Raised Gardens

[Gunfixr]

We actually have a local preparedness store, just over a mile away.
From them, we've acquired a #10 can of heirloom seeds, and my plan was to get a couple more.
Anyway, I was talking with the wife about this, and saying maybe we should be running a garden now, since it takes a bit to get good at it. She did try a garden two years in a row a few years back. But, the soil here isn't great, low ground with solid clay just a few inches down. Roots are everywhere, since they cannot go down, they go out. The ground here stays wet if there's any rain at all. Also, there isn't a lot of sun anywhere, just maybe some afternoon sun in spots. Also, she was really starting to feel bad from the things we now know she has, but it wasn't getting treated, and she just quit tending it.
So we were thinking this time we'd do raised garden beds. Then, we could put better soil in, and maybe not have so much water.
Probably start in the spring.

Any ideas, suggestions?

[helomech]

I have one raised bed, I use for things that don't do so well in aquaponics. You could also do aquaponics, or wicking beds.

[bacpacker]

From the description of your soil and conditions, I think a raised bed/s would be the way to go. They will drain better, your soil is certainly better. Plus the benifit of not having to bend over as much.
One thing about the canned seeds, I have looked into these quite a bit and found I didn't care for the seed mix variety. I would prefer to select my own types of seed to fit what we like aand what does the best in our area. A lot of the canned seeds are general that may or may not be suitable for where you are. Just my .02 on that.

[TroubleShooter]

One thing I have been playing with is using pet bedding (pineshavings from tractorsupply) I have starting seedlings in low loft quilt material from seed, cut around root system when transplanting. I am using plastic drums. Liquid fertizlier . I feel the bedding can be santized and reused several times, it absorbs and holds water . Is lightweight in drums or planters to move around. I checked many medias to use, cost and weight were negatives....I do not know if the shavings are ph neutral, but so far I grew tomatoes and potatoes in the bedding...They will compact some when wet, but for the most part I believe I have found a cheap easily accessible grow media.... For cleaning for reuse, I intend to bleach or cook the shavings......Just make sure the drums are secure , local wind storms took most my garden out....

Just spitting out my ideas.....

[bacpacker]

TS, I may be way off base, but I know Pine needles are highly acidic. I use them as a mulch around my blueberries to help adjust the PH lower. I assume shaving would be near the same. OTOH Tomatos like a low PH. You may have hit on something good there. I will try mulching with them next year.

[helomech]

TS, I may be way off base, but I know Pine needles are highly acidic. I use them as a mulch around my blueberries to help adjust the PH lower. I assume shaving would be near the same. OTOH Tomatos like a low PH. You may have hit on something good there. I will try mulching with them next year.



My tomatoes in my aquaponics are doing awesome with a ph above 8.

[Sniper-T]

everything I garden is in boxes. I cannot praise them enough!

[TroubleShooter]

http://rurallivingtoday.com/gardens/diy-april-built-hydroponics-system/

I going to try this setup on an aframe utilizing both sides , filling the pipes with pine shavings instead of using net pots. Although I will drill holes in pvc for netpot size incase pineshaving idea is fail...I think using the shavings and doing a ebb and flow will conserve water and nutrients...

[TroubleShooter]

everything I garden is in boxes. I cannot praise them enough!

My next project test is potatoes in boxes , basically a window box with black plastic covering it , when the potatoe plant pushes up against plastic , cut a slit for it to escape and use the ebb and flow/fill and drain system...Ideally when plants are mature should be able to peel plastic back and pick up the potatoes, no digging or media use required...... Box size starting out has me wondering if it will affect size of potato, I am thinking 10 inches wide, 6 inches tall , whatever length you choose.....

[Gunfixr]

I haven't even had a chance to really research this, much less start anything. Life has pretty much gone sideways here.

I may have to wait until next year, or maybe something that can start later, if then.

[ak474u]

We are doing raised beds this year in a big way compared to last year. Our ground is crappy here, so I'm kinda stuck with raised beds. Having a tough time getting good soil mix from bagged material. I'm going to order 4 yards of good stuff next week I think.

[TroubleShooter]

https://www.facebook.com/greendropfarms/photos_stream

[helomech]

We expanded our raised bed this year. It was 8X8, now it is 16X16. Got some chickens in it right now, they are fertilizing it for me.

[FL-Jeeper]

Here in FL the soil is very sandy and nutrient deficient so we're in the process of the very thing.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p175/rock_scott/20140419_143111_zps1ce70a54.jpg (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/rock_scott/media/20140419_143111_zps1ce70a54.jpg.html)

I'm making them out of landscape timbers & PT fence pickets. Very inexpensive lumber. Dimesions are roughly 2'x2'x4'. There's a layer of rock in the bottom, lined with landscape cloth and filled with a combination of compost and Miracle Grow veggy soil. This one is full of beefsteak 'maters.

[Katrina]

DH did raised beds last year got a great crop of tomatoes, squash and cukes. He didn't do too much planting last year, this year he's planning on filling all 6 boxes When he built the boxes he put dampened newspapers in the bottom before he put in the soil to help keep any weeds out from beneath them and this winter he cleared out the boxes and put clear plastic over some of them ( an experiment) to try and keep out the weeds when spring came.Unfortunately with the winter we had, the plastic sheeting didn't hold up, we think it wasn't thick or strong enough. We'll have to try a different mil this year. We thought about putting chicken wire also in the beds under the newspapers but DH didn't do that, just the newsprint.

[ladyhk13]

DH did raised beds last year got a great crop of tomatoes, squash and cukes. He didn't do too much planting last year, this year he's planning on filling all 6 boxes When he built the boxes he put dampened newspapers in the bottom before he put in the soil to help keep any weeds out from beneath them and this winter he cleared out the boxes and put clear plastic over some of them ( an experiment) to try and keep out the weeds when spring came.Unfortunately with the winter we had, the plastic sheeting didn't hold up, we think it wasn't thick or strong enough. We'll have to try a different mil this year. We thought about putting chicken wire also in the beds under the newspapers but DH didn't do that, just the newsprint.

Black plastic works better and it warms your soil quicker for Spring. Maybe try it next year?

[FL-Jeeper]

30 days later & I've finished the second planter box.


This one is planted with San Marzano. Bell peppers are doing great in the garden box further down... had intended on planting a bit of corn this year but we missed our window.
http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p175/rock_scott/2014-05-18144846_zps5c6d06cb.jpg (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/rock_scott/media/2014-05-18144846_zps5c6d06cb.jpg.html)

The Beefsteaks are doing well.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p175/rock_scott/2014-05-18144830_zps2acfc0b5.jpg (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/rock_scott/media/2014-05-18144830_zps2acfc0b5.jpg.html)

[bacpacker]

Lookin good Jeeper!

I had my corn out and it was starting get to come up and the dam crows pulled every bit of it up. I haven't had time to pop them yet but I see some dead crows before very long.

[helomech]

Here is my raised garden.

Squash, zucchini, and peppers.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii247/helomech1973/garden/10292516_4203682066568_5477253119647718381_n_zps69 1142f5.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/user/helomech1973/media/garden/10292516_4203682066568_5477253119647718381_n_zps69 1142f5.jpg.html)

Onions, and carrots.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii247/helomech1973/garden/10320578_4203682386576_2131678317449526338_n_zps21 f92967.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/user/helomech1973/media/garden/10320578_4203682386576_2131678317449526338_n_zps21 f92967.jpg.html)

Watermelon (3 different kinds) cantaloupe, and a tomatillo that came up from last years planting.

http://i266.photobucket.com/albums/ii247/helomech1973/garden/10371501_4203683386601_8126964619496751541_n_zpsb3 696f00.jpg (http://s266.photobucket.com/user/helomech1973/media/garden/10371501_4203683386601_8126964619496751541_n_zpsb3 696f00.jpg.html)

[Twitchy]

Here in FL the soil is very sandy and nutrient deficient so we're in the process of the very thing.

http://i128.photobucket.com/albums/p175/rock_scott/20140419_143111_zps1ce70a54.jpg (http://s128.photobucket.com/user/rock_scott/media/20140419_143111_zps1ce70a54.jpg.html)

I'm making them out of landscape timbers & PT fence pickets. Very inexpensive lumber. Dimesions are roughly 2'x2'x4'. There's a layer of rock in the bottom, lined with landscape cloth and filled with a combination of compost and Miracle Grow veggy soil. This one is full of beefsteak 'maters.

I would be leery of using the red mulch near gardens used for food production... Depending on what type of process the manufacturer uses to dye it, It could contain Heavy metal preservatives and/or arsenic or Iron Oxides... It generally isn't recommended to use colored mulch near food crops...

[Katrina]

Sounds good Lady, I'll give Da Hubs the suggestion. All of the boxes are great, you guys do great work

[FL-Jeeper]

I would be leery of using the red mulch near gardens used for food production... Depending on what type of process the manufacturer uses to dye it, It could contain Heavy metal preservatives and/or arsenic or Iron Oxides... It generally isn't recommended to use colored mulch near food crops...


Thanks, I hadn't thought of any issues with the mulch. I'll check it out.

[FL-Jeeper]

Just following up with you folks. The mulch I'm using is from Margo Garden products and I reached out to that company directly inquiring about the food safety of this product. I was informed that their red mulch is made from virgin pine and colored with red iron oxide, which is reportedly safe.

Thanks for looking out!

[Sniper-T]

beets planted:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0524141224a_zpsf015c43b.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0524141224a_zpsf015c43b.jpg.html)

cukes and zucchini coming up:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0603141655d_zps1ec07577.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0603141655d_zps1ec07577.jpg.html)

Adding mulch to a new one:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0603141655a_zps0af427ca.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0603141655a_zps0af427ca.jpg.html)

about 1/2 full of mulch, ready for soil:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0603141655c_zps5931dda0.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0603141655c_zps5931dda0.jpg.html)

[bacpacker]

Pics didn't come through .

Never mind. Must have been my phone. I like the planters.

[helomech]

Cool, what is that you planted them in?

[Sniper-T]

Those are called 'vane tubes' something we make at work. I picked up 4 a couple years ago at scrap price because they were screwed up. They make awesome planters!
Wasn't your phone BP. I redid the links.

[helomech]

Looks like big turbine blades.

[bacpacker]

They look perfect for beds and high enough you don't have to stand on your head to work in them.

I am getting ready to start on 3 for the lady my wife works for. Most likely will use landscape timbers for them. She wants them easily watered which h got me looking seriously at the drip irrigation. I have been wanting one for myself so this gets it moving and will have some experience with them before I start on mine.

[Sniper-T]

You're close helo, they actually act as airflow straighteners; and are positioned directly behind the fan blades. The air that a fan pushes, spirals down a duct in an inefficient manner, this thing would take the spiral out and allow the air to flow smoothly.

and yeah, perfect height for working in, but also perfect height for the deer to browse buffet style. lol.

[Sniper-T]

cukes and zucc's:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0616141812c_zps23ca54c4.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0616141812c_zps23ca54c4.jpg.html)

low bush, haskap, and pink lemonade blueberries:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0616141806a_zps21b524e2.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0616141806a_zps21b524e2.jpg.html)

corn:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0616141812b_zpse4061fd2.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0616141812b_zpse4061fd2.jpg.html)

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0616141812a_zpsed0cd36a.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0616141812a_zpsed0cd36a.jpg.html)

[Sniper-T]

opening up the area around my main garden...

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0612141841a_zpsd518eb66.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0612141841a_zpsd518eb66.jpg.html)

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0612141840a_zps3f1a8306.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0612141840a_zps3f1a8306.jpg.html)

getting rid of the tree tops and branches:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/0613141905b_zps31f64647.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/0613141905b_zps31f64647.jpg.html)

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/0613141904a_zpsecb805c2.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/0613141904a_zpsecb805c2.jpg.html)

[Sniper-T]

Things are coming along nicely...

Black beans and Okra:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141819a_zps4827c2f0.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141819a_zps4827c2f0.jpg.html)

Cukes and zuc's:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141819b_zpsd2e59647.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141819b_zpsd2e59647.jpg.html)

Corn:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141819d_zpsf6394f32.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141819d_zpsf6394f32.jpg.html)
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141820a_zps41e11c0f.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141820a_zps41e11c0f.jpg.html)

Blue berries:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141821b_zps11001373.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141821b_zps11001373.jpg.html)

[Sniper-T]

Something new... Horseradish:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141822b_zps14d261e3.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141822b_zps14d261e3.jpg.html)

Asparagus:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141828a_zps75cc87d3.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141828a_zps75cc87d3.jpg.html)
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141828c_zps9986bd44.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141828c_zps9986bd44.jpg.html)
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141828e_zpsec4fee4e.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141828e_zpsec4fee4e.jpg.html)
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141828d_zps5b575e0d.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141828d_zps5b575e0d.jpg.html)

[Sniper-T]

cauliflower, cabbage and hot peppers:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141830a_zpsceb202a1.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141830a_zpsceb202a1.jpg.html)

beets:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141831a_zpse5d4feea.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141831a_zpse5d4feea.jpg.html)

Potatoes:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141836a_zpsd46f0527.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141836a_zpsd46f0527.jpg.html)
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141836b_zps66211e2d.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141836b_zps66211e2d.jpg.html)

Peas:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141839c_zps7a86432d.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141839c_zps7a86432d.jpg.html)

[Sniper-T]

peas after weeding:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141847a_zpsd4813649.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141847a_zpsd4813649.jpg.html)

I have onions, garlic and shallots planted around all my fruit trees, like so:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141848a_zpsc38284c8.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141848a_zpsc38284c8.jpg.html)
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141849a_zps73b137fc.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141849a_zps73b137fc.jpg.html)

some of the trees I've been cutting down... the stumps are being topped with herb pots:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141852a_zps413e0ac8.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141852a_zps413e0ac8.jpg.html)

blackberries:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141852d_zps9e422f69.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141852d_zps9e422f69.jpg.html)\

[Sniper-T]

Strawberries:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141852e_zps31eb735c.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141852e_zps31eb735c.jpg.html)

Lettuce, peppers and corn:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141854a_zpsd6af1375.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141854a_zpsd6af1375.jpg.html)

another:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141854b_zpsf0fbe0d8.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141854b_zpsf0fbe0d8.jpg.html)

and another, but this one also has some marjoram growning in there:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0703141855a_zpsd4f7d43e.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0703141855a_zpsd4f7d43e.jpg.html)

[bacpacker]

Damn show off!

Garden looks great. Couple questions for you. How are your raised beds doing as far as how much, n often do they need water? Does normal rainfall cover it? What did you try with horse radish? I've tried two years in a row and no luck yet.

[Sniper-T]

lol. sorry bp.

If it doesn't rain, I water every day. I have multiple 15 gallon barrels scattered around where all my gardens are, that I fill up once every couple weeks. So I just go out with the quad and do a circuit, watering each garden in turn... takes about an hour a day.

I just transplanted the horseradish. It grows wild in a swampy area nearby, so I dug out 5 plants and plopped them into those boxes. it didn't look like any of them were going to make it, as they all turned brown and wilted, so I cut them off right down to ground level, and now three have started sprouting again.

[bacpacker]

I got bare roots to plant both times. I need to try and find some plants.

[Sniper-T]

Have you tried just getting the root to sprout in some water? (like germinating a seed)

[bacpacker]

I have not. Good idea.

[helomech]

I only water a couple times a week, if no rain. If it rains then I don't water at all.

[Sniper-T]

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/0712141254a_zps213e7d9f.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/0712141254a_zps213e7d9f.jpg.html)

yum yum yum!

[Sniper-T]

and that is that!

first frost a couple days ago. :(

what is left of my cukes and zukes:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0915141723c_zps172b662d.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0915141723c_zps172b662d.jpg.html)

My black beans:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0915141723a_zps68565531.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0915141723a_zps68565531.jpg.html)

I picked about a hundred off and have drying in the house, I am leaving the rest hanging for as long as I can to dry out before picking, as the beans themselves look mostly ok:

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0915141723b_zps49cbd3a8.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0915141723b_zps49cbd3a8.jpg.html)

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0915141825c_zpsb2c181ec.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0915141825c_zpsb2c181ec.jpg.html)

[Sniper-T]

I picked a bunch of beets to freeze, and will parboil them tonight, got the leaves:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0915141824c_zps5d27855d.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0915141824c_zps5d27855d.jpg.html)

and the stems:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0915141825a_zps20bb8345.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0915141825a_zps20bb8345.jpg.html)

ready for the freezer.

[ak474u]

I'm hoping for a late first frost this year, my tomatoes are exploding with production.

[helomech]

Dang already. We have lows in the upper 60's and it feels great.

[Sniper-T]

My tomatoes are sheltered enough that they survived, I'm picking daily and eating them like they are going out of style... which in terms of gardening, I guess they are. I too am hoping for a late frost.

[Sniper-T]

I love garden season!
The wife and I went for a walk down the trail to check on the gardens and enjoy the sites of Autumn.

I pick about this much each day, work as much into a meal and put up the rest.

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0921141635a_zps8dcbd245.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0921141635a_zps8dcbd245.jpg.html)

tomatoes:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0921141659a_zps7c9bfb11.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0921141659a_zps7c9bfb11.jpg.html)

the last of my peppers and onions:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0921141659b_zps2783377e.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0921141659b_zps2783377e.jpg.html)

Lettuce, still going strong:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0921141659b_zps2783377e.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0921141659b_zps2783377e.jpg.html)

More beet leaves:
http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt140/Sniper-T/garden/0921141659c_zps481a089f.jpg (http://s605.photobucket.com/user/Sniper-T/media/garden/0921141659c_zps481a089f.jpg.html)