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Gardens!

Mr Tiles

I'm a beer snob
Nov 10, 2003
3,469
0
L-town ya'll
The stable my wifes horse stays in makes an awesome compost. I added it when I did the first till this year. My wife loves the idea that her horse contributes to the garden. We also use a mushroom compost mix for all of our transplanting and the seedlings strive on it.

We did lay down an organic fertilizer based on the first soil test 2 weeks ago.

<edit> We got a composter for free a few years ago, but it's not a tumbler, so it doesn't work as well unless you put a lot of effort into mixing it.
yeah, horse 'nure is good from what I hear. My parent's have horses and my Mom tells me the only draw back when you use horse poo as fertilizer/compost is grass and weeds really flourish in the coming months. For now, I'm going to stick with black gold and saw dust and see how it does.

Regarding your composter, I've heard about the tumbler type, just haven't seen one in person. I hear to do it right, it's kinda spendy. This one I'm picking up in May is basically a bin with a door at the bottom so you can remove the final product. It comes with a turning fork (not to be confused with a tuning fork:imstupid:). So your saying it's a lot of work with this type? I'm not scared of work, I just want good, effective compost and I'm looking for the best product for that. Do you use worms in yours?
 

stosh

Darth Bailer
Jul 20, 2001
22,238
393
NY
Stosh, you get your BX tractor yet? that ought to make on hell of a garden

I am rather disapointed by the lacking amount of sweet corn in everyones gardens. . .
I haven't yet because I can't buy anything until we close on our house which is set for May 25th.
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,938
13,133
Portland, OR
yeah, horse 'nure is good from what I hear. My parent's have horses and my Mom tells me the only draw back when you use horse poo as fertilizer/compost is grass and weeds really flourish in the coming months. For now, I'm going to stick with black gold and saw dust and see how it does.

Regarding your composter, I've heard about the tumbler type, just haven't seen one in person. I hear to do it right, it's kinda spendy. This one I'm picking up in May is basically a bin with a door at the bottom so you can remove the final product. It comes with a turning fork (not to be confused with a tuning fork:imstupid:). So your saying it's a lot of work with this type? I'm not scared of work, I just want good, effective compost and I'm looking for the best product for that. Do you use worms in yours?
This is the one we have:



We have tried a few different things, maybe this year since I got rid of the black berry bushes, it might get more sun. It looks like the tumblers run about $200 or so, or you can make one for about $30 (I found a guy on CL that sells 55 gallon poly tubs for $20). Something you can roll is all you need. The hand crank ones are nice, but not required.

We covered the garden with heavy black plastic this off-season to kill the weeds. The horse mix does like to sprout, but if you let it mature, it's not too bad.

The barn has over 50 horses, so there is plenty. He rotates the mix with a heavy loader and if you get the stuff that's from the previous year, most of the seeds seem to be dead.
 

stosh

Darth Bailer
Jul 20, 2001
22,238
393
NY
This is the one we have:



We have tried a few different things, maybe this year since I got rid of the black berry bushes, it might get more sun. It looks like the tumblers run about $200 or so, or you can make one for about $30 (I found a guy on CL that sells 55 gallon poly tubs for $20). Something you can roll is all you need. The hand crank ones are nice, but not required.

We covered the garden with heavy black plastic this off-season to kill the weeds. The horse mix does like to sprout, but if you let it mature, it's not too bad.

The barn has over 50 horses, so there is plenty. He rotates the mix with a heavy loader and if you get the stuff that's from the previous year, most of the seeds seem to be dead.


Maybe I'll run over to my friends horse farm and pick up some schit. Problem is I THINK he only uses saw dust as bedding in the spring and summer.
 

sunringlerider

Turbo Monkey
Oct 30, 2006
3,573
6,267
Corn Fields of Indiana
Someone a while back asked about corn. . . how much do you want to grow? I know a thing or two about it. :brows:

I also notice alot of talk about compost and someone mentioned horse poo, and weeds growing from it. Poltry poo (duck or chicken) works quite well. . . has a sh!t load of Nitrogen. . . but I guess if you dont have any cluckers near that really doesnt matter :imstupid:
 

Damo

Short One Marshmallow
Sep 7, 2006
4,603
27
French Alps
I'd like to grow corn, but don't need that many plants.

Whats the minimum number of plants needed?
Grow from seed?

Cheers cobber.
 

Mr Tiles

I'm a beer snob
Nov 10, 2003
3,469
0
L-town ya'll
I'm trying just a little this year. My wife didn't even want me to mess with it since my Dad grows a bunch every year. I've got a tiny plot about 10'x5'. We'll see how it goes, prolly not too good.
 

stosh

Darth Bailer
Jul 20, 2001
22,238
393
NY
I think I'm going to till this weekend.

I've been reading the Square Foot Garden at lunch time.
 

Mr Tiles

I'm a beer snob
Nov 10, 2003
3,469
0
L-town ya'll
that's a great book. I'm going to build the trellises this fall for the vertical growing of squash, cukes, zukes and other crawlers.
 

stosh

Darth Bailer
Jul 20, 2001
22,238
393
NY
that's a great book. I'm going to build the trellises this fall for the vertical growing of squash, cukes, zukes and other crawlers.
Yeah you had recommended it (I think it was you anyway), thats why I'm reading it. I'm only a few pages into the e-book on google.
 

Mr Tiles

I'm a beer snob
Nov 10, 2003
3,469
0
L-town ya'll
yeah, I'm into the second chapter and I can't put it down. Dude's got some good, common sense info in there. Got big plans for next year!
 

sunringlerider

Turbo Monkey
Oct 30, 2006
3,573
6,267
Corn Fields of Indiana
Well general rule unless you get lucky is one ear of corn per plant sometimes you might get 2 but the second ear is small. So depending on how much you want to eat, but corn is a pretty tough plant so its easy to take care of.
It is grown from a seed, and corn is actually in the grass family so it loves water and fertilizer.
Yellow sweet corn has bigger kernals but not as tender and while is smaller but more tender, you can get hybrids of the two also.

:cheers:



I'd like to grow corn, but don't need that many plants.

Whats the minimum number of plants needed?
Grow from seed?

Cheers cobber.
 

Mr Tiles

I'm a beer snob
Nov 10, 2003
3,469
0
L-town ya'll
thread bumpage and update.

Bought the composter about a month ago (the one jimmydean posted). Thing is the bomb. I throw all my scraps in there and it turns it into garden super fuel. been getting a bunch of coffee grounds from work and throwing in there along with grass clippings and vegetable scraps.

Stuff I've planted (bell peppers, egg plant, cukes, carrots, radish and squash) is starting to blow up. Won't be long till I'll be harvesting stuff here and there. On my list for next year is snow peas, zucchini and beets - along with the other stuff I'm currently planting.

About half way thru the square foot garden book. makes you radically rethink gardening. I plan on implementing the whole square foot garden design next season. Also building trellises for the climbers/vines.

Took delivery of this today:


It's the Turner of garden trowels. The one I had was a total junker so I got on the web this past weekend in search of a good, US made one. Found it at www.brewerdesign.com. Super nice mom 'n pop shop people to deal with. Really stoked on it.
 

stosh

Darth Bailer
Jul 20, 2001
22,238
393
NY
thread bumpage and update.

Bought the composter about a month ago (the one jimmydean posted). Thing is the bomb. I throw all my scraps in there and it turns it into garden super fuel. been getting a bunch of coffee grounds from work and throwing in there along with grass clippings and vegetable scraps.

Stuff I've planted (bell peppers, egg plant, cukes, carrots, radish and squash) is starting to blow up. Won't be long till I'll be harvesting stuff here and there. On my list for next year is snow peas, zucchini and beets - along with the other stuff I'm currently planting.

About half way thru the square foot garden book. makes you radically rethink gardening. I plan on implementing the whole square foot garden design next season. Also building trellises for the climbers/vines.

Took delivery of this today:


It's the Turner of garden trowels. The one I had was a total junker so I got on the web this past weekend in search of a good, US made one. Found it at www.brewerdesign.com. Super nice mom 'n pop shop people to deal with. Really stoked on it.

Wow, Brewerdesign really loves flags!! :)
UBER nice stuff on their website!!

Not sure if you guys caught it the other week but here is a pic of our garden a few weeks ago. Seems like my tomatoes and cucs got hit with some cold weather since the pic. We'll see what happens to them over the next couple weeks. BTW Thats my homemade composter in the background with the ladder on top of it. My site has been cleaned up A LOT since then and the shed painted. :) EDIT- NOT MY HOUSE IN BACKGROUND.

 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,938
13,133
Portland, OR
I'll get some pics tonight.

All my tomatoes got ate by the rabbit. My wife bought one (that also got ate) and I have a few I can replace the ate ones with. Everything is slow because it's been so damn cold this year. I have been spending about an hour a day pulling weeds and it sure makes a huge difference.

Leaves look good, but I'm not getting a whole lot of growth. The rabbit has been banished until things are taller.
 

stosh

Darth Bailer
Jul 20, 2001
22,238
393
NY
I'll get some pics tonight.

All my tomatoes got ate by the rabbit. My wife bought one (that also got ate) and I have a few I can replace the ate ones with. Everything is slow because it's been so damn cold this year. I have been spending about an hour a day pulling weeds and it sure makes a huge difference.

Leaves look good, but I'm not getting a whole lot of growth. The rabbit has been banished until things are taller.
It's cold here too so my garden has been slow.
 

Bushwhacker

Turbo Monkey
Dec 4, 2003
1,220
0
Tar Effing River!! NC


I hope that isn't pressure treated lumber, I can't tell from the pic but it looks green. That stuff is no good for contact with your garden soil. It shouldn't be CCA, I don't think that is still produced in the US. It's most likely an ACQ treated wood....but still no good for food/ water contact. You can line the wood with some heavy plastic and be ok.
 

SkaredShtles

Michael Bolton
Sep 21, 2003
65,375
12,529
In a van.... down by the river


I hope that isn't pressure treated lumber, I can't tell from the pic but it looks green. That stuff is no good for contact with your garden soil. It shouldn't be CCA, I don't think that is still produced in the US. It's most likely an ACQ treated wood....but still no good for food/ water contact. You can line the wood with some heavy plastic and be ok.
That's debatable... it appears that a lot of the concern about these treated lumbers is alarmist. In the investigation I've done, it seems a negligible risk. Probably more risky to buy veg at the local supermarket. :D
 

Mr Tiles

I'm a beer snob
Nov 10, 2003
3,469
0
L-town ya'll
ya'll would freak out if you saw what was bordering my neighbor's garden - railroad cross ties dipped in good ol' creosote!

I think a small rock wall would look good around mine but that's way too much $$$. right now it's trenched and seems to work well as a border with the grass...
 

SkaredShtles

Michael Bolton
Sep 21, 2003
65,375
12,529
In a van.... down by the river
ya'll would freak out if you saw what was bordering my neighbor's garden - railroad cross ties dipped in good ol' creosote!

I think a small rock wall would look good around mine but that's way too much $$$. right now it's trenched and seems to work well as a border with the grass...
Damn - it's too bad you don't live closer. I'm trying to get rid of all the granite boulders in my back yard. You could come get a couple loads... :D
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,938
13,133
Portland, OR
rabbits are better than m-m-m-moles-s-s-s....
I've never had a mole for a pet, so I can't compare. Flower used to have free roam of the back yard, but since eating the early sprouts has been banished to her rabbit run. I let her out when I get home and it's not like she's in a cage. She just can't reach the dandelions and gets annoyed. Once the garden has grown a bit, she will have more than enough to choose from and won't decimate things.
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,938
13,133
Portland, OR
Looking good! That your RV?
The bunny stays in your yard when you let her out of her cage thing?
That's the neighbors "guest house" as it hasn't moved more than twice in 4 years.

The rabbit was a house bunny until we figured out the wife was allergic. She could get out I'm sure if she wanted to, be she has no desire to leave since she has it damn good.
 

stosh

Darth Bailer
Jul 20, 2001
22,238
393
NY
That's the neighbors "guest house" as it hasn't moved more than twice in 4 years.

The rabbit was a house bunny until we figured out the wife was allergic. She could get out I'm sure if she wanted to, be she has no desire to leave since she has it damn good.
Your neighbors have a good thing going there. Do they have a pool because they could have a "Pool House" too.

Funny your bunny has the same markings as our dog Ned but they're different because my dog Ned likes to wander OFF property and then come back where he has a plush life. Oh and he likes to eat food from the compost heap.
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,938
13,133
Portland, OR
The current configuration is this (from left to right):

Row of onions
Wire fence for climbing stuff the wife planted followed by bell peppers
Row of hab varieties (mustard, standard, bonnet mix)
Row of big bomb and Fatali peppers
Row of tomatoes
Half row of habs, half row of carrots
Half row of potatoes, half row of squash
Row of who knows what the wife put there
Row of onions close together to be used as green onions.

It's hard to see in the picture, but the mound by the RV started out as a pile of roofing tiles from a previous owner. We covered it with dirt and the wife planted various herbs on it and along in front of it. Pineapple Sage, Curry, Mint, Lavender, Basil, Elephant Garlic, along with a bunch of random decorative grasses and flowers.

She doesn't like to plant things unless you can smell it or eat it. So 90% of our landscaping is edible.
 

Mr Tiles

I'm a beer snob
Nov 10, 2003
3,469
0
L-town ya'll
some pics of my garden taken last week.



eggplant


prototype garden "square", I'll plant it in the fall


solar powered wind chime, excellent for keeping pests away - it produces a weird looking light at night.


squash


carrots


flower my son got from Sunday school.


should start harvesting squash soon. neighbor gave us a head of cabbage the other day. Nothing like garden goodness.
 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,938
13,133
Portland, OR
That looks great!

We haven't gotten jack yet. After a 90+ weekend 2 weeks ago, we have been 40s-50s ever since. I took a bunch of plastic bottles from work and made little hot houses for each of my peppers, so now it looks like I am growing Pepsi/Coke products.

If the weather ever heats up, we might get somewhere. I did get a huge bunch of awesome spinach from the CSA on Thursday, so at least we have farm fresh goodness to munch on.