Gardening and Especially Tomato Growing Message Board

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Pastimes : Gardening and Especially Tomato Growing

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To: Cogito Ergo Sum who wrote (3416)	6/30/2021 8:35:00 AM
From: robert b furman	Read Replies (1) of 3494

Hi Bernie, First off my raised garden beds are on an incline, so the back side can be 36 to 40 inches deep ( a lot of dirt and pressure0. So I use 2x10's or 2x12's with 6x6's in the corners. Remember they will last for decades. I built one box a year for 5 years. One year I built two boxes and only used one 2x10, plus a partial to trim the uneven bottom. On those the dirt is not deep enough and I'll add another 2x10 on the top when the soil gets higher. Every year I add in one bale of peat moss and two bags of Black cow composted manure. The first years I added miracle grow garden soil and cement sand (local sand pit calls it hat the sand has very small round stones in it. I have a very clay native solid and it gets clumpy thus the sand and peat moss. I spend about $200.00 each year building better soil and it now is very easy to till and I've noticed better yield every year. I cut the 6x6 about 24 inches above the boards, so if I add a aboard it still fits onto them. I also put 4 patriot solar lights on each 6x6 post. It lights up at night and really enhances the mood of my driveway. My beds are different sizes, but am of the opinion that they should be about 8 to 10 feet wide and 14 to 16 foot long. That allows 4 to 5 rows depending on what is planted. 4 foot is too narrow - max rows is two. When going long lengths , I add a support in the middle and bury it 12 inches below the boards. That helps minimize the bowing of the sides. I also have two trellis's that I grow cucumbers up. They are a 5x16 foot section of cattle fence. I also have 4 sections of iron fencing that I rotate every other year for "Monte Gusto" yellow pole beans. They are very sweet and productive. Last year we froze 30 bags of 40 beans each and eat them all year round. Broil them to the point of all but burning them. They get crunchy and we substitute them for french fries. Really glad I got up here early and got the orchard planted. Filled up the empty space in my yard. Everything has taken and rooted. New leaf growth looks great. Now to help them make it through the first winter. Thinking maybe to cover the root ball area with cardboard and some tarp like cloth? I want to add a loft on the octagonal building. Tieing three sides of the octagon with a diagonal that will be 94 feet, but a skinny slice. enough for book shelves a couch and a coffee table. A gable in the middle of the middle side with all windows. That view will look over my 23 acres of ag land (where I plant my food plots for Deer and Wild Turkey). When we sell the Houston home, (hoping next year), I'll need a cold frame. I also want to add a PVC pipe green house ability in the raised beds that have tomatoes. Last year I had to use tarps to prolong the season. We were late in arriving due to work on the soffit and facia of the Houston home. So my tomato harvest was in late October after several hard frosts. PVC pipe and thick plastic will allow the sun to warm things up. my tarps kept things a bit dark. Hope that helps. If you like, I can post pics on facebook. Bob

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