Garden Chronology of Colt Mazeau

2000 (Year 2)

This year I expanded the security zone (described below) and divided it into six equally-sized subplots with pathways between them. Mulched as much as I could of the pathways and areas outside the fencing with leaf mulch. I designated the security zone as the annuals section of my garden and areas outside the security zone as the perennials section. Established the following crop rotation scheme: half of the six subplots will be bean crops, and the other half will be non-bean crops. The subplots are alternated so that when I do a clockwise one-tick rotation each year, beans will replace non-beans and vice-versa.

INVESTMENTS:: Leased plot, $30; chicken wire fence and fence stakes, $33; miscellaneous seeds and supplies, $9. Total: $72
WEEDS:: One problem last year was the ever-constant encroachment of large weed growth from the two neighboring untended plots. To encourage someone to lease the plot on my left-hand side, I made the following two-pronged maneuver. Firstly, I moved a length of pre-existing 2" fencing so that instead of running straight along the front of the plot, it now turns 90° and runs along the side of the plot. Secondly, I laid a swath of wood chips along this fence to provide a right-of-way to the adjacent plot. Happy to say, my strategy worked, and I now have a neighbor on the left-hand side.
RODENTS:: Deconstructed the strand of chicken fencing, purchased another 50' strand, and put both fences together to form a new 30' x 20' (roughly) "security zone". Seems to work well against rodents.
WINTER CROP RESULTS:: The annual ryegrass did not die over the winter as expected, but still succeeded in its job of keeping the soil moist and preventing weed growth. I turned the soil under before the grass became too tall.
SUMMER CROPS PLANTED:: Tomatoes, carrots, peppers, dill, black beans, black-eyed peas, lentils, poppy, sesame, caraway, anise, celery, fennel, and wheat. The peppers did not come up at all, only a few carrots came up out of two packets, and most of the tomatoes were offsprings from the previous year's plants. The dill and black beans did quite well; the black-eyed peas and lentils also did nicely. The poppy, sesame, caraway, anise, celery, and fennel seeds were all of the variety that comes sold as a spice at the supermarket; as they did not sprout, I presume that the processing in some way deters their growth. The wheat was healthy but did not produce seeds.
WINTER CROPS PLANTED:: Planted the following fall crops on September 15th: lettuce, radishes, and mustard. Also planted annual ryegrass.
PERENNIALS:: Discovered red potatoes; transplanted these to a new location in the perennials section (next to the Egyptian onions). Produced a potful of potatoes.