Raised Bed - solution?

Fun Times When Your Having Flies!  Hard to believe its been 4 months since I last posted here?  Brutal Summer - As everywhere else bakingly warm, and to top it all of minimal rain.  This is supposed to be our wet season.  In addition to the fry factor from somewhat arid conditions and a vehement sun, they have stopped posting signs on the canal front to show weed spraying activity - usually identifying the product sprayed and approximate time before safe to irrigate.  I likely used canal water at the wrong time and wiped out my Cukes, Zucchini, Yellow Neck, as well as some experimental Cushaw and Kuri.  Cantaloupes bloomed, fruited, and spoiled, beets failed, Kohlrabi failed.  Tomatos and Peppers produced sparsely - some still hanging on.  Most greens have long bolted.
  Damage assessment, aside from water issues - my black nursery pots aren't cutting it.  Each sits on a white concrete tile which keeps the ants out and probably helps cool minimally - but the pots themselves are roasting my roots.  Cycled through myriad ideas to buffer the temps (wraps, shields, mulches, etc.)  Opted to build ANOTHER style raised bed to hold the pots, allow airspace for ventilation, and sides to block sun's intensity.  For me - wait and see; for you - another design plan.



First a trip to Sparr's (local farm supply - likely same items can be picked up at Rural King, Tractor Supply, Menards?)  four 3"-3 1/2" pressure treated fence post (78" - I cut 30" off each on the thinner end to use for this project - about $7 apiece; two  1" x 6" x 16' pressure treated fence rails (cut 2pcs x 60" and 2 pc x 26" from each)



Added some pressure treated decking scraps for support slats across the bottom.

Picked up some knock down plastic flats from a crash and dent grocery store for $1 apiece.



Popped the sides off and inverted them over my grids.



Holds ten 5 gallon pots

The 1" x 6" x 16" fence rails were about $16.00 each; they are full 1" thick.
Total cost:  $63.00; I will build another.

Actually I stole the basic design from someone on the internet and modified it to my needs.

If I can figger out how to post a pic, you will see a two layer rack made from 2x3's. The first was built when 2x4's were $6 or $7+ apiece. Being the cheapskate I am I said, the $2.xx something 2x3 will be fine.Depending on the length it only takes 4 or 5 as I recall to make the rack plus the screws.

The pic has the original rack for 5 gallon pails. I used those but really do not like the size of the opening, so this year I built another rack from 2x3's, essentially the same but adjusted in size for the black 5 gallon containers I bought from the green house for 1 or 2 dollars each, and there are 10 of them. It's the next rack to the left of the one in the pick. It works well for me.

I may try the design in this post next, if I can bring myself to spend all that money. 




PS, the other rack you don't really see in the pic only has 1 2x3 under the pails vs the 2 shown in this rack.  So far no issues,

Chuck d'Argy wrote:
I may try the design in this post next, if I can bring myself to spend all that money. 

For what its worth, the second one will be cheaper because I still have four 48" long fenceposts (the remainder after cutting 30" off each) so that saves me $28 on the next go round.

Frost? wrote:

Chuck d'Argy wrote:
I may try the design in this post next, if I can bring myself to spend all that money. 

For what its worth, the second one will be cheaper because I still have four 48" long fenceposts (the remainder after cutting 30" off each) so that saves me $28 on the next go round.

I was just being a smart alec.

I do like that single layer. I may adopt/adapt your design.

Frost? wrote:. . .


Holds ten 5 gallon pots

I noticed the homemade cages.  The lower openings are only 1-2" x 4' but as it gets taller, they become 4"x4" or larger.  Did the fencing come this way?  I ask because the larger openings allow the plant to be harvested easier.  What is this fencing called in case someone else wants to create these cages?

sanderson wrote:
I noticed the homemade cages.  The lower openings are only 1-2" x 4' but as it gets taller, they become 4"x4" or larger.  Did the fencing come this way?  I ask because the larger openings allow the plant to be harvested easier.  What is this fencing called in case someone else wants to create these cages?

  Yes, the fencing comes that way, I think it's rabbit fencing?  Or "Rabbit Guard"?  The reason I chose it was for "squirrel deterrence", if they can't just reach up and climb in, they seem to not bother - maybe claustrophobic?  Either way it has worked well for me EXCEPT it makes it a little more difficult for weed control.  I can deal with that.
  I bought mine at Tractor Supply (I think).

I was looking for the remainder of the roll (I find it hard to believe I used it all), but no luck.  It looks like the fencing I used is 28" tall (I'm quite sure it comes taller) and the first 12" has 1" x 4" grids, then two 2" x 4" grids (for four inches), and finishes off with 4" x 4" grids.

OhioGardener wrote:This fence wire from our Tractor Supply is probably similar to what you used.  It comes in 28" high, 36" high, and 40" high.

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/allfenz-28-in-x-50-ft-steel-rabbit-garden-fence-welded-wire-rbf28050?cm_vc=-10005

  Yes, thanks for the link:  I believe that is exactly it.