What did you do in the garden today?

[politicalcenter]

Well I'm happy to announce that we've gotten some actual in-the-dirt planting done. Some of you here actually helped out with our two year attempt at growing veggies and fish in an aquaponics system. Well it failed. Good news is that the two 12x4x10 grow beds and double stacked 12x4x12 deep water culture frames were easily hauled over to the new garden area and put down as raised beds. Two weeks ago I got the entire old system torn down to just the pond, we'll be making that into a sitting area, and put the raised beds on the ground and level. I had to cut down a few of our trees (no worries, we have to thin them out something crazy so I just got started early) to make 10' long corner posts for the garden and add some fencing as our chickens were going right over the 4' one we put up first. So far we have planted strawberries/cucumber/pole beans in one bed that has an 8' leaning trellis on it for the climbing plants. Another bed has 12 various pepper plants, another has 15 various tomato plants and the fourth is laying fallow at the moment until I can get seed potatoes in the ground this weekend. I sank a few old tires in the ground and packed them full of compost and then planted 2 zucchini in one, 2 yellow squash in the other (we already have five squash on one plant!!) and a black berry briar-thing in the other. One 55 gallon plastic drum was cut in half and sank to contain a blue berry plant (when I can find one) and something else that we haven't chosen yet. Some sort of berry probably.


We still have plenty of room in the garden beds for other plants and will most likely try beets and multiple types of kale and greens. Right now though we're taking it slow because the last time I did this I jumped in with both feet and spent way too much money for no yummy veggies or fish. Oh speaking of $$ our 25x30 garden as described above so far has cost us $133 in plants and one yard of really good compost because I reused everything from the raised beds to the fencing and screws to hold things together. I had to buy compost because our manure/leaves/coffee grounds pile isn't quite ready. Well worth it in my opinion though.


We'll update with pictures once the rain down here stops enough for some clear shots.

RichnSteph

I still have my fish ponds a nd right now I am hunting for some goog looking butterfly koi for one pond that only has a few plants in it. But all my gardens are in the ground. It was a hard year for us last year also. We had no rain for 6 months...nothing. I wish ya'll the best of luck.

 

[chickadoodles]

Your tomatoes are looking great Dan!

 

[chickadoodles]

Quote: I hope everything grows and produces a great bounty for you all.

 

[chickadoodles]

I started a few veggies and my daffodils are blooming.



Some are straggly. lol I will likely start putting the outside to get them hardened off when the sun decides to return.

 

[dan26552]

I just finished transplanting over 10 dozen volunteer merigolds.

 

[chickadoodles]

Cool!

 

[dan26552]

I knew I wanted to plant merigolds but I'm not sure I'll have to start any now 130 plants Is a lot.

 

[chickadoodles]

I'm hoping to plant some seeds I collected from last years

 

[trailrider330]

Good morning!

I've been thinking about doing some plantings along the outside of my chicken pens, which are made out of 6' high chain link dog kennel panels. I want something that will add some shade and be a partial windbreak for the chickens, definitely be non-toxic to them, and perhaps even provide some food for the chickens, but I'd also like it to buffer some sound for the neighbors if possible. Obviously, it would also have to be hardy in Michigan and preferably somewhat fast growing, but easy to take care of. The soil is quite sandy, already has some shade and mostly faces north. A perennial would be ideal, but I'd also entertain suggestions for annuals. I've thought about chocolate vine or perhaps a vertical garden (cucumbers, peas, tomatoes, etc.), sunflowers, etc. Does anyone have any suggestions for me?

 

[lazy gardener]

cucumbers, indeterminate tomatoes, tall peas, interspersed with some herbs: oregano, mint, lemon balm. How bout some corn, sunflowers, sorghum?