Weekly Gardening Thread – 2010 (Vol. 21) June 25

Free Republic | 06-25-2010 | Red_Devil 232

[daniel1212]

Well, it seemed to have helped. If they at least ate the whole tomato i would have felt better!

[mplsconservative]

Don’t bother with the OFF belt loop device. It works somewhat if I’m lounging on the patio and not moving around.

For gardening, it’s worthless. The literature inside the package even says if you move it many take a couple of minutes to become effective again. Well, when I’m gardening, I’m always moving. Pffttt! It didn’t work for me! I’m back to the spray on stuff.

[Red_Devil 232]

Thanks for the heads up!

[MagnoliaMS]

I have never tried their mix. The boxes were expensive enough! I just use regular potting soil, usually Miracle Gro, but have been disappointed with it this year. It was full of sticks. Still having good fortune with it, though.

One thing you do need to use is the covers for the boxes. They really do make a difference. I had to order some more this year, and with shipping costs, they were fairly expensive (to me), but necessary.

This year I have also had great luck with some green beans I planted in one as an experiment, having never grown any of those before. I only planted 3 plants, and have already gotten 2 quarts of beans from those three.

The rest of the things I am growing are in containers, and they are doing well, but don’t compare with what’s in the Earth Boxes.

[JDoutrider]

Great looking garden there!

What are you using for your weed mats? Your garden is too big to be using commercial garden store mats... is that 6 mil black plastic?

[tubebender]

Don’t jump the line Buddy!!!

[tubebender]

Make sure it is legal in your state and set a minimum number of tickets sold and keep a record of the ticket buyers so you can refund their money. I was involved in a raffle for a car that turned into a lawsuit over the “winner”...

[chickpundit]

Yep, interesting idea, but a lot of research required to be sure.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"Great looking garden there!
What are you using for your weed mats? Your garden is too big to be using commercial garden store mats... is that 6 mil black plastic?"

Thanks for the compliment!

I am using contractor's grade landscape fabric -- this stuff is about as tough as anything else I've seen. Red Devil is using the same fabric.

Last year I had at least 11 rows covered in the fabric, which was almost my whole home garden. This year I have 41 rows and didn't go through the time and expense of the fabric for the whole thing. I really wish that I had done the two rows that have trellises (trelli???). They are hard to spray herbicide under.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"Don’t jump the line Buddy!!!"

LOL! You make me laugh through the entire thread every week, Mr. Bender. You have a delightful, wonderful sense of humor. Your live-in gardener is a blessed woman.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

I was going to refer to the First Wife as the live-in raspberry thief ... I know that she is going to read this, but I don't want her to be insulted.

BTW, your reference to a mouthful of warm blueberry muffin really ruined by whole morning. I almost went to the tailgate of my pickup, but I couldn't pester you next week if I did that.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

Thank you for your kind compliments on my garden. A garden this large is almost a full time job! I have always had a good-sized garden, although it is only my husband and me. I can enough to feed us until garden time next year and I give away pickles and jelly and canned peas all year long.

It is a hobby that has turned into a life's work. I'm already looking forward to the fall garden and putting in the cole crops!

[tubebender]

My goal is to spend the last 70 years of my life amusing myself...

[Red_Devil 232]

Blonde answered your question. Just adding a little detail here. It is a landscape fabric and I used it on my garden last year (see pictures on my home page) and also this year. She told me where she got it and I bought it. Works wonders for me. I also put a mulch of straw on top.

The product is Prene Commercial Weed Control Fabric. I bought mine at my local Sam's Club. It is a 4' X 225' roll for about $29.

[afraidfortherepublic]

They raffled off a house with a business in the movie, “Spitfire Grill”. The raffle worked well, but it was a sad movie. Rent it sometime, but have a hanky, or a box of tissues at hand.

In the movie the contestants had to write an essay too telling why they wanted the house and business.

[JustaDumbBlonde]

The rolls at my Sam’s Club this year are 125’ long, still 4’ wide, and cost $14. The rolls were definitely easier to handle, since I install by myself. This product is actually getting cheaper. It was $35 for 250’ roll a few years back when I began using the fabric.

[Red_Devil 232]

Prene = Preen!

[fanfan]

Hi!

I was trying to upload a bunch of pictures last night when I spilled some “liquid” over my keyboard.

Today I received a bunch of emails from Photobucket. They were concerned because so many of the pictures I sent didn’t load. I wonder why? ;-)

I hope your gardens are doing well!

[Red_Devil 232]

I reused last years fabric on my garden this year. But I did buy an extra roll this year and it was still the same 4' X 225' roll and was $29 if I remember correctly. I bought it because I didn't see it in the store when I was ready to put down the fabric. Like I said I had planned on reusing last years fabric anyway. But when it showed up in the store a few weeks later I bought another roll so I would be ready next year with new fabric and when I needed it.

Geeees did that make sense?

[JDoutrider]

Guess who's off to Sam's Club in the morning!

I will give it a try on our garden babies! Thanks for the info you two!