[chrisParticipant]

Thanks for the tip Charles, that’s really helpful.

Good luck with your boxes this winter, nothing like fresh food when everything is being imported to your area.

[chrisParticipant]

Another update October 19 2018

We had a slight frost last night, but it didn’t seem to take hold on these lettuces (my basil and peppers were another story). I’m still holding out to bringing them into the Hoophouse as we have some warmer weather on the horizon.

Total weight of the second pick today Oct 19th was 308 grams or 10.86 ounces

This brings the total output for these boxes to date at – 798 grams or 1.75 lbs of lettuce leaves on two picks. That’s about $25 worth in a US Supermarket for less quality leaves, once again no effort, no watering, just picking so far.

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[chrisParticipant]

Here is an update from the first pick of these lettuces. The were broadcast seeded in a bed that had tomatoes in them previously on Aug 1st. I pricked out all of the lettuces except for the 6 Lolla Rosa types. Transplanted into the boxes on September 13th.

Total weight of the first pick today Oct 4th was 490 grams or 1.08 lbs . Certainly enough lettuce for the week for both me and my wife. I’m using Charles’ method of picking the outer leaves and the scraps go to our 6 chickens (not included in final weigh in).

We have been getting a good amount of rain which has been helping. These were only watered when I initially transplanted into the boxes.

Photos below. I will continue to update the progress, but this is looking very promising for weekly harvests of salad greens for little to no effort.

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[chrisParticipant]

Thanks Charles, I’ll update here with the progress. Generally I can grow lettuce up until Christmas in the hoophouse, hope these extend it out.

Next year I will certainly buy some Grenoble Red Lettuce, looks like a great variety.

[chrisParticipant]

Photos of making the boxes. Homemade compost is added made of garden waste, chicken manure from our chickens, seaweed, & spent brewing grains from homebrew beer

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[chrisParticipant]

Thank you Charles.

[chrisParticipant]

Thanks Charles – paper it is.

Hawfinch – yeah it is interesting that cilantro is a cold weather veg – I have issues germinating it in the summer when I want a ton of it for salsa. That being said I just put in 2 beds of cilantro and its germinating fine now that the nights are cooler.

[chrisParticipant]

Thanks Charles – I’ve been pulling up just about every one of these that I can right now but it is quite a job.

Are you saying cardboard the beds or just the paths after I pull my crops?

Last year I did an experiment where I covered my beds with seaweed on one block, left one uncovered, put a cover crop of turnips & winter rye on another & added just my compost to the other.

The seaweed block and compost block did the best over the winter and had less weeds this year.

I was thinking of adding a cover crop of mustard this fall on the beds (your recommendation in one of the books) – then adding about 5 yards of compost on the beds this fall (except my radicchio and chicories) once it has died back, instead of in the spring like I did last year.

Do you think that is a good strategy? or should I cardboard & add the compost. Since it is 1/5 acre that is going to be a lot of cardboard.

[chrisParticipant]

Thanks for the help Charles. My pathways were mulched with Salt Marsh Hay (I’m on the coast) in the spring but I don’t lay any cardboard underneath. I have a feeling that it may be jumping in the beds from the paths. I’m attaching the photos here.

You can see the carrots aren’t so bad, there’s also a photo of my peppers and some beets in the beds. I’m growing on 30 in wide by 20ft beds.

We also had an epic rain event here a couple weeks back (5.5 inches in one night) so you can see the sandy soil making its way in some of the beds.

Your newest Youtube video is excellent and I’m still very dedicated to No Dig in my 1/5 acre garden.

I put a couple bonus shots of of some fantastic Chioggia Beets I multi sowed this year. Been having great results this year – the crab grass and rabbit explosion has been my only complaints.

[chrisParticipant]

Thanks for the advice Charles. Do you find that slugs are issues on those bottom leaves initially? I’m just worried about having rotted leaves that close to the ground.

[chrisParticipant]

Thanks for answering my questions Charles. I think it might be worthwhile to just try a bed or two this summer vs non-bolting varieties. I’ve been growing a lot of Frank Morton’s lettuces https://www.wildgardenseed.com/index.php?cPath=43 the past couple years and he does great selection for bolting – so looks like may an experiment may be worthwhile. Slow bolting varieties vs shade cloth – I’ll try it out.

[chrisParticipant]

Thanks Charles, I will certainly check out those varieties and grow them out this year.

I’m in coastal New England in the States, so I’m not tropical but was wondering what is behind the myth of shade cloth? I’m building up my soil with compost at the moment but its really not at the amount of organic matter I would like it to be ideally.

Do you find that your lettuces bolt in July/August?

[chrisParticipant]

I use an earthway seeder for some crops like arugula, mini kale, carrots and radishes. I mostly do no-dig and am a big fan of the stuff that Charles is doing, but my methods may be slightly different. I broad fork once in the spring (it works well with my soil), add compost and rake smooth with a 30″ landscape rake. My compost/peat is fine enough to us the seeder in.

Overall the seeders are great for small seeds, but I like Charles approach for lettuce mix. I find a carpet of lettuce planted with a seeder a good cut at first but the next cuts are not great and the product suffers.

[chrisParticipant]

Thanks Stringfellow – I was able to get some straw-like beachgrass that was up on a marsh dried out – really browned out and will layer that in as well.

Thanks Charles – I have seen a farmer in my area use the Eel Grass (Black) around their lettuce plants as a mulch but we don’t have slug problems. I’m mostly interested in just working it into compost but may do some trials with the Eel grass as a mulch.

I’ll update with progress as it goes – I’m creating two piles right now and will monitor temps.

[chrisParticipant]

Thanks Charles, I will check locally to see how to get rid of this organically – I’m not at all wanting to damage the soil with an herbicide as I’ve read online. Im located in the U.S.

Thanks again for the help and your books are outstanding.

[Author]

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