This 85 inches long x 12 inches wide and 20 inches high raised bed was constructed from 3 pellets. This time I bought a jigsaw. The soil is a unique 3 part blend of vermiculite, peat moss, and compost mixed with top soil. I’m hoping for 16 radishes and 44 spinach plants. We should be able to use less water because there is only 6 inches deep soil in this planter. Direct sew rather than starting the seeds inside. It’s warm enough still so the soil should be conducive to good germinating conditions
Radishes are coming along as are the spinach. This pic is much later after the initial seed sewing. Notice inside the Sanctuary, there is only 1 tomato fruit left. There is now a 2 foot x 2 foot planter inside. I forget what I was going to grow inside of it, but what ever it was it need to be protected. I have since used it as just a stand for 3 planters which are currently growing Italian Kale.
It’s about 4:30 am. Built this planter from recycled wood (stairs from the Glut Food Co-op). It measures about 35 inches long and 9 inches across with capacity for 6 inch depth for soil. According to Mel Bartholomew’s book ‘Square Foot Gardening’, you can grow so many veggies and fruit with so little soil and space. I think this planter is for 18 beets and little room left over for gourmet lettuce. The string helps to divide the spaces evenly and for easy identification of plants location.
I was so worried about the sugar-snap peas. But they came through. Choosing only the strongest sprouts, the planter is now full with many more sprouts left over. What’s a mother to do? Tried to give an additional 8 away.
Look at them now. This is about the middle of November. The remaining 8 pea plants are in a sawed off 5 gallon bucket 8 inches high. I started building the green house around the same day I planted the sprouts. But it’s taking much longer than anticipated. Can’t keep carrying the peas and carrots to the back porch for protection at night so a temporary netting and support for plastic sheeting was constructed them in the yard. You should see those peas now. Wow!! 1-6-09. By March we should have peas to harvest!!!
From the bottom of the picture: Lacinato Kale, (middle planter stand)>>more Lacinato Kale, next @ the right: Beets and gourmet lettuce, in front of that: 18 Broccoli, to the side of Broccoli: a planter of gourmet lettuce and just in front of it is a harvested pile of spinach and gourmet lettuce, to the far top right: 16 carrots and to the left of that two planters of peas.
Close up of harvested spinach, radish and gourmet lettuce on a paper towel.
Garden Sanctuary is getting a make over. There is now an 8 foot x 10 foot base around it. Two 2 by 4 studs screwed to either side base boards hold a 208 inch half inch PVC tube, which stretches over the front of the original sanctuary. A 45 inch board stretches on top at the very edge supporting the PVC tube. To the right of the structure there is a small 2 foot by 2 foot planter holder which houses three planters of Lacinato Kale, to the right of it are all of the other veggies previously mentioned. Don’t look for the peas and carrots, they are inside of the sanctuary safe from critters. Very shortly the cantaloupe will be harvested.
I didn’t know that I would be moving the radish/spinach planter, especially after building the green- house around it. Yikes! For starters with the change of seasons the sun is no longer where it was…meaning though there was plenty of sun when I planted the spinach and radish, the sun no longer shines on that planter. Additionally, the Lacinato Kale seem to be too crowded. Relocating the spinach/radish planter is the only sound solution. First thing first; place the spinach plants in temporary containers. By the way, the spinach had been harvested at least three times up till then. Radish are all eaten.
The planter weights about 75 pounds empty. Best way to move it is to stand it up and walk it over as close to the new location as is possible. Once in place lift and place accurately. Done, now fill with soil and replant the kale with more spacing. This long planter will be filled with the planter of kale in front of it as well as one and a half of the other planters of kale. They are all doing so well. I have decided to harvest the kale because they do not appear to be getting taller but the leaves do turn yellow every watering (once a week in winter). Better to harvest the leaves and steam them then to let them grow and die. Don’t know why they didn’t grow taller.
Lacinato Kale looking great and spinach has successfully been replanted in planter next to it. As of 1-05-09 I noticed the spinach to have grown larger. It will be time to harvest them again along with the gourmet lettuce in about 8 days.
In this pic the spinach/radish planter is still inside the Sanctuary. Had I known at this juncture that I needed to take it out it would have been easier because there was no front or back wall support frame.
Front and back end-wall layout design.
Standing just inside of the Sanctuary, you can see the front-end-wall is now up as well as the back; both with doors. You also have a better view of how I pulled the plastic sheeting back using that space to bring the 85 inch long planter out.
Welcome to my new Garden Sanctuary…come on in
From left to right starting in the back corner: rectangular pea planter, cylindrical pea planter, carrots, two rectangular lacinato kale planters.
This pic shows a better side view of how the side walls are secured with a plank of wood across the rib board sandwiching the plastic sheeting in between. The cinder blocks help to hold the sheeting down. A 10 foot board is rolled up in the sheeting and on top of it rest the cinder blocks.
The two planter stands you’ve seen in previous pics now have one covering. When the weather permits, the entire sheet comes off. Condensation does build up in there. So the covering is doing it’s job keep the temperature a bit warmer than the freezing temps forecasted. Both front and back doors of the Garden Sanctuary are opened as well when weather permitting.