watering blueberries and peaches.

I really don't know about peaches, but I'm fairly knowledgeable on the blueberry front. 90% of blueberry roots occur in the top 8-9 inches of soil, thus they are quite susceptible to drought. Apply a heavy mulch of organic (acidic) material (pine needles are great) and water 1-2 inches per week if nature doesn't supply. They also need a pH of 5.5 (4.8 seems to be optimum) or lower in order to be able to convert nutrients.

Drip irrigation works quite well. I have about 700 plants and each has a 1 gallon per hour dripper. A deep well pump in the stream pushes water 1200 feet (only 125 foot in rise) up the hill into numerous t's and into about a mile of 1/2 inch tubing. I use a company in Oregon called Dripworks for all my irrigation supplies.

I would think peaches are like other fruits, thin them to about 4 inches after the "June drop".

Hope this helps, Steve

Planted potatoes near my blue berries because they have similar pH requirements. Now the potatoes are amongst the blueberry bushes for good, as I can't think how I can harvest them without damaging the blueberries.

cultivating near blueberry plants. Maybe you could pull up the potato plants and feel around in the resulting crater? Good luck, Steve

Think of the potatoes as a cover crop.

Got me thinking about spacing and distance and poor soils vs. great. My main issue now is Sun and a raised bed encourages heavy planting to me. Guess arable space is crucial along with light etc. Micro climates and Hopi come to mind. Wandering.

Welllll, since you mention it. I'm sure others have similar challenges. What grows for you in low light conditions? Fully a third of my yard is in shadow to dappled light.

I'm getting a list of what doesn't grow!

I only have a corner of my lot that gets full sun (after the trees leaf), and then until only an hour after solar noon. A bit more closer to the curb, a bit less further in. That leads to denser planting and closer to the curb.

I suppose you could have a fabulous herb garden in the shady spots. Parsely, for one, takes little light. Now, if I could just find a use for it... How about ginseng?

Jeff

Plant life requirements sort of like the much debated food pyramids. Musings. LD50 creeps in as a thought way off topic.

I'd guess here

How would you folks correct me? Yes heat and cold a factor but they just shorten or lengthen plant life without protection or manipulating the above guess.

Worship of the sun king may not be misplaced. If the above is half correct we have been toying about with 30% man interference and the rest a gift. Just planted some lettuce and oriental greens in partial light. Thinking about taking down some more trees but for some reason only take down dead wood. Ecotopia book ( Wish there was a movie) sort has influenced me and the loss of my dads garden has challenged my givens. He had LIGHT and all the rest mentioned.

What would your pyramid look like with your current understanding?

Veggies sautéed in butter with shallots and parsley. Boiled potato with butter and parsley. Fish. Just off the top of my head.

Hummus and Parsley. Nutrition wise I read way good.

Parsley makes a darn decent pesto! Grind together parsley, pine nuts (i like walnuts), garlic, a pinch of salt and a squeeze of lemon in some good olive oil and serve over fresh pasta and top with parmesan. Just good simple peasant food. Steve

Thanks to all. I have some parsley (I forget the variety) that a friend planted in a spot where nothing else would grew. He planted a lot of things and only the parsley survived.

I'll try the suggestions...

Jeff