Sir_Winston54
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Beautiful, AA.
Anyone starting a garden?
- Thread starter WriterDom
- Start date
I went with square foot gardening this year, spent all winter building the boxes and U-Frames for everything from sugar snap peas to watermelons to climb on; but as long as I can remember, we always did the row gardening--in fact, some of my very first memories are of planting potatoes (my job, cuz I was closest to the ground)...I was maybe 3 years old, and I remember it being a familiar task.
Anyway, I only had enough of my homemade compost for one box, so I used Worm's Way's "Happy Frog" as the compost part of the mix for the rest. The plants *loved* it. For the first two weeks. Then they started floundering. Some water soluble triple 20 and they're back on course.
The first box, with my compost in it--my neighbor says she's never seen potato plants so big. The sugar snap peas are trellis-ed all the way up about 6' tall....picked some this morning, along with some lettuce & beet greens and strawberries. For the first time, I think I'm going to have tomatoes *before* 4th of July. My pumpkins (sugar and giant) are flowering, as are my cucumbers & bush green beans. A squirrel got frisky while I was busy painting the two story wrought iron back porch (OMG!!!..now THERE'S one tedious task) and just destroyed one grid of my sweet corn rooting in it to try and get the cornmeal out of the glass jar I've got in there for slugs.
Now, according to the square foot website (www.squarefootgardening.com) those 13 boxes I built should be enough to completely replace my large row garden (the large one is about 125' X 75')--I have my doubts on that. I'm not going to have enough sugar snap peas to eat *and* freeze, at least from the spring planting, but that may be due to the late start the ones in the Happy Frog box got. The strawberries I'm not going to count since first year's production on those are always light.
Overall, I'm pretty pleased with the square foot gardening. One whale of a time saver and back saver with the no hoeing or tilling or weeding.
I may need to double the number of boxes for next year, tho'..otoh, I have a bad issue of not knowing when to STOP planting once I start...which reminds me, I need to put in the second planting of red potatoes....if I ever finish painting that $!!*#! porch.
Sir_Winston54
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Sharon, thanks for that recommendation and link for Square Foot Gardening. I've bookmarked it and will definitely be going back for next growing season!
Again, thanks!
ETA: How about posting a few pics of your boxes?
Again, thanks!
ETA: How about posting a few pics of your boxes?
You're very welcome
I really recommend his book, "All New Square Foot Gardening" as that goes into construction detail.
Aw, I'm technologically backward, I don't own a digital camera.
They look very similar to the boxes on the webpage. Mine don't have corner posts, and it looks like the ones in the picture are constructed from 1X6's where mine are 2X6's.
Given that a couple thousand pounds of venison roam thru my yard daily, most still have the dome frame up with deer netting on it (two 10' lengths of flexible PVC running diagonal from the inside corners and lashed together at the top with a zip tie). It makes for a "netting tent"--with two partially sunk screws on each side to hook the netting ends over. Just unhook a corner and toss it up and you have access. This also works well to extend the growing season, just toss a 10'X10' plastic sheet over the dome.
My problem yesterday with the destructive tree rat stems from that box's west side being against a 4' creek rock retaining wall and I didn't think I needed netting on the west side. With taller plants you need horizontal support netting that I achieved for the corn by screwing bamboo poles to each corner, running tellis netting across horizontally then the obligatory deer netting vertically down the poles (which also works for 'coons, since they don't like to sway when they're trying to climb).
And of course, most of my boxes have the inverted U-frame on the north end of the box for vining crops to trellis on. Following my neighbor lady's example, I've tossed a submersible pump with garden hose attached down the old cistern hole, so all my outside water usage is free.
Sir_Winston54
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!
I had to back up to get this week's picture... the plants wouldn't fit in the frame from the spot where I'd been taking pics!
Week 4 (last Sunday): http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x95/Sir_Winston54/07-060709.jpg
Week 5 (today): http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x95/Sir_Winston54/t8-061409.jpg
I had to back up to get this week's picture... the plants wouldn't fit in the frame from the spot where I'd been taking pics!
Week 4 (last Sunday): http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x95/Sir_Winston54/07-060709.jpg
Week 5 (today): http://i183.photobucket.com/albums/x95/Sir_Winston54/t8-061409.jpg
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<grin>
Good deal.
At the rate those are going, you're gonna need to pound a stake thru the center of that cage so the weight of the plant doesn't topple it!
Have you ever planted basil at the base of the tomato plant? Very good companion plant and it repels a lot of tomato pests.
[and the aromatic basil just fills the air with aroma everytime you tend to your tomatoes cuz you're brushing against it]
Sir_Winston54
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Actually, I've never planted tomatoes before, because I don't *eat* tomatoes. I eat tomato catsup, tomato soup, tomato-based spaghetti sauce, tomato preserves... but not tomatoes themselves.
I only planted these because mom bought them and I didn't want them to go to waste like the ones she bought last year (and never did anything with) did.Interesting thought, though, about repelling tomato pests with the basil. I think next time I'm in town, I'll stop at the coop and see if they have any baby basil plants, or seeds. It's not too late, is it?
Netzach
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This is like the mystery thread. Everyone's work is gorgeous and I have no idea how this is done whatsoever. I just know I enjoy other people's work in their garden and damn, do Minnesotans ever garden.
I can bake pistachio rosepetal jelly cupcakes, but fuck I can't even grow a pansy. The literal kind. not a forced bi joke.
I can bake pistachio rosepetal jelly cupcakes, but fuck I can't even grow a pansy. The literal kind. not a forced bi joke.
Actually, I've never planted tomatoes before, because I don't *eat* tomatoes. I eat tomato catsup, tomato soup, tomato-based spaghetti sauce, tomato preserves... but not tomatoes themselves.
Interesting thought, though, about repelling tomato pests with the basil. I think next time I'm in town, I'll stop at the coop and see if they have any baby basil plants, or seeds. It's not too late, is it?
What a coincidence! I don't eat store bought tomatoes. Blegh. In all seriousness, you're gonna need to run a stake down thru the cage or it'll topple...easier to do it now than when they start bushing out.
I don't know where the '82 World Fair was so I can't answer your question about the basil seeds. It's not too late in Kentucky. If your stores are out, you might try burpee.com or seedman.com
You may want to wear long sleeves when you mess with the tomatoes; they're part of the nightshade family and the vines break some folks' arms out in a short-lived but annoying rash.
Sir_Winston54
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Mmm, thanks for the sleeve advice. I'm allergic to ragweeds and most anything that puts pollen in the air, so I'll remember that when I'm getting in there with them.
('82 World Fair was in Knoxville, TN, btw.)
JMohegan
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Netzach
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That is very cool. You can't go two feet without hitting a community garden here, but man, those people know what they're doing, too. I need the ultimate moron's guide. I mean, I can kill creeping charlie.
AngelicAssassin
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Thanks darlin', i'll see if i can't get some more up after the experimentation takes effect.
Sex & Diamonds
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You certainly have a lovely rose garden, AA.
AngelicAssassin
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Wow, there's a blast from the past. Thank you for the compliment, and where have you been hiding?
Sex & Diamonds
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I'm a BB lurker. Didn't you know?
You are welcome, as I only speak truth. The garden and the yard is beautiful. I'm curious about those upside down tomato plants. Do keep us up-to-date on how it's doing and how much it yields.
I'll have to go out and take some pictures of my garden and post them. They will, I assure you, pale compared to your roses.
AngelicAssassin
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i've taken several siestas since last you interacted here.
It's interesting to watch the growth initially do what all does: grow up; until they get heavy enough for gravity to pull them down. i've got Early Girls in both of them and green fruit on one already. i'll have to take a shot of them as well.
Pale isn't a bad thing ...
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2003-8/363868/MoonStonebloom.JPG
certainly not when flushed with pink ...
Sir_Winston54
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Sell "garden-ripe home-grown tomatoes" to your sibs.I counted 92 tomato plants. That's insane. My siblings think tomato sandwiches are the greatest thing on earth. I don't even like raw tomatoes.
You'll be able to afford your Lit membership.I counted 92 tomato plants. That's insane. My siblings think tomato sandwiches are the greatest thing on earth. I don't even like raw tomatoes.
The guy that comes to work on my tractor has a farm the next county over and grows prize winning pumpkins at the county fair. Anyway, one year his mother and wife decided they wanted a LOT of tomatoes to make catsup and stuff. He planted 125. He said every night he got home about 6pm and spent an hour chucking tomatoes into bushel baskets, staying stooped over the entire time and hand pitching them without stopping.
You have my sympathy. One year I put out 47 plants. OMG. Never again.
JMohegan
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All very beautiful, thanks for the pics. This one is my favorite.
A couple of questions -
First - have you no bugs? No Japanese beetles, leaf munchers, or anything else? How the heck do they stay so PERFECT? That could never happen on the East coast. Well, at least not without massive chemical infusion.
And - what kind of mulch is that?
92 tomato plants where? In your yard? If so, that would be insane, yes, and I'm wondering - how on earth did that happen?I counted 92 tomato plants. That's insane. My siblings think tomato sandwiches are the greatest thing on earth. I don't even like raw tomatoes.
LilyBart
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AA,
Your roses are beautiful, really breathtaking.
I can't grow roses where I live (OK, yes I could, but it would be really, really hard).
Thank you so much for sharing your efforts!
JM,
Did you ever see the book called the $64 Tomato? Your comment about Japanese Beetles reminded me of the read. About how the author finally concluded that each tomato brought into the kitchen cost $64 to make it that far. An entertaining read...
~LB
Your roses are beautiful, really breathtaking.
I can't grow roses where I live (OK, yes I could, but it would be really, really hard).
Thank you so much for sharing your efforts!
JM,
Did you ever see the book called the $64 Tomato? Your comment about Japanese Beetles reminded me of the read. About how the author finally concluded that each tomato brought into the kitchen cost $64 to make it that far. An entertaining read...
~LB
AngelicAssassin
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Quite welcome.
i'm using a systemic fertilizer/anti-bug/anti-fungal made by Bayer every 4 weeks like clock work. The bugs have taken a few nips, but no ravaging as of yet. i also have a budding entomologist, or vet depending on the day of the week. If the midget doesn't get them, i do. i contemplated diatomaceous earth, nematodes, and mantis eggs, but waited too long and had concerns the nems and mantii would bite the dust with the pests.
They don't stay perfect. i'm rolling between a mini drought and the Second Flood right now. Firefighter has Rust. None of them have picked up Blackspot as of yet.
Cocoa shells. The same volume of hardwood mulch weighs 40% more at a rough guess. To counter the tendency of CS blowing around with the slightest gust, you need to soak it after putting it down. Within a day or so, it sets up like dried out cornflakes that have been previously soaked. You get a crunchy top layer that keeps the stuff from moving around. The drawback is you can't walk/kneel on it like you can with h/w mulch. In addition (someone hold Grace back) you get the scent of chocolate for about two weeks before the CS finally turns black.
Thank you.
There are more important things than growing flowers, i heartily agree. i just got the urge and needed the exercise.
Quite welcome.
