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Navajo Blackberries

Category: Food Pantry Projects | Posted: Sun Mar 21, 2010 12:45 pm

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I bought 4 mature Navajo Blackberry plants and got them planted the last 2days. Didn't realize that the SW garden has that much gravels in them. It took me a long time to prepare the 4 beds mixed with good topsoil and organic soil good for fruits and vegetables. I don't believe that I need to condition the beds in a row (to save some costs on soil in between them)......dug holes big enough for their roots...and then.....a bit more space...for the roots to grow...although...I don't know how much bigger the roots can grow....just anticipating.

I've read that the upright and thornless blackberries need about 3 to 6feet of spaces between them.

I still need to stake them as the Seller informed me that they had the canes grown up to as high as 16feet. I didn't ask them what they 'feed' them ...I'm just going to 'feed' them the way...I feel I should...perhaps I'll use some humus mixed with manure...I'm not sure...but I'll do some more research.

I've planted the '1st set' of 2 within 3.5feet and the 2nd set about 2.5feet (center of plant to center). I'm just being curious how it will grow when placed together as I'll be putting in the stakes and possibly a trellis...if it will grow up to 16feet tall like the Seller mentioned.

The roots are big...almost 12ins wide and one of them is a bit small. I can't wait to pick the fruits this year. This is my very first time to grow blackberries and I'm very excited about it.

Last edited: Sun Mar 21, 2010 12:46 pm

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Just received my Chinese vegetable seeds...

Category: Food Pantry Projects | Posted: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:21 pm

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Just received my Chinese vegetable seeds and I'm looking forward to planting them. We've been dealing with snow blizzards for this past week with failed power and have been without heater for 2days and 2 nights. Another blizzard hit us last night and today.
Our pine tree branches broke and our power line got sagged. Managed to shovel the snow off and clear the branches...they're very heavy.

But, having received the vegetable seeds uplifted my spirits and am dreaming of plans to start our vegetable garden. I've contacted a Pantry Food outlet here in Monongahela, PA, and waiting for the right person to contact me, on how to send fresh produce to them...to feed the hungry and the poor.

God gave us this piece of garden and we're eager to give something back to God.

I'm planting Red Hot Chilli Pepper, Green and White Pak Choy, Extra Dwarf Nai You Pak Choy, Small Pak Choy, Cantonese Pak Choy.

I suppose that I'll have to give the food pantry some basic stir fry dish recipes...so that they know how to use them.

It isn't easy to grow veggies with clay on the ground. I guess that we will have to add lots of good soil to mix them up...wish that there is another easier way to make good soil. We live within the town limit and we aren't allowed to burn anything. Tried that when we first moved here and the pine branches (and peach branches) smell horrible when we try to burn it. That's how we found out that we're not allowed to burn anything....through the local (free) newspaper...the next month.

Will also grow some cabbage, broccoli, tomato and snow peas. We love vegetables and this will be our very first mini-farming. Am looking forward to it. Don't know if there're any special way to plant them but I love to design vegetable plots and/or raised beds. I believe that it will cost a lot more to have raised beds.

We have a groundhog...here...residing on our property. A neighbor told us that she saw one, going round our yards and crawling underneath our front deck to hide...and that...is going to be another problem for us...to keep our veggies growing for the food pantry.

Any ideas...all are welcome!

Last edited: Wed Feb 10, 2010 3:25 pm

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