What did you do in the garden today?

[Beer can]

10'x14' 7' high. Made out of 14' round trampoline, pvc pipe and plastic electrical conduit.
Never got around to finishing it this spring. Have a door and 2x4s for framework and clear plastic. Putting it up more to start a lot of plants earlier in the spring.

 

[Beer can]

Think I had a daikon radish mixed in with regular little red radishes. Pretty sure that's what this is? Never grew them before. Has almost broccoli looking flowers coming from the top.

 

[black_dove2]

I could root them and plant them... But where would they go!? I spent the whole year digging tomatoes out from around my corn, squash, onions, peppers and melons. I gave away 30 tomato plants this year at LEAST. I still have another couple DOZEN in with my legumes and brassicas. I have nowhere to put the rest of these! I could have a tomato EMPIRE.... If only I had good soil and the space to put them in!

I've been looking at all the different ideas on raised garden. I can't really built a planter takes up too much space but I've been looking at so many great ideas on Pinterest for wall gardens. Some look so simple I wouldn't need any help to set up.

Here raised is the best way to go because of sand and Rock. Vertical gardens instead of raised

 

[ChocolateMouse]

Dove, we have clay 8 inches down. Solid, orange heavy clay until you hit bedrock with only a shovel-depth of topsoil on it. We have to double dig everything, put in TONS of biomass AND build raised beds on TOP of that or nothing grows because there's no root space.

As for greenhouses, this is a trying-hard-to-be-snooty suburb on top of that (used to be old agricultural land, now is pretending to be on-par with a near-by neighborhood with a bunch of old Rockefeller mansions) so everything needs a permit. You need a permit to buy a pre-built shed from Home Depot and drop it in your back lawn. The only reason I don't need a permit for my chicken coop (and an inspection with a yearly $150 licence!!!) is because I had chickens 2 years before they passed "chicken laws" in my neighborhood "allowing" chickens. (They were previously allowed only on large lots like mine with no other regulations, now they're allowed on smaller lots but heavily regulated.) I'm pretty sure a greenhouse, even a cheapy thing from home-depot might require a permit. (Maybe an inspection too.) It's just impractical for us.

And yeah, a walipini is an underground greenhouse. It uses geothermal heat to keep things above 50 even on a cloudy winter day and earthen walls to help retain higher temperatures when the sun is shining. You dig a hole 8' down (or so) and put in a slanted glass roof facing the sun (so south for us northern hemisphere-ers) with a berm (mounded earth wall) an extra 2' on the tall part of the slant. The thermal mass of the earth helps maintain warm and steady temperatures and you build raised beds in the bottom and plant right into the floor. It's VERY interesting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walipini

I got my bees done today but I broke some comb. It was comb that had to come out anyhow (it has a heavy plastic foundation which is bad for top bar hives), but I'm still bummed about it especially cause it was brood. I was going to remove it next spring. Having said that, the bees are doing AMAZINGLY well. They are filling in their frames like crazy and they have a lot of HEAVY bars filled with already capped honey. They are starting to festoon in their second box to build wax on those bars as well. Right now (with the frame I broke out) they have 6/8 bars in their top box filled out with wax and we haven't even hit the aster blooms yet. With a little luck they might actually have two full boxes for winter!

And no stings! Hooray!

 

[pennyJo1960]

Dove, we have clay 8 inches down. Solid, orange heavy clay until you hit bedrock with only a shovel-depth of topsoil on it. We have to double dig everything, put in TONS of biomass AND build raised beds on TOP of that or nothing grows because there's no root space.

As for greenhouses, this is a trying-hard-to-be-snooty suburb on top of that (used to be old agricultural land, now is pretending to be on-par with a near-by neighborhood with a bunch of old Rockefeller mansions) so everything needs a permit. You need a permit to buy a pre-built shed from Home Depot and drop it in your back lawn. The only reason I don't need a permit for my chicken coop (and an inspection with a yearly $150 licence!!!) is because I had chickens 2 years before they passed "chicken laws" in my neighborhood "allowing" chickens. (They were previously allowed only on large lots like mine with no other regulations, now they're allowed on smaller lots but heavily regulated.) I'm pretty sure a greenhouse, even a cheapy thing from home-depot might require a permit. (Maybe an inspection too.) It's just impractical for us.

And yeah, a walipini is an underground greenhouse. It uses geothermal heat to keep things above 50 even on a cloudy winter day and earthen walls to help retain higher temperatures when the sun is shining. You dig a hole 8' down (or so) and put in a slanted glass roof facing the sun (so south for us northern hemisphere-ers) with a berm (mounded earth wall) an extra 2' on the tall part of the slant. The thermal mass of the earth helps maintain warm and steady temperatures and you build raised beds in the bottom and plant right into the floor. It's VERY interesting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walipini

so your wanting a fairly good size greenhouse does sound very cool yes I agree sorry much to old here I would fall just getting in or out but encourage you as it is a very cool idea and way

 

[CapricornFarm]

Rain twice today for my poor garden with the clay soil. So i worked in between showers on unloading the truck and putting the plywood on the floor of the chicken coop, which i finished leveling. Note to self: do not buy the cheap grade of plywood. Usually if i do that i paint it and it is fine. But here every time i paint it rains and i get this:

 

[black_dove2]

CMouse,

I understand about the clay. You have to do same digging down here.

A Persian friend suggested the walipini for my hens. He said that's how they kept theirs cool in the desert. Ive been considering it until I realized how many different types of ant piles were on other side of fence next door. Thats what people had been doing out here for ages to plant their illeagle at that time weed, He also talked about iced water versus regular water. Something to do with hens going into shock like a head rush from a cold drink.

I've been wanting bees for longer than chickens, but I'm afraid my neighbors will go bat shit crazy if they found out. I've researched all kinds of smaller hives.

Green house? I wouldn't suggest such a thing to anyone. Not even my friends. I've room for one in front of home but living in a small city I would definitely be in trouble. They don't even want an RV or boat in front, lol

 

[NanaKat]

@ChocolateMouse when I had bees, I found that the bees would seal a broken comb. It happens sometimes... especially when a critter raids the hive body. Since it was brood, simply use thread or light fishing line to hold the comb in position.

@Beer can That does look like a daikon radish. My record was a 34 inch radish that had a diameter of 3 inches. And nice garden hoop house.

 

[ChicketySplit]

Think I had a daikon radish mixed in with regular little red radishes. Pretty sure that's what this is? Never grew them before. Has almost broccoli looking flowers coming from the top.
View attachment 1094721 View attachment 1094723

Yup, looks like a daikon - greens are good as well as the root - I like to cube the root, fry it in a little olive oil ( or bacon grease like my granny used to do). Saute 'til tender & add the chopped greens at the last minute. Salt n pepper & maybe a little red wine or balsalmic vinegar and you're in business!

 

[black_dove2]

Yup, looks like a daikon - greens are good as well as the root - I like to cube the root, fry it in a little olive oil ( or bacon grease like my granny used to do). Saute 'til tender & add the chopped greens at the last minute. Salt n pepper & maybe a little red wine or balsalmic vinegar and you're in business!

Sounds delicious,
Now I'm hungry.