Gardening in the Oklahoma Panhandle

1/7/2018

My grandparents didn’t pass down their green thumb or any knowledge in this area. My job was always to stay out of the garden.

I really want to have a garden this year. I’ve had a few little ones through the years, but nothing I was super proud of. I’m usually proud to have one tomato grow for me. My grandparents didn’t pass down their green thumb or any knowledge in this area. My job was always to stay out of the garden. The first one was a little square-foot garden about 10x10 with a cute scarecrow in the middle of it. I got fresh leaf lettuce and spinach out of it and my okra and pumpkins were looking wonderful until the squash bugs came along and decimated everything. Don’t tell me squash bugs only eat gourds and melons. Tell the bugs!

When we moved to this old homestead, I was so excited. I planted a nice big (for me) garden in a wonderful, sunny place. Then, we got rain, lots and lots of rain. Most of it just washed away but the corn did try to come up, 20 feet from where I planted it. Disaster. Consecutive years have proved Oklahoma Panhandle sun will precook a garden before the produce even starts to grow! I’ve tried many container gardens. Again, I can get some lovely leaf lettuce and spinach, then everything fries. Anything I plant in the shade looks WONDERFUL until the cats lay on it, the chickens scratch it up, the dogs dig it up, or the peacocks pick the fruit just at ripening. Yes, that is even after building a fence all the way around and over top! Our critters only see a barricade as a challenge to be overcome. I love our critters, but I really want a garden!

This year will be a special challenge.

We don’t have an abundance of water. Even through this winter, hubby is having to haul water for the animals. He was going twice a week last year. I may have to have him set up my poor pickup with it’s own water tank so I can get water specifically for my garden. Fun.
We still have lots of animals. Did I mention goats? Ah! The plot thickens! I’d better have the boys help me build whole cages with sturdy frames to cage up my precious garden plots…
We also don’t have as many trees this year. Since the wildfire, things are thinned out a LOT. I’m not sure what I’ll use for shade on the blistery days. Maybe I can get a few cheep tarps.

Another issue I have is what to do with the harvest. I don’t think we’ll have any problems earlier on. We’ll eat, juice, and kraut most of it. I love homemade sauerkraut. I wish we had a cellar to store preserved foods. (…and to hide in when the twisters go by…) I have a beautiful canner but I haven’t used it yet so that will be an adventure. I have water-bathed preserves before. I wonder if we will have any sandplums this year. Most of ours burnt in the fire, so I’m sure we won’t have a crop for a few years. We don’t have central air conditioning, which I’m glad of, but if I’m canning in August, I’ll be lamenting about how on earth Great-grandma did it through the Dust Bowl. No wonder those ladies were skinny, they sweat it off!!!

Well, wish me luck and pray for special grace. With the price of groceries right now, we are looking forward to our first baby goats, more chickens, and a bountiful garden. Any tips and ideas from you are appreciated! Let me know what secrets you use to help make your garden successful. I need all the help I can get!

14 Comments

Rachael link

1/13/2018 12:58:26 pm

https://youtu.be/6rPPUmStKQ4
I have wanted to use these techniques, but I haven't got the vehicle or manpower to get the wood chips I need. Maybe these ideas can help you?

Dawnita link

1/15/2018 04:04:26 pm

Thank you Rachael. Yes I have looked at the Eden gardening technique. I had a pile of wood chips in front of our house last year. It burnt for DAYS during the wildfire. LOL ...seems like everything is against me!

Marti link

1/27/2018 03:56:17 pm

You might try making hoop shades with pvc pipe. They helped me keep bell peppers from scorching one summer.

Dawnita link

1/30/2018 03:39:05 pm

We just saw a video where someone used hula-hoops to make a cover. We'd have to latch it down on a sturdy frame so the Oklahoma wind wouldn't blow it away but it might actually work. Thanks for the idea Marti!

Steve Lewis link

6/12/2024 06:48:17 pm

The chickens scratch it up, the dogs dig it up, or the peacocks pick the fruit just at ripening. Yes, that is even after building a fence all the way around and over top! Thank you for sharing your great post!

Dawnita link

6/13/2024 01:07:41 pm

Exactly... Every year there is something. LOL Last year it was the wind shredding the greenhouse tarp... But we keep trying!

Donnie Moran link

7/5/2024 03:12:13 pm

I established it. Catastrophe. Continuous years have demonstrated Oklahoma Beg sun will precook a nursery before the produce even begins to develop! I've attempted numerous holder gardens.

Dawnita link

7/10/2024 05:40:38 pm

Yep.. It's a battle.

Ken Martinez link

8/7/2024 04:11:57 pm

We don't have an overflow of water. Indeed, even through this colder time of year, hubby is pulling water for the creatures. He was going two times every week a year ago.

Dawnita link

8/7/2024 07:06:21 pm

Thankfully this year we have got a lot more rain. It's still scary dry but it's better than it was. We didn't plant near what I would have liked, but we did what we could.

Corey Kesterson link

8/7/2024 05:54:11 pm

The Panhandle has a semi-arid climate with low annual rainfall. This means you'll need to water your garden regularly and consider drought-resistant plants. I truly appreciate your great post!