What did you do in the garden today?

[TJAnonymous]

Tell us about that this summer...

That's what air conditioning and a garden irrigation system is for...

 

[WthrLady]

Anyone else's allergies already off the rails?
I'm at the making the choice between chewing and breathing, and sleepy but can't sleep.
UGH.

 

[gtaus]

I know this doesn't answer your question about a wooden one, but the sides will need support, and it will become really heavy was all I wanted to say.

Thanks. I know I could build a strong frame using 2X2 wood, but I could use 2X4's if needed. I would have thought that the cattle pannel arch would have been strong enough by itself, But I guess if you had lots of stuff growing on it, that would get heavy fast.

 

[gtaus]

Oh, come on, that ain’t right!

Had this problem last year right after I planted my peas. This time, peas and potatoes are planted already. Now it’s starting to snow

I don't know where you live, but that looks like late spring, maybe 6 weeks from now, for where I live. My raised beds are 16 inches tall, and they are all still under snow cover. Cannot see the top of the wood on any of the raised beds yet.

Recommend you add your geographic location to your member icon. When I first saw your picture, I was thinking "Lucky you. Looks like you will be out in the garden soon!" Hard to feel sorry for you based on my snowed under perspective. But then reading you already planted so much, I hope your plants survive.

BTW, where I live, our planting date, or average last frost date, is May 30. I might try to plant some things earlier this year IF I can get some mini greenhouse covers built for my raised beds. I have learned from experience that planting the garden before Memorial Day is really risky.

 

[Sueby]

Something like your cattle panel archway is also on my short list for this year. What are you going to plant to climb up the archway? I am thinking some climbing beans, or cucumbers for me.

I say something like your cattle panel archway because I might make my archway out of pallet and reclaimed wood that I need to use up. That would be the framework for the arch, but I suppose it would have more of a flat top. Then I would attach some wire to the wood for the plants to climb on. I have some shorter sections of 2X4 fencing that I think might work well.

I wonder if some old chicken wire would work? Might be a little harder to pick the fruit when ready to harvest. Maybe use some chicken wire on the sides going up, but then use the 2X4 wire across the flat top? I'm just trying to use up what I have laying around behind the garage before I go out and buy a cattle panel.

Another thought is to just rip some boards into narrow slats (instead of wire) and build the trellis all out of wood. My raised beds are 4X4 feet, so it would not take many slats to fill in a trellis. I do like the looks of a wooden trellis. Might have to look into that idea a bit more.

Anybody out there built a wooden trellis for climbing beans or cucumbers? Would like to get an idea of how far apart the spacing should be if using wood slats. Any thoughts appreciated.

@Acre4Me has the best bean trellises! (I use a cattle panel too for beans. I have 2 that I used last year for bush squash, cukes & spaghetti squash also)

 

[Acre4Me]

Thank you everyone for the replies! It really has helped to put my mind at ease.

One more question (for now, at least): how long after dividing up your potatoes do you let them scab over before planting? Once again, I've read/heard different things. Some say 3-ish days, some say 2 weeks.

I’ve planted the same day, I’ve planted 1 day later, I’ve planted 3 and 4 days later. Every one has produced well. Personally, I understand the reasoning of letting them cure/dry before getting them in the ground, so I aim for 1-2 days of curing. It’s mostly bc I’m not going to plan ahead a week or two for it to then rain, rain some more, and possibly snow or something else keeping me from planting them.

 

[Acre4Me]

Anybody out there built a wooden trellis for climbing beans or cucumbers? Would like to get an idea of how far apart the spacing should be if using wood slats. Any thoughts appreciated.

I don’t think you’ll replicate my 10’ tall towers. However, the base is approx 4x4. We string 4 “rows”. Two rows are straight up/down on the ends. The middle two create an inverted “V” in the middle. The beans grow well, in a small footprint.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

My sum achievement was to get sidetracked by my chickens and forget to harvest the spinach.

 

[Acre4Me]

Seduced AGAIN!!

This time it was Calla Lily bulbs at Costco. It’s the pictures…but I also like calla lilies. Ok…I’m done…can’t buy any more bulbs, now just need the bulbs to not rot before planting.

Costco during planting season…they had very tempting roses, numerous bushes, trees…but, I’m 60 miles away from one, and 70 miles from the other. So, I’m not going back to get any…just got my 2 little packages of Calla Lillies and a Costco sized box of Miracle grow fertilizer.

 

[SunriseChickers]

Well, yesterday I was glad to get two rows of potatoes finished up. Still got a box of sprouted ones, and a couple tubs of onions we'll get to. Can't wait for all the starts.