I always enjoy reading Sjoerds posts with pics so thought i would post my own. Its also a good reminder for me of what i have done and my thoughts. (apologise for the weeds in the pics not got the hang of controlling them yet) This year the veg growing has come together with all the Veg plots laid out and plants growing in them. Some success's and some failures as usual but thats the thing with gardening :-D The new garden this year is the container garden at the back of the house which is a sun trap and is often 5-10 degrees hotter than the rest of the garden. been using tires for squashes, grow bags for peppers and pots for chilis. So far all looks good. Contaner garden 2011 ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) Its a narrow strip of sun but is working great. The success this year has been the chilli's with peppers growing a full month ahead of last year. pepperocini ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) This year i have grown pumpkins/squashs in car tires, the theory being the black helps heat the soil inside allowing a headstart when planting. And better growth due to warmer soil. So far they are looking healthy although might have made a mistake with the fertilising. we will see. my first butternut squash butternut squash in tires ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) And then using an old english method of grow bags, put in some gypsy peppers looking good so far just need some colour. gypsy peppers ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) As for the main garden, the beets and carrots are doing well. as you can see by the rows on the left of the garden. main garden summer 2011 ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) also have more gypsy peppers in this garden but they are a bout a month behind the container garden. You can probably see the horseradish is doing well middle of the path. though i had dug it all up last year but its come back just as strong. (mmm more horseradish this year.) Horseraddish ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) I always like to grow something new and this year it was florence fennel. Tried an early planting to see if i could get away with it and to see how well it grew. Unfortunately the heat made it bolt. bolted florence fennel ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) I've reseeded and with luck will have a good crop of fennel for end of the year. On the right of the main photo you will see my tomato bed with 16 plants. a mix of Amish paste, super italian paste and siletz. I've tried to use less water this year to reduce the risk of powdery mildew. but i think this has resulted in blossom end rot on my toms. The siltez are doing well and are working great as a bush variety. siletz tomatoes ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) I moved the cucumber pylon to the bottom of the garden this year from the kitchen garden and it is working well, with a good supply of cucumbers of it so far. Cucumber pylon ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) I Grew runner beans last year, but had to many, and don't really like them that mutch, so this year grew berlotti instead, one of the main reasons i can leave them on the vine to dry, and harvest them and store them for winter. they are looking good so far. Berlotti beans 2011 ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) Thats the majority of the new stuff, will edit this later and add the rest.
Well done! For the last 7 years I have grown squash, pumpkins and cucumbers in tires too. I have found the trick to growing in tires is to water daily. I dump a full bucket of water into the tires everyday - unless it is raining. This also helps discourage the field mice from making their homes under the lip of the tires. This has been the only problem I have encountered - mice chewing the leaves and small cucs off the vine and dragging it into their hole. I tried fennel this year too, but mine is in large pots with lots of composted manure. So far so good, even with the heatwave we are in. The trick here too, I think, is watering daily.
thanks netty, would you put 1 bucket per tire stack? interesting on the fennel, might be th reason for the bolt
Looks like you've got lots going on Dan. One question... I'm not familiar with "grow bags". Can you elaborate on them?
its a UK term, mainly for tomato's, they sell a bag of enriched soil in a bag similar to most you can buy from stores. however these tend to be long and narrow bags, typically 3 times longer than wide. you cut a cross in the top and plant your tomatoes or peppers in my case. typically three plants in one bag. you then grow the plants directly in the bag. I will try and post a pic later
Hi Dan--Things there are looking pretty good, mate! It is good to see your spread there. Boy, that was good advice that Netty gave about watering daily. Using tires means that for that plant it is effectively a small raised bed, and raised beds are known for being dry and susceptible to heat. So, as she said, you must water them daily if it isn't raining to get the best out of what's growing in it. When I saw those tires i immediately thought of that great gardner that we once had on here using the handle of "Gardenmama". She was quite something with countless tires full of toms, peppers and what-not. She had such good success. Pity she doesn't have the time to come on here more often now. Those peppers seem to be doing pretty well in that pot. The toms look very healthy ans do the cues. Good luck with the Berlotti's--it doesn't look like you are having any probs at all with those. There are so many good bean sorts...I like trying different ones all the time.
Yes, I use a small bucket full for each tire. I use one larger tractor tire for the pumpkins and I give it 2 buckets full.
Regarding using tires for "raised" beds. It probably wouldn't be a good idea for places like Texas that is extremely hot, would it?
i'm not sure about tires for texas, but if you used a plastic mulch on top could be a good way to keep the water in rather than evaporate. heres a piccie on growbags for you cheryl, would work great in your area as it holds all the moisture in. Grow bags with peppers in. ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) at the end of the year i mix the soil with my compost and put it on the main beds. Here are a few more pictures of the garden. Third year trying to grow brassicas, had better results last year, but don't think they like my sandy soil at all. So with only 1 cabbage out of a planned 25 last year of cabbages for me, will be using the space for broad beans and peas next year. I plan to get in the garden and weed this plot today it sure does need it. Failed cabbage crop ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) The zucchini is going well, but i think the heat has slowed it down a bit. Trying yellow zucc this year which have been great especially in a souffle Yellow zuchini ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) Fingers crossed we don't have bad weather as the plums are looking good on our dwarf tree. we only got 2 plums in its first year last year, but lots more this year. 2 year old plum ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) Then finally our kitchen garden. kitchen garden 2011 ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) with spinach and a rogue potato closest to the camera, lettuce in the middle swiss chard and toms in the distance this our kitchen garden, for just popping out the kitchen to get salad bits. really happy with my spinach placement this year, had it in the main plot last year and it bolted in 2 weeks, this is now at 6 weeks and starting to bolt. Another first was swiss chard this year, which has been great. i tried a mixed bag of seeds, but will probably only get white and red next year. ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) its so much better fresh from the garden. then one of my favorite toms the SUNGOLD, i have 8 plants in th eend of my kitchen garden, and just let them go crazy, gives great early toms and an amazing harvest. I built a huge framework this year for them which is working and keeping them supported. their currently about 6ft high. crazy sun golds tomatoes ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) I think there one of the most versatile toms i have used. sungold tomatoes waiting to ripen ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden ) And my garden pics wouldn't be complete without one of my main pest deterents, that keeps the birds and the rabbits off my veggies, Rocky the cat. Rocky! ( photo / image / picture from Danjensen's Garden )
Thanks Dan for showing the planting bag. Very interesting. And the rest of the garden look like they are producing well for you. Lots of good eating around your house, I bet.
I have no desire to rain on anyone's parade. Yet, when it comes to using tires as for raising beds; There is no conclusive evidence, yet tires MAY (just might, have the potential, just possibly could) leach toxins into the soil. There are differing points of view and inconclusive anecdotal evidence concerning same. Since I don't know for certain, I avoid it. Just sayin'. If you are fine with it, so am I.
Dan, everything is looking great. Thanks for the tour. I didn't see if you mentioned, but do the grow bags come with the soil in them or do you put your own in the bag. Do the bags come with or without the holes for the plants? just wondering. I have heard of using them, but haven't investigated doing so. I know someone who uses something similar(hydroponic grow bags) to start their peppers in them in the greenhouse while the bedding plants are growing and as soon as all of those are out of there they keep the peppers in the greenhouse for the season. Interesting either way. And do you have a drip hose or anything on them or just water as needed by hand?
thanks guys. fat bald guy, i replace the soil each year so levels wont build up. hi carolyn, yes the soil is in the bags all i do is cut a cross in the top of the bag for planting. typically three plants per bag
Your veggies look wonderful. I get hungry just looking at your photos. I've tested the grow bag method, but for perennials on their way from one home to another. That also worked very well. I especially like your pest deterrent. We also grow veggies in slightly raised beds. The soil's warm enough thanks to a thick layer of fresh horse dung in the bottom, but the above-ground temp is a totally different matter. If this keeps on we're going to have to grow everything bar carrots and salad in a greenhouse.
