Splitting and Dividing Plants Part 1

Many plants, especially perennial herbs, are suitable for dividing and splitting.

This then gives the original plant more room, can rejuvenate it, helps new growth and gives a few extra plants to be planted elsewhere or even shared with others.

Here, the original lungleaf plant has sprouted a smaller plant. This smaller plant can be split and planted elsewhere.

A fork is used to lift up the small baby plant.

 

There was also an extra shoot as well, giving 2. These are potted up, they could have also been planted straight in the ground, like this one;

Eventually they will be potted on again or planted.

 

 

 

Lovage

Using Shredded / Chipped Wood and Branches for Live Covering / Mulch

Use wood and branches that have been prepared by machinery such as a chipper or shredder as soil covering. It will keep the soil protected in many ways – see here for more information. Different plants, shrubs or trees will create a different end materiel, some will be mostly wood (bramble/hazel) ranging through to leafy and green (elder/conifer). Additionally, properties in the cells of wood will help prevent weed seeds from germinating (see: lignin – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lignin). When it is very woody, mix it in with some green material. A mature erbal border will also be a good source of material, after they finish flowering.

 A Garden Shredder

A different shredder using conifer

This has been through a chipper, which is more heavy duty than the 2 machines above. This would be a little to woody on it’s own – it would need to be mixed with some greenery.

A Row of Broad Beans on Left and Potatoes on Right, Reggy for a Covering

Broad Beans (Right) – Potatoes (Left)

Now the potatoes and beans are grown up. Mustard from the pear tree bed has grown into the sight of the beans, but they are fine and happy.

Peas (Left) – Radish (Right)

Potatoes (Left) – Peas (Middle) – Radish (Right) [there is also a field bean with the radish – the odd single annual plant like this bean is fine to leave growing in place. Also this can be done with any annual erb like dill, mustard, qanneh-besem etc. The odd one here and there will bring great benefits.]

Erbal Border Gallery (Herb Border)

Tu B’Shebat – ט”וּ בִּשְׁבָט / Hebrew Tree New Year = ראש השנה לאילנות = Rosh Hashannah La’iylanow’at

Rastafari Gardening

Tu B’Shebat is the Hebrew new year for trees, and represents the 15th day of the month; ט”וּ / Tu = 15, while שְׁבָט / Shebat, is the 11th month of the Hebrew calendar. Today, which is 4th of February 2015 in the Gregorian calendar; is currently the 15th of Shebat in the Hebrew Calendar.

ט = Tet = 9,

וּ = Wau = 6.

Zechariah 1:7)Upon the four and twentieth day of the eleventh month, which is the month Sebat (שְׁבָט), in the second year of Darius, came the word of YHWH to Zechariah, the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 8) I saw by night, and behold a man riding upon a red horse, and he stood among the myrtle trees that were in the bottom; and behind him were there red horses, speckled, and white.

At this time of year, most trees are…

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☩ Fasika – ፋሲካ _ Tins(h)a’e – ትንሣኤ – “Resurrection” ☩

Ras Tafari Renaissance

Greetings in the name of His & Her Imperial Majesties Qedamawi Haile Sellassie I & Itege Menen Asfaw,

Ras Tafari Renaissance writes to give perspective to the Ethiopic Tewahido-Orthodox, celebration of Fasika.  In other circles of the Liturgical adherents to the Ethiopian Tewahido-Orthodox Church, the name for this observance, can also be called Be’al Tinsa’e-በዓል ትንሣኤ.  I refrain from using the Western Christendom adherances to the psuedo-equivalent, known as Easter; mainly because at the sheer core of the observance of Easter, stems from Greco-Roman Mythology(Eros, Easter Eggs, Easter Bunny, Greek Mythology etc.), and the origin of the celebration of Fasika, comes from the Hebraic, Passover(Pesach/PesaKH’-פֶּסַח) & Feast of Unleavened Bread (KH’ag/Chag Ha’Motz’ot-).

Sh’mura Matz’ot – Rabbinical supervised unleavened bread

– Ethiopian baked bread (Injera)

Fasika commemorates the Resurrection of CHRIST, though the exact day for celebration can be…

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✡ Feast of Unleavened Bread – የቂጣውን በዓል – חג המצות ✡ …Passover continued…

Ras Tafari Renaissance

Greetings in the name of His & Her Imperial Majesties Qedamawi Haile Sellassie I & Itege Menen Asfaw,

Ras Tafari Renaissance writes to give perspective to the Hebraic remembrance of the Passover.  In modern Judaism, it is known by the Hebrew term as Pesach-פֶּסַח.  Jewish traditions celebrate the liberation from slavery in Egypt approx., 3,300 yrs ago by God; during the time of the Pharaohs, and their freedom as a nation under the leadership of.  But, from the Ethiopian-Hebraic perspective, the liberation came from within a spiritual, socio-political,  and religious viewpoints between Northern Egypt(Lower Egypt) & Southern Egypt(Upper Egypt).

Now as the celebration of Pesach has come to a close for this year and the festival/feast of Unleavened Bread has begun, we here at RRR, seek to expound on the intricate details of the second celebration which extends the joyous event…

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✡ Passover – פֶּסַח – Pesach ✡

Ras Tafari Renaissance

Greetings in the name of His & Her Imperial Majesties Qedamawi Haile Sellassie I & Itege Menen Asfaw,

Ras Tafari Renaissance writes to give perspective to the Hebraic remembrance of the Passover.  In modern Judaism, it is known by the Hebrew term as Pesach-פֶּסַח.  Jewish traditions celebrate the liberation from slavery in Egypt approx., 3,300 yrs ago by God; during the time of the Pharaohs, and their freedom as a nation under the leadership of.  But, from the Ethiopian-Hebraic perspective, the liberation came from within a spiritual, socio-political,  and religious viewpoints between Northern Egypt(Lower Egypt) & Southern Egypt(Upper Egypt).

http://ethiopianorthodox.org/amharic/seasonal/lent/descriptionlentweeks.pdf

Passover is considered apart of the Shalosh Regalim, or the main festivals of Israel‘s commemoration to God.  The day commences on the afternoon of the Hebraic, 14th of the month of Nisan. [the Three Pilgrimage feast/festivals]

The narrative…

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Organic Liquid Plant Feed and Soil Fertilizer

A simple ‘tea’ can be made by using leaves, stems, and flowers of plants. Individual or mixes can be made.

Here is a nettle one for example;

Nettle Feed;

Put water and nettles in a container. Younger nettles are slightly better. With around half water – half nettle.

After around 10 – 20 days, the liquid is proper; More heat and stirring will speed up the process. Liquid feeds usually have an extremely strong smell when breaking down and when disturbed.

Follow this process for all other feeds. Combinations of different plants are fine to make as well.

Another method, instead of mixing the plant material in the water, is; the plant material can be suspended within a sack (hessian, hemp sacks etc), in the water, and then the liquid feed will be reaggy in around the same time.

To make a spray, strain this liquid and pour into a spray bottle.

Types of Feeds

There are lots of different types of feeds to be made. A nettle feed would be ideal for Kannah-Besem while in leaf growth stage. To encourage flower/bud growth a feed of valerian. During flowering, a feed of woodland fern is ideal, marigold could be added too. Like with the garden itself, use knowledge and logic to create different plant feeds. Using a wormwood liquid feed near anything that likes earthworms would cause the earthworms to vacate the area. However wormwood liquid is very good to be sprayed onto currant bushes to cure ‘rust’. (Just having wormwood growing near the currants will help, but remember worms themselves will stay well away).

Blackcurrant Leaves Suffering Rust – A Wormwood Spray Will Cure

A liquid feed of green onion leaves/stalks (or plants of the onion family like leeks, allium etc) is very good for strawberries, and the moulds / fungi that attack them.

Most seedlings and plants can be dipped into liquid feeds before they are planted again, this gives a little boost.

Bigger, mature plants, trees and shrubs can have a good soaking of nettle feed or suitable feed before being planted.

When planting out, pour some in the planting hole. Now plants will be best furnished for a sound and healthy life.

Liquid feeds made of cabbage and similar plants will be nutritious for the garden.

Rhubarb and/or Horse radish liquid feed will prevent club root in cabbages and other plants.

Liquid feeds (preferably nettle mixed with erbs), can be used to heal wounded tree trunks by painting it on. Use water glass to help it stick if needed.

Frost damaged trees can also be treated with the liquid feeds.

Mildew is prevented by using a horsetail spray.

Strawberries enjoy nettle feed.

A mixture of nettle, comfrey and cabbage feed is healthy for strawberries.

General Types of Liquid Feeds;

Kannah-Besem,

Nettle,

Mustard,

Comfrey,

Cabbage,

Woodland fern,

Valerian,

Medicinal erbs and combinations of them,

Combinations of different plants

Use These Liquid Feeds Carefully;

Wormwood,

Parsley,

Mugwort,

Lovage.

Use the end of the liquids in compost pile. It will start a new compost pile quickly. Also trees and heavy feeders can have the last of the liquid.

The bits and residues that remain can be put in the compost or again, used to quickly start a new one. It can also be spread on the cover of growing plants.

There are many uses for liquid feeds, use them as an advantage, and experiment.

Live Cycling (A.K.A. Mulching, Soil Covering, Sheet Composting)

The soil between vegetable rows is kept covered once seedlings are up and around hand height, first with the early sowing of spinach or light cover, which can protect neighbouring seedlings from pests and sun. The roots of the spinach (see post on spinach) and mustard which are left in the ground, adds a further dimension to the benefits. At the beginning of the growing season, a cover crop can be sown half way between each row, or the space can be covered straight away with live covering, once the seedlings are near hand height. Spinach grown half way between the crop rows, works best for this. Chop it down once the crop seedlings are established. Over the year build the cover with nearly all things green (accept a few mentioned later).

Keeping it topped up with as much variation as possible, ensures that this season’s and especially next season’s crop will be as well furnished as possible. Using erbs (including ones from the border) as part of the cover will greatly benefit the soil and the life within while preventing pests and disease.

Some advantages of cover;

Keeps soil protected from direct sunlight,

Provides shade,

Keeps soil protected from rain,

Keeps soil protected from wind,

Collects dew,

Acts as a filter for plants,

Preserves moisture,

Reduces the need for watering massively,

Creates a good home for roots, earthworms, and lots of other creatures,

Prevents weeds,

Nutrients are stored, preserved and released properly to plants – roots have an abundant supply and apportion nutrients and water to the receiving plant with ease,

Roots are in a happy environment, nearly always moist but never waterlogged.

Aim to keep soil that does not have seedlings/plants growing in it, covered at all times. Soil which is rooted with roots and shaded by leaves produces proper plants in time. Then these plants will eventually become food for the soil and the live-cycle continues.

The covering provides food for earthworms and all other soil life, while also protecting soil from damage, nutrient leaching, water leaching, capping from the sun etc. Covering is not only the best way to achieve a good soil, but also the best method for preserving good soil. (NOTE: Covering is not usually used until the vegetable seedlings are about hand height, so the covering doesn’t cover the seedlings. [Wind, birds etc move the covering about]).

No straw or peat. Use plenty of medicinal erbs, leaves of harvested vegetables / erbs, wild flowers, flowers which have finished (seeds in flower heads/fruit pods are not a problem), lawn and grass cuttings and hedge clippings are all good. Keep tidy and ordered. A path will quickly be formed, and when the covering is proper and thick, it can even be used as a path in wet, rainy weather.

Chopping the material up helps to keep tidiness and order. Also, woody material can be chopped up if the equipment is available. When chopped into small fine pieces it is ideal for cover and properties within the cells of wood prevent weeds from germinating and growing. Using woody material, that is not shredded, takes a long time to break down and so is un-practical for cover.

Chopping Up Live Cover