Urban Gardening...it's a jungle out there...

[bored2deth]

Hi all you Bushycrafty guys an' gals!

I'm sure some of you remember me posting that I was going to do some experimenting with Urban Gardening... I'm guessing I inherited my grandfather's green thumb. -_- I figured I'd plants several different packs of seeds, expecting about 3/4's to die out. -_- Every stinking one of them germinated! It's like a jungle! Urgh!! I can tell you that a water bottle (preferably smooth and without ridges) or a soda bottle cleanly cut can make a fine seedling container. (Water bottles with ridges or indentations are much more aggravating). Use the funnel (or mouth piece..whatever it's called lol) at the top by inverting it inside the bottom to allow excess water to drain. 3 litter soda bottles make excellent hanging planters (heat a piece of wire, poke a hole). Also, these tend to work best if the bottles can block sunlight wether by coloration or by lining (roots hate sunlight). I started them indoors on my utility shelves, keep the room very warm....in a few days...
there were little green sprouts peeking out.

Also, plastic square containers which can be bought at local stores also make excellent planters.

 

[HwangJino]

My GF and I LOVE plants, we buy plants every week and soon to have too many.

I have a few trees, vines, shrubs, succulents and randoms on my balcony and a host of indoor plants inside.

I even cut clones and grow em out of my fish tank.

 

[kvaughn]

A kiddie wading pool makes a pretty good herb/greens garden. holes in the bottom,a layer of gravel ,then good well drained garden soil. Works well for lettuce,spinach,kale,radishes,leafy greens etc.--KV

 

[plumberroy]

My lovely wife asked how long untill I have the entire back yard tilled up ? When we bought this place there was a 25x25 garden space
Roy

 

[taldesta]

Hi all you Bushycrafty guys an' gals!

I can tell you that a water bottle (preferably smooth and without ridges) or a soda bottle cleanly cut can make a fine seedling container. (Water bottles with ridges or indentations are much more aggravating). Use the funnel (or mouth piece..whatever it's called lol) at the top by inverting it inside the bottom to allow excess water to drain.

:thumbup: Now this is something I will try because I do start seedlings early with the shorter growing season here. I have a bank of south facing windows in the basement ... my February through May 'greenhouse'

Where I have lost otherwise successful seedlings is in the transplant stage, where the soil falls away from the roots when untangling the closely growing
plants. To solve this I have begun using mini peat pots which hold the root and soil together on each seedling. Fiddly to plant each tiny seed, but it works well for me. I see the potential to use the large bottles, tops inverted, with the peat pots as well ... maybe even wick the water from the container bottom up through the 'neck' to keep the seedlings moist. Easy gardener here.

I am experimenting with making a substitute for the mini peat pots, using coconut coir/vermiculite and other combinations ... and would welcome any ideas.

 

[taldesta]

My lovely wife asked how long untill I have the entire back yard tilled up ? When we bought this place there was a 25x25 garden space
Roy

This is one great garden ... well planned and with room to grow. I like that you left tiller sized rows between plantings rather than spend the growing season on the business end of a hoe!

I hope you will post an update or two.

Hats off to the tiller, the planter, the tender, the harvester and the preserver! You know who you are

 

[plumberroy]

Thanks for the kind words . I grow it and my lovely wife puts it up. I have a grillo G85D walking tractor I had mowed the yard and then changed over to the tiller and cultivated the garden yesterday after work . In the fall I will retill it and plant winter greens
the machine goes from this

to this in less than 10 minutes

Roy

 

[dwarthog]

My lovely wife asked how long untill I have the entire back yard tilled up ? When we bought this place there was a 25x25 garden space
Roy

Sweet garden, I'm jealous.

 

[bored2deth]

:thumbup: Now this is something I will try because I do start seedlings early with the shorter growing season here. I have a bank of south facing windows in the basement ... my February through May 'greenhouse'

Where I have lost otherwise successful seedlings is in the transplant stage, where the soil falls away from the roots when untangling the closely growing
plants. To solve this I have begun using mini peat pots which hold the root and soil together on each seedling. Fiddly to plant each tiny seed, but it works well for me. I see the potential to use the large bottles, tops inverted, with the peat pots as well ... maybe even wick the water from the container bottom up through the 'neck' to keep the seedlings moist. Easy gardener here.

I am experimenting with making a substitute for the mini peat pots, using coconut coir/vermiculite and other combinations ... and would welcome any ideas.

Water bottles which lack the frilly designs (i.e. ribbing, shapes, etc) tend to work the best. Colored plastic bottles keep the sunlight off the roots. Cut the end off the bottle with the mouth piece (You can actually sit this end into the bottom of the bottle to allow the soil to drain. I usually try to cut them in equal sizes. I've actually grown greens inside the bottles themselves (although, these were 2 and 3 liter bottles). The method works well -- I've grown everything from tomatoes to okra to sunflowers in this method,
it works quite well to start from seed and transplant. I've found that with a little creativity, an entire garden can be grown in a small space.

 

[Eric B43]

Nice garden!

 

[taldesta]

Thanks for the kind words . I grow it and my lovely wife puts it up. I have a grillo G85D walking tractor I had mowed the yard and then changed over to the tiller and cultivated the garden yesterday after work . In the fall I will retill it and plant winter greens
the machine goes from this ... to this in less than 10 minutes
Roy

That is one outstanding machine! Explains the row distance, the footprints and the total lack of weeds. In past times when I gardened to add to the table for a growing family ... while leaning on my hoe, I could only have wished for such an able piece of equipment.

 

[taldesta]

I've found that with a little creativity, an entire garden can be grown in a small space.

Although I have a few acres of property, much of it is shaded or steep ... so there is a limit on the level, sun-filled space for food gardening. Combined with the need for early starts indoors, the container solution should be very workable for me. Thanks.

Not all that impressive yet (but wait for it!) .... green bean plants that will also shade the shop window from the summer sun are Scarlet Runner ... just 'cause I like the pretty flowers! Planted from seed just before last frost, in tree sized pots, set on top of the kindling box.

 

[bored2deth]

Although I have a few acres of property, much of it is shaded or steep ... so there is a limit on the level, sun-filled space for food gardening. Combined with the need for early starts indoors, the container solution should be very workable for me. Thanks.

Not all that impressive yet (but wait for it!) .... green bean plants that will also shade the shop window from the summer sun are Scarlet Runner ... just 'cause I like the pretty flowers! Planted from seed just before last frost, in tree sized pots, set on top of the kindling box.

Well done! Beans + pretty flowers + FREE window cooling. Very clever.

 

[JCavSD]

I've had good success gardening in containers and raised beds during the last few years. With attention and a little light it's possible to grow much in an urban setting.

 

[plumberroy]

We got back from ft ancient celebrations today and it was threatening to rain. I needed to get some weeds tilled. I marked the small stuff that was up with flags from the dog fence and tilled/cultivated to clean up some weeds. the flags are still up because it started raining as I got the tiller back to the garage. talk about cutting it close

 

[plumberroy]

continued

 

[taldesta]

I've had good success gardening in containers and raised beds during the last few years. With attention and a little light it's possible to grow much in an urban setting.

Having lived and gardened in a more urban setting than I now find myself, I know you have mastered the science and have thwarted the neighbours dandelion ambitions to perfection. Beauty!

Edit ... I see what I think is a 'tumbler' composter? How do you like it?

 

[taldesta]

continued

Gotta say this is great ... man, the weed fight is so ongoing ... the right equipment for the right job!

 

[22-rimfire]

PlumberRoy, we gardened the same way when I was a kid. The garden was about an acre, but still the same principle with the wide rows suitable for cultivating with the big tiller. One thing you might consider is one of the small tillers to use for cultivating things and you can squeeze the row with down a bit.

Have you considered making cages for your tomatoes with concrete wire? They work really well and you can plant the tomaotes a bit closer together. They also last for many seasons.
JCavD, looks like a great container garden.

 

[plumberroy]

PlumberRoy, we gardened the same way when I was a kid. The garden was about an acre, but still the same principle with the wide rows suitable for cultivating with the big tiller. One thing you might consider is one of the small tillers to use for cultivating things and you can squeeze the row with down a bit.

Have you considered making cages for your tomatoes with concrete wire? They work really well and you can plant the tomaotes a bit closer together. They also last for many seasons.
JCavD, looks like a great container garden.

I was left many tomato cages by the previous owners ( deceased) once they give out, I will make my own. I have a small 2 cycle tiller . I have made do with small spaces for gardens for so long now I have room to spead it out I am going to enjoy the room . Plus I waited many years to afford a machine like I have . I'm going to use it. When I was raising lots of tomatoes I set fence post and ran ropes between them and tied the tomatoes up to that . I would have an acre garden if I had the room
Roy