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Current date/time is 3/28/2024, 5:52 pm
Search found 10 matches for 4
Hello from Aylett, VA
markqz wrote:. . .
- High energy - make compost
- Medium energy: Maintain gardens
- Low Energy: Start plants
- Low, low Energy: Post in forum
For some reason, I seem to be at #4 a lot
Happy gardening!
- on 6/30/2023, 12:06 am
- Search in: Introduce Yourself
- Topic: Hello from Aylett, VA
- Replies: 3
- Views: 192
Hello from the north end of the Bitterroot Valley, Montana
Traveler's Rest, Welcome to the Forum from California.The 11" beds don't have to be filled to the top. If you have 3" of native topsoil, You can top with 6-7" of Mel's Mix and call it good.
Peat moss fluffs an extra 50%. So, a 3 cu. ft. bag = 4/5 cu. ft.
Coarse or super coarse Vermiculte can be ordered online. Greenhouse megastore, Uline (Gradee #4), Farm Tek, AM Leonard.
I'm guessing that the local compost is relatively cheap. Do yet the finely screened compost. You can start off with that as the bulk of the "compost part. You can add composted cow or chicken manure and mushroom compost IF they didn't add anything to it. Next year you can worry about adding different real composts. Just get started this year.
Worms - The worms that feed off veggie scraps are the little red wiggler (Eisenia fetida). They stay close to the surface and I don't know if they would survive your winters. You can set up a system in a protected area that doesn't freeze. There are ideas online about making systems from storage totes or 5-gallon buckets, or buying a ready-made system. You can then added the worm castings as you harvest the castings. https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/search?search_keywords=red+wigglers&typerecherche=interne&show_results=topics
At your latitude, your growing season is short but powerful. You can extend your season with a greenhouse. Would your landlord allow structures that are set on the ground on cement blocks? https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/f16-western-mountains-high-plains
Turan used to be your Regional Host and I think you would enjoy her thread: https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t20520-turan-in-the-western-mountains
So, no fences. But does that mean no 1" PVC frame or wood frame over just the garden area? You can cover with 1/4" hardware cloth on the sides and top to keep out the grasshoppers. But, covering the garden with hardware cloth or insect netting means the pollinators can't get to the squash, melon or cucumber flower for pollination.
Deer control can be PVC fences with no safe landing spot inside.
With 3' wide beds, you would need to have a bare minimum of 2' aisle between the beds and the fencing.
- on 3/13/2023, 5:05 am
- Search in: Introduce Yourself
- Topic: Hello from the north end of the Bitterroot Valley, Montana
- Replies: 3
- Views: 431
Renewing Mel's Mix
Anne, at this time, vermiculite is being ordered online. AM Leonard, Uline #4 (minimum of 2 bags), PVPInd coarse or super coarse through Farm Tek (minimum of 1 bag), Greenhouse Megastore.I have an experimental bed on the ground with 1/2" "cementy" cement board as the bottom. It comes in 3' x 5' sheets so that determines the size of the bed. Or, else sections would need to be taped together for larger beds. After 3 years, no root invasion from the Italian cypress trees 1-2' away.
- on 3/10/2023, 4:50 pm
- Search in:
- Topic: Renewing Mel's Mix
- Replies: 6
- Views: 483
Hi everyone, from Cocoa, FL
T0beus, Welcome to the Forum from California.Uline also carries coarse (#3) and super coarse (#4) vermiculite with a minimum order of 2 4-cu ft bags.
- on 2/24/2023, 2:11 pm
- Search in: Introduce Yourself
- Topic: Hi everyone, from Cocoa, FL
- Replies: 3
- Views: 244
Butterfly Junction
Mel encouraged beds close to the house!Turan wrote:I think I see some version of earthboxes in your future. I bet the different balconies have different amounts of light and so could grow different types of salad bar type stuff. "Honey, could you run over to balcony #3 to get me a handful of lettuce and come back via balcony #5 for a couple cherry tomatoes? O, and the dill on balcony #4 is perfect now, get some of that too. Thanks!"
Congratulations on your new spread!
- on 7/1/2018, 7:07 pm
- Search in: Showcase of Gardens
- Topic: Butterfly Junction
- Replies: 944
- Views: 19095
Fourth Year SFG in Canada
Trying to resurrect the squash that appeared to be destroyed recently by a critter. The main stem was hanging by a thread on both plants. I covered the main stems with compost. I have surrounded the bottom part of this leg of the u-bed with plastic netting which seems to be working so far. Of the two plants the Tromboncino Squash appears to have a better chance of recovery than the more severely damaged Canada Crookneck Squash.Another bowl (#4 I think) of strawberries and plenty more on the plants.
Tomatoes are forming on several tomato plants.
Golden Zucchini getting lots of flowers and small zucchinis.
Borage is starting to flower.
This pretty Alyssum Crystal Purple was started from seed indoors.
Peas are reaching for the sky.
Carrots germinating in the top hat.
Chinese 5 Color Pepper (hot).
This Lobelia (started indoors from seed) is thriving in the side of one of the straw bales.
- on 6/28/2018, 5:04 pm
- Search in: Canada
- Topic: Fourth Year SFG in Canada
- Replies: 644
- Views: 11996
California - What are you doing this month?
Ever write a reply, complete with photos, and forget to send or save draft? So here goes another try.I emptied Tumbler batch #3 this evening after 21 days and I am very happy. It smells good and the only lumps are actual horse pucks that didn't break up. Only 101*F at 6:30*F. Tumbler batch #4 will be built tomorrow after Ken mows the new bedding straw and I cut up five 5-gallon buckets of tonight's haul of culls from the Farmers' Market. I've already done the Starbuck's puck dance. Expected 104*F tomorrow.
Compare to lumpy #2 after 35 days.
- on 8/26/2017, 12:57 am
- Search in: Northern California & Coastal Valleys
- Topic: California - What are you doing this month?
- Replies: 529
- Views: 12641
Tips for compost tumbler
trolleydriver wrote:And if that does not work this thing may find itself advertised on kijiji.
I know how you feel. My Tumbler #1 stuff that was a bust is stored in the holey 33-gallon can. Just siting there. I hope #4 turns out as good as lumpy #2 and less-lumpy #3.
- on 8/25/2017, 7:17 pm
- Search in:
- Topic: Tips for compost tumbler
- Replies: 166
- Views: 13362
Compost Tumblers-Ideas for gleaning
Here's one that I madeSome factors to consider before making one:
The volume of the finished compost is relatively small. A full 55 gallon barrel is about 7-8 cubic feet. Finished compost will be 2-4 cubic feet, which is about enough to make MM for one 4x4 box.
Compost breaks down OK in warmer weather, but I get better results in cold weather from small piles on the ground.
Be sure to use some sort of flange.
Make the access door as wide as possible. When unloading, you'll be reaching in with hand or trowel to get the compost from the ends of the barrel. The wider the door, the easier to unload.
Try to put something on the inside to help break up the big clumps of compost. I made paddles, but 2x2s or PVC pipe fastened on the inside will do the same thing.
A barrel full of properly moistened compost is heavy. Surprisingly heavy. Choose a way to make turning the barrel easier, with handles or a hand crank as shown in the second video. Goosegirl made a barrel similar to #4; I got the handle idea from her; it makes turning the barrel a piece of cake.
I can't say a metal barrel is better than plastic; I just happened to have the frame and a metal barrel on hand to use. I considered a motor to turn the barrel, but decided it's not worth the time and money for as seldom as it is used.
A compost tumbler makes a great MM mixer. One 5 gallon bucket each of compost, peat, and vermiculite twirled 10x or so, then dumped into a wheelbarrow. It doesn't get any easier.
I used my tumbler a couple years and then retired it. Piles on the ground work just fine for my circumstances. If anyone wants it, come and get it.
- on 1/16/2016, 2:20 pm
- Search in: Do It Yourself
- Topic: Compost Tumblers-Ideas for gleaning
- Replies: 21
- Views: 2012
Compost: Berkeley 18 day [hot] method
Plantoid just mentioned this hot, quick method for making compost in another topic "Fertilizer in Bagged Mix."I think the Berkeley method is a great way to quickly make your own compost, although I have never been able to make it in 18 days. My fault for not turning it every 2 days. I started daily recordings this year. Pile #4 was started April 7 this spring and was finished in 27 days, then rested a week, for a total of 34 days. It was turned a total of 7 times. Pile #5 was started June 29, finished in 36 days and turned 8 times, then used on day 40. The current pile #6 was started August 10 and turned 4 times so far. I estimate it will be finished in 30 days, then rested a week. So, up to 40 days from start to finish seems to be my pattern. I will build one more, #7, in September. I finally feel a lessening of the panic I've had, since I started SFG 1 1/2 years ago, that I don't have enough compost for making more MM and recharging used beds. I should have a full bin volume (27 cu ft) of ready-to-use compost come next spring.
The cage is 3' x 3' x 3' inner dimensions, the minimum mass for hot or "hottie" compost. The final volume is about 1/2, or 13 1/2 cubic feet.
- on 8/27/2014, 4:20 am
- Search in:
- Topic: Compost: Berkeley 18 day [hot] method
- Replies: 399
- Views: 14196
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