now that I have sprouts, how big to let them get before thinning?

[NMDemDist2]

and can I just move the 'thins' to another spot??

I looking at broccoli, radish and carrots that are in my 'kitchen garden' aka 5'round bathtub outside

help!

[plantwomyn]

1. did your mix the radish and carrot seed?

I do that because the radish come in fast and as you pick the radish you thin the carrots. If not it depends on the variety. Look at your package and check the spacing. Thin to about half the spacing and them eat some baby carrots and small radish! The sprouts are good to eat in salads too. Broccoli will have to be moved. Thin first and eat the sprouts. Then transplant to proper spacing once the rest are large enough to handle. Try to disturb the roots as little as possible- use a trowel - and fill in the wholes with topsoil.
I am replying to you ever though you and I HAVE AN UNDERSTANDING! We will be getting 3-6" of SNOW tonight! :cry:

[NMDemDist2]

2. I'm sorry for your snow but you can laugh at me this summer when I'm crying the blues

that all my lettuce has bolted and my broccolis look like a dill plant

:rofl:

i didn't mix the carrots and radish and planted more radish today that COULD have gone around the carrot row. drat!! I'll know this fall, thanks!

so they should be 2" tall?? 4" ??? right now the radishi have two leaves almost the size of a penny but the broccs only have two leaves the size of a pea

[plantwomyn]

3. It is snowing as I'm typing.

As far as thinning, get then before their roots intertwine too much or you'll be pulling out bunches instead of one at a time.

You may want to think about shade cloth covering for your cool weather crops. It helps. Simple wire hoops with screen or shade cloth can do wonders to keep your lettuce cooler. If you need a source for shade cloth I can check my sources and see if there are any cantacts in AZ.
D

[NMDemDist2]

4. I'm in southern New Mexico now

high plains desert at about 3100 elev so it's not nearly as hot here as PHX was. if I was still in PHX I'd be harvesting the last of the crops next month. not much grows in AZ in the summer LOL

I think I can get away with planting some lettuce on the north side of the corn and hide some under the squash/sunflowers and I'll definitely use some shade cloth on the kitchen tub garden in July and August for some of the tender units

someone posted a link here on making an A frame trellis that looks good too that I can keep some greens shaded enough....

you guys have had a horrible winter this year, hope this is the last of it for you :hug:

[plantwomyn]

5. Yeah, I have a cilents who grows lettuce

on the north side of a trellis lean to made of horse fencing. They plant cucumbers at the base so the cucs hang through and are easier to find and pick. Works great.
BTW STILL SNOWING HARD!
The frame for my new greenhouse is still on the trailer and under an inch of snow again. Hope to get it up before November!
If I don't :rofl: I will :cry:
D

[NMDemDist2]

6. here's the link for the trellis, seems easy enough and I have everything

here already except the hinges.

http://www.ehow.com/how_2224037_build-aframe-trellis.html

since I plan on planting the cukes with the sunflowers and the squash with the corn and the peas on the fence, I need this for the melons and I should be set

now I just need to figure out how to keep the cats from using the garden as a big litter box :rofl:

the kitchen tub is easy, I just laid some chicken wire across the top but that's a bit unwieldy for a 12x20 foot patch

I may check the local home improvement store and get some metal fence posts and just string the chicken wire around but it will make it tough for me to have easy access

I wonder if the feed store sells some industrial strength citrus oil......

[plantwomyn]

7. I've used motion sensor sprinklers too.

Cat walks close to garden, sprinkler comes on, wet cat, cat runs. Smart cat figures out stay away form the garden. About $60.
Worth it.

Start saving onion bags or use old panty hose. Use them to cradle your melons in. Tie them to the trellis and put your melon inside. Keeps your melons from falling off the vine when they get too heavy!