We have been collecting washer and dryer tubs for a year or so and now have about 5 washer tubs and 4 dryer tubs filled with compost. We had one each dryer tub, semi truck tire rim, and 1/2 whiskey barrel and 2 washer tubs last year that were filled with horseradish, Candy Mint, and some poke plants. The poke plants died because the soil was too heavy and didn't drain well. However the horseradish appear to be doing fine. We won't dig the roots for another year or so as most were rather small when we planted them. Today I finished mixing composted leaves, stable cleanings, and totally rotted silage in the new ones and planted some zucchini, eggplant, purple Brugmansia, Cuban Oregano, and some pepper plants. I like the tire rim and dryer drums better but if the washer tubs still have the outer plastic tub around them they aren't too bad. If they don't have that outer plastic tub it is really hard to keep enough water in the soil for the plants to do well in hot dry summer weather. I put some rhubard in the dryer tub the poke was in last year after I added a lot of compost to the soil to loosen it.
I do mostly raised beds now because our soil is black clay otherwise known as black gumbo. It is heavy and doesn't drain well at all.
GOD bless and keep eah of you.
More Tubs Filled and Planted.
Wow EvaMae, ya'll are really on the ball! (Is it hard to rip the tubs out of the dryers and washers?)
If you ever need poke just holler, we have it in abundance. (I'm assuming you are referring to pokeweed/poke salad.)
Our "soil" here is red clay...and it needs a name like yours has!
By the way, is Cuban Oregano different than "regular" oregano? Sometimes it seems oregano and marjoram are so closely related I've gotten to where I can't tell the difference at times.
Shoe,
Cuban oregano is far stronger than regular oregano. pls use sparingly. last year, i had abundance of them. unfortunately the frost got them :(.
Okay, I'll have a look around and see if I can find some. If so I'll let ya know. Much obliged.
I have Cuban Oregano, variegated.(that's what they called it when I bought it) I've also seen some at a local herb farm that was all green, smelled like Vick's Rub(we always called that one the Vicks Plant) and they called that one Cuban Oregano. I think they both stink, JMHO.
Horseshoe, Cuban Oregano is really not oregano at all but a member of the Plectranthus family. It isn't hardy past about zone 7 or so. I have to bring ours in during the cold months every year. It's a beautiful plant, green leaves with white edges & quite thick and fleshy. Yes, do use it sparingly as it is many times stronger than real oregano. I've never been successful with raising real oregano or marjaram either. I find it rather hard to get to root as cuttings even using hormone, but they will live forever just stuck in dirt. I did get some cuttings to root in water once.
Hope this helps you. Oh, by the way, there are several colors of Plectranthus, but only the green/white one is called Cuban Oregano. All are non-hardy, all have strong odor and repel insects in the garden.
Wonderful info! Thanks a bunch! Sounds like something I'd like to set out and become like a ground cover in out of the way areas. I especially like the insect repellent properties of it.
Horseshoe, I forgot to tell you that Shad does all the drum removing for us. He says dryer drums are much easier and I like them better too. If you have a Sears repair station near you or any other appliance repair store check with them to see if they will let you have ones they remove. We've gotten 3 from Sears this spring already out of the dryer. Old semi tire rims are good too. I bought mine a few years ago at an auction for $10. Since it was a greenhouse closeout I got the dirt and plants that were in it too.
I'll keep my eye out for them. I see appliances dropped off at our local dump site from time to time. I oughtta keep some wrenches and such in the truck so I can get the drums out.
Shoe, do you want a start of the Cuban Oregano? I have plenty. It got a little frosted on, but is still in good shape.
thanks Cala!!! it turns out the man next to me at the market had some! I'm gonna trade him something next wk for some of his...and the good part is:...a customer was asking me about it and I was able to understand what they were talking about becuz of this thread! hey hey hey!!...
I'll get some next week when I go back. Thanks again !!