Worms, Wine and the end of Winter

[Jay Blair]

I have my seeds planted in a mix of sterile unscented clay kitty litter and worm castings and 10 gallon jugs of wine working in the plant nursery. Between the combined effects of the worm castings/ litter potting mix and the castoff cO2 of the wine jugs my tomatoes, peppers and peas are all coming up nicely. Of course when the wine is finished working , the lees will be fed back into the worm bins.

Until the weather warms and I can get outside to plant , my time will be spent in the nurseries and worm bin room tending vegetable seedlings, racking wine and fattening some worms for fishing.

Anyone else focused on the coming spring?

[mikej]

I am but my main focus so far has been on improving my soil. Last fall when I realized I wouldn't have time for any winter crops I covered my garden with about 2-3 inches of bagged steer manure. I've been keeping that damp so the earthworms and bacteria will work it into the soil. I will mix any remaining manure into the top few inches of soil when it is time to plant. Here in So. California we don't have to worry much about starting seeds indoors. I have also been saving up my vermicompost so I will have plenty to put in with the seeds.

I am curious about your homemade planting mix. All you use is kitty litter and worm castings? What are your proportions?

[Jay Blair]

I mix it about 50/50. I start my plants in 2 liter soda bottles and transplant them to the garden where I cut the bottom out, set the plant in the raised mulch and compost beds and slide the resulting tube up as a water collar or slide it up and cut it away.

My technique is a slight variation of the BISF techniques at www.squarefootgardening.com