What did you do in the garden today?

[pennyJo1960]

Morning Gardeners it is wet here rain will be here then two dry days.

 

[gtaus]

I'm not sure how I'll tackle the bigger IBC because you're right, the draincoils are expensive, like 42 bucks for 8 meters. Vinidex is $138 for 20m. Could do some sort of crate setup instead to create the voids.

Those drainpipes are great and built to hold all that soil above them. I have seen some people using plastic bottles and containers for wicking tubs, but I don't know how strong they would be in an IBC.

Are you cutting the IBC's in half height? Again, I think the wicking tubs will only work up to about 12 inches of soil above the water.

I have wondered if I could fill the bottom of something like an IBC with hügelkultur wood, and still have that overflow drain at 3 inches, or higher. But I don't know if all that decomposing wood sitting in a reservoir of water would cause a problem.

I use the hügelkultur method for my raised beds, but there is no standing water in the bottom of the raised beds. The wood acts like a giant sponge, but any excess water will drain through. If I had an IBC, I do not think I would want to drill drain holes in the bottom. That seems like it would be a waste.

As much as I like the wicking tubs and planters, they cost money to build with those drainpipes. Compare that to me building some 16-inch-high pallet wood hügelkultur raised beds for less than $2.00 per 4X4 bed.

If you come up with a good idea to replace those expensive drainpipes. please let me know.

 

[fuzzi]

I thought @Paz was located in Spain?

Profile for @Paz says last seen today at 11:47am.

 

[CNJ]

Well, don't give up all hope. I live in northern Minnesota and was able to grow tropical bitter melon this summer by staring the plants inside the house a few months before our average last frost date. That extends the growing season for us. I'm not saying that the bitter melon grew as well as they would in the tropics, but we did manage to get quite a bit of nice fruit before it got cold this fall.

Also, I think it's best to plant any tropical plants maybe 2 weeks after your last frost date, just to make sure you don't chill the plant.

Next year we plan on starting some more of those tropical plants in the house, transplant them outside 2 weeks after our average last frost date, and just hope for the best.

Picture of some of the tropical bitter melon grown in my northern Minnesota (Zone 3b) garden...

View attachment 3657210

I have wild small 2-to-3-inch type bitter melon growing in my yard, its dormant now, but it will sprout when it gets rainy. I like when they grow on my fence, I pick them young at around 1 inch, and I eat them off the vine. They are tender and don't taste bitter like the mature ones.

 

[CNJ]

Today, I had to cut back a few of my green banana because it was rubbing on my support pipe. Next time, I will put the cross section of my pipe support on the banana fruit branch.

I used a potato peeler to take off the green banana skin and simmered the peeled banana in water for 30 minutes. I was impressed, I think it tastes better than potato.

Now, when I look at my green banana bunch, I see a potato tree.

It’s worth noting that plantains are often compared to potatoes because of their similar texture and taste. Cooked plantains are nutritionally very similar to a potato, calorie-wise, but contain more of certain vitamins and minerals. They’re a rich source of fiber, vitamins A, C, and B-6, and the minerals magnesium and potassium 2.

 

[Sally PB]

We're done with sunshine for 4-5 days. Heavy rain, grey skies. Which means the green house won't stay warm enough to cure the sweet potatoes. So I moved them. They are now spread out on our table. They're in a bag, sandwiched in an electric blanket, with a nice poofy comforter over the top to hold in the warmth.

I have a thermometer/hygrometer in the bag with the tubers. 85 degrees, and about 75-80% humidity. Hoping I can get them cured in a week or so. We'll want the electric blanket on the bed by then, I think.

 

[jerryse]

We got afternoon rain and more coming. DW is struggling with her cold. She is a bit grumpy. I only had mild symptoms. A bit scratchy voiced for 2 days.

 

[ShrekDawg]

We're done with sunshine for 4-5 days. Heavy rain, grey skies. Which means the green house won't stay warm enough to cure the sweet potatoes. So I moved them. They are now spread out on our table. They're in a bag, sandwiched in an electric blanket, with a nice poofy comforter over the top to hold in the warmth.

I have a thermometer/hygrometer in the bag with the tubers. 85 degrees, and about 75-80% humidity. Hoping I can get them cured in a week or so. We'll want the electric blanket on the bed by then, I think.

Cool!

 

[TJAnonymous]

I wish it would rain.

 

[Sally PB]

I didn't get to planting the garlic or potato (multiplier) onions yet. The beds need some compost, and I wish I'd gotten that done before the soaking rain we're about to get. If it's not raining too hard tomorrow, I'll see if I can get some compost on them.

Tomorrow night/Friday is supposed to be the heaviest, and we could get an inch or more.