Transitioning to whole system gardening: Part 2
More plants equal less work plus greater garden health
It's late July and I'm spending much of my garden time removing plant matter from the garden. Some of this removal could be placed under the category of “weeding,” but I'm also pruning, harvesting, and removing formerly productive plants. I alluded to this last task at the end of the previous post, stating that it needn't be a tragedy when annual vegetable plants needed to be yanked after becoming disease or bug-ridden. Not all plants survive in nature and when viewing the garden as an ecosystem it makes sense to remove unhealthy and unproductive parts in order to improve overall vigor. Healthy plants can utilize the space that is freed up by simply growing into it, or when I seed or transplant.
Yesterday I pulled a large zucchini plant that had finally succumbed to squash vine borer damage and was totally limp. It's now in the compost pile along with the borers and squash bugs eggs that infest it, on its way to becoming next year’s soil amendment. Losing this plant isn't a bad thing because I've got more zucchini plants scattered around the garden that are still producing or will be soon. I've planned ahead and used succession planting to ensure a continuous harvest, so culling unproductive plants makes sense. Such plants will suck up lots of time and energy when a vain attempt is made to restore them to health. Composting them removes pests and pathogens from the garden, makes room for healthier plants, and keeps you from wasting precious time.
Succession planting is part of the larger strategy of overplanting. This year I've spaced plants as closely as possible, planted more of most vegetables than my family can use, and allowed volunteers to remain. I'm also prepared to make use of free space by seeding a late crop or moving plants that are overcrowded elsewhere. Following this tack means my garden is often a tangled jungle this time of year, hence the time spent on removal of plant matter.
I’ve heard other gardeners remark that when they got behind on weeding, veggie plants in weedy areas didn't suffer and in some cases actually performed better. This was probably due to the fact the weeds provided shade, cooler soil temps, and moisture retention. While this discovery may lead some to leave the weeds, it makes more sense to me to crowd the garden with more of the plants I like to eat. If falling behind on garden maintenance means more self seeding and volunteering next year, I'd much rather be faced with excess bean vines, strawberry plants, and berry canes than weeds. I've also become aware of the surprising fact that some gardeners provide shade for sun-loving plants like tomatoes and corn with sheets or tarps during the hottest spells of summer. This should not be necessary! The problem is most likely overheating and dehydrated soil. Why not simply grow places closely together as nature does?
The major theme in the previous post was getting comfortable with a certain level of disease and insect presence in the garden. The next step in a transition to whole system gardening should be easier: all you need to do is get accustomed to a more crowded garden. In places untended by humans, plants don't grow in neat rows with lots of space in between. They jostle each other, vying for access to space and light. Rather than nurturing individual plants, the whole system gardener cultivates an ecosystem. It's easier to encourage a riot of growth and decide what to remove, than to try to maintain vast empty areas while coaxing along a plant here and there.
“What about fungus?” I hear someone shouting from the back. Plants found to be susceptible to mold and mildew might need more attention to keep them fungus-free. However, I've been happily surprised by the lack of fungal problems, even during summers of above average rain and humidity like this year's. Whether this is due to vigorous plant health arising from rich, living soil or from less understood factors is unknown.
The benefits accrued from a more crowded garden are many: more veggies, less weeding, and less watering. This last advantage is a big one and I'll explore it next time.