Mittleider Gardening in South Mississippi

Here in South Mississippi the heat, humidity and insects can devastate a garden. Grass and weeds grow faster than garden plants in our sub tropical climate. I began with the Mittleider Method of vegetable gardening in the fall of 2005. It was an immediate success. The ability to precisely feed and water only the plants meant very few weeds to deal with and therefore, very few insects. I have grown an abundance of broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, onions, green peas (shared with the deer), pole beans, lima beans, corn (two good crops), squash, okra, tomatoes, watermelons, radishes, mustard greens, lettuce, carrots, eggplant, cucumbers, bell peppers.

It takes very little time to "weed" the garden since the vegetables outgrow the weeds and watering is no chore at all. With the automated watering system I was able to have very successful gardens even during the nearly 8 month drought after Hurricane Katrina.

It is now time for the spring 2012 garden. In the years since I first started using this method I have reached the stage where I never purchase a vegetable that can grow in our climate. I can, dehydrate, and freeze my produce. Much is given away to family, friends and neighbors.

This system really works. If you're serious about gardening give it a try.

One thing I will do this spring is put up a solar powered electric fence around my garden. I shared far too much corn with the raccoons and English peas with the deer.

At this writing it is early December 2006 and I am still growing and harvesting vegetables. I picked my last eggplant just before the hard freeze (23F) and as you can see from the photos below have harvested carrots, cauliflower and broccoli.

We have since had two hard freezes and the remaining broccoli looks like it came through fine. The radishes, carrots, onions, cauliflower, and brussel sprouts look great. My leaf lettuce didn't survive!! I have had some rabbit problems with my cabbage.

I should harvest the remainder of the broccoli (some 25+ plants) about the 16th of the month.

The use of the Mittleider Method continues to amaze me. Once everything is set up the garden is very low maintenance yet very prolific.

See the fall garden photos below.