Shannon Matheson
HI Shannon! Weeds are more prevalent in bacterially-dominant soils, which vegetable gardens generally are. It’s possible that your soil has become even more bacterially dominant over the last couple of years. If you put down chip bark around the plants, it will help foster more fungal development (mulch is a fungal food) and that will help suppress weeds at the same time. The bottom line is that weeds don’t grow in fungal-dominant soils.
Also, you’re right to not turn your soil. You will end up with surface weeds or volunteer plants popping up in any vegetable garden (especially if there are birds hanging around). Turning the soil disrupts the biology. That said you can dig into the top few inches of soil to remove weeds anytime, and microbes won’t be bothered. The important fun-guys are down in the rhizosphere.
Thanks for the info on goji berries. I’m sure he’ll be happy to know he’s not crazy for thinking they taste like tomatoes.