2015 Garden Started

Shop deals on ebay
shop deals on amazon
Advertise with us
Ford SportTrac Forum

Help Support Ford SportTrac Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
H

H D

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 2, 2010
Messages
3,435
Reaction score
2
Location
, GA
Anyone else do gardens?



I took last year off but am back at it. Been eating a lot more vegetables and fruits and it's expensive. With all the venison I have, a nice producing garden will have me only needing to buy some fish, bulk rice, beans, tea and coffee. Hoping this $50 investment pays out.



I planted lots of spinach onions and carrots, kale, swiss chard, peas, broccoli and beets. Cedar raised beds. Added manure and lime to the topsoil I already have on hand from my pile.



<a href="http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/hughdarnley/media/Food%20and%20Garden/Garden%202015/20150204_120645_zpsafjkgsrj.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa332/hughdarnley/Food%20and%20Garden/Garden%202015/20150204_120645_zpsafjkgsrj.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20150204_120645_zpsafjkgsrj.jpg"/></a>



<a href="http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/hughdarnley/media/Food%20and%20Garden/Garden%202015/20150204_145419_zpsemtxhvvj.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa332/hughdarnley/Food%20and%20Garden/Garden%202015/20150204_145419_zpsemtxhvvj.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20150204_145419_zpsemtxhvvj.jpg"/></a>



Still got to get another lemon tree, a lime tree, a couple apple trees, fig tree, strawberry, and all the nice summer veggies. All to come in the next few months.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I have a 16' x 16' garden in the back yard. 1/2 of it is Red Potatoes (that's about the only thing that grows consistently for me). Last year I had a few Cukes, Green Beans (they did pretty good as well) onions and strawberries. I've tried peppers numerous times, but they just don't seem to do very well.
 
Probably because of the heat in the south but I have ended up with way more peppers than needed in my previous gardens.



Here's one harvest from two years ago with two sweet banana pepper plants, two jalapenos, a chili pepper, two bell pepper plants and lots of okra. I would have preferred a lot more bell peppers and okra, especially okra. Lesson learned, one plant each of the peppers except bell. I was getting that many banana peppers each week from those two plants.



<a href="http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/hughdarnley/media/Food%20and%20Garden/garden628.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa332/hughdarnley/Food%20and%20Garden/garden628.jpg" border="0" alt="garden628 photo garden628.jpg"/></a>





I'll go for more tomatoes, okra and green beans this year as those are what I really enjoy. I haven't had much luck with green beans. I also really want to do asparagus but I can't decide what part of our land I don't want to use for anything else for the next few years.



I keep going back and forth on potatoes. I keep coming to the same conclusion as with black beans/pinto beans, etc. and that you can get a whole lot really cheap at the grocer. Maybe one year when I feel like I actually know what I'm doing, I'll add potatoes to the mix.

 
Last edited by a moderator:
Hugh,

Those are some really nice terraced raised beds !



I also do gardening, but with the heat here in Texas it's hard to get things to grow without constant watering. I have two 5X5 foot raised beds but they have not been very productive over the past 2 years...:angry:



This year I am trying something new...Hydropontic gardening. I am going to cover the raised beds with 2X6 decking and will grow my plants in tubs placed on the decking over the old raised beds. I have been buying all the necessary equipment for the past few months and I am ready to begin.



I also plan to start my own plants from seeds. I have already bought the seeds and the starter kits. I have a heating pad and sunny window in the kitchen where I have set up a 4 tiered plastic shelving unit. It says to start the seeds about 6 weeks before your last frost which means I will be starting the seeds in about a week or two.



Anxious to see how hydropontic works for me down in Texas. Everything I have read indicates that plants grow much faster because its easier to get their nutrients from the water than from the soil. Also, the plants are supposed to be healthier since there is no soil used and that means no soil-borne diseases. You just mix up a fresh batch of water with the micro-nutrients and dump the old water about every 2 weeks.



Anybody here tried hydropontic gardening?



...Rich
 
I use drip irrigation on timers to battle our heat. I haven't set it up for this setup yet but will have it by the heat of June.



I've been studying aquaponics (a bit of a twist on hydroponics) as a way to make use of the pond that has been started off the side of our house long before the house was built. There is a six foot deep large section that is about 1,500 sq. ft. and a smaller, 2 ft deep 400 sq. ft. section.



A picture of it out my office window. Ignore the errant pines; they have a fast approaching fate.



<a href="http://s1192.photobucket.com/user/hughdarnley/media/Food%20and%20Garden/20141225_084407_zpsborbfx4w.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1192.photobucket.com/albums/aa332/hughdarnley/Food%20and%20Garden/20141225_084407_zpsborbfx4w.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo 20141225_084407_zpsborbfx4w.jpg"/></a>





The idea is basically the same as hyrdoponics but you pump fish waste through a gravel media that the plants are rooted in. This filters and aerates the water for the fish and provides nutrients for the plants. This may be a bit beyond my abilities but killing a few goldfish ain't enough deterrent. If it works, an edible fish may go into the pond.



It's usually applied in smaller applications. If your hyrdoponics work out well this season, you may be interested to give a trial run on one of your beds with aquaponics next year.





l1tech, :bwahaha:
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Good work !!!! Crushed egg shells make hotter peppers !!! MMMMMM YUM !!!



Todd Z
 
l1tech,

Not true ! I have the utmost respect for your opinion, but I don't necessarily agree with everything you say.... If everyone agreed with everyone else, it would be a pretty boring world.



Years ago, a VP that hired me as a manager said he hired me because he did not want another "Yes" man who agreed with everything he said, He hired me to keep him out of trouble by objecting when I though he was making the wrong decision about something.



He valued my experience and my opinions and although he did not always take my advise, we worked very well together. He was a former military man as am I, and I rate him as one of the best bosses I ever worked for in any military or civilian job.



So I would welcome any experience or input you have regarding Hydroponic, if you care to give it.



...Rich



 
Same here! I usually plant tomatoes and sweet corn at least, but we have to wait til May.



I had a pretty big garden for a few years. Our former neighbor couldn't believe I didn't plant zucchini - as he was trying to give us some. He grew enough to supply everyone within walking distance. No need for me to grow any! Besides, a couple of zucchinis are plenty for me.
 
I think you missed the point there Richard.



Sucks about the snow. It was below 40* this morning and I was miserable. My family is all from PA and they can't stand our heat just as much as I can't stand their cold. They visit here in winter and I visit them in summer. And on topic, the best sweet corn I've had is straight off the farms in NW PA.



I like zucchini but haven't tried to grow any. Maybe I should add that.
 
Hugh,

What point did I miss? It does not matter to me "What" he is growing :grin: I am just interested in his Hydropontics methods and experience.



...Rich
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Heard of it. Never tried it though. I grew up on a farm, and I can tell you rotting hay bales stink with a strong musty smell, especially when they get opened up. Might want to keep them away from the neighbors house.
 
Never heard of it. I get the concept though. Agree with Duane; wet straw is not pleasant. Even with great gardening results, I wouldn't want the task of getting rid of the bales when done. A garden with good soil just needs compost added each planting. The initial work may be tough but you get many years out of the same bed.
 

Latest posts

Top