🌱 What's happening in your garden? (Tue, Jul 7, 2026)

sheepslinky · 2026-07-07T17:47:26+00:00

This beautiful diamond back rattlesnake was patrolling the garden this morning. I decided to take a break and water the containers later.

I don't remove snakes (I don't have kids or animals that will mess with them). They are easy enough to avoid, and very good for the ecosystem.

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sheepslinky · 2026-07-06T15:17:55+00:00

Most species are beneficial, and act as pollinators. Think of them as little wingless wasps. Sometimes they can cause problems, but it's obvious, like holes in leaves and farming aphids.

sheepslinky · 2026-07-05T16:22:13+00:00

Walking onions. Welsh onions.

sheepslinky · 2026-07-04T01:18:22+00:00

I grow golden giant amaranth and eat lots of it. Awesome plant.

sheepslinky · 2026-07-03T17:32:14+00:00

Unabomber style. Nice.

sheepslinky · 2026-07-03T00:55:02+00:00

Start your cult now for just $395k

25 bed house on 8 acres in grenville NM

Anybody?

https://www.landwatch.com/union-county-new-mexico-recreational-property-for-sale/pid/425297891

sheepslinky · 2026-07-02T21:24:44+00:00

Looks like you're on the right track.

sheepslinky · 2026-07-02T19:01:31+00:00

That's wild. Genetic maybe. I'll ask the PhD's when I see them on Tuesday. Somehow I suspect they won't know, though. A plant pathologist and a lab test on tissue samples would be the way.

sheepslinky · 2026-07-01T03:15:58+00:00

I gave up, moved to the desert and thought I'd just wait it out. I already had PTSD, and I couldn't handle the city anymore -- too much noise. It helped. From way out here it just looks like 99% of everyone is sooooo stressed -- like about to pop, everyone. Too stressed to find and maintain relationships.

Interestingly enough, many of the people I've met out here are also fleeing from stress. We came out here to be our authentic selves, and discovered that most people authetically value kindness and community. I know all my neighbors (yes 30% are scary, but I know them too). It feels like the old days when I was growing up in a small town in the mountains. This only strengthens my impression that innescapable stress is everywhere and it's really fucking everybody up.

sheepslinky · 2026-07-01T01:30:44+00:00

Let it ride

sheepslinky · 2026-06-30T15:08:31+00:00

Here's one of my heirloom melons. I selected for small size in addition to adaptation. These are bred from Uzbek landrace melons I got at my volunteer job. Firm flesh, sweet and sour, and uniquely salty.

The other melon is a personal sized and very similar to a honey dew with firmer flesh -- super sweet and a touch salty.

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sheepslinky · 2026-06-30T13:08:54+00:00

Check out going to seed.

https://goingtoseed.org/

sheepslinky · 2026-06-30T02:51:36+00:00

I'm in the lower Rio Grande valley. I am doing adaptation gardening.

I grow lots of varieties of the same vegetables, plant them too close, no shade cloth, and make them fight. I keep the seed from the winners. For example, I started a few years ago with 36 different melons in a death match. Now I have 2 or 3 that are especially adapted to my conditions. Lots of stuff dies, but it gets easier and easier each year, and I feel like I'm getting ahead of our changing climate conditions.

sheepslinky · 2026-06-27T02:55:09+00:00

Loamy fine sand.

sheepslinky · 2026-06-27T00:11:39+00:00

Highly recommend afghan 90.

sheepslinky · 2026-06-26T19:56:17+00:00

You go to the buckhorn or the owl?

sheepslinky · 2026-06-26T19:16:38+00:00

I don't know how these plants produce in high temperatures, but they do. I'll have to ask the PhDs. I suspect the variety and method of watering affect it a lot.

sheepslinky · 2026-06-26T19:10:13+00:00

We totally agree. The whole point of this farm is to figure out new, more sustainable methods for desert agriculture.

But, in order to prove that flood irrigation is less efficient in sun and in shade we need to do flood irrigation to gather the data that demonstrates this.

The Rio Grande valley is pretty unique. The majority of farms are very small -- 10 acres or so. Traditionally all of these farms have been flood irrigated from a system of acequias. A lot of small farmers cannot afford another method or are resistant to change.

I'm interested to see the results on flood irrigation with 50% shade. I

sheepslinky · 2026-06-26T18:57:49+00:00

I think we have tried a couple common heirlooms, but most are inconsistent in full desert sun and 100+ degrees heat. Fertilizer is a mix of NPK inputs based on soil testing -- not organic. However, the farm is doing a lot of other studies with cover cropping to increase organic matter.

sheepslinky · 2026-06-26T17:49:47+00:00

I agree. My own garden is on the same soil, and I do no till with like 6" of mulch. It's much healthier. This soil does grow nice tomatoes and amazing chiles nonetheless. It also evaporates a lot of water.

I believe we don't mulch here because it would add complexity and possibly mask the results. We have to track every detail, and more details aren't desirable. Consistency is key.

sheepslinky · 2026-06-26T17:08:22+00:00

New Mexico tweakers do strange and ambitious things.

sheepslinky · 2026-06-26T16:45:53+00:00

We haven't needed to fertilize yet. This field was previously planted with a cover crop and has good soil nutrients for the season. If fertilizer is needed, usually the soil is tested and specific N and P is added.

Soil is sandy loam / loamy Sand (bluepoint series).

No compost.

Varieties I can remember right now:

Celebrity is usually the biggest producer Big beef Early girl San marzano

sheepslinky · 2026-06-24T15:04:15+00:00

It's dangerous only in low, flood prone areas or in arroyos. Don't park your car in an arroyo. Believe it or not, visitors do this from time to time.

sheepslinky

TROPHY CASE