Deborah Tupin

hi, i bought the vivosun heating mats without thermostat for 11.99. they heat up in about an hour. the temp can vary due to the room temp, but most of the time it is between 70 and 75f. if there is a hot day, the temp will read in the 80's and i might remove the trays depending on what i am germinating. i use a separate small standing digital thermometer and set it either on the mat or on the soil in a cell in a tray to check the temp. most things want a temp of 70 to 75 anyway and so for things like peppers and red malabar spinach, i put them near our wood stove with a thermometer on the soilless mix until the seedlings emerge and then to the mat. i think if i bought a heat mat and it was listed as heating to 90 degrees and it did not, i would want to return it as it is not doing what i expected of it. however, i really do not think you need mats with a control as they are more expensive, but since you only are using one the price does not seem as important and you should get what you paid for. your tomatoes and other things will still germinate, just maybe a bit slower. other than peppers and tomatoes, anything over 75 would probably be too high anyway. just my opinion

hi, i don't know if this is too simple for you, but you can propagate a lot of cuttings in water in a jar. herbs are especially good for this as is elderberry. our county extension agent offered a class in grafting apple root stock and scion wood, it was fun and nice to have a couple of experts there to guide us. perhaps you could check if your agent offers any classes. we are members of mike's backyard growers as shown in the video above. he has bunches of videos on how to do propagating. berry plants are also very easy to do. just remember that trees take years to produce, so get started soon. it is the time of year that many places are already sold out of specific root stocks. good luck to you

for what it is worth we do no til gardening. when we first moved to northern virginia we rented a rototiller and the dirt and rocks were so bad, my daughter and i made NO progress, couldn't get it to grip the dirt. so out of necessity we looked at other methods. our favorite is the ruth stout method and that is how we started. every year we add stuff to the garden depending on what we have available---composted manure, composted ramial from the road crews nearby, leaves, compost from our regular household compost pile and of course ruth's and our favorite---hay that we make ourselves, not straw as their is no nutrition in it. we did not put down cardboard. we didn't have any and when a weed comes up, we just put more hay in that spot or actually bend over and easily pull it out. it is so easy and it works for us. everyone has to find their own way, but if you til the bed initially, please think about no til for the future. deb

hank, thank you so much for being willing to share. i am so excited to try them again and it sounds like they will do well here if i can get them to germinate. my address is:

deb tupin--- 34203 harry byrd hwy, round hill, va 20141.

is there anything you could use in return? i have lots of flower and veggie seeds and could take cuttings from native persimmon, elderberry, mulberry, and cherry.
thanks again, deb:)

hank, i would love some seeds too if you have enough. i would also send a sase. i am in northern va in zone 7a/6b depending on what info you look at, is that similar to your area?

Jeanine, i hope you do not mind me asking for seeds too. i bought a packet of 10 last year and threw them out because they did not germinate. now i have read that they are very slow and to not give up hope. good luck to you with the seeds.

thank you both, deb:)

why is the harvest poor for the first few years if you use cuttings? i have lots of raspberries and blackberries on the edges of our farm. they are mixed in with other wild plants and sort of woven into the wire fencing. digging them up would be a pain, plus i am really worried about snakes. they are also very far from where i have my fenced garden so layering is not practical.
can i start them in a sand bed with a mist system? would this give berries any sooner? ty, deb

i was told to think of guineas as an annual crop. we purchased 26 and raised them in a large walk -in coop until we felt they were big enough to fly or run from the hawks, foxes, and other predators here in northern va. we gave them chicken layer feed to train them to follow us to the coop at night. this only worked for a while as they soon decided that roosting in trees at night was their preference and we could not do anything to get them in at night. they were picked off slowly one by one or in twos once fall came and the weather turned colder. we would find their body parts or feathers other places on the farm. eventually their were none left. we were very sad for them but i have also been told that they are the dumbest birds in the world. without them, the ticks and mosquitoes are overwhelming us this year. next year we will buy some more and have them ready to go out when the warm weather starts and then they can do their job all spring and summer. hopefully, some will overwinter. i wish you better luck with your's:)

when we first moved to our 31 acre farm in northern virginia there was a combination of 4ft wire cattle fencing on the perimeter and 5ft board horse fencing in other areas. i wanted a secure garden area and a separate orchard area. we used 6ft deer fencing which was a plastic coated metal on 8ft T posts. the corners and gate entrances were wood. we strung two wires above the deer fencing and it is working very well going on the third year. it did get a little loose over time and we had to pin it down into the ground in a couple of places. we used to see deer all the time here when we first moved in, singles, moms with babes and groups. i once saw 32 deer walking in a line right through our farm. a neighbor told me it was part of the trail they use when they come down from the mountain into our valley.
we have fenced 8 pastures for our sheep and llamas and 3 for our goats and they cut off their trail. we have 3 dogs that are out during the day and in at night. i believe their presence and the fencing have made them try a new path somewhere else. we have only seen one deer and always the same one. we see it at the upper pond with our male miniature horse. apparently they have become friends and we often see them standing together and eating. this is in an area that is wooded and only has the 4ft fence. so i guess i am saying that for us, we just deer fenced the areas that were important for us and what we could afford. i am not sure but i think it was about $1000 to $2000 for all the fencing, wire, t-posts, wood, small gates my hubby made of wood and the big metal gate so we could drive the tractor in. my hubby, son, and daughter did it themselves. i am sure you will find what works best for you. take your time if you can and really think about your options. i have found that as we improve the farm, i have an idea about what, how, or where i want something done and then i change my mind for the better:)

cassie, ty for all your help. i do speak some spanish so i will try the link you found. who knew it could be so hard to find these seeds. i saw the photos from 4 season seeds too and i also thought it was just lambs quarter which i have growing wild in one section of our farm. i will let you know if i can buy them off the site you gave me. deb:)

cassie, i tried but the order did not go through. i sent them a message and am awaiting a reply:)