What did you do in the garden today?

[gtaus]

That seems like a great idea for indoor gardening. I have a lot of the totes also. Maybe totes aren't just for storage anymore.

Earlier this past summer, I talked to one of the managers at Menards and asked him why they had so many tote lids but no totes in the store. He told me people had figured out that a $20 industrial tote was bigger and less expensive than the "planter boxes" they sold in the garden center for over $100 each. Essentially, they are both plastic containers, so lots of people bought out all the large totes to grow food in but did not need the lids.

For example, a 40-Gallon Tote for $20.00...

And their 32-Gallon Raised Bed in the garden center...

I know the pictures look deceiving, but that is why I said the tote was 40-Gallons and the planter was only 32-Gallons. The tote is actually bigger. The Elevated Garden Bed on legs might look better but I would bet that the industrial black tote is stronger and would last longer. At any rate, lots of gardeners agreed and they bought out all the large totes for use as planters. Bottom line, you can buy 5 totes with over 5X the growing capacity for the price on only one of those elevated raised beds.

 

[akroberts1085]

Earlier this past summer, I talked to one of the managers at Menards and asked him why they had so many tote lids but no totes in the store. He told me people had figured out that a $20 industrial tote was bigger and less expensive than the "planter boxes" they sold in the garden center for over $100 each. Essentially, they are both plastic containers, so lots of people bought out all the large totes to grow food in but did not need the lids.

For example, a 40-Gallon Tote for $20.00...

View attachment 3668108

And their 32-Gallon Raised Bed in the garden center...

View attachment 3668110

I know the pictures look deceiving, but that is why I said the tote was 40-Gallons and the planter was only 32-Gallons. The tote is actually bigger. The Elevated Garden Bed on legs might look better but I would bet that the industrial black tote is stronger and would last longer. At any rate, lots of gardeners agreed and they bought out all the large totes for use as planters. Bottom line, you can buy 5 totes with over 5X the growing capacity for the price on only one of those elevated raised beds.

I can't blame them. I couldn't see spending 100$ for a raised bed versus 20$ for a tote.

 

[Sally PB]

Maybe totes aren't just for storage anymore.

Nope! They're for brooding chicks now, too!

 

[Sally PB]

Nothing doing in the garden today. The rain is watering in the compost I put on the garlic and onion beds for me.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Today I finally got around to clearing out some of the garden bed I want to put garlic in. I opened the gate so the hens could help!

I've never planted garlic before. Any suggestions? The soil seems a bit compacted, but I plan to add some compost on top. Do I need to till? Anything else I need to know? Zone 6b, garlic variety is "German Hardy".

 

[akroberts1085]

Nothing doing in the garden today. The rain is watering in the compost I put on the garlic and onion beds for me.

Yup same here. I went out and got the eggs and then took the majority of my soup down to the corner store so that it doesn't go to waste. Sharing is caring.

 

[akroberts1085]

Today I finally got around to clearing out some of the garden bed I want to put garlic in. I opened the gate so the hens could help!

I've never planted garlic before. Any suggestions? The soil seems a bit compacted, but I plan to add some compost on top. Do I need to till? Anything else I need to know? Zone 6b, garlic variety is "German Hardy".

I have planted garlic however I am not sure about the soil being compacted. I would also like to know if the soil needs to be tilled a bit before planting.

 

[Sally PB]

I've never planted garlic before. Any suggestions? The soil seems a bit compacted, but I plan to add some compost on top. Do I need to till? Anything else I need to know? Zone 6b, garlic variety is "German Hardy".

Tilling would be a good idea if the soil is compacted. Till that compost in, and add more on top if you have some.

Plant with the pointy tip up. The tip should be about 2-3" below the surface. Then put some mulch on top of the soil. More compost would be good, mixed with fallen leaves to give it some volume. If for some reason you won't get much rain before the ground freezes, water well so that the roots start growing. Spacing should be 6" in any direction. I've planted as close as 4" but most of the information I've read is 6.

Then, you can forget it until it sprouts in the spring. When I see the leaves start poking out, I "fluff" the compacted mulch so that the leaves can grow up through it. (I don't remove it.) When the threat of frost is over, I move the mulch so that it's between the rows.

 

[Smokerbill]

Today I finally got around to clearing out some of the garden bed I want to put garlic in. I opened the gate so the hens could help!

I've never planted garlic before. Any suggestions? The soil seems a bit compacted, but I plan to add some compost on top. Do I need to till? Anything else I need to know? Zone 6b, garlic variety is "German Hardy".

I have planted garlic however I am not sure about the soil being compacted. I would also like to know if the soil needs to be tilled a bit before planting.

Tilling would be a good idea if the soil is compacted. Till that compost in, and add more on top if you have some.

Plant with the pointy tip up. The tip should be about 2-3" below the surface. Then put some mulch on top of the soil. More compost would be good, mixed with fallen leaves to give it some volume. If for some reason you won't get much rain before the ground freezes, water well so that the roots start growing. Spacing should be 6" in any direction. I've planted as close as 4" but most of the information I've read is 6.

Then, you can forget it until it sprouts in the spring. When I see the leaves start poking out, I "fluff" the compacted mulch so that the leaves can grow up through it. (I don't remove it.) When the threat of frost is over, I move the mulch so that it's between the rows.

Thanks for the reminder. I was planning to put garlic in the ground but totally forgot about it.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I finally got the rest of the iris bulbs transplanted that still had some tiny bit of green on them.

The only ones left are old, withered rhizomes that I'm pretty sure are done for. Thought about throwing them in the compost and seeing if anything pops up