It really is easy, just ask my bride...She did all the "work" on this project. It was time to set the peas out yesterday. The bride is really sold on the "gutter planting" method. We tried it last year, and she wanted to do it again this year.I do have to admit that it goes very quickly and is very simple to do. It saves time with sowing and planting. All you need is some plastic guttering, three bamboo sticks and some fencing for the peas to climb up. I have it all stalled-out here. I hope that you can see it. The foto is a bit dark, as it was an overcast day--ideal for planting. A while back we had already planted the peas in gutters and germinated them in the green house. I have already scooped out a furrow with my furrow-maker. I do this because the plants in the gutters need to go deep, they can't be laid on top of the soil. The first bunch has been slid in. Here you can see how my bride effortlessly slides the peas into their place. Voilá! --All done with the planting. Now for the climbing rack. You can see that my partner has broken the segments into pieces to make it more even. There was one gutter that had old seeds and there were only two plants that came up, so a touch-up had to be effected. The rack is standing...let the growing begin! We also took time to appreciate the uncomplicated beauty of this simple apple bloom: This is a little bush that I got from my s.i.l., the Parelstruik (Exochorda racemosa) Its luscious, white blooms are really a contrast in the early stages of the garden. Perhaps you can see the little, round flower buds which gibe the plant its name. I wonder if anyone else had tried this gutter-planting method and how it worked for them.
I think your gutter planting is a great way to get those peas into the ground without all the back breaking work that's usually involved. Where did you find out about it? If I had the space here then I'd be using that method myself. The photographs of the apple blossom and the Exochorda racemosa are really lovely.
That is such a great way to plant. Easy on the back and I bet the plants don't even get stressed. I've got to keep this in mind.
Evidently that work out really well for you last year. It seems a great way to get a decent amount started early for the garden. They look like nice healthy plants. You and her did a fine job...once again! I was getting excited to see your gutter growing project when I read the heading. I saw a project for growing strawberries in gutters and thought I would try it, too. I was thinking maybe you had seen it and started it before me. I have a short section of 6" gutter recycled from my dads (which he was never going to use, I am sure) to start with. Hopefully I can get it going today. I think I will have to cobb the end since there is no gutter cap on it.
Hi EILEEN--Thanks for reading the thread. You know, I can't remember where I saw this method. I think that it is a somewhat widly-known technique though. Yes, those blooming plants are looking nice this year. Thanks so much, NETTY. I agree with you, CHERYL--A really easy way to do it. I believe that the plants get stressed very little (this is important to me). Thank you, CAROLYN--That guttering that you have...is it metal or plastic? If you are planning on planting them in the garden or greenhouse after they have begun to grow, the gutter will work better if it is plastic. The reason is that the soil does not slide so easily on metal. Too right, TINA--Thank you for reading the posting.
That's interesting, thinking of doing that for my leafy veggies. Instead of gutters I am thinking of split pipes. If there is any left over from the construction, I'll give it a go. Thanks for the idea.
Once I have a greenhouse or polyhouse up, I'm going to do this. I won't have another season without my peas! Sugar Snaps for breakfast in the garden! Drool....
Sjoerd, I love your friendly Honey bee. The gutter method looks like a winner. Question. What soil is used? FBG, I'm extremely jealous if you get a greenhouse.
Glad you liked the posting KK-- Good luck with those split pipes. Good luck with the guttering when you get your tunnel, FBG. Thanks GROWINGPAINS--The soil was dug up out of the garden. There is vermiculite on the top of that.
Sjoerd, My planting project is one that stays in the gutter. I am planning on hanging it in the greenhouse on one of the walls. Standing height to pick the berries when they flop over the side.
CAROLYN--Oooooooooooh, I see. That may well work. There are farmers over here that do something similar--they have instead of gutters, sort of tables (on legs and sometimes suspended) with their plants in poly-tunnels. They use irrigation tubes to keep them watered (and perhaps fed). Let me know if you use the gutters for your strawbs. I would like to see how you set it up.
I'm glad that you found this posting interesting, Beeker. Good luck on trying this technique. Let me know how it goes.
