Seed to Skein 2010 Dye Garden Project, Part V

VW Improv, 2010.

Part V: Mulching

It would be nearly impossible to garden in Oklahoma without a good layer of mulch. Ground leaves are a favorite mulch but they are more difficult to come by than wheat straw. Even the wheat straw has to be “hunted” for every time I need to replenish my supply. I buy as much as I can transport in whatever vehicle is available. We do not have a truck so we improvised with the VW Camper van. We packed in 16 total!

16 Bales Full, 2010.

Top > Bottom:

Polygonum tinctorium

Isatis tinctoria

Reseda luteola

2010.

Top > Bottom/Mulched:

Polygonum tinctorium

Isatis tinctoria

Reseda luteola

2010.

Polygonum tinctorium mulched, 2010.

All of my dye plant seedlings have been transplanted into their garden ground. I purchased wheat straw from a farmer in Tuttle, Oklahoma. The wheat straw was spread throughout all the garden beds about 6” thick.

A good layer of mulch helps to retain moisture, especially during the hot and dry Oklahoma Summer. Mulch is excellent for suppressing weeds too, reducing the amount of overall weeding that needs to be done.

Tomatoes, Basil,

Cardoon, Calendula,

 Tagetes patula, 2010.

Same bed as above,

looking North, Rubia tinctoria

in foreground, 2010.

Calendula bud

 in freshly mulched bed, 2010.