Finally got most of it done. Got 2 raised beds of 3 built, filled with good soil n planted. Topsoil was good dirt that had horse manure. Spread on it for 12 years. Real rich stuff. Attachment 198044Attachment 198045
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Finally got most of it done. Got 2 raised beds of 3 built, filled with good soil n planted. Topsoil was good dirt that had horse manure. Spread on it for 12 years. Real rich stuff. Attachment 198044Attachment 198045
Dang...just when I think I'm caught up on projects...I see this. I need to get after it and get planted. Looks great.
Looking good Don.
Don; Now you will have plenty of vegetables to go with all them big crappie you been catching. Good luck with the garden.
Great job Don.
You didn't leave the corner post up so you can add to them next year. Mine were a single 2x10 last year, I added another 2x10 this year.
Watch for other things to be added to the beds to keep the soil at the top. I get cotton hulls, manure and waste from the grain mills. I get it in 5 gallon buckets with lids. 31 buckets will fit in my truck, I have a few loads here stored away. Mix them in a little at a time. In the fall I'll collect bags of leaves. Dump them out and run over with the lawnmower with grass bag or lawn vac. All kitchen waste can be buried between plants. Well not meat and bones. Tomato plants like egg shells and banana peels. Spent tea leaves/bags and coffee grounds will help with incests. Add a few layers of newspaper or cardboard to cover around plants, cover with sawdust, not pressure treated.
Water the roots and not the plant. I cut the top off of drink bottles and poke a hole in the bottom. Bury them about half way and try to keep them filled.
The main bed is 4x10 and the Mater bed is 4x8. Got one more 4x10 to build for my peppers but no rush getting them in the ground. It'll be a couple more weeks before UI have to get them planted. We're gonna start a compost bin this year so I can work it into the beds for next year. Think I'm going to sell my full sized Tiller and get a small one. Just don't need a full sized one any more since all my stuff is in beds now. The Herb Garden is Jammin to. Heck, even my Lemon, lime and Orange tree is growing like Crazy. Most of the leaves fell off them this winter inside but they all have blooms for days on them. MAYBE I'll actually get some fruit this year
4 foot is my limit for the width of a raised bed. 3 foot for a bed against a wall or backing. Can't reach the center or back of anything wider without stepping in it. I see some that are made with 6 or 8 foot boards. You can transport grass and weed seeds on your feet into the beds. Plus compacting the soil to close to roots.
Someone removed their wood fence in sections of 3 to 5 boards. Some post were cut at the ground and some had concrete bottoms. 4 trips got it all. I used 3 trees and a post, nailed the sections to new 2x4s. It's big enough to park a car in, no problem backing my shredder into it to unload. I throw a coating of ag lime and sulfur pellets over it. The lime helps it break down faster and the sulfur isn't liked by snakes.
1 simple rules about grasses and weeds in the compost. "If you don't want it in your garden, don't put it in the compost."
throw some fish guts/heads in there! :biggrin
Last I heard BigFeets was a Vegetarian. Better let Sadie guard yo garden
That will work Don!You got a green egg and a green thumb!Should be easy on the weeds also.What kinda maters you plant?
Planted 2, Big Boy, a better boy, Roma and 2, Celebrity. Just trying something different this year. I usually go with better boys all the way around. Year before last, I planted celebritys and they did real well. LOTS of maters
Yeh and he has a green cup too lolQuote:
Originally Posted by SlabLapper4sure
Don, I usually plant 3/4 those Roma's along with everything else. Like them to use in Spagettie sauces. Just blanch and peal then run through blender and put 3 cups in freezer bag. They lay flat and freeze. Take up hardly any room.
Lordy, talking about getting the beds ready for growth. Now we are prepping what food that hasn't be produced yet.
I'll have you know I've graduated Attachment 198314to a Silver cup these days. Sucker holds Ice for a long time. I can go to bed with a glass of Ice and it'll be mostly there the next morningQuote:
Originally Posted by "G"
I do that every year Cray. I make home made Sketti sauce in 2-3 gallon batches, then can it. Dang hard to beat Home made Sketti sauce and it's so easy
It's hard to believe this. I grow romas every year and get a bunch of small tomatoes, 3 or 4 to make a fist. Farmer's market in southeast Memphis has them as big as grapefruits. What am I doing wrong???
Roma's are not a large tomato. Like a small pear shape. Don't know what you are getting they are calling Roma..Quote:
Originally Posted by canebreaker
If you find them at your local coop go ahead and buy a Cherokee Purple Tomato. I am very particular about tomatos because only a homegrown tomato is worth eatting to me. I eat a mater sandwich everyday for lunch when they are growing and cut 2 for supper every night. A Cherokee Purple is a heirloom and is a really tasty tomato that you will enjoy with some blueplate mayo.
Melting ice prevents alcohol abuse. You can drink the very last drop in the morning. [emoji12]Quote:
Originally Posted by DonDon
Getting ready for our trip to Homestead Nursery in Coldwater. They supply to 4 Seasons in Hernando, not sure about others. I hope they have a good selection of heirlooms this year.
I'll get a scoop of their pro mix. Mix it with cotton hulls and compost for flowerbeds and containers. I mark off where each tomato and pepper plant will be. I dig a hole big enough for 2 shovels of the mix then till it in.
I set the stakes first. A short trench for each plant and a 2 liter drink bottle. The bottle has the top cut off and a hole or 2 poked in the bottom for watering.