What did you do in the garden today?

[ackie]

I can relate. I planted 3 watermelon plants. Only one went on to thrive during the growing season. It produced two softball sized watermelons which split. The 2nd plant suddenly decided to take off like a rocket right around mid-November..... Good old mother nature nipped that one in the bud pretty quickly.

So essentially, I also got ZERO watermelons. I am going to try again this year but with a different variety.

last year I did whatever was at the store in transplant size
this year I'm doing sugar baby from seed
and testing the soil first
and thining appropriately
and giving it closer to the right amount of space

 

[TJAnonymous]

last year I did whatever was at the store in transplant size
this year I'm doing sugar baby from seed
and testing the soil first
and thining appropriately
and giving it closer to the right amount of space

I tried to do mine vertically by using bird netting to make a sling to support the watermelon while I trained the vine to a cow panel. It seemed to work really well. I think my main issue was that I didn't water enough or consistently. So I thought about trying the same thing again, but using a self-watering container. And since I would be doing this in a raised bed, maybe using a smaller variety of watermelon....

 

[ackie]

I need to figure out a way to water at ground level instead of from above

 

[pennyJo1960]

Soaker hose might be the route to take

 

[TJAnonymous]

I need to figure out a way to water at ground level instead of from above

Last year I made slow drip watering jugs from recycled milk jugs. I cleaned them out really good. Filled them up with water. Put the cap back on. Then used a large safety pin to pop 3-4 holes in a bottom corner....then just set next to whatever plant you want to water thoroughly at ground level. Usually takes several hours to drain the jug. I would also add fish emulsion to the jugs sometimes but be prepared that you need to clean the jugs REALLY well afterwards because that stuff STINKS to high heaven after sitting in the sun all day.

 

[TJAnonymous]

I need to figure out a way to water at ground level instead of from above

Do you roto-till your garden each year? If so, you can also bury jugs in the ground at strategic locations using the same concept as the slow drip watering jugs....only they deliver the water below ground to the roots instead of at ground level.

 

[ackie]

Do you roto-till your garden each year? If so, you can also bury jugs in the ground at strategic locations using the same concept as the slow drip watering jugs....only they deliver the water below ground to the roots instead of at ground level.

currently I dont do anything spiffy. newbie!
I am considering underground soakers hoses or something

 

[Sally PB]

Would love to know what apps you guys are using....

Sooo.....sounds like some of you have done a lot more digging than what I did. Anyone got a good one to share?

My garden/reminder app is a notebook and a calendar hanging on the wall. I don't have apps on my phone, and I would never get all the data stuff put in it anyway.

I like doing it this way because it also serves as a garden diary. I figure someday someone will find this and it'll be like a Laura Ingalls Wilder book is today. People will laugh at the idea someone could get all excited about picking their first tomato or digging a potato the size of their shoe (I wear size 11).

 

[TJAnonymous]

currently I dont do anything spiffy. newbie!
I am considering underground soakers hoses or something

soaker hoses are great if your garden is close to a watering source. Mine isn't...it is approximately 500 ft from my house. I do have five 100' hoses hooked up to help me water the garden but that can be a chore too...which is why I came up with alternative methods with the jugs, etc... I had USDA come out to my house because I wanted to see about getting a grant for a rainwater cistern and a hoop house. They are willing to do a grant, but the grant process is nearly a year and a half long. I am unwilling to wait that long so I will just do my own thing on my own dime.

 

[ackie]

soaker hoses are great if your garden is close to a watering source. Mine isn't...it is approximately 500 ft from my house. I do have five 100' hoses hooked up to help me water the garden but that can be a chore too...which is why I came up with alternative methods with the jugs, etc... I had USDA come out to my house because I wanted to see about getting a grant for a rainwater cistern and a hoop house. They are willing to do a grant, but the grant process is nearly a year and a half long. I am unwilling to wait that long so I will just do my own thing on my own dime.

we have water run to the garden
depending on where you live, it might not be too hard to install pipes