Hydro, EB, Raised Bed, Container? PART 2

I didn't mean to offend anyone by noting why I haven't been keeping up with the thread and why I
havent answered any more Dmails or did any chatting outside the Thread. I did receive an email
by someone telling me they thought it was best if I kept my personal problems out of the garden topic.
I just seemed easier (the lazy way ) to tell everyone at one time where I had been.
I missed everyone and can't wait to catch up. I normally did not post much cause I was
busy responding to Dmails and yahoo chatting.
I do not have my yahoo messenger set up yet. I will try to post in the thread more often so I don't seem
like a stranger to those who don't know me already.

Happy Gardening

Cricket

Cricket ~ no offense here. I was delighted to see this thread pop up again and glad to hear all is leveling out for you. Hoping to hear from the others too. You know, we all worry when someone drops out of sight and hope only for the best.

Yeah, everyone makes up a lively group, it doesn't feel good when we see that someone's missing... I don't know you but I totally understand and am glad to meet you finally.
As far as I'm concerned whoever sent that dmail is a worrier. because telling us about your situation only makes more sense than keeping us in the dark! I would love to hear if you've made anything or would like to or even made any kind of progress. my twiggybeds with the gravel bottom pots with the soil pots on top is still in my garden and my veggies in them are still growing well...the cos lettuce are getting really big but bugs keep eating them so I'm not really eating them. I'm actually looking forward to my celery who are only about as tall as the length of your hand. They do take up to 4 months to grow to maturity... but it's month 2 and they're already half height. Podster... I'm kinda surprised about you having to fertilise. The whole point of having frogs in the garden is for THEM to fertilise the garden not us?

As for my potting methods, some of the potting mix includes a bit of coconut coir and peat moss which means that while standing in water they soak up this water all the time, and the plant can just drink it any time it needs to.

Yep ~ right now, we are missing our mentor Twiggybuds. Here is hoping her beds are keeping her so busy she only has time to reap the rewards of her efforts.

Jensilaedi ~ I planted in a fast draining but poor soil so it needs enhancing with ferts and compost. There are frogs but they live in the water not the plants. The reason I think the lack of fertilization is the cause is watching the lower leaves on the tomato vines yellow and drop. There are tons of tadpoles which will help eat mosquito larvae. I have little problems with bugs. I hung hummingbird feeders on the trellises over the beds and frequently find other birds drinking from the beds. I also notice many dragon and damselflies dipping in the water and suspect they too eat their share of bugs. I have put crushed garlic cloves in each bed weekly and it doesn't affect frogs, bugs or birds. It does seem to repel the mosquitoes tho. You know, as many tadpoles as there are, I am surprised not to see adult frogs or toads in the vicinity.

I may have to try your potted blend next summer.

I have this idea about growing a large watermelon in a hydroponic system. It may be a bad one---but I won't know
that until I try it. I was goin to do this ---this past spring but things happened and I never did it. And I may have
mentioned it before now.

I have everything I need. I can't try it until spring ---so this is on my spring to do list.

hope you can imagine this=

Take a plastic 50 gallon drum==cut the top off.
Set two concrete blocks in the bottom up right
and put a 25 gallon pot on those concrete blocks.
the 25 gallon pot rim ends up about 4 inches above the
50 gallon drum rim.
Cut a hole in the drum wall just above the concrete blocks big
enough to put a pond pump through to set at bottom of the drum.
It does not have to be a big pump. Just a small one.
Make sure you have something in the bottom of the drum for the pump to set on, like
a brick or something. this helps keep sediments in bottom of drum out of pump.
Fill the drum up to the hole in the side of drum with nutrient water.
Place a screen wire over holes in the 25 gallon pot and fill 25 gallon pot with promix or
something simular. Moisten soil. Plant watermelon in the center of potted soil. Mulch with your
prefence.
Place the pump water line on top of 25 gallon pot and turn on the pump to lowest flow speed and secure
the line so it doesn't fall out of place.
YOu can keep the Drum filled with nutrient water up to the hole in side of drum by using
a 2 gallon watering can with spout or whatever is easiest for you.
As vines grow---keep hole in side of drum visible and managable.
It may not be a pretty picture but
I really want to do this----what do you think?
My thoughts are that the 25 gallon pot wont be big enough to support the watermelon plant roots.
If it becomes root bound---the roots would evenually trail into the drum of water.
And-- I don't know much about watermelons---I know they like water but will the melons crack with a
steady flow of water supply or will it do fine since it is a steady flow of water from the start and not a burst
of water all at one time?

Thought you all might like to see this. Growing in waterbeds is not a new idea. These folks are just trying to make a buck from the idea. I like the simple and much less expensive "twiggybeds" better.

http://structuralplastics.com/waterbed.pdf

If you decide to go back to the fish,use fishing line to stop the birds from eating your fish.We had owls with several feet wingspan getting ours.Plus a few cranes and egrets.Once they hit that fishing line they don't come back.Fishing line is almost invisable so its not unattractive.We do the same to keep our chickens inside fenced free range areas.