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Planning a Raised Bed Garden (Pt. 3)

Planning a Raised Bed Garden (Pt. 3)


Making an attractive garden where it is easy to work is an important consideration. Maximizing production is also important. Before accepting the plan and starting construction, one should think about what will be planted and how well the plan will facilitate this.

Some considerations are crop rotation, crops to be grown, vertical or horizontal planting. What are the challenges faced by the individual gardener. Our #1 predator was deer. This problem has been solved with a 6’ “Bambi” fence. If rabbits or squirrels are the problem a different solution will be required. Pollination can sometimes be an issue. Adding a couple of beehives has really helped in this regard. If this solution sounds a little excessive, bumblebee nests can be purchased. Bumblebees have longer tongues than honeybees and can pollinate a lot of things that honeybees can’t.

Insect pests are also a problem that needs to be addressed in the initial planning. Mulch conserves moisture and reduces weed problems but provides a winter home for insect pests. Poison will kill pollinators and predator insects as well as the bad guys. We are not spraying anything that will hurt the bees and have pretty much limited pest control sprays to BT for caterpillars and Sulfur for mildew. It is ok to have some pest insects to give the good insects someone to eat. Maintaining balance is the key.

A birdbath is a really good additional feature to attract pollinators and insect eating birds. It also attracts tomato pecking birds, but they would probably come anyway.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

Planning a Raised Bed Garden (Pt. 2)

Planning a Raised Bed Garden (Pt. 2)

If the gardener does not have a pretty clear plan in the noggin, it is a good idea to draw the plan out on graph paper.  Some definite organization is necessary, especially if this is a partial construction.  If this is a refurbish, after laying out the plan on paper, lay it out on the ground. 

String is best to lay out the beds and pathways but make sure none of it is left in the garden as it will tangle the tiller.  Once the garden has been laid out with string, it can be marked with spray paint or lime.  This step will have to be repeated after the tilling is complete. 

If this is a refurbish and plastic or ground cloth has been used under mulch  in the pathways, probably the hardest part of the whole project is finding and removing the plastic.  When this is complete, a few more pieces will still be found with the tiller, slowing the entire process. 

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

 

Planning a Raised Bed Garden (Pt. 1)

Planning a Raised Bed Garden


People who suffered from the exceptional rainfall this year may be considering moving their garden into raised beds. This was done at our home quite a few years ago and we have learned some things. One thing we learned is that raised beds are the best way to garden.

Some of the issues to consider in planning the garden are: What will be planted, what kind of access to the beds will be needed, and how will the pathways between the beds be maintained. Many of the beds in our garden are ready to be renewed. This can be done without dismantling the beds, but we are taking this opportunity to put our experience to work in a redesign.

Beds can be almost any width, but over 4’ makes for really hard work when the center of the bed needs management. If a bed is against a fence or wall, 2’ should be the limit. Any bed that will be home to a squash plant should be at least 4’; and the squash will still be too big for the bed. Our new beds will all be 4’ wide and 12’ long. The length does not really matter much. 12’ was chosen for these beds because 12’ lumber is the longest that fits well in my truck.

2” X 12” lumber is being used for the sides of these beds. This is not very important. The deeper the bed, the more room there is for plant roots. The higher the sides, the easier the access for people who don’t like to bend over. Beds can be bordered with many different types of materials. Rocks, bricks, logs or concrete blocks can be used. A friend uses wine bottles. The perimeter beds in our garden are done with landscape timbers. Any type of lumber should be treated. Fears of contamination from the treatment are irrational, but people who are worried can seal the lumber with Urethane or something.

If there is no fence the pathways in one direction need to be aligned. If there is a fence the horizontal and vertical pathways should also be aligned. The garden does not have to be rectangular, but consideration should be given to making the individual beds accessible with a wheelbarrow or garden cart.

There are many ways for dealing with the pathways. Ours are standardized at 30” except for the one in front of the gate. That one is 36”. Some people like to let the grass grow between the beds and cut it with a lawn mower and a weed eater. This makes one of the nicest looking presentations, but the grass tends to send roots under the bed borders and invade the beds. Covering the ground with plastic or weed-block and mulch works well. The edges by the beds can still be a problem. We are hoping to solve this problem by using 36” weed block in the 30” pathways and stapling the weed block to the sides of the bed. Wish me luck.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

More Lessons from Experience

More Lessons from Experience

When the garden was put into raised beds, it was done with salvage lumber. The beds are all different sizes. Even so they are in orderly vertical rows of the same width, either 3’ or 4’. The real problem is that the horizontal pathways are not lined up. This was not a problem when there was no fence.

When the temporary fence was put up in the season before last, there was still no problem, because there were two entrances. The Bambi fence ended that advantage. It is now very difficult to move the wheelbarrow or the tiller to the individual boxes.

The solution is to standardize the size of the boxes so that they have straight horizontal pathways as well as vertical pathways. Destruction of the old beds was started Sunday. Many of the beds are still planted so only a few can be replaced now. All of the future boxes have been laid out and will be built when their space becomes available. The original plan called for building one box at a time and filling it with the rich dirt from the other boxes that were being wrecked.

This plan was abandoned in favor of tilling the ground from all of the demolished boxes. Building new boxes if and when the planned space is available. The boxes will be filled halfway with mushroom compost and topped off with dirt from the pathways. Another plan, to deter weeds, is to have 30” pathways and use 36” commercial grade weed block in the pathway. The extra 3” on each side will be stapled to the boxes.





David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

False Fall

False Fall

 

 

There are not supposed to be highs in the 70’s in August. But then… the whole weather thing is weird. Last year was one of the hottest and driest summers on record. This year is one of the coolest wettest summers. The garden has not required supplemental water more than 6 or 7 times.

 

All the rain has been a mixed blessing. It is great not to have to water, but so much water can be a problem. The tomatoes were quite prolific, but they had so much water in them that even after squeezing them out, the canning jars had water in the bottom of them.

 

The almost daily rain made it almost impossible to control the bugs and the powdery mildew. Every time the plants were sprayed with BT or sulfur, the next day’s rain washed it off. Some people’s whole gardens were washed away. This points to a benefit of raised beds and organic practices. The raised beds drain faster and the organic practices make it possible for birds and predator species of insects to help a little. If all of the bad guys are eliminated, the good guys don’t have anything to eat and they just go away.

 

 

 

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

Let there be Light (Florescent that is)

Let there be Light (Florescent that is)


Since the rain made outdoor activities uncomfortable this weekend, the greenhouse preparation for the winter indoor planting began. That involves cleaning the shelves, the lights, the heat pads and the floor. Nothing is really difficult except for the florescent lights. Working with those things can make one feel like Laurel and Hardy.

The bulbs have to be turned just right to burn. Then they have to be hung from the bottom of the upper shelves. After that they need to be adjusted again. Doing that makes the bulbs fall out. Putting them back in while sitting on the brick floor is painful and difficult. It is good that no one has a video.

Learning from experience, a new modification is being made this year. There are gaps in the shelving boards that allow the heat pads to wrinkle in places, making movement of flats difficult. Putting Plexiglas on top of the shelves cures this. Using surplus Plexiglas makes this a little tough, but it sure will save a lot of time in planting season.



David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

 

New Beginnings

New Beginnings

It is time to start planning the fall/winter garden and greenhouse. Yellow squash for a second planting have already gone into the ground. A few Roma and Marglobe tomatoes and some Brussels sprouts have been started in the greenhouse. Sometime this week, cabbage will be started as well. The tomatoes will be planted in large pots to be brought into the greenhouse when freezing is called for.

Even though the greenhouse plantings for next summer will not begin until late December, the determination of what to plant needs to begin now, because seeds will be hard to find then.

In late august the fall garden goes into the ground. The beds are being prepared now. The old spring garden beds are being planted to squash. The old squash beds will be planted to fall greens.



David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

 

Learning From Experience

Back when the garden was very small, Marglobe was the only tomato planted. The garden grew, the greenhouse came along with a desire to experiment. Every year a few different varieties of tomatoes were planted. This year the permanent varieties were established.

They were Marglobe, German Johnson, Celebrity and Rutgers. There was one new experimental variety. This was a particularly bad year for tomatoes, primarily because (of all things) too much rain.

Some of the vines died from fungus. Many of the tomatoes have cracked tops and bird or bug holes. All of the tomatoes have produced a lot of really great tomatoes. 56 pints of tomatoes have been canned as well as 14 jars of soup that is mostly tomatoes. The best variety every year has been Marglobe. This year it is the only variety with perfect vines and perfect tomatoes.

A late planting has been started in the greenhouse. It is all Marglobe. Next year, Marglobe will be the only tomato except for those grown from seeds provided by friends for their gardens.







David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

If at 1st you don't succeed

Try, try again. A lot of people had their gardens ruined by, of all things, too much rain this year. Those of us who had raised beds fared better, but had other problems.

Many people had stem borers and squash bugs. These creatures must be controlled before the problem starts or all is lost. BT will control both bugs if the plant is sprayed before the plant becomes infested. The difficult part with the borer’s is getting the spay onto the stem past the canopy.

It is not too late to replant. Rotate plant families to avoid re-infection. Be sure to put the dead vines in a trash can rather than the compost pile. Even a very hot compost pile will have cooler spots near the edges. The little bit of extra compost is not worth the risk of perpetuating the problem.







David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

Exercise in Futility

The garden was sprayed with BT (for caterpillars) Tuesday with plans to spray with sulfur (for powdery mildew) yesterday. Yesterday the rains came. Not enough to make a lot of difference, just enough to wash the BT off of the plants. The garden is in a transitional stage and needs a lot of work.

It still needs to be sprayed with BT and Sulfur. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants are growing so fast that they need tying up almost every day. The spring crop beds need to be cleaned out and reworked. The zucchini and patty-pan squash have succumbed to something and need to be pulled off and replanted. These dead plants will go in the gray trash barrel, not the compost. The replacement plants will be planted in the spring crop beds, to avoid re-infection.

The spaghetti squash is ripening fast. A few fruits seem to have pickle-worms. Last year we got the worms out and ate those right away instead of trying to keep them. This year is the best year we ever for spaghetti squash so there are way too many to eat. Freezing will be tried. Freezing squash of any type usually results in a bag of water, but that is better than wasting them.

Tuesday the bees appeared to be getting ready to swarm. A nuc box was placed near the hives just in case. Yesterday’s rain seemed to have calmed them down.





David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

Too Much of a Good Thing

Many people have blamed their garden failures this year on too much rain. How is that possible? Part of the problem is that the roots and lower stems rot. Another problem is powdery mildew and other funguses. The use of raised beds can improve the “wet feet” situation. It is too late for that remedy this year.

It is not too late to replant a lot of things. If done quickly, most squashes and squash relatives can be planted and still make a crop. It may even be a better time because a lot of the squashes natural enemies have passed the busy part of their life cycle. Don’t plant the new seeds in the same location as the old ones. The pulled up vines should go in the trash rather than in the compost. You may want to plant the squash where the winter garden was supposed to go and then plant the winter garden in the squash beds. Tomatoes are iffy. It depends on when the 1st frost arrives. Do not pull up the tomato plants until they are completely dead. They will continue producing some tomatoes.

The powdery mildew is another problem. It can be stomped out with a sulfur spray. The problem in our garden with both the bugs and the mildew has been the daily rain. The sprays will be washed off before they can do any good. BT is sprayed for bugs. It only kills larvae not grown beetles.





David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

Easter Eggs, Zucchini & Cucumbers

It is not necessary to ask what these things have in common to anyone who has searched for them. Each plant can be thoroughly searched and still a couple will get away until they resemble watermelons. They are still good to eat in most cases, but the seeds are big and hard and have to be removed.

A good way to use overgrown cucumbers is in “cucumber salad”, sometimes called refrigerator pickles. Scrape the seeds from the cucumber and slice the cucumber into the thickness that is preferred. Chop some onions. Mix the two in the ratio that suits your own palette. Cover them in a jar with a blend of half salt water and half cider vinegar. Leave them in the refrigerator at least overnight.

The flavor of the onions and cucumbers blends with that of the salt and vinegar. Eat the mixture as a side dish or as a delicious addition to any garden salad. If you are really good and finding the cucumbers before they get huge, this can be made with normal sized fruits.





David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

Ripe Spaghetti Squash

The first one came along finally. The spaghetti squash vines are loaded with squash, but not ripe ones. Finally yesterday one was a little darker yellow than the others. The stem was not dry, but the bottom was white and the top was yellow. It got picked. It was ready and delicious.

The easiest way to fix spaghetti squash is in the microwave. One can get out the ice-pick and take out their frustrations on the squash. Put it in the microwave for 5 minutes. It may not look done, but remember things keep cooking after they come out. Cut it open and scrape the insides out. Keep scraping until all that’s left is a thin rind. There is a lot of spaghetti in a small squash.

Bees do not like for you to smell good. Last night I used some skin so soft mosquito spray. It really smells more like a fancy lotion than mosquito repellant. When I was working by the bee hives, one came over and stung me for no good reason. I guess it was the smell.



David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

A Plague of Rabbits

There was once a hawk that lived close to the garden. He ate all of the rabbits and the slow birds and squirrels. When the supply ran down, he left. Now that it is safe a mama rabbit moved back in and started procreating. That was 6 months ago and now we are awash in rabbits. Where is the hawk when he’s needed?

The good news is that except for some cabbage that was still in the pots hardening off, they have not eaten much from the garden. Something…it could be a deer is eating the hostas and nibbling on the cherry trees. The rabbits don’t climb trees so that definitely fall to Bambi. It is hard to be sure about the hostas. When I see them in the yard, they are usually munching clover or grass.

The depredation from insects in the garden has been pretty limited, but I have seen a stink bug and a spotted cucumber beetle. The BT doesn’t bother them because it is the adult beetle that does the damage. The BT works against the larvae only. Spraying anything more serious may hurt the bees.



David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

On the Quality of Tomatoes

That 1st homegrown tomato is usually the best thing on earth. This year’s tomatoes so far have been a little disappointing. The very 1st was one that had been damaged by a bird. Only half of it was ripe. That half was delicious. The next two tomatoes were either Marglobe or Rutgers and they were great. The last couple of tomatoes have been German Johnson. They were huge tomatoes, but mealy. It is nice to take a single slice to make a sandwich, but only if it is a delicious tomato.

On the other side of the garden the new potatoes this year have been prolific and delicious. The sugar peas are also delicious even though, by mistake, dwarf grey sugar was planted instead of sugar snap. With the sugar snap the whole pod can be eaten even if the pea is mature. The dwarf grey sugar pods are tough when they are filled out.

There are still no cucumbers and the squash have not been productive. The ones we have gotten have been delicious. There are blossoms on the egg plants, but no fruit. Maybe, soon.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

Hail Yeah

Yesterday afternoon’s garden & yard ventures were shortened by a heavy rain storm. I turned out that we got .7”. Shortly after the rain started there was a shower of hail. Expecting that the garden would be smashed down and the leaves shredded, an early morning inspection foray was conducted at 1st light. There was no damage and the leaves that had looked sad and wilted yesterday were standing up tall and proud.

The spaghetti squash is doing the best ever so far this year. (knock on wood). There is one odd looking specimen laying in the garden path beside the spaghetti bed. Instead of the white or light yellow of most of the squash this one is green and spotted. It will be fun to see what it is.

Supper last night was a salad made from lettuce and tomato from the garden. It was quite good. Now if there were only a cucumber. Among my friends, my garden is the only one producing tomatoes. Some of them have cucumbers though.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

To Spray or not to Spray

Poisons are not used in our yard or garden so that is not the issue. Rain is the issue. BT (Bacillus Thuringiensis) and Sulfur are the main sprays used. They both wash off in a moderate to heavy rain and have to be re-applied. The alternative is to let the crops get eaten up by bugs or killed with powdery mildew. This year seems to have brought a bumper crop of chameleons, so there are not as many bugs as normal. I can’t help but wonder if the diseased caterpillars spoil dinner for the little amphibians.

Powdery mildew is a more serious problem because it has no natural enemies. It is extremely bad in the high humidity caused by Sun and rain. An emulsion of either sulfur or baking soda will pretty much wipe it out. Experience has shown that baking soda kills the leaves on which it is sprayed. Sulfur does not.

The BT was sprayed yesterday on the garden. It still needs to be sprayed on the cherry and blueberry plants. The sulfur was used up last year, so more will have to be purchased.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

Sunshine & Rain are a Powerful Combination

The last 5 days, while being uncomfortable for gardeners, have been great for gardens. The spaghetti squash has 12 fruits that can be seen without touching the leaves. In very humid or rainy weather touching leaves should be avoided as much as possible to prevent the spread of powdery mildew and other fungus. The rest of the garden is kicking butt too.

Sugar peas have yielded enough for three meals in the last 4 days and there are plenty to pick today. Kale has been cut 4 times. Once to eat and 3 times to give away. It will be cut again today. 4 tomatoes and 4 zucchini have also been harvested as well as a patty-pan squash and lots of lettuce and onions. New potatoes have been grappled 4 times.

The problem with the constant rain is that it is pointless to spray BT for insects or sulfur for powdery mildew. They would just wash off. This weekend crowder peas and cantaloupe were planted. They were not part of the original plan, but there was room for them, where the radishes and spinach came off.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/

Wonder Weeds

Saturday morning every single weed was pulled from the garden beds. Saturday afternoon they needed weeding again. They didn’t get it. Why is it so easy to grow grass in the garden and so hard to grow it in the lawn? Perhaps the whole lawn should be dug up and planted to vegetables. Once the grass took over it could just be mowed.

The leaves in the spaghetti squash, lettuce, mustard and kale are covering the ground well enough that there is no need to weed. Weeds are pulled only when they grow up through the vegetable leaves. The only consolation is that the weeds help fill the compost pile. Some people say that weeds should not be placed in the compost pile. That would be a terrible waste of biological material.

So far this year the BT has only been sprayed once. The stinky stuff to repel the deer has been sprayed about 5 times, but I forgot and the deer have apparently ruined 2 cherry trees. Not much point in spraying now but they were sprayed with BT.

David Segrest is an International REALTOR in Charlotte, NC. His email is david@segrestrealty.com , His webpage is http://davidsegrest.com , and his international real estate blog is http://dointernationalrealestate.blogspot.com/