A few years ago I was introduced to a method of vegetable gardening called the 'Mittleider Method'. The Mittleider method guarantees that you can grow vegetables anywhere, in any type of soil. I have gotten such fantastic results from the method that I thought I'd share it. You can go to www.foodforeveryone.org to learn the specifics. The method makes use of micro-nutrients which ensure healthy, vigorous plant growth. It also utilizes grow boxes which minimize the amount of time spent weeding and they also help conserve water. Tom put my watering system on a timer which made things even easier for me.
Here is my San Luis Obispo garden from last season. Tom built the raised bed boxes and the T-frames for growing vertically. Pumpkins are suspended in net shopping bags donated by my kind landlady.
I LOVE growing sunflowers. They attract bees and other pollenators. They also attract ants, which one NEVER wants in a garden. Ants may seem innocuous but they often drag aphids along with them which then proceed to suck the life out of your plants. If you want to grow sunflowers in your garden, BEWARE the ANTS!
The white lacy flowers you see in the background are cilantro plants that have flowered. Normally, I would pull out the cilantro plants once they flower, but the bees loved them and I thought they looked charming, so I kept them until they went to seed. The marigolds in the foreground help repel bugs, as do onions and garlic.
Pretty intense garden...
If you decide you want to use this method for gardening, I also strongly encourage joining the Mittleider Yahoo! group. I have learned a TON from other gardeners who are part of the group and also from Jim Kennard who is the moderator. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MittleiderMethodGardening/
I have yet to get my 2011 garden in the ground. It's REALLY late--some would say too late, to start a garden now, but since Tom built me a greenhouse I'm going to give it a whirl. Who knows what I can harvest before the snow flies?
Stay tuned for further "Adventures in Veggilon"!
(If you're interested in learning more about Dr. Mittleider you can go here: http://www.howtoorganicgarden.com/DrMittleider.htm ).
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