What did you do in the garden today?

[lazy gardener]

I have not been washing dishes by hand as much as husband would like, so he is talking about a dishwasher! What a shame!

That is a terrible shame. I'd rather have a DW than a microwave! We had a upright freezer delivered this weekend. I've already taken advantage of the space. Bought 2 turkeys at $.39/#, and hubby and I were each able to buy the kind of ice cream we like, instead of only being able to satisfy one palate at a time! It took me a very long time, and a lot of gentle pushing before I got my freezer. He's already seeing the financial reward, as well as seeing that it will make meal planning easier for me.

I need to pull out the dead morning glory plants from the rose bed before they drop their seeds all over. It's been an uphill battle eradicating them from that particular area the last few years. I think if I pull them out today, I may win the battle for next year. I have a separate bed just for the morning glories, and don't want them in the rose bed.

Don't bet on it. I planted them one year, and was still yanking them out of that bed 10 years later.

I've thought about the blocks since termites are a problem here. Do you use rebar or something to stake the blocks so they don't move?

Cinder blocks would be a great alternative to wood, though a bit pricey. IMO, rebar would be a good idea, b/c you will have the soil pushing out from the inside, with nothing to counter that action from the outside. It would also be helpful to bury them into the soil a bit, and run landscaping cloth under them, and up the out side of them to keep the grass/weeds from creeping under them and into the bed.

 

[lazy gardener]

I picked up 45 bags of leaves today. It took 3 trips, and 100 miles, but I got my leaves gathered. They are dry. Snow and rain forecast for tonight. My green house is packed full of leaves. The price I have to pay... giving up my winter veggies to endure that the flock has plenty of DL in coop and run.

 

[igorsMistress]

@lazy gardener I think in my area it might be cheaper for block. $12 for each 3'x6' bed. Not too bad. I think I might try one bed and see how it does. I like the idea of sinking them a bit and using rebar on the corners to hook up fencing an lock in place.

 

[henless]

Do you attach them in any way or just sit them next to each other? Pictutes?

I don't attache them. I set the first row, then go back with the second row and stagger them so that the ends don't all meet. The bed I set up about 3 yrs ago is still working fine.

This was my only bed. I planted everything in it. I had 2 tomatoes, okra, 2 squash, green beans. I had herbs & marigolds in the small squares. I don't have a pic of it at the end of the season, but it was full of green.

I've thought about the blocks since termites are a problem here. Do you use rebar or something to stake the blocks so they don't move?

I haven't had any problem with my bed moving. I did remove the top row last year to make a 2nd bed for strawberries. They weren't getting enough sun, so I moved the berries out into the garden area this past spring. I recently put the 2nd row of blocks back on top of my first row and added compost and soil to bring the soil level back up. I have my granddaughter's school cabbage growing on one end, and planted some kale & lettuce for the chickens on the other. I plan on planting potatoes in this bed next spring.

Cinder blocks would be a great alternative to wood, though a bit pricey. IMO, rebar would be a good idea, b/c you will have the soil pushing out from the inside, with nothing to counter that action from the outside. It would also be helpful to bury them into the soil a bit, and run landscaping cloth under them, and up the out side of them to keep the grass/weeds from creeping under them and into the bed.

The cinder blocks are pricey, but considering that they won't rot or be eaten up, it's really money well spent. So far, I haven't had any problems with the blocks moving. It may happen in the future and if it does, I'll have to deal with it then. Hopefully I won't have that problem.

Here is what the bottom/sides of my 2x6's looked like I pulled them up last week. I was so disappointed that they didn't last any longer than they did.

 

[lazy gardener]

We don't have termites here, that I know of. I've used rough sawn 2 x hemlock for raised beds in the past, but no longer do raised beds. Hemlock holds up to the weather and insects very well.

The cinder block beds look great, and with them filled with soil, that would help too keep them from moving. The soil would lock them together.

If you want to install fencing, I'd use electrical conduit at the corners. You can even get 90* elbows so you can use conduit for the top rail of your fencing.

 

[Latitude33]

Little behind posting due to illness...anyways, last week I screened my compost, worked it into my plots and planted bok choi, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and Swiss chard. Rain possible by Friday.

 

[CapricornFarm]

Little behind posting due to illness...anyways, last week I screened my compost, worked it into my plots and planted bok choi, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and Swiss chard. Rain possible by Friday.

I hope you are well on your way to recovery.

 

[igorsMistress]

@henless thank you so much for the info and pics! I've been thinking about trying the blocks and never got around to it. I will have at least one bed ready by the first of the year.

@Latitude33 I'm happy you're on the mend.

 

[CapricornFarm]

I am still covering plants. No idea how long i can keep them going. I have green beans, cauliflower, carrots, and peas. My sweet potato vines got frosted so i will have to finish digging them up i guess.

 

[chickmom3941]

I don't attache them. I set the first row, then go back with the second row and stagger them so that the ends don't all meet. The bed I set up about 3 yrs ago is still working fine.

This was my only bed. I planted everything in it. I had 2 tomatoes, okra, 2 squash, green beans. I had herbs & marigolds in the small squares. I don't have a pic of it at the end of the season, but it was full of green.

View attachment 1186279



I haven't had any problem with my bed moving. I did remove the top row last year to make a 2nd bed for strawberries. They weren't getting enough sun, so I moved the berries out into the garden area this past spring. I recently put the 2nd row of blocks back on top of my first row and added compost and soil to bring the soil level back up. I have my granddaughter's school cabbage growing on one end, and planted some kale & lettuce for the chickens on the other. I plan on planting potatoes in this bed next spring.

View attachment 1186288




The cinder blocks are pricey, but considering that they won't rot or be eaten up, it's really money well spent. So far, I haven't had any problems with the blocks moving. It may happen in the future and if it does, I'll have to deal with it then. Hopefully I won't have that problem.

Here is what the bottom/sides of my 2x6's looked like I pulled them up last week. I was so disappointed that they didn't last any longer than they did.

View attachment 1186302

Thanks for posting the pics - looks good! We had been sporadically working on our block garden most of the summer, and had hoped it would be finished before winter, but no such luck. I think we can finish it off early next spring. We want to use it as our primary veggie garden next year. Hubs had mentioned wanting to plant something in those little squares on the blocks. Do things grow well in them? I was worried they may get too hot...