Friday, December 6, 2019

A new way of planning the garden in light of GSM

So, for the last few years. that I've really noticed, my garden has been changing.  Changing in ways that made me question its location, in which I could not do anything about because of our small space.  
The weather was not allowing me to spring plant when I was normally used to so some of my cool season veg like broccoli was not heading properly and some lettuce varieties would bolt sooner than expected, for example.  I thought I would try again for Fall planting.  Much of the warmer season veg was not maturing. We cut down a tree that had grown and made a bit of shade.  Pine is not something we can even use in the wood burner so it's even STILL being used for camp fires.
I used more compost thinking it might rush the growth process and paid more attention to watering.  I already choose earlier varieties so I may be able to squeeze in another veg that I can end up putting a hoop cover on to extend the season.  This was nothing new for me to do at both ends of the growing season and it always has done the job.  I planted in containers while the beds were filled with garlic.  I have some things in containers every year and this year it was onions, eggplant, tomatoes and herbs.  
Last growing season we had ordered too much garlic and it filled (5) of our (6) 4' x 4' raised beds.  This led me to the idea of allowing the beds to rest until the following spring.  Once the garlic was removed, nothing else went in.  I should have put in a cover crop but it isn't something I'm in the habit of doing, so I didn't think about it.   
When I heard about the grand solar minimum I knew this was what I'm up against.  A new strategy must be put into place.  I needed to know more about what is going on with climate change.
More to come as I progress.  It will be interesting!