2020 Garden Thread.

[Flysmallie]

4 minutes ago, Fish24/7 said:

Our Panthers though the raised bed was a giant litter box, I stopped that 💩 real quick by placing large flat rocks around the plants and in between them. Nowhere to dig and squat now.😊

This panther is a dog. 70 lbs of lab/pit muscle. I call her a panther because of the way she stalks you in the backyard and then pounces when you aren’t looking. You ever been hit at full speed by 70 lbs of pure muscle? She likes to jump, turn sideways in the air, and hit you about chest high.  She’s a dork. 

[Fish24/7]

Had a 145 lb husky wolf hybrid named Lucky, when I was 10 he was already darn near twice my weight. He was very gentle. 

[N9BOW]

Got lots of Beans, Maters, Taters, Zukes, Cukes, Onions, Mellons, Squash, Indian Corn, Sweet Corn, Cabbage, Beets and Carrots coming along.

lessons learned... The choice for raised bed mix has left me fighting dryout conditions..Not enough soil in the mix... Ended up getting some main line and drip line and emitters to help.... NEXT TIME I'll just put in the ground and not waste the resources with Raised beds.. They're all fine I guess, if you have soil that will hold moisture, but I gotta say if you have good ground and enough space... Till a plot! or 4

The tilled plots of Iowa soil are eating the raised bed "Potting Soil" for lunch.. all these plants were planted the same time.. Look at the Cabbage and tomatoes vs the plots with the metal cages.. They are 3-4 times as big. All fed the same.... fancy smanshy stuff from the local Nursery. Will not do that again. I'll just dig up soil and load the boxes... Will likely do that if I'm still at this location next year... Just change the ratio of soil to be closer to 90% instead of 20....Too much drainage.

 

[N9BOW]

I too have cats pooping in the raised beds.. but the worst offender is the local Fox squirrel who likes to hide the slices of stale bread the neighbor throws out for the birds. Digs a nice hole but does a lousy job of hiding the goods he absconded off with!

The deer have taken their toll on some of the goods but its under control now.. The corn is all over the knees and the earliest is waist height already.. Getting some nice showers today... have one plot I started on last night that needs some attention.. crab grass is taking off... will get that sorted out on Fathers Day!

[Terrierman]

Raised beds are for where soil conditions are poor.  Rocky, clay, poorly drained and so on.  You are not so cursed.

[N9BOW]

1 minute ago, Terrierman said:

Raised beds are for where soil conditions are poor.  Rocky, clay, poorly drained and so on.  You are not so cursed.

We'll see how they play out on resale value with the whole Covid-19 and folks wanting to retreat to the burbs

There is a method to the decision making madness.. And some valuable lessons learned! Buyers might not like them and if they dont I will repurpose the lumber and spread the bed fillings in the planting around the house! win win... Just not this planting season (failure as far as I'm concerned)

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, N9BOW said:

I too have cats pooping in the raised beds.. but the worst offender is the local Fox squirrel who likes to hide the slices of stale bread the neighbor throws out for the birds. Digs a nice hole but does a lousy job of hiding the goods he absconded off with!

The deer have taken their toll on some of the goods but its under control now.. The corn is all over the knees and the earliest is waist height already.. Getting some nice showers today... have one plot I started on last night that needs some attention.. crab grass is taking off... will get that sorted out on Fathers Day!

                 You very much need a very quiet PCP air rifle.

[N9BOW]

1 hour ago, BilletHead said:

                 You very much need a very quiet PCP air rifle.

the Mrs's would have my twig and two berries, wedding tackle, man giblets, etc... in a vise... no can do

And we did not have a private convo over email.....wink wink!

[BilletHead]

7 minutes ago, N9BOW said:

the Mrs's would have my twig and two berries, wedding tackle, man giblets, etc... in a vise... no can do

And we did not have a private convo over email.....wink wink!

                   HA! 

[ness]

Grew Swiss chard this year for the first time in several years. Couldn’t get anybody to eat it before and I quit doing it. But really enjoying it this year. It’s pretty bomb proof, produces most of the summer And very prolific. Keeps well in the fridge. Glad I added it back in. 
 

@BilletHead ever do this? Might scratch that itch for greens in the off season. More deets to come in the ‘What’s Cooking’ thread.