Official Gardening/Homesteading thread: Our back yards are our grocery stores

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by lhprop1, Apr 9, 2015.

  1. Merica

    Merica Devine pls stop pointing out my demise. :(
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  2. kslim

    kslim Guest

    lettuce is already huge, I got a earlier start than most (farmers almanac dummies) carrots maters peppers japs rosemary and basil already out of the ground.
     
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  3. billdozer

    billdozer Well-Known Member
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    Have you found a place to order bees from? Most are all taken by this time. When you find out when you'll get your equipment in, you need to get the bees ordered ASAP for after that date.
     
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  4. -Asshole-

    -Asshole- TMB OG Reject
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    The flow hive estimated delivery is December of this year so I don't have to worry about buying bees until next year. Looks like most online places are sold out of their 2015 bees anyway.

    So hopefully this time next year I'll be all set up.
     
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  5. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    Now I am worried if my tomatoes are determinate or indeterminate :themoreyouknow:
     
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  6. CharlieKelly

    CharlieKelly What's your spaghetti policy here?
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    What do you have?
     
  7. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    I DONT KNOW!! :guyrunningaroundincircles:


    j/k, I think they are like celebrity, big boys, romas, and beefsteak all from some texas based place bought at HEB
     
  8. CharlieKelly

    CharlieKelly What's your spaghetti policy here?
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    Celebrity - Determinate
    Big Boy - Indeterminate
    Roma - Determinate
    Beefsteak - Indeterminate

    That's a boring ass list, by the way. All red and all about the same size aside from the Romas.
     
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  9. -Asshole-

    -Asshole- TMB OG Reject
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    Reading your post gave me a flashback to college. I think it was a statics class where we had beam loading problems and we had to classify as determinate or indeterminate loadings
     
  10. Doug

    Doug Skeptical Doug-o
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    Glad I don't eat tomatos- those look confusing.

    I'd love to get some Bees, but I'd have to keep them at my hunting camp an hour and a half away and wouldn't get to go up there but every other week at times.... guess Bees are out of the question for me (until I buy more land)
     
  11. -Asshole-

    -Asshole- TMB OG Reject
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    If this hive works out I can hook you up with some honey.
     
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  12. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    :lol

    I havent had the motivation to get to into spending time finding much variety on the garden, I usually just grab whatever is available at the HEB or HD, I really just want some home grown tomatoes, peppers, and strawberries
    usually do some cuke's and squash too

    Wife always gets all into wanting to try growing all these different things that I dont care about, says she knows how to grow them cause her momma did, but then her soap opera watching on the DVR every evening gets in the way of her actually making out to the garden, ever........add it to the stupid shit your wife does thread
     
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  13. AC

    AC Well-Known Member
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    Alright, I'm finally ready to join the club here and start my first garden. I know that I'm probably late in the season but this is really the first weekend that I have had free to do anything.

    A question:

    -The only place in my yard that gets enough sunlight is on a slope, so I am going to build a raised bed to embed into the hill to keep it level. I think the dimensions will be 4x8 or so. Is cedar wood my best option or are there cheaper options?
     
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  14. CharlieKelly

    CharlieKelly What's your spaghetti policy here?
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    If you aren't growing Poona Kheera and Armenian cukes you're missing out. Cukes grow sooooo easily from seed and you can get them cheaply on line.
     
  15. CharlieKelly

    CharlieKelly What's your spaghetti policy here?
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    Cedar is bad. It can kill plants and inhibit germination. Get you some pine 2x12s and use them. NO TREATED WOOD. The chemicals leech out and can hurt your plants.
     
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  16. lhprop1

    lhprop1 Fullsterkur
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    How severe is your slope? Like, how much drop do you have over a 10' span?

    My back yard has a pretty aggressive slope and it's not really an issue. Soil type and drainage will also play a role. If you've got a clay dominant soil, you're going to have a tougher time planting on a slope than if you have a sandy or loamy soil.

    You can use contour planting if the slope it extremely steep and you're worried about runoff.
     
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  17. Doug

    Doug Skeptical Doug-o
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    :chatzy:
     
  18. -Asshole-

    -Asshole- TMB OG Reject
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    I used treated 2x12s for my boxes. Maybe that's why my garden sucked last year?
     
  19. billdozer

    billdozer Well-Known Member
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    Just got done planting 1/3 of my corn, 3 cantaloupes, 3 watermelons, and 4 strawberries. Will plant the next 3rd and the rest of the others in a couple weeks to space out the harvest. Last year I got 20 cantaloupes in a 2 week period and had to freeze a lot of it or give it away.

    Also planted another blackberry bush and some lavender.
     
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  20. George Feeny

    George Feeny Sweatervest Alpha

    Unless you're lumber was soaked in roundup that probably wasn't the reason. CharlieKelly may have more/better info on this but these days it seems to be more of an old wives' tale that you shouldn't use pressure treated wood. The original concern over its use was the arsenic infused in CCA pressure treating but the plants were found to not be able to uptake or store enough of it to be considered harmful. Then, among growing public concern in 2003, an EPA ban prohibited the sale of arsenic treated lumber (CCA) anyway. What you buy today does not contain arsenic and is considered safe according to these articles:

    http://www.gardeningblog.net/2009/04/12/using-pressure-treated-lumber-in-raised-garden-beds/
    http://www.thesurvivalistblog.net/is-treated-lumber-safe-for-building-raised-bed-vegetable-gardens/
    http://www.finegardening.com/does-pressure-treated-wood-belong-your-garden

    If you bought from Home Depot or another hardware store you likely bought ACQ, CA, or MCQ; not CCA and is considered safe.
    http://www.homedepot.com/c/discover_benefit_pressure_treated_wood_HT_BG_LC

    I guess the question is: do you want to avoid anything that could potentially hurt your plants (Like chemicals) or are you going to save a little money and time by putting your trust in the science?

    For the record, my beds are pressure treated. I confirmed with HD they were ACQ/MCQ before purchase. Please don't be mad at me Charlie.
     
    #70 George Feeny, Apr 14, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2015
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  21. George Feeny

    George Feeny Sweatervest Alpha

    Who was it that made that god-tier hammock blackberry trellis architectural masterpiece? I wanna say it was either lhprop1 or billdozer but am not sure. Whoever it was, I want to rip off your idea and take all the credit from my friends. Can you point me to any info you think would be helpful? Oh and pictures for the new guys if you can. Likes will be delivered and if you are ever in central florida, many beers will be shared.
     
  22. Doug

    Doug Skeptical Doug-o
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    That was me
     
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  23. Doug

    Doug Skeptical Doug-o
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    Can't get the pics to pull up on my iPad will post them at work tomorrow- and can help with any questions... Really was very easy if you have a wooden a frame swing set available

    Edit never mind got a few see below
     
    #73 Doug, Apr 14, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 14, 2015
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  24. Doug

    Doug Skeptical Doug-o
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    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]

    Few days ago- I'm going to have a shit ton of berries again

    [​IMG]

    George Feeny
     
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  25. George Feeny

    George Feeny Sweatervest Alpha

    Yes, skeptical hippo. Thanks, bro. I will be building everything from scratch. I love starting projects from the ground up so not too worried. (As I say that I have two barrels waiting for the past year to be made into UDS). Thats why I pay for supplies in cash so there's never a paper trail for the wife to find. You married guys know what I'm talking about.
     
  26. George Feeny

    George Feeny Sweatervest Alpha

    :jizz:

    just to be clear: not about the feet... Just to be clear
     
  27. Doug

    Doug Skeptical Doug-o
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    The supports on the back side are flush in the frame- on the side they are not, to give more support for the hammock. I doubled up the 2x4 for hammock one flush inside, one screwed to that one on the outside. Really it doesn't matter within a year you'll be cutting the blackberry bush with a weed eater because it's taking over everything
     
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  28. George Feeny

    George Feeny Sweatervest Alpha

    Thanks. I might ask you more later if you don't mind. I am hoping to get started this Sunday if I can.
     
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  29. Clown Baby

    Clown Baby Daddy’s #1 Candy Baby
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    I'd like to get some small potted herbs for the balcony of my condo. No idea where to start. Please advise.
     
  30. Open Carry

    Open Carry TMB Rib Master
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    Get pot. Smoke those herbs.
     
  31. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    lets talk watering
    for several years i was using impact heads on stakes and my tomato production was so much i couldnt keep up, then i saw something about not watering the leaves so last year i went with drip hoses on a timer, and since my production has been so high, i cut back on plant numbers
    well production was shit across the board (not jus tomatos) last year, i blamed the drip but am not sure
     
  32. billdozer

    billdozer Well-Known Member
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    Find a local nursery or two. They should have what you want already in pots.
     
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  33. billdozer

    billdozer Well-Known Member
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    What I've read is if you do air watering just do it in the morning so the leaves won't be wet at night. Drip was the recommended practice. Maybe you don't have them placed right, have enough, or aren't doing it long enough :idk:. I don't know about your drip line set up, but I used the punchable nozzle that you can place yourself. There are different gpm ratings for each, if you have those, maybe you can try switching them out? Here's Clemson's guidance.

    http://www.clemson.edu/extension/hgic/plants/vegetables/gardening/hgic1260.html
     
    #83 billdozer, Apr 15, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2015
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  34. Doug

    Doug Skeptical Doug-o
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    I switched to drip this year but we've had so much rain I've only turned it on a few times. When I do it's for 30-45 minutes for 75 ft. Everything i have is growing great so far
     
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  35. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    thats a good link, thanks

    I think I am gunna stick with the overhead watering this year and just set the timer to water at like 7 each morning
    I have a very good well, so I am not worried about losing water to evaporation or anything like that
     
  36. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    friends

    mainboarders

    gardeners

    I'm closing on a house May 4. I'll be in Kentucky, if that helps for climate. I have a nice, large, square, unadorned, fenced back yard. I want to get my garden on.

    Speak to me of:
    beds
    rookie seeding
    rookie 411
    etc

    mickey replenishment from the great crash of 2015 shall be thy reward
     
  37. CharlieKelly

    CharlieKelly What's your spaghetti policy here?
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    May is too late unless you wait until late June to plant fall tomatoes.
     
  38. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    Could I not at least build beds and get shit ready for a winter garden and next spring?
     
  39. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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  40. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    none at all. western kentucky...
     
  41. CharlieKelly

    CharlieKelly What's your spaghetti policy here?
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    Yes, you could. Winter gardening is underrated.
     
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  42. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    suggestions? :D
     
  43. triceratops

    triceratops Tribe Of Dan
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    I got everything planted last week.

    6' by 4' - Raised Bed

    These were all bought at a local nusery

    3 - Romaine Lettuce
    3 - Leaf Lettuce
    3 - Butter Lettuce
    2 - Cabbage
    2 - Red Bell Pepper
    2 - Purple Bell Pepper

    6' by 4' - Raised Bed

    Everything except the peppers and strawberries were seeded directly

    3 - Kale
    1 - 4' row Carrots
    1 - 3' row Beets
    4 - Random Lettuces
    1 - 4' row Chard
    1 - Red Bell Pepper
    1 - Purple Bell Pepper
    2 - Strawberries

    I didn't have space for everything, so I cleared a patch of dirt up by the road that gets decent sun and was just natural area and planted in the ground

    4 - Cabbages
    4 - 2' rows of Radishes
    2 - 2' rows of Beets
    2 - 2' rows of Carrots
    2 - 2' rows of Green Onions

    Then across the road their is an airpark that cleared all these trees and left a large open area that is just covered with sawdust chips and randomly planted so kale and green onions. Basically nobody would walk around there because it isn't near anything and it is mainly just weeds. If anybody does though they will just assume they are weeds if the plants even grow. Just expanded my farming territory to wherever I can find some sun.
     
  44. Doug

    Doug Skeptical Doug-o
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    Team raised beds.

    Landscape timbers 2, 3, or 4 tall, or can do a tiered bed to look better- drill, rebar.... build your watering system in it before you fill with dirt (i didn't do this and wish I had)
     
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  45. bigred77

    bigred77 Well-Known Member
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    are you already plannin on going raised bed?

    maybe see if you can spot some other gardens around the hood and see if they are all raised or just in the ground

    we are :blessed: with some really good sandy loam soil round my house, so everyone here puts em in the ground, just a little fertilizer and tiller each year
     
  46. CharlieKelly

    CharlieKelly What's your spaghetti policy here?
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    Well, depends on what your winters are like. If it snows, you can't go wrong with cabbage. Radishes, lettuce, greens, etc.
     
  47. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    maybe one per year
     
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  48. Iron Mickey

    Iron Mickey a guy who posted here like five years ago hates me
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    yes, I had intended to go raised
     
  49. CharlieKelly

    CharlieKelly What's your spaghetti policy here?
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    If you just want to make what's best for your garden, don't plant anything you intend to eat. Instead, put out a winter groundcover you can till under in spring. SOOOOO good for your soil. Buckwheat is a good one.
     
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  50. dawgonit

    dawgonit Like James Brown only white and taller
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    http://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx

    1. enter your address on the left
    2. define your AOI by clicking one of the AOI buttons above the map and highlighting the area you want to plant
    3. click over to the Soil Map tab and display the map legend to see what soils are in your AOI

    edit: this isn't a 100% accurate look at your soil - just an educated guess put together by soil surveys
     
    #100 dawgonit, Apr 15, 2015
    Last edited: Apr 15, 2015