This has probably been my worst gardening year I've ever had. Frost in June set everything back by weeks. Now I'm fighting aphids on plants that aren't as strong as they usually are by this point.
Discussion
You should use a greenhouse and not garden outside.
I so both. They both have their pros and cons.
I'd say the biggest con of a greenhouse is expensive. I had one and tried to grow a mango tree but heating and cooling it year round was expensive. I don't like farming outside. It's old school
It is expensive, nothing compares to direct sunlight, and some things just really like the ability to roam in free, open soil.
Yeah the direct sun and outside help like beneficial insects usually outweigh the problems of a late frost,
💯 and the birds! I tried growing brassicas inside once 💀
Yeah the birds too🙂 and even things like wasps people hate them because they can be super annoying late in the summer once they are starving kicked out the nest but they don't get any credit killing all the things earlier in the season.
Yep, wasps pollinate the fennel I grow, too. It's funny how docile they get around that plant, like they're high.
💚 I am not even a huge fan of fennel , I mainly grow it for the beneficial insects 🙂
Work with nature. Not against.
If you learn your zone there's always a way to be successful outside with plants that thrive in your area.
Alas, some years are just bummers
My zone is a moody, uncategorizable b_🤬 sometimes 😅
Do you direct sow or start seedlings.
I'm 4a so need to do a combination of both.
Over the years I grow more and more root vegies and skip out on the tomatoes. I find there's less maintenance on garlic, sweet potatoes and potatoes.
Crawlers (squash and pumpkins) in my area also seem to be very pest resistant and the deer don't munch neither
With that crop profile you could grow here!
I'd be happy with a garlic and onion only garden 🤙
We can get extremely close to replicating the sun indoors and in some cases outperform the sun, it it takes serious gear, planning and energy but most of all money.
but nature still wins for simplicity and cost.
Ya you're pretty much right about that and the second thing. Someday will can with enough energy but we are not close
Sorry dawn 🫂. I remember those years.
Growing food truly is a humbling & never ending learning curve. I'll never outsmart nature.
Maybe your plants aren’t voting hard enough lol
Haha, probably. Anarchist bastards. 😂
Dawn of the internet friend 😁 . Do you have chlorine in your water too?
I do not. I have a well.
Well that's good overall. Have you tried adding some bacteria from yogurt kefir etc in with your water. I get that bad years happen but hopefully things will go better for you 🙂