gardening Adventures

LittleGardener,

I'd try spinach and perhaps radishes, as well as lettuce and chard, in your 4"-5" of Mel's Mix.

Several years ago I successfully grew these crops in this depth of MM after it had settled.

donnainzone10 wrote:I'd
try spinach and perhaps radishes, as well as lettuce and chard, in your 4"-5" of Mel's Mix.

Thanks Donna.
But we're working from 2 different positions; and for two reasons I had to make a decision:
1. Wait an indefinite time before I can $perpetually...afford$ Vermiculite, Peatmoss, & 5+ items of compost.
OR
2. as I mentioned last year, do I plant in just the compost I can make naturally... as I do now? because of necessity we eat now, & in the meantime.

Apparently, (+ from most threads I read, most think nothing of paying $15 to several hundred dollars for this contraption & that tool, & whatever latest invention) readily having $ to have fancy wood-boxes built, plus add all this stuff inside). BUT against such financial-luxury/hobbies, is our reality. Our reality is that we GARDEN with whatever natural resources plentifully available: incldg. making compost as fast as we are able, of
-> Produce-scaps incldg. what they throw away at a farmer's market, plus
-> Coffee-grounds thrown away at the store, plus
-> Animal-waste from whatever source we can, plus grass, leaves, & paper, plus
-> Tree-chips covering: Can you understand, Donna?

2. Too, tho I'm fairly open to eat most anything, a few things I'm not wild about (chard + radishes).
And spinach we already have lots of. And Lettuce, I'm more replacing with KALE of much higher Nutritional value...

So back to my twice-repeated question: How could I afix containers to the South-fence, for growing the Beans, + Squash, etc. as Vining...veggies because these have been sitting outside for some weeks... patiently needing their home... Thank you!

PS: Also I read in Mel's ANSFG-book that his goal is ending world hunger, as in (3rd. countries, which the usa is shockingly becoming too). So how, with zero money do the people of Africa, etc. get access to & replenish their Mel's Mix supplies? - Has this question ever been asked? Call me curious...

LittleGardener wrote:...So back to my twice-repeated question: How could I afix containers to the South-fence, for growing the Beans, + Squash, etc. as Vining...

PS: Also I read in Mel's ANSFG-book that his goal is ending world hunger, as in (3rd. countries, which the usa is shockingly becoming too). So how, with zero money do the people of Africa, etc. get access to & replenish their Mel's Mix supplies? - Has this question ever been asked? Call me curious...

Tie the boxes to the fence with big loops of baling wire.  If the chain link flexes too much, put wood scraps between the boxes and fence to spread the weight out.  Or, put the boxes in front of a post to help with the weight.

Another way: the fence tension bars are either round or flat.  If you can scrounge some of  those, they can be bent to create big 'S' hooks; adjust the shape of the 'S' to fit the shape of the box.

In poorer countries they grow in compost only, is what I understand.  They may have no money, but they have one thing American gardeners are short of: patience.  Patience to find  compost sources, and wait for the piles to finish composting.  Patience to explore their surroundings and creatively make do with what can be found to make boxes (rocks, etc.)  There's no reason it can't be done here too.

boffer wrote:
Tie the boxes to the fence with big loops of baling wire.  
If the chain link flexes too much, put wood scraps between the boxes and fence to spread the weight out. Or, put the boxes in front of a post to help with the weight.
Another way: the fence tension bars are either round or flat.  If you can scrounge some of those, they can be bent to create big 'S' hooks; adjust the shape of the 'S' to fit the shape of the box.

Thanks! Boffer, for (as opposed to waiting for some nebulous pie), meeting me in our :)reality, building good rapport.
Fortunately, I found some short & treated end-piece 4x4's in the shed. Maybe drive nails thru the boxes, into the posts, & use 'Baling wire, or tension-bar S-hooks' to hold the whole thing to the fence, right? Also I found in there varying pipe thicknesses: what's the thinnest S-hook that could Secure all that weight?

Will ask same neighbor (I cooked the food for last night) to help me get this set-up pronto! - Also they're helping with a wagon-project, to haul all the wood-chips around I hope to start+Add soon.

boffer wrote:
In poorer countries they grow in compost only. They may have no money, but they have one thing American gardeners are short of: patience.  Patience to find compost sources, and wait for the piles to finish composting.  Patience to explore their surroundings and creatively make do with what can be found to make boxes (rocks, etc.)  There's no reason it can't be done here too.

Yeah, I wanna do everything right now this second instantly LOL so truth be told, since I need tons more compost than we have, I'm continuing grandpa's way of just digging unfinished compost into the existing growing spaces, complete with giving the plants continuous pep-talks, lol & so long as daily... I see sumfing new pop-up I am happy!
=
okay next question: When plants are sprouted, not quite in the "right season", (& the weather changes anyway, more than less Controlling adventures), what could be grown inside? - iow, so long as there's a French-door & window they can get Fresh-air from, can plants (like they do in outside greenhouses) also grow inside a normal people house? Does this make sense, Boffer?

LittleGardener wrote:...Fortunately, I found some short & treated end-piece 4x4's :)in the shed. Maybe drive nails thru the boxes, into the posts...

Not sure if this is what you meant, or another idea: either with the scrap 4x pieces or 2x pieces: put them on the other side of the fence, and put screws through the box and fence hole, into the scrap wood.

LittleGardener wrote:When plants are sprouted, not quite in the "right season", (& the weather changes anyway, more than less Controlling adventures), what could be grown inside? - iow, so long as there's a French-door & window they can get Fresh-air from, can plants (like they do in outside greenhouses) also grow inside a normal people house? Does this make sense, Boffer?

They would, but  very slowly.  We just don't get enough sunshine in our neck of the woods in the off-season.

LittleGardener wrote:...Fortunately, I found some short & treated end-piece 4x4's :)in the shed. Maybe drive nails thru the boxes, into the posts...

boffer wrote:
Not sure if this is what you meant, or another idea: either with the scrap 4x pieces or 2x pieces: put them on the other side of the fence, and put screws through the box and fence hole, into the scrap wood.

ooh,
that's an idea, Thanks! - tho the other-side belongs to another family, whose Grape-arbor would hide the whole thing. Those (LONG grape-vines, which in the fall they gladly also let me compost.. we're talking lots! of huge  leaves). Which during the summer also unfortunately Shade our plants, even as it is a South-fence. - No, what I meant is nailing the plastic boxes on TOP of the 4x4's, and then fasting this entire construction together to the fence, using the J-pipe set-up you suggested.
Maybe
I need to set this up against a South-window, and set the 4x4's INside the construction-blocks?, but there veggies might end-up prematurely cooked... OR would you rig this system up against the Shed-siding, or just let them sprawl on the ground?

LittleGardener wrote:When plants are sprouted, not quite in the "right season", (& the weather changes anyway, more than less Controlling adventures), what could be grown inside? - iow, so long as there's a French-door & window they can get Fresh-air from, can plants (like they do in outside greenhouses) also grow inside a normal people house? Does this make sense, Boffer?

boffer wrote:They would, but  very slowly.  We just don't get enough sunshine in our neck of the woods in the off-season.

Ok, but what if they're growing in two each of South, & West-facing windows? - Normally I wouldn't consider this, but the house is also way over-insulated so the air in here is very dry, so their moisture might add good stuff. Do you think it's worth trying Boffer?

LittleGardener wrote:...Ok, but what if they're growing in two each of South, & West-facing windows? - Normally I wouldn't consider this, but the house is also way over-insulated so the air in here is very dry, so their moisture might add good stuff. Do you think it's worth trying Boffer?

If the price is right, and you have the room, why not try it.  Keep in mind that the more leaves a plant has, and the bigger the leaves are, the more transpiration that you'll get.  Go big!

LittleGardener,

I apologize for not paying closer attention to your context.

You're right; Do the best you can with what you have. Your homemade compost sounds great! As Boffer said, people in third-world countries grow in compost only.

I admire your ability and determination to garden with limited resources and look forward to stories and pictures of your success.

donnainzone10 wrote:LittleGardener,
I apologize for not paying closer attention to your context.  
You're right;  Do the best you can with what you have.  Your homemade compost sounds great!  
As Boffer said, people in third-world countries grow in compost only.  
I admire your ability and determination to garden with limited resources and look forward to stories and pictures of your success.  

Thanks Donna for understanding. In my mind determination is the ability And thank Goodness the companionship of The Best Friend empowers & enables us to develop & grow more each day. Thanks for your continued encouragements everyone!

Boffer,
had me another LOA of mind. NOpe, a house can't sadly be a BIG-leaf Greenhouse because of the mold that inevitably grows to where it can't be eradicated, & then the house value plummets even more than the economy destroys it.  
=
Today I found a 6 ft. 2x2 by our house, so the tallest (3 ft) 'yellow-pear' cherry tomato is now staked to it under the only South-facing window. The fact that for the past month, this space has been blessed with like 10+ hrs. sun... is why I want to grow as many plants as possible of warm-weather veggies there: Please estimate... how many of these could this 3x5 foot box accommodate: a lemon-boy cherry tomato, 3 Pole beans, 4 sweet Bell peppers, 3 loong cukes, & 2 Butternut squashes.

The assembled growing space against the East-shed wall is the same 3x5 foot box as the above, with currently 4 cherry tomatos: (2 each of Sweet-million, & Sugar-lump) one in each corner; plus 6 broccoli plants. Would any of these 8 current plant types have enough space in the 4-6 inch holes (of the construction-blocks) making up these 2 existing beds? Only parsley & petunias are growing in these holes so far.

When I get all the plants finally where they might best flourish, I'll have them grow up twine attached to hooks fastened to the eaves. (far more economical, than pvc-pipe set-up).

Too I was given some 2-4 mil clear plastic trash bags, so how would you go about taping some of these together to make a temporary cold-frame, or Greenhouse?

Thank you for your continued insights Boffer & anyone else.

Much progress this past week: Goals met, & even exceeded  New friendships formed  , & even the garden is happily  marching... on: Now growing Broccoli, Brussel-sprouts, Cabbages, Cauliflower, Cucumbers, Onions, Parsley, Pumpkins, Squash, Tomatoes, & Watermelon, for now... Yup, sprouting yet more seeds

You sure sound like you are having some great success LittleGardener!

Triciasgarden wrote:You sure sound like you are having some great success LittleGardener!

Yes, thanks Tricia. - Now with my twice-daily pep-talks  watching all the little fruits growing: 20 baby cherry maters, 3 sweet peppers, both Parsley plants are trying to survive my haircuts, that's it so far. Pretty good considering I only started planting last month (several months after everyone else in the pnwet  )

Today balancing on top of a foot-stool, I stacked on top of a step-stool, I risked  life & limb, to hammer 6 nails 2 feet apart into shed & house eaves, followed by rigging up String for the first 6 Cherry-tomato vines to stretch up, Up & away towards the sky  -- And watching them do this, are the next set of maters :cherry:rooting... in south window. Now, if only I can God to quickly... get me more Compost, I'll have it made  

One of the Bell pepper babies, has turned black even as it's still growing... is there such a thing as Black sweet peppers? Never heard of it.

And re Cucumbers & Squash: 8 plants are loaded with blossoms, even es the plants are only 4 inches tall.
Are they big enuf to already start bearing fruit at this stage in their development?

Dreaming of the little Greenhouse I will get to build in the fall to stretch-out the growing seasons. Thank you!

Gee, sorry, no idea where I posted my question re Vermiculite. I thought I asked it here. Where did I put it?
Edit:
Answer to one of my previous questions re 'black   Bell peppers':

Plant your peppers in soil that has a high humus content so that it retains moisture. Cultivate shallowly so you don't damage the roots. Mulch newly planted peppers to preserve soil moisture.
Control
Dispose of the black peppers. Blossom-end rot is caused by unavailability of calcium, not lack of calcium, so unfortunately, treating them by adding calcium to the soil will not solve the problem. The blackened fruits are lost."
Read more: http://www.ehow.com/info_8439518_green-peppers-turning-black.html#ixzz2YPHBZvhN - so that was the problem?

Your topic was moved to the appropriate forum:
https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t16237-vermiculite#170143

okay, have posted there.
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Forgot to add earlier that I've seen about 6 little  bee-type critters flying in the small Red+White clover-patch, close to where I just started watermelons, squash, & pumpkins. They each has like 4-6 golden blossoms now, on plants merely 4 inches tall. Question: How big   to these plants need to get?, before they are mature enough to produce fruit... anyone know?