Raised bed veggie garden

[TnAndy]

Wow that's alot of strawberry! I actually did go from 15 with last year's barrels (which are now flowering) to 25 in these. I did lose some plants in last years'... so I'm not 100% sure these are the way to go. Either the sun doesn't get to some enough, or I over watered them. Do you pinch the flowers off the first year?

You may have underwatered them. The first year, we simply threw in the dirt (commercial potting soil) and plants. Didn't do all that much. The next year, I dumped out out one barrel, put a 4" PVC pipe down the center with a bunch of 1/2" holes drilled in it, and we'd fill it with water to the top, and let it soak in....that seemed to do a LOT better. Didn't pinch off blossoms either year.

These were basically an experiment. In conventional rows in raised beds, we get much better production.

 

[NS Gearhead]

I like the raised log beds!!! It looks like you are expanding your garden to every spot you can find!!!

The price is right on the logs! LOL I usually just use what's at hand.

 

[NS Gearhead]

In conventional rows in raised beds, we get much better production.

I think that'll be the next thing here. Maybe a 15' row of strawberries once the rock's been hammered out.

 

[NS Gearhead]

I got two 50lb bags of sawdust/ planner shavings from work. (free) Hardwood, and fine. I spread it around the base of my blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and tomatoes. Afterwards someone told me that may not have been a good idea, as it may take away nitrogen from the plants. My though was that it would help keep weeds down, and retain moisture. Thoughts?

Also, last night we got a significant frost. I covered the veggie garden with a tarp, but didn't bother with anything else. Now I'm worried my strawberry blooms and tomatoes may have been damaged. What do you think?

 

[dan ny escarpment]

If the wood chips/shavings mulch are green and not composted it will draw nutrients from the soil when it decomposes. I'm not sure however if shavings from dried boards etc would apply to that issue or not. Fresh woodchips from newly chipped trees are something to avoid for certain.

 

[ustmd]

As dan ny said, the hardwood will suck up free nitrogen from the surrounding soil. It should be composted first (even then it is tricky).

I would recommend adding some "greens" to the sawdust--grass clippings to help.

 

[NS Gearhead]

So it sounds like the decomposition is where the issue is. I'm thinking just sitting on top as a mulch shouldn't be too much of a problem. What are thoughts on coffee grinds? My local coffee slinger said she'd collect a 5gal pail for me. I know composted would be ideal... I could either put them on as is, or brew them into a tea for watering.

 

[Egon]

Add some nitrogen fertilizer where you have spread he sawdus/clippings. Do this in a few incremental stages.

 

[NS Gearhead]

Not the best at taking before and after pics, but I got 8hrs on the jack hammer this weekend

Before


After


Couldn't straighten that log on the right because a rock was in the way.


How it looked before


Path for the fourwheeler to go around


Busted up all the rock you can see here


Blueberries with sawdust/ shavings

 

[NS Gearhead]

Weeded the berry rows for the first time yesterday. It wasn't too bad. Might have taken me 20min by hand.




I was expecting more growth, considering they should be 5-6' tall before the end of the season. To my surprise they are fruiting! Not sure if I should pull the young fruit to encourage growth, or just leave them be. I'll be starting the trellis' here soon once the tree house is done and the weather cooperates.