You can also bury the bucket in the bed. Make sure you put holes in the bottom for drainage. I've had luck hammering in boarders around some plants the put out runners. I doubt that would work with mint.
The Vegtable Garden Thread (1 Viewer)
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You can also bury the bucket in the bed. Make sure you put holes in the bottom for drainage. I've had luck hammering in boarders around some plants the put out runners. I doubt that would work with mint.
Mint is terrible. I pulled a sprig out of the ground and planted it when I built my garden three years ago. First thing I do in the spring is start ripping all that stuff out. Not as bad as it use to be, but can never get rid of it. That and basil, you just need one plant each in one pot and let them go to war.
I managed to kill my mint after about a year long war. Now I miss it sometimes, I need to find a safe place to plant it. Basil doesn't bother me, it doesn't put out runners but each plant produces thousands of seeds. I use tons of the stuff, so let it procreate.
rusty_tlc
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Basil is another natural pest deterrent so I let it grow, aphids hate it. It's also pretty easy to control if you want to, keep it pulled for one season and it's done.
A caution on buckets with holes in the bottom buried in the garden, for some plants roots may escape through the holes. Black berries have deep roots and will take over everything, if you grow them in containers put the container on pavers or something.
A caution on buckets with holes in the bottom buried in the garden, for some plants roots may escape through the holes. Black berries have deep roots and will take over everything, if you grow them in containers put the container on pavers or something.
Simple solution, buy some generic scotch bright pads and tape one over the drainage hole before filling the pot. It lets the water out and keeps everything else in.
I managed to kill my mint after about a year long war. Now I miss it sometimes, I need to find a safe place to plant it. Basil doesn't bother me, it doesn't put out runners but each plant produces thousands of seeds. I use tons of the stuff, so let it procreate.
I don't know what type of basil it is, but the one that has the purple flowers, I really like. One plant will keep us in basil for a year. And brings lots of bees around, which is nice to see.
There's a bunch of purple varieties. My favorite it purple ruffles. Really strong flavor. My other fave is Genoese, it's a mild sweet basil that doesn't get much of the anise flavor. It's the best for pesto.
rusty_tlc
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Pulled everything out of the beds tonight except the garlic, a couple of spinach plants that wintered over and a couple of chard plants from last year. The goal is to prep the beds and plant as much as possible this weekend. I'm going to switch over from drip to overhead spray heads this year, I want to do dense planting and the drip isn't cutting it. Plus many of the emitters are clogged due to the high mineral content of our water.
I've used ground level sprayers since day one with great results. They cover a lot of area and don't clog up like emitters. You also don't have to move them or add new ones every time you plant.
It is always a big point of discussion. Overhead H2O while efficient can be the source of pathogens, ie: powdery, downy mildews, and botrytis sugar rot. A lot depends on sun coverage, and how much shade, and humidity. I like to hand water with the hose, and a barley pop in my non shooting hand.
-Jim
-Jim
rusty_tlc
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Timing is critical if you overhead water. If you water to late in the day you open the door to mildew etc. Where I live it's so dry I can water pretty late and still have time for the plants to dry before it cools off.
I like to hand water too but I don't want to be tied to the garden all summer so I like having the irrigation on a timer.
Yea Rusty, I spent 20 yrs in Ag as a PCA, and now the garden is small. I use it as a reminder, and a teaching tool for my kids.
Never bothered with risers. Yeah, the plants block the flow but that also directs more water to the base of the plant where it's needed. Put in enough of them, you get more than ample coverage. I use adjustable sprayers, so it allows for easy changes in volume.
rusty_tlc
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I've always done raised beds, it works better in the soil around here. With the heads on 24" risers I can get away with one head in each corner of a 4'X8' bed. I used conduit straps to attach the riser to the side of the bed. No pipes under the beds to worry about and it's a set it and forget it system.
If I had PCV run to my current garden it would already be changed over. I don't think the low pressure drip lines will have enough flow to run regular heads. I hate the little drip sprayers but it may come to that.
I run my 5/8" poly tubing on the surface and punch these little beauties in every 2-3'. Works like a charm.
First maters
Heirloom grape tomatoes? Never seen any that color.First maters
That's the best way to plant