Gardening 2017

[mike89]

 

[Boar]

I'm thinking of putting in a wooden above ground plot to do some peas, beans, carrots and the such in. Anyone have a drawing I can use as a guide to build one? Thinking about 36" by 72" to start out with. Thanks.

not off the top of my head. anyone else

[Gunner55]

We have some up here at the lake, seem to work good. They're not wood or that size, ours came from Amazon, they're 4' X 4' & are plastic. Google raised gardens

[mike89]

I just googled it and they are all over ther and plans to make them

[glenn57]

I'm thinking of putting in a wooden above ground plot to do some peas, beans, carrots and the such in. Anyone have a drawing I can use as a guide to build one? Thinking about 36" by 72" to start out with. Thanks.

  why not just stick it the ground??????? never understood the raised boxes??

[Rebel SS]

Pretty easy to make a frame of 2x4"s and bottom stringers with deck screws or carriage bolts, cedar fencing boards (They're cheap) for the sides and slats. Line with heavy plastic, punch drain holes, and fill.   

[Rebel SS]

I'm thinking of putting in a wooden above ground plot to do some peas, beans, carrots and the such in. Anyone have a drawing I can use as a guide to build one? Thinking about 36" by 72" to start out with. Thanks.

  why not just stick it the ground??????? never understood the raised boxes??

 Raised garden beds, also called garden boxes, are great for growing small plots of veggies and flowers. They keep pathway weeds from your garden soil, prevent soil compaction, provide good drainage and serve as a barrier to pests such as slugs and snails. Also make for a great workable height, and no need to tear up your yard.

[glenn57]

My garden is 25 ft by 60 ft. That's the biggest one. Take alot of lumber and dirt to fill. Then I got a horseradish patch AND a patch where my winter onions and rubarb are!

[dew2]

Pretty easy to make a frame of 2x4"s and bottom stringers with deck screws or carriage bolts, cedar fencing boards (They're cheap) for the sides and slats. Line with heavy plastic, punch drain holes, and fill.   

Hey reb I want one!! How bout you come on out an make it fer me?? confused-3316.gif
 Course I already gotz 2 one bout 20Ft X 35FT,One bout 25X25ft thats gotz my aspparagus an berries in the lakeside part a the yard.There raised cause of low ground an water levels.Iffin ya aint gotz low wet ground why do any raised???
 Course I also have a mater garden,Herb garden an this year some new polinater gardens just fer fun!
 

[Rebel SS]

No problemo! I got a cardboard box and some sticks for legs...ya got a staple gun I can borrow?! Mines empty.  I guess I can see a small garden box...but a big one? Not! Dirt is HEAVY!  *CRACK*BUST*    

[dew2]

No problemo! I got a cardboard box and some sticks for legs...ya got a staple gun I can borrow?! Mines empty.  I guess I can see a small garden box...but a big one? Not! Dirt is HEAVY!  *CRACK*BUST*    

I gotz everything but the staple gun. even the stick legs. I Got a hammer an nails tho!! You be the nail I'll do the hammerin OK?

[HD]

I'm thinking of putting in a wooden above ground plot to do some peas, beans, carrots and the such in. Anyone have a drawing I can use as a guide to build one? Thinking about 36" by 72" to start out with. Thanks.

I don't have any plans, but I just used standard lengths of cedar boards (4' X 8') legs are 4' cedar... Here's a photo....

I'm gonna build another one this year as well!

[Bobberineyes]

I have one as well, sure works great for weeding and whatever, it's all right there. Rabbits stay out but them frigging squirrels scale it and make a mess.

[Rebel SS]

I have one as well, sure works great for weeding and whatever, it's all right there. Rabbits stay out but them frigging squirrels scale it and make a mess.

Put a clear top on it and make it a "special greenhouse".  smoking_a_joint-408.gif

[Gunner55]

We went to them because the ground here is all sand. Even with the new construction in 2012-13 & the addition of a couple of inches of black dirt on top of the whole lot. The ground has so much sand that when they went to pour the basement, they decided the walls should be another 6-12" wider so they wouldn't cave in while forming it up. Since we spend more time here than in Ia & my brother likes gardening, we decided it was worth the extra time & money. I think it was ~ $150 for 3 with free shipping with Prime. Ours don't have legs but just sit on the ground. A little sand in the bottom, a bunch of potting soil, some mulch / compost from the community site in GR & they seem to work great for potatoes, peas, carrots, onions, lettuce, strawberries, tomatoes, even put some raspberry bushes along 1 side. 

[glenn57]

yea there is a lot of sugar sand up there!!!!!! I even transported a bunch of it home for my horseshoe pits!!!!!!!!!

[Rebel SS]

You can also do buckets..I grew my peppers and tomatoes for years in 5 gal pails on the deck. Works great for peppers...deck gets hot in sun and they grow like crazy. Some of the poblanos and serranos went crazy big. One year I had over 75 bell peppers off two plants.  Drilled holes in bottom of buckets, put down  a piece of screen over holes, 1" sand,the rest potting veggie mix to the top.

These are about 1/3 into the growing season...got a lot bigger. Tipping over big, I used old wood broom handles in pail to hold them up later.

[glenn57]

NICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gunner55]

I think that he's went that route for our tomatoe plants up here too, Reb. Has worked great for them as well.

[markn]

Thanks for all the tips and advice guys. I have somewhere to start now and a good project for grandkids to help with. Have a great day. mark

[Reinhard]

OK,  How about plum trees.  I have had two plum trees for two years now.  The first year I bought them they had blossoms and grew nice big purple plums.  Bees and wasps claimed a lot of them.  Didn't spray or anything except give water at times.  Second year had many blossoms and no plums at all.  Could not believe it.  Now this year I don't know what to expect.  Do I have to spray it a few times a year?  have to find a way to keep the bees off them too if I do get plums.  good luck.

[Gunner55]

RH, have you tried the place where you got them? I know we did before we bought the raspberry bushes for up here as there are so many different varieties. Differences in  soil  types, growing seasons, pest control can make big changes. Might even have some tips not in the book. How about your county extension office? 

[Reinhard]

Thanks I'll give that a shot.  I love those big plums.  good luck.

[Dotch]

I have a Mt. Royal plum tree that has been hit and miss for its duration. Nicely shaped tree, been pruning it all along and it's very healthy. The wood is good for smoming! It's right beside a wild plum thicket so there are lots of pollinator trees even tho the Mt. Royals are supposed to be self pollinating. Some years it blooms like mad and has a few plums, sometimes blooms and no plums and 2 years ago quite a few. Some years few blooms so no surprise when there are few plums. Delicious although the birds get after them faster than I do. Netting of some kind would be beneficial in those years. Once in a while there are some wild plums that the birds don't get. While a little tart, they're very tasty. Can't help but think they'd make some wicked jam if we ever got enough of them. Here's a link to some info which contains more links concerning pest control for your perusal. Hope it is of value to you:   

http://www.extension.umn.edu/Garden/yard-garden/fruit/stone-fruit-for-minnesota-gardens/

[Easy]

OK,  How about plum trees.  I have had two plum trees for two years now.  The first year I bought them they had blossoms and grew nice big purple plums.  Bees and wasps claimed a lot of them.  Didn't spray or anything except give water at times.  Second year had many blossoms and no plums at all.  Could not believe it.  Now this year I don't know what to expect.  Do I have to spray it a few times a year?  have to find a way to keep the bees off them too if I do get plums.  good luck.

"...Stone fruit trees need full sun to produce the most fruit.
Space trees 12 to 20 feet apart.
Many stone fruits are not self-fruitful. Plant two different, compatible cultivars to ensure fruit.
Prune annually to maintain tree shape and a healthy, open canopy.
Expect to get fruit 2 to 5 years after planting, if you plant a 1 or 2 year old tree.
Remember, all stone fruits bloom very early in the spring. Some years flowers are damaged by freezing temperatures, meaning no fruit that year. But don't worry, you'll probably get fruit next year..."'

How to keep bees away from your fruit tree.
"...If you want your plu tree to grow plums, you need bees to pollinate the flowers. If the tree is just ornamental and you don't care about growing plums, there are ways to avoid attracting bees...
Bees and yellow jackets are attracted to sweet smells. Spray products on the tree that don't smell good to them. One of the most common is vinegar mixed with a little water. Fabric softener sheets can be hung in the tree to repel insects. Some people use cayenne pepper, but remember, it is very irritating to wild animals, pets, and you as well.  Traps are also available that kill bothersome insects..."

[HD]

I tell ya what RH, I've had plum trees for 20 years....and never got a "good" crop with them. Always have gotten small fruit from them all. And we're talking 10 plus trees....
I even bought "superior" plum trees that were suppose to bare fruit 2-3 inches in diameter to cross pollinate with the ones I had with the same luck. Always a lot of fruit, but real small compared to what you can buy in the store.

Fertilizer, watering, mulch, spraying, PH, soil ....I tried it all...I even talked to the gurus at the college to help me....nuth'in....

If you figure it out, please pass along the information!

[Reinhard]

Dotch I'll look at your information also.  Thanks a lot everyone.  i like the dryer sheets thing.  Works well with mice in my camper.  They don't like it.  good luck.

[glenn57]

starting to get pretty frustrated, concerned. my peppers arent sproutin yet. only got 2 cleomes that have come up. anyone else got anything growing yet??

 

[Rebel SS]

Peas!   

[glenn57]

Peas!