The local feed store finally got their annual garden plants in.
I like to grow rosemary for baking into bread. Rosemary is the only garden plant I’ve seen that does well in this environment*, and for a wonder the rodents leave it alone. But they don’t last forever, and my rosemary plant died over the winter. It wasn’t unexpected; this isn’t the first time I’ve had to replant.
🙂 And so now that’s done. Been watching the feed store every time D&L stopped there, for over a month.
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*All over the crappy little town nearest where I live, big gardens are going in. They have the same basic soil I do, I assume, and the same climate: How can they garden when nobody up here in the hills can? I can guess that generations of soil amendment and some level of knowledge has something to do with it, but seriously: at planting time that town is like a pocket dimension that gets big trees and lawns and lush gardens without apparently even trying very hard. All I can grow is rocks and rosemary.
I don’t know whether it’s worth it to you, but have you tried bringing the rosemary plants inside when the weather gets cold?
Where I live, rosemary and most other herbs can stay outside all year, but they generally don’t much like to spend long times below freezing.
Might keep you company through some of those long Januarys you have. 🙂
Considered it. I really don’t have a place for it indoors, or I probably would.
Have you ever considered trying to amend a patch of your yard with local organics, just as horse or cattle manure? You seem to have an abundance of both, and a squared off area turned into an elevated garden might be a worthwhile project. If successful then you could expand it yearly.
Just a thought.
Gah. “Just as” should be “Such as”.
What is the water condition “in town” as compared to that at the Lair???
They have diverted an entire creek into town for the sole purpose of irrigation. Pipes and old-fashioned valves at every intersection, it’s wild. I gather that there are complicated rules about water rights.
And as a result, THEIR water – at least for irrigation purposes – are less problematic than yours would be.
What about the water for the cattle and horses and goats — are any of them affected by your water like your dog was?
As far as I can tell, the livestock drinks the water without harm. It might just be that they’re slaughtered before urinary problems can kill them. But something else kills a small percentage of the cattle over time, as occasional bone fields testify.
Here’s something you can do. Take soil samples to the local county agriculture agency, or send them. They’ll ‘usually’ do a sample analysis free of charge, or for minimal cost.
The analyses will tell you what you need to add to the soil to allow ‘normal’ plants to grow.
An added benefit is that the Ag Agency will also be able to give you a list of plants that will grow well, and what care is needed, planting schedules, all of that.
Ag Agencies aren’t just for Big Agriculture. They’re actually better for hobby farms and kitchen garden situations.
It’s worth a try. You can probably find them or an equivalent state agency via the interwebs and find out what’s needed and what they can do for you.