New Garden Area

[Oldman]

There is a small area between the side of my garage (4 foot by 12 foot) and the driveway where we had to cut down a tree last year that was starting to become a problem. These past two Sundays I have turned it into a blackberry garden. "Double" dug it. (removed all soils)  Add at the base 12" down I added my own soilless mixture for 8" and then added 4" of my own enhanced compost. All organic. I'm going to go to county exchange and see what I can find out about growing muscadine grape on a trellis above the blackberries. On the other side of the drive way the dwarf banana plants I put in last August are growing like weeds.  8)  I'm moving my container garden for the most part to that side driveway. Today I will move the pineapples. Later this week I will set up my growth containers there as well (I make my own) for a small vegetable and flower garden(s). 

Then I will add table and chairs out there. It will be a nice place to chill out.

I've started my next compost pile. It is 10' X 5' X 5'.  My current pile has now matured and we will be bagging it up in 42 gallon bags. When done I should have between 30 and 35 bags. This will be enough to get me through the next 12 months until the next pile is mature.

Where my current container garden is at (30' X 30') I have about 8"  --  9" of wood chips. I think I will rake them up into a "cold" pile. More or likely I will start to compost them in June / July 2010. This pile will be for 2012.

Organic gardening is easy; it just takes planning ahead.

[Habanero Smoker]

Sounds nice. My area is too shady to grow much of anything. My philosophy is if I can't eat it I won't grow it. So that just about eliminates all edible plants. But I do enjoy looking at other peoples gardens of flowers and other ornamental plants.

[Hopefull Romantic]

I love what you are doing. I also get a great feeling when I work in my garden. Have not done much lately due to my extensive travel but planning to start up again in January.

I "dig" earth.

HR

[Caneyscud]

Man, I got Garden Envy.  My only 'garden' plot at the house is now in too much shade.  I was blessed with very shallow soil, hardpan and young limestone 10" deep.  So years ago, I used raised beds.  Squirrels were a downright nuisance, but did get some good eats out of it.  As the already mature trees got taller, the garden got smaller until all I had was a little patch or about 3 x 6 that I could put a couple of tomato plants and some basil.  But after three years in a row in the same place the tomatoes don't do well any more so abandoned that 5 years ago - shady now anyways.  Now grow my basil, tomatoes and pepper in pots on the deck.  Actually don't do the tomatoes and basil much on the deck anymore - the cost of pots, soil - I could buy good tomatoes at the farmer's market for far less money, and the constant watering was a nuisance.  I go past some great vegetable plots when driving around - and then I go to wishing again.  

But on the bright side, I have a great bunch of eastern wildflowers, azaleas and hostas though.   And oak leaf hydrangeas are great plants for the dry shade.  

[tsquared]

I too love hearing about other people's gardens as every one is so different. My wife is the real gardener and she likes to hear about your tropical stuff, Olds. Here on Vancouver Island we have to fight to keep the blackberries OUT of the garden as they will take over any untended area. In late July, August and September one of my favourite activities is to get my lab, a bucket and my long handled hoe(to reach up and pull down the high blackberry vines) and go for a walk in the woods behind our house. I always come back with 4 litres of blackberries, a few scratches and a happy dog. Our winter garden is mostly greens--kale, cabbage, arugula, swiss chard, cauliflower but the real star is Brussel Sprouts. When they overwinter up here the plant pumps up sugar from the roots as an antifreeze so when you eat them in the early spring they are so sweet and delicious they make the California stuff from the market pale in comparison.
T2

[Oldman]

Here on Vancouver Island we have to fight to keep the blackberries OUT of the garden as they will take over any untended area.

I hear that. The area were I planted them is locked in with cement. If they want travel to another area they will have to go under 8 feet of cement to get to the other side. ;D BTW These are the new ones that came out in 07. They are thornless. Even with the breeding I figure 5 years tops and the roots here will burn out. (No real dormant time.) However, strawberries here do real good... ;D ;D ;D

Edit My favorite tomatoes are "Money Maker" and "Cherokee Purple." However because this area is smaller than what I had I'm going to do upside down growing of tomatoes with flowers growing out of the top of the container. (Not sure yet as to what type of tomatoe to try out... Suggestions?

I also have a 30 gallon container that I soak compost in (the compost is in an old panty hose.) After a few days the water will be very dark. I then inject this compost tea in my watering system at a very deluted rate.  Talk about powery mildew / disease control and foliar feeding! What is left in the panty hose goes back into my next compost pile.

[ArnieM]

I love a garden.  I had one at my present location for a while.  I cut down a bunch of trees, dug out stumps and put a 4 foot fence around it.  It was about 15x30.  I had the usual stuff for up here; tomatoes, green beans, zucchini, corn, peppers, snow peas.

Then the surrounding trees grew and cast more shade.  Then the raccoons climbed over the fence and finished off the corn.  The groundhog dug under the fence and devoured the snow peas.  I walked out one day and left the gate open.  There was pretty much nothing left the next day.  The deer got to it.  Now I do some container gardening on a deck 8 feet above grade.

[Oldman]

Now I do some container gardening on a deck 8 feet above grade.

ArnieM  have you seen the growth containers I make? If not let me know and I will start a new thread with your name on it to show you the best container gardening you will ever have and how to make this type of container.

Here is one image of a couple differant types I've made.


Let me know!
Olds

[Tenpoint5]

If I didn't know that picture was taken in JULY and that you live in FLORIDA, I would swear that there is snow on the ground behind the little container.

[ArnieM]

ArnieM  have you seen the growth containers I make? If not let me know and I will start a new thread with your name on it to show you the best container gardening you will ever have and how to make this type of container.

Let me know!
Olds

No, I haven't seen your containers Olds.  I use things called Earthbox.  Last year worked out very well.  This summer was miserable.  Not much sun, a lot of rain and cool temps.  The Thai peppers wouldn't even ripen.  No way for bananas up here  >:(  (Don't I wish.)

I got some seeds from Pepper Joe's.  I want to start them this coming spring.  I have to get a light and try to keep the cats away from them.  It's always fun trying something new.

[Oldman]

My growth containers work about the same way an Earthbox does. I've made them out of about every shape of container there is over the years. I have a couple of Earthboxes. However, I do not follow Earthbox's method of fertilization. The reason is many of my items are long term growth.

In the image above in the black growth container are 6 pineapple plants. From planting to first fruiting is 2 years. After that the "secondary" fruits run from 18 to 24 months. That will place the pineapple in that box for at least 4 years. I found out years ago that the salts from chemical fertilizers by the end of the second year will build up in the water reservoir and start to kill the plants.

Thus I became an organic gardener. Also I can push a plant with organic fertilizers that cannot be done with chemical fertilizers. Just look at the number of pups at the base of this pineapple. They are so many and so large you almost cannot see the fruit. This only happen when I push the plants.


These 60 pups came off of only 5 fruitings.

Now I have nothing against chemical fertilizers, but for me they are just not an option.

[Caneyscud]

Now I do some container gardening on a deck 8 feet above grade.

ArnieM  have you seen the growth containers I make? If not let me know and I will start a new thread with your name on it to show you the best container gardening you will ever have and how to make this type of container.

Here is one image of a couple differant types I've made.


Let me know!
Olds

Olds, for some reason, a machete come to mind!  Great looking garden there.  Loving you pineapple pics.  Are you using the tops off the grocery store varieties or do you have a variety that you recommend.  I'm going to do a little and cheap "greenhouse" this year so I can do more propagating (ok no snickering there).  I love to give away plants to friends. 

[Fuzzybear]

Stoooooooooooopid me asking about your PUP's! I shoulda read this tag first! ::)

I to am envious of gardens - they are just snack food for deer and turkey's up here unless I surround it with an 8 foot (at least) high fencing - then the growing season runs from May to September at best up here!

[Oldman]

I really don't know what  variety my pineapples are. My Sister gave me the first pup 18-19 years ago.  I've read where the store bought are raised not to have pups.  If you can wait a good year or so I will be glad to send to you one of the next pups. At the moment I don't have a single pup to give away as I've already given them all away.

If you want to use a store bought crown then when the pineapple is ripe, you TWIST off the top. Don't cut it off. Allow it to air dry 4-5 days. Then at the bottom pull off the short leaves until you see the little white bumps/root ends. Plant in a good loose medium and keep it moist. Lightly fertilize monthly. And I mean LIGHTLY~~!

If you are using organic fish and seaweed extract then mix them one ounce (each) per gallon of water. Get it on the whole plant as well as the root system.

[Fuzzybear]

I don't mind waiting - buying a store bought and waiting for it to mature/grow will pass the time slowly - after all, what else have I got to do?? ;D