Here are some pics of what I've gotten done so far, I used these stakes to make the staking system for the 40 ebuckets I have, 4 long rows of 10 buckets per row, in the back are the platforms made another today for a total of 4 that will hold my EB's, GP's and will also have a self staking system nailed to the platform, will add the twine later on.
My new platform, with 3 others that will hold my EBs:
Here are a pic of my taters:
Those were smart pots by the way, in the last pic; but here are my onions in totes:
Wow! You are so ambitious. It is a wonderful set up and so much better than just a plain old yard. I love the fact that everything is all organized and that you already seem to know what will be growing where. Do you preserve or freeze some of your crops? How many people do you feed every day?
I think we will all need to come over for supper later this year.
Goodness! Now you're making me wonder what strange and amazing things my neighbors are getting up to behind their privacy fences...
Wow Joy--you are going to be one busy lady! Everything looks so nicely organized. Looks like you took your experience from last year and really applied everything to this year's crop. Good job!
Thanks. Had some brain storms this winter inside wanting it to warm up so I could get started. I think once it's all organized it will make it easier to use and save money in the long run. I'm hoping to learn to can, pickle and preserve this summer.
TPlant: Do you think I should put 4 EBs per platform or 5, I have 5 in the pic??? Will that leave enough space for them to spread out as they grow or should I back down to 4?
joy
wow joy, sure wish I had that going here!.
I was curious if someone could point me to an ebucket thread that just cuts to the chase, but has all instructions. I was very lucky with tomato seedlings this year but have totally run out of EB's and have MANY more to plant.
I know they take some kind of a filter basket. If you know where to get those, please give me a heads up.
Isnt it just beautiful in N. FL. My word, the azealas have not bloomed like this in a few years, the dogwoods and the redbeds. PLUS Sun. Yum
Also, Im looking for 8 ft staking poles. Last year I paid five bucks a piece for them at HD. That would be fine, but even theo they are coated, they rusted in half after one year. That gets to be some expensive tomatoes. By the time you put a 6 ft pole in the ground tho, and you loos a good ft., with the height of the EB, there isnt much left for the plant.
This message was edited Mar 29, 2010 2:26 PM
This is one:
That was a pic of a 5 gal bucket and a 3 1/2 gal bucket, and a pond basket, (Boca Bob has the best price on those babies I've found - just half what other people are charging for the pond baskets and his are better made), 3/4" PVC pipe cut to about 18" - 21" long, a drill with the bit sizes of a 1/4" and a hole drill bit that will make the required hole for the PVC pipe, you could use a one of those knifes though too. the 1/4" hole is for the drain hole and it goes through the buckets, I used 1/4" poly tubing in my drain holes to keep them open. There are lots of directions on the board here to make them; but if you want to know how to make the ones I have send me a Dmail and I will give them to you ok?
joy
Thanks a million, off to order some right now. Where did you get the smaller of the buckets, or do two five gallon fit together.
After this, a watering system is a must. Even with only 10 EB, it gets to much in the summer when the mosquitos are out.
Garden Glory: I was buying my 3 1/2 gallon buckets at Lowes; but spoke with the manager in the paint department and asked him if he could sell them to me wholesale, as they wanted $3.99 each, I managed to talk him down to $3.00 for the first 10, next 20, next 20, but then he went up to $3.25 on the last 10. I have 40 of them myself; but made some for other people. With the way I have the rows done, I can fit 10 buckets per row, 4 rows and then can use one 50 ft poly hose to go down aisles 1 and 3 make sure all PVC pipes are facing the aisleway, and presto, one fifty foot hose will get them all with 40 huge pieces of poly tubing, one to each waterfill tube! A lot cheaper than my original plan. That's a good thing too, as my neighbor is allowing me to use his truck with it's extended bed to go to Crestview Wholesale where I will pick up 42 pieces of 1"x2"x8ft pieces of wood to finish up my staking systems for my buckets and EBs. Also, if you buy wood, ask them about the little red flags they hang off the end of them, my lumber place is going to work out something with me on them, as they are the perfect size for mulch covers for the buckets and they are RED!!!!
joy
Holy Smokes Joy! You are gonna have a jungle back there in a couple of months. Are all those Ebuckets for tomatoes? Or are you gonna do peppers, cukes, etc...in a few of them?
I love the colors. It makes your garden look so cheery and no , I would only plant four EBs per. You really don't want to crowd them to close as they need good air circulation. All I can really say is just "WOW" !!!!!
Thanks T will keep it to 4 per platform, yepper Ray, only tomatoes, peppers and eggplants this time round. LOL 40 E buckets of tomatoes, then I have 10 EBs which will hold tomatoes and eggplants and the GPs will hold eggplants and peppers. I will have my chocolate peppers in the square footers, my peppers in some of the GPs, maybe 3 of the EBs for eggplants the rest will be tomatoes. Been thinking since that daughter of mine hasn't been able to find work and the price of maters being $4 a pound now, maybe she should set up a veggie stand when my grandson gets here for Spring Break? I can see him now, telling them that what they offer isn't enough their are heirlooms and giving them the history, he is so much into gardening for his young age of 12.
joy
Joy -- That is a good idea as everyone loves fresh tomatos and you will surely have enough.
TPlant: Got all the ebuckets and EBs and now only have the GPs to do with filling up with fertilizer, medium and dolomite lime. Went through all last years' left over medium and had to rush to Lowes to buy 5 bags of potting mix, made 2 trips to Ace's Hardware as I polished off the 1st 50 lb bag I bought of 10-10-10, and this nut here, found 9 types of tomatoes I didn't have and had to buy one of each right? LOL I'm going to be happy I saved all those 5 gallon grow bags and blocks of coconut coir as I will need them for sure now. I didn't plant any plants yet, because it got too dark, sure could use one of those coal miners' helmets with the light on it, as my back yard sure gets dark and the porch light just ain't bright enough and daylight is just not long enough. I had my lil sister and my daughter working with me nonstop today. It's supposed to rain Saturday and Sunday, so want to get everything planted up tomorrow am and tomorrow evening. Some of the poly tubes clogged up and I just yanked them out to unclog the drain holes. Thought that would be a problem and it is. The whole church has gotten into the act of planting tomatoes this season after seeing my pics and hearing my stories of success, I've always had a black thumb.
joy
