posted on May, 9 2013 @ 02:37 AM
Perennials are essential. Rootcrops as well. Rootcrops tend to either be perennial, or perform as such assuming you leave germplasms (any bit that can
grow into a new plant) in the ground.
You need things you can depend on. With annuals its quite easy that your entire crop of any given thing can get ruined.
People might expect the notions of needing pesticides of some sort to stop the bugs from eating the fruit end products. I find, with annuals, often
its about things that happen well before fruit set even occurs.
Here in FL, cucumbers and relatives can be a real pain. In general they tend to need to be hand pollinated (squashes in particular), but here the real
killer is mold. By late May it seems if you don't spray with copper mold will begin destroying them right as they're reaching their prime. No
copper, well?
Similar things with tomatoes: the last year I did my big array, some damn wasp apparently was eating the flowers rights off before they could do
anything. Blossom end rot produces abut the same effect, and is one people in all places will get to enjoy when there's calcium deficiency.
With corn the bugs like to eat the main shoot (apical meristem). That destroys the plants ability to grow and even get around to beginning husk
formation.
SO in terms of survival, one of the most important things all should ever print is your planting dates for your area. I also suggest printing a USDA
Climate Zone Map. From there print a list of companion plants.
Now you need to grasp what each sort of veggie faces in your area. This will take reading, and practicing. Armed with these insights you can now
strategize how you'd deal with these issues in whatever outcome it is you're preparing for.
Be sure to not skip on perennials. Unlike annuals, they're built to last and tend to not be prone to the above ordeals. In perpetual SHTF, you're
going to need things you can count on and dont have to hassle with replanting etc every single time. BY their typical nature, these are the things you
want to get going now so they have the time they need to reach high production stages. Moreover, even if you dont want to hassle with a 'garden'
now, start setting the perennials now across your landscape.