Author Topic: Small Garden (Read 7360 times)

CLEMON · « **on:** April 25, 2019, 07:30:13 PM »

I live outside of DC where land is expensive. I spent my summers on my grandparents farm in southern ohio so gardening reminds me of those days. My wife and I lived in a townhouse closer to DC and moved out to our current house with 1.5 acres 3 years ago. I started with a simple garden.

CLEMON · « **Reply #1 on:** April 25, 2019, 07:33:31 PM »

Last year i had some trouble with diseases. I thought about bring in new soil but the cost deterred me. I start research straw bale gardens. This year i decided to give it a try.

I started by putting down a weed barrier:

CLEMON · « **Reply #2 on:** April 25, 2019, 07:36:11 PM »

There is a process where you put down fertilizer and water it in. Water everyday and fertilizer every other day for 2 weeks. This starts the composting process.

I also got tired of hauling water out to my garden since its a 100 yards from my house. Started with installing a drip irrigation system.

CLEMON · « **Reply #3 on:** April 25, 2019, 07:37:21 PM »

Thats where im at now. Ive started seeds in my shed. I also bought a rain barrel and plan to setup a battery powered, timed, pump for the irrigation.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 25, 2019, 08:38:37 PM »

You plant the seed into the nails of hay? Interesting idea
Looks like the years past were fruitful. Love a fresh tomato

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CLEMON · « **Reply #5 on:** April 25, 2019, 09:33:11 PM »

If you want to plant seeds then once the bales are conditioned then you put a layer of soil down and plant the seeds. For plants, create a space, put in a little soil and then the plant

Farmer Jon · « **Reply #6 on:** April 26, 2019, 06:34:58 AM »

Looks real nice. I was going to try that with the straw bales but then changed my mind. Instead of using plastic for a weed barrier I busted open the straw bales and spread it on the ground. That worked pretty good. Then I just till it all up in the spring and start over. I didn't want to pull up all that plastic.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 26, 2019, 11:11:54 AM »

Very interesting!

I grew up North of you near the chesapeake Bay in a once little town, Abingdon, Maryland. Dad grew everything in his gardens. I was the weed puller and harvester. Things grow very well in that area. I so loved the corn, and how they cooked it!

Carry on!

DOOLEY · « **Reply #8 on:** April 26, 2019, 12:04:26 PM »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkJtNJqKM34, THIS COUPLE IENJOYING THE SAME TYPE OF GARDEN NORTH OF THE BORDER.

CLEMON · « **Reply #9 on:** April 28, 2019, 07:34:03 PM »

Picked up a 50 gal rain barrel on criagslist. Bought a 12 volt pump from harbor freight and wired up a timer. Also picked up some plants from a local nursery.

CLEMON · « **Reply #10 on:** April 28, 2019, 07:34:56 PM »

I'm looking to add a solar panel charge for the 12v battery. Any recommendations? I don't know much about them.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 28, 2019, 08:20:50 PM »

Man you said some starts. Those aren’t starts. Those as big as we get around here all year

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stlaser · « **Reply #12 on:** April 28, 2019, 08:43:38 PM »

Dave it’s called rain, they get it we don’t. Back in Indiana those were starts and they’d end up looking like bushes....

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 28, 2019, 10:35:14 PM »

Tomato’s the size of basketballs?

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wyorunner · « **Reply #14 on:** April 28, 2019, 11:19:19 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on April 28, 2019, 10:35:14 PM

Tomato’s the size of basketballs?

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No, just softballs!!!

CLEMON · « **Reply #15 on:** April 30, 2019, 07:50:16 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on April 28, 2019, 08:20:50 PM

Man you said some starts. Those aren’t starts. Those as big as we get around here all year

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Yeah, first time buying from them. I was impressed by the size.

CLEMON · « **Reply #16 on:** May 02, 2019, 08:36:18 PM »

Got the tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots and lettuce planted this week.

CLEMON · « **Reply #17 on:** June 23, 2019, 08:31:30 PM »

Update:

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 23, 2019, 10:26:38 PM »

Oh man. Fried green tomatoes and hot sauce!!

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Sammconn · « **Reply #19 on:** June 25, 2019, 11:52:35 AM »

That was fast. Interesting with the bales.

Flyin6 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 25, 2019, 08:52:36 PM »

very nice!

CLEMON · « **Reply #21 on:** June 25, 2019, 10:00:43 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on June 23, 2019, 10:26:38 PM

Oh man. Fried green tomatoes and hot sauce!!

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Never had them before but i cant wait till these are ripe.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #22 on:** June 25, 2019, 10:42:10 PM »

Try it out, lots of good recipes on line. I like egg, flour, fav seasoning, and some butter in a frying pan

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TexasRedNeck · « **Reply #23 on:** June 25, 2019, 10:57:45 PM »

Quote from: CLEMON on June 25, 2019, 10:00:43 PM

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on June 23, 2019, 10:26:38 PM
Oh man. Fried green tomatoes and hot sauce!!

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Never had them before but i cant wait till these are ripe.

That’s the beauty. You don’t wait until the my are ripe.

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CLEMON · « **Reply #24 on:** March 30, 2020, 09:18:43 PM »

Its getting to be garden season again. This year i want to create a top structure that i can tie supports to and get plants to grow up to. I was thinking about using stainless wire to create a mesh top. I want to create something like below but im not sure how to connect to wires together at a 90 degree. Any suggestions/tips.

I could run lumber between to post to tap the wires into but was hoping to avoid that.

Bigdave_185 · « **Reply #25 on:** March 30, 2020, 10:06:30 PM »

Any reason you couldn’t build a grid like rebar is in a floor? Use tie wire and when attaching it to the wood use barbwire fence nails.

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Atkinsmatt · « **Reply #26 on:** March 31, 2020, 07:24:40 AM »

What size? You could get a hog panel that is already welded and all. They are about 4' by 12' around here. Tractor supply.

cruizng · « **Reply #27 on:** March 31, 2020, 09:48:18 AM »

I use this for almost anything with Stainless wire. You can do almost any size and it holds like crazy. you just wrap a couple of times and then screw it down, fold it over and cut off the tails.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/topages/clamptitetoolplated.php?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1Iv0BRDaARIsAGTWD1uoZw0MrYQX4xT9JyXyAloZSXZh4qGgDdx9_suFzOfg-mXxGLef_u0aAkeIEALw_wcB

Nate · « **Reply #28 on:** March 31, 2020, 11:52:25 AM »

Quote from: cruizng on March 31, 2020, 09:48:18 AM

I use this for almost anything with Stainless wire. You can do almost any size and it holds like crazy. you just wrap a couple of times and then screw it down, fold it over and cut off the tails.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/topages/clamptitetoolplated.php?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1Iv0BRDaARIsAGTWD1uoZw0MrYQX4xT9JyXyAloZSXZh4qGgDdx9_suFzOfg-mXxGLef_u0aAkeIEALw_wcB

that is an awesome tool!!

that just went into my cart at amazon!

KensAuto · « **Reply #29 on:** March 31, 2020, 01:40:15 PM »

That is pretty cool.

CLEMON · « **Reply #30 on:** March 31, 2020, 10:17:55 PM »

Quote from: Bigdave_185 on March 30, 2020, 10:06:30 PM

Any reason you couldn’t build a grid like rebar is in a floor? Use tie wire and when attaching it to the wood use barbwire fence nails.

I could but not really what i want.

Quote from: Atkinsmatt on March 31, 2020, 07:24:40 AM

What size? You could get a hog panel that is already welded and all. They are about 4' by 12' around here. Tractor supply.

its 14' x 16'

Quote from: cruizng on March 31, 2020, 09:48:18 AM

I use this for almost anything with Stainless wire. You can do almost any size and it holds like crazy. you just wrap a couple of times and then screw it down, fold it over and cut off the tails.

https://www.aircraftspruce.com/catalog/topages/clamptitetoolplated.php?gclid=Cj0KCQjw1Iv0BRDaARIsAGTWD1uoZw0MrYQX4xT9JyXyAloZSXZh4qGgDdx9_suFzOfg-mXxGLef_u0aAkeIEALw_wcB

Not completely understanding how this allows me to tie a wire to wire and not have it slide. ill look into it some more

cruizng · « **Reply #31 on:** April 01, 2020, 08:58:02 AM »

Not completely understanding how this allows me to tie a wire to wire and not have it slide. ill look into it some more
[/quote]

Similar to rebar. Wrap diagonal and then cinch it up with device. The stainless wire would bite into to grid wire.

https://youtu.be/ckwo7Bznvpk