Space Portals
Your Portal to Alternative Space and Paranormal News
Yuma Home Community
Information portal for the people of Yuma in terms of unity in our community and creating new...
Yuma Gardens: Building a New Raised Bed Garden for Yuma...
Each year I learn a little more about food production and each year my harvest gets a bit better. I would like to grow enough for the year or close to it but currently, that result eludes me. I love Chard (Beta Vulgaris) and of course, Broccoli so this new garden will be predominantly White stemmed Chard. I believe this variety is termed “Fordhook Giant.” This year, I also have a red-stemmed variety.
I am using ‘repurposed,’ 2X6 boards that were a massive pallet in their last life. I found this pallet behind our old tool shed in the back of my yard. I rent so you’ll never know what you can find around here. I only wish I would have got some photos of the pallet for before & after shots. The wood is for the legs and the rack which will support the box.
The ’box’ is a repurposed horse trough also found on the property some time ago. I will post some shots when the raised bed is ready to grow. So far, it is looking good and I should be ready for soil, irrigation, and tiny plants soon. Then, I plan to build risers on the four corners and possibly mid-center which will hold the clear plastic wrapped around and across the top for those upcoming cold winter temperatures.
Since moving here, I have grown lots of tasty Tomatoes, Green Onions, Corn, Squash, and a very special class of Spinach. It is called Malibar Spinach.
“Basella alba is an edible perennial vine in the family Basellaceae. It is found in tropical Asia and Africa where it is widely used as a leaf vegetable. Malabar spinach (Basella alba or Basella Rubra) is not a true spinach, but rather a climbing vine in a class by itself. Other common names include Vine Spinach, Red Vine Spinach, Creeping Spinach, and Ceylon Spinach. Even though it’s not a true spinach, it has the same taste.”
I have been growing this fantastic and unbelievably tasty variety of Spinach for several seasons now and curiously note how it behaves as we move into the winter months. So dependent is this little plant on the hot sun that is found in Asia and Africa that it visibly slows down when temps drop below 90 for any length of time. That is where we are now and as I walk out to surveil my garden paradise; I see the leaves are smaller and how the disposition of this plant has turned to most unhappy. (As is mine; I hate cold weather too!)
What we know about Yuma is that it is the hottest city in the USA providing sunny days at least 91% of the year. Our little corner of the world is an agricultural powerhouse, growing over 175 types of crops, the largest of which is lettuce. Yuma provides 90% of all leafy vegetables in the United States and supports the US Military with its large military population due to several military bases, including the Marine Corps Air Station.
Check back soon as I will be posting updates as we move into the colder months. Thanks for reading, Cheers! Morgan
Replies
