Ahoy Maties! SFG on a boat?

I've been asked to speak about SFG at the MD Yacht Club. The gal was really excited when I told her that while in Europe I'd seen several gardens on boats. We're tentatively calling it "Grow, Grow, Grow Your Boat".

Does anyone have experience growing a SFG on a boat? Should I pretty much make it container gardening using Mel's Mix? Any special considerations? How do you make sure the container or raised bed stays put?

I guess I'd pretty much have to grow things that don't need pollinators.

What about salt spray?

Thanks for any info you can provide.

Kim

I don't know much except my father would have killed us if we let a pot overflow with dirty water onto his deck.

My sister is sailing around the world.  Here is a link to her website if you want to ask her opinion.  But a lot of the time she is not within internet range.  She has been out of the country sailing for at least 3 or more years and has many sailing friends.  I am sure she knows someone who has been growing things on boats.

http://svsoggypaws.com/contactus.htm


I did a google search for growing plants on a boat and got a lot of links.  You could try there.

Thanks.

I did learn that people have to be careful what/how they grow regarding soil & live plants depending on what countries they visit.

May need to also include hydroponics and sprouting as options (quick growth, no soil so no heartburn if you need to dump something when you make port.

Of course most of them will just be locals and maybe just run up & down the East Coast.

Very interesting subject.

Pollinators - probably won't be any so it's self pollinators or use a paint brush.

Pots are great with MM but with drip pans, the roots can get really, really soggy and stinky!

If I was going to do it, and had money, which yachters have, I would do the following. Teak troughs lined with stainless steel to hold the pots steady or for a 6" deep bed of MM, with a drip pan underneath the trough. Tubing to a collection jug so I could reuse the runoff. Shiny brass 1" tubes secured upright in the corners and every yeah-many feet, for quick setup of protection against inclement weather or fast dehydrating winds. Distilled water and bottle sprayer to periodically clean off the salt. A shallow tub of 2nd year strawberries and another of micro- or baby- greens. Those are to go with the fresh fish/lobster and fine wine.Still need the drip pans to protect the decks!

Custom made covers for protection. Clear for cold sunny days, opaque or shade cloth for hot days.

Small green house set up indoors with grow lights. But near a window for natural sun to save on the batteries/generator.

Now for me to get real, I will be interested to see what you find for your presentation.

  If you're gonna do it, do it right!

It sounds like the old boating adage will hold true: whatever it costs to do on land, it will cost a lot more to do on water.

No, no, no.  too many misconceptions here.  I am at work and cannot respond properly but may make an effort tonight when I get homes.

Misconceptions about boating or gardening? I've been curious all day!   

I've seen some beautiful gardens on house boats that are anchored on the rivers in Europe. Is that what you're addressing? If so, what a fun topic!

A few thoughts:

1. If they could spare the seating, a lot of boats have storage under the seating benches.  Remove one section of cushion...find containers that will fit in hole and make it like a TT garden (but with nested containers, one to catch the drips that could somehow be emptied.

2. If the yacht has railing, you could mount window boxes on them (permanently or with those temporary hooks they make for deck railing).  I would think a daily or e/o day quick brush and rinse of the deck in that area would keep it clean.

There are a lot of variables and you likely won't be able to address them all...typical travel speed, amount of "movement" (docked a lot, constantly on-the-go), typical level of wind/waves they deal with, radius they travel, availability of potable water, space constraints...

bonnie0128 wrote:A few thoughts:

There are a lot of variables and you likely won't be able to address them all...typical travel speed, amount of "movement" (docked a lot, constantly on-the-go), typical level of wind/waves they deal with, radius they travel, availability of potable water, space constraints...

+1

There were about 10 people there and it was well-received.

When I give my SFG spiel I always ask, "What kind of soil do you have? Sand? Clay?" LOL one smart alec said, "Fiberglass."

I ended up using most of the time on traditional SFG - showing them that it's a great method when they have someone taking care of their garden while they're gone or even using drip irrigation on a timer.

Then I showed them these two ideas which everyone LOVED. The first is a bottle/glass holder for herbs and the second is just a double planter with a handle - easy to take on & off the boat. I also gave them instructions for making an easy desalination system using a large bowl, upside down saucer, smaller bowl, plastic and a small weight.