Maine Soils For Gardening and Farming (transplants, work, houses)

[Nor'Eastah]

I've noticed that many of you here have posted about your Maine gardens. In another thread about generators, someone said that power lines could not be buried in Maine due to thin soils with 'ledge' below. Obviously, Maine is a very large state, and the soils are going to vary tremendously.

I would like to learn something of your experiences with gardening/farming in Maine, the problems (if any) you have had with the soils, the type of soil amendments you incorporate, what type(s) of fertilizers you use, whether you have had to bring in added topsoil (and the price per cubic yard), the climate factor, and in general, the type of yields you get.

If you use raised beds, I'd like to hear about that, and if you do any gardening under cover (tunnels or greenhouse, or just 'tomato teepees'), that would be good info also. Does anyone here start their seeds indoors? If indeed we are headed for tough times, your collective experiences would be most helpful to others just beginning to think about raising their own food!

And as always, thanks in advance!

[Maineah]

I built a barn where my big garden used to be. We have had a small garden ever since and this year I decided to just not bother with it. Last spring I turned over a new spot with the intent to raise a big garden like we used to though I could not get the rocks out of it. I suspect it was once the floor of a pole barn. I took out nearly 10 yards of 2" and larger rocks from this one area, and about thirty rocks I could barely lift with my 33 hp tractor and front end loader. After a month of battling with the area I gave up. The plan now is to dig all the soil and remaining rock from the area down to 16 inches and replace the lower 8-10 inches with fresh loam and screen the rest and return it to the top.. I'm sure it will take me long enough that we won't be putting in a garden this year though I want to be ready if we need to plant one next spring.

[Maine Writer]

I grow in greenhouses and hoop houses for season extension and put low tunnels over individual crops to get them going early or keep them going later. I put plastic milk jugs over my pumpkin and squash seeds.

We have ledge sticking up out of the lawn in two places. I skipped space when planting cabbage yesterday because the soil on top of the ledge is only an inch or two deep. I use a lot of amendments rather than fertilizer, but I did have to use an organic fertilizer this year because I don't have enough compost. I use compost, rock weed, rock weed tea, comfrey tea, bone and blood meals, alfalfa meal occasionally, and powdered kelp. I'm experimenting with bark mulch right now. I will probably order a 12 cu yard load for $150'ish. I never use petrochemicals fertilizers.

Yield depends on a lot of things. Variety, weather, soil, spacing and timing come to mind quickly. I expect no less than 20 pounds each from tomato plants, 30 pounds and more from some of them. The exception is cherry tomatoes. I don't weigh them but I doubt they produce quite that much per plant.

My most prolific crop is rocks.

I start seeds indoors. Some are started in trays that sit on heating pads to keep them warm. Others will germinate well in cool soil. I keep them under grow lights in the diningroom until I run out of room then I move them to the seedling house. Starting seeds is very easy.

You might be surprised by how much you can grow in a small garden.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

Starting seeds is very easy.

You might be surprised by how much you can grow in a small garden.

starting seeds -- well, maybe it's easy for YOU... LOL... but I fought with them for years before mastering the art. Damping off fungus was my big issue... that and for several years it seemed that, just after they poked through the potting soil I had to be gone for a week or so and my caretaker either forgot or drowned them! Getting enough light so that they don't become "leggy" was an issue until I built my temporary greenhouse to mover things into after they got going.

Yes, it IS amazing how much you can grow in a small space, especially if you throw out the straight rows and spacing suggestions on the packets and transplants! LOL My gardens always end up looking like jungles anyway, but especially so if I have a small space. I work so that you don't have to step INTO the garden and tuck things in close, with the later crops (like tomato transplants) put into "holes" between the early crops (like lettuce).

As a bonus, I find that the veggies all but crowd out the weeds once they get going! I tend to let some of the weeds stay initially, as I find their presence confuses the birds and gives cover to the emerging seedlings.

Yeah, I garden "funny"... but don't laugh too loud or I WILL find your car, come zucchini time!

[Maine Writer]

I was in a rush to plant cabbage before the heavy rain got here. The rows are so crooked it looks like a drunk put the plants in. They kind of meld together in places because I do the same thing you do, put them close together to help control weeds, keep the ground cool and cut down on evaporation.

Damping off - air circulation. Turn a fan on the plants. The movement will help cell walls strengthen at the same time.

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

... My most prolific crop is rocks. ...

Well said

[forest beekeeper]

Originally Posted by starwalker

starting seeds -- well, maybe it's easy for YOU... LOL... but I fought with them for years before mastering the art. Damping off fungus was my big issue...

That is what we faced last year.

Spring was long and wet.

We re-planted, and re-planted.

[starwalker]

Originally Posted by Maine Writer

I was in a rush to plant cabbage before the heavy rain got here. The rows are so crooked it looks like a drunk put the plants in. They kind of meld together in places because I do the same thing you do, put them close together to help control weeds, keep the ground cool and cut down on evaporation.

Damping off - air circulation. Turn a fan on the plants. The movement will help cell walls strengthen at the same time.

Thanks... I'll remember that when I am set up to start starting plants again. Your "drunken farmer" image is priceless... reminds me of the first time I worked a "ditch witch" trenching tool to lay the water pipe for our first house. Fortunately we had a little extra pipe, as my "straight" line went this way, then that, then this again... I figured, hey, at least I GOT to the house!

Some of the rows in my end of the garden at KAFs house do have a bit of a curve too... and even the ones I finally gave up and laid out with two sticks and a string are a little off... I didn't have a long enough string in the truck.

Hey, the PLANTS don't care...