I you could would you use raised beds to grow on? If so would you like to have a machine to build it for you? I have a machine to do this. I just got tired of shoveling and shoveling and... So I made a machine to the job for me and it works so well that I am thinking of patenting it. What I need is if it was avaible would you buy one if the price was not to exp. I know that raised bed are the best way to grow,easy to work,weed,ect. I just need a little input. I have asked all the small farmers around me and showed a few what it does and they all whant one. I thought if I asked here I would get a larger estament if more people would whant one. So please share what you think. Peace THCstaind
I live in an area with good sandy soil, access to water and plenty of sunshine. Instead of raised beds, I've opted for above ground planting. I have scores of black plastic vessesl that I mix with local soil and soil from the nursery. I'm tired of the weeding process. Tell me more.
A little history,I first read about raised beds in Mother earth home news and Organic gardening. Most plants need at least 18in of root growth. In raised beds you can maxamize this. When you make most raised beds they will be 18in by 4ft wide (smaller widths can be used). So you must move this soil into your beds. Most of us use a shovel, some tillers use a plow to push the soil. This compackes the soil makeing it hard for the roots. So I thought insted of shovling or useing my tillers plow to push up the soil.I would make a machine that would till and pick up and move the soil without compackting the soil. The first machine worked fine,but I had to pull it with my lawnmower.(wich was hard to move down the 2ft wide paths) So Imade it selfperpelled and now it can be used by just about aneyone.(OLD young and even disabled) Just walk behind and stear it just like a tiller. This will be helpful for those who do not have the time or energy to build a raised bed. As most will not put in the effort. A machine that can do the job better, faster, and with little effort would be a great idea. The Question is would you as a gardner,like to have something to make your job easier faster and productive. Thanks for aney reply! THCstaindbrain
We have 7 raised beds in our yard. They measure 4'x 12' and a foot deep. We get about a 2 week head start in our planting, because of the cold temp here in south central Alaska. We can put in PVC hoops and cover with 6 mil plastic to create mini greenhouses. Plus its a great place to winter over perennial plants, once covered with straw mulch and plastic sheets. Now the little babys are asleep under 4 ft of snow. This all started when the Mrs. joined the local garden club, then took the master gardeners course, which I later took. It later turned into a home based business. Six years later we now have contracts to supply hanging baskets to the downtown merchants to hang on the lampposts, City parks and rec for their flower beds plus we're open to the public. It's nice to turn a hobbie into a home based buiness.. ..................Alaskan.....
THCstaind, Most gardeners use raised beds because the original soil is poor or compacted, and by amending the soil to their specifications can grow pretty much anything. Raised beds also warm up faster and it helps northern growers pick up several weeks of growing season, a critical factor for crops that take most of the season to mature. The other reason for raised beds is it is easier to maintain for older or disabled gardeners. That said, if your machine does not ruin soil structure or tilth too fine then it would be a good idea. What I mean is when you break up the soil it shouldn't become so fine because then the soil will compact down eventually. Best soil structure should have ample organic materials, compost, chopped leaves, small pebbles, gritty sand (not fine like beach sand) some peat moss and if the soil has a large percentage of sand to begin with, then peat humus would be ok too. Clay soils would benefit from the above materials with cow manure or chicken manure and straw added in as well. Everything should be turned under by rototiller, and big chunks and clods left to break down on their own. The machine, if as easy to operate as you say, would be a benefit to gardeners. 8I
I just had an old bath taken out of the cottage and am going to use it as a huge planter/raised bed. Has anyone done this before?
Sea Breeze: The old bath would look cool, is it a "claw-foot"? The one thing I'd do is put about 6" of gravel in the bottom, so the drain wont get plugged up with soil and not drain. You can imagine a heavy rain and go out to find the tub full of goo and your plants floating around. Just a thought.........................Alaskan..............
Yeah, Alaskan, you're right about the drainage problem. I rescued two old tubs from a 1890-something dueplex being knocked down before it fell down. Sold one for $500 - sweet. I did the gravel thing, but it wasn't enough. Then I re-did it with rocks (fist size) on the botom, then gravel, then soil. That worked Ok. Grew kudzu !!! in it, just to see what would happen & to feed the rabbits I had then. Then I used the tub to grow horseradish, also a very, very invasive plant. That worked less well, because the horseradish needed even better drainage than kudzu & I needed to grow more than would grow in the tub. Now I'm using it as a small water garden, growing (well, trying to grow) lotus. I stuck a 1 1/2 foot long piece of pipe in the drain hole to control the water depth. Mine's not the claw foot type, so I have a bunch of pots around it, each with privot growing in them. Forms a moveable hedge around the tub. Peace, poor_old_dad
Thanks Alaskan and POD! Unfortunately it's not claw foot - that would have been so cool. It is quite hideous really so I'm looking at putting some wood round it to stop it being such an eyesore. I have some bits of old fence that got blown down in the gales we had last month that I will use. Thanks for the planting ideas too. I'm wondering if I used it as a water garden if I could grow water cress or does this need flowing water? This is not something I have grown before. I know in the wild it is usually by streams.
Ah yes, Watercress... now there's a real can of worms. You might think that with a widely used, well know plant like watercress, there'd be good solid info. You might think that, but you'd be wrong. Some info sources like the "Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening", Rodale's "Illustrated Encyclopedia of Herbs", "Herbal Renaissance" by the great Steven Foster, and the Peterson Field Guides book "Medicinal Plants" co-authored by Steven Foster and (also great)Dr. James A. Duke, don't even mention Watercress!!!! Of the "experts" who have written about: Some say it's a perennial... some say it's an annual Some say it must have running water ... some say not Some say requires full sun ... some say full or partial shade is fine Some say it must have a steady supply of clean, not stagnant, water... others point out that it is used to purify human waste water ponds (but if grown like that - don't eat it raw, cook it first) All agree it has many medicinal herb benefits(except for the books that don't mention it). And all agree it's easy to grow, except for those who say it is difficult to grow. All agree, without exception, that it is tasty & very nutritious. Confussed yet? Here's what I know from my experience. I don't grow it as a commercial plant, but I would if I could. Watercress (& French Tarragon) will do Ok for a couple years... grow, reproduce, get my hopes up, all that... then die. Strictly speaking, watercress is not a water plant, because it doesn't grow underwater. Its roots are in the water or very moist soil and the plant grows above the water. Watercress is a member of the cabbage family. It seems that it can be grown as a water garden or pond plant if it is in a pot & that pot is placed so the pot is just barely covered with water or in standing water. Most plants don't like "wet feet", but watercress does. For that reason, it is an excellent hydroponic plant. The best success I've had, is to grow it in pots, on the north side of my home, and rig it so the condensation from a large window air conditioner is constantly flowing through the pots, then into a shallow pan the pots are sitting in, then the water flows out(to then water some Corsican mint). Watercress grows very easily from seed, but you can (if you can find it) grow it by getting some fresh from the grocery store & putting it into a glass full of water. If you can, get it with the tiny white roots still on it. For what ever it may be worth, my suggestion about anything like this is: If it might work & you want to, give it a try, you have a chance of success. But if you don't try, you have zero chance of success. Peace, poor_old_dad
Poor Old Dad, Yes same experience here with watercress being ephemeral. Just one of those plants that needs to move on and let the seedling generations take hold. Hardy rosemary lasts several seasons here on Long Island then just gives up the ghost, like lavender and some daphnes. Go figure. Sometimes I think it is all culture related but then I think some plants just naturally peter out once woodyness sets in. bj
Wow POD - again such a source of valuable info. Thanks man! The north side of my house is the front (NNW) and is exposed to the Atlantic and anything that blows off it, usually bitingly cold! I plant potatoes there and have a traditional herb bed (like a patchwork). The tub is against a South facing wall at the moment and it is also quite sheltered from the wind. I have a source of wild watercress. I found some on an island not far from here last summer. We will go over next month so will get a couple of plants. I guess as far as growing is concerned it is hit and miss, trial and error. That's just how growing food is a lot of the time anyway I guess. If I plant it in soggy soil, any suggestions for other things that could get planted there too that I am likely to find in the UK.
Sea Breeze: Cant help you with tips on gardening in the UK, Alaska is a lot different. As P_O_D was talking about his horseradish, I tried it here. Had 5 plants in for about 5 years, when I dug them I got about a cup and a half from them. My wife has been a member of www.davesgarden.com for many years. There are many gardeners from the UK there. Who knows, you might have one living right down the road. It has a wealth of knowledge on the site. There are folks from all over the world. Check it out...........Dennis......Alaskan........
Thanks Alaskan. I have recently signed up to an organic garden website in the UK. Lots of ideas forth coming. I'm actually thinking that it would be a good space for my youngest son Ree (4 1/2) to have a go at growing veggies. He's been under gardener up till now so perhaps this is a good time for him to take some (guided)responsibility. The tub is at the right height for him and there is no risk of him walking on sprouting seeds as they come up etc... so it will be lots of salad things I think, and that can be his corner!! I'm thinking spring onions, mixed salad leaves of the cut and come again variety, radishes, carrots and some companion growing plants so that he can learn about this too. He has a space already but we (he) grow(s) willow (a growing den/house) and sunflowers.
Growing a gardener is probably the best thing you can grow. Please keep us informed as to his garden. BTW: Mint does well in soggy soil too. Peace, poor_old_dad
Hi POD! We discussed Ree having his own garden in the tub and he is really excited. Before weeven talked about putting gravel and stones in the bottom he said 'Mum we have to get stones in the bottom because all the mud will come out of the plug hole when I water it' so I guess he has been paying attention to the planting we have done in the past in pots. Will keep you posted. Hopefully pics included. May even start a journal. Perhaps it will inspire other growing gardeners....
Sea-Breeze: Forgot to ask if your tub is metal or fiberglass ? If it's the latter it would be easy to drill more holes in it, for better drainage. We have several 1/2 whiskey barrels we picked up cheap at the end of the gardening season. I drilled about ten holes in the bottom of each one, then put large rocks in the bottom befor adding soil. We grow potatos in them. Also put put 3 pieces of cut off 4"x4" lumber under them to keep them off the ground. Helps them drain better....Good Luck and happy gardening....... .....................................Dennis......Alaskan...................
