Will Be Setting - up My EBs Soon AS Weather Allows?

For five dollars at Lowes you can buy a clean one and be safe!

well i need 7, so the $5 would turn into $35

r buckets porous ?

if anyone out there has used buckets that once contained chemicals, without any issues, please let me know.

Hi
My husband who really is a rocket scientist and chemist says
don't use them, especially if you are growing food items. You cannot get all the residual heavy metals etc. out even with bleach. Try general dollar store or other discount store you might find them cheaper than Lowes.

Annie

thanks for the response.
i can get all i want here where i work, they had floor wax in them.
our safety mgr tells me that it should be ok as long as i wash them out good

Angiegr, the ones that contained wax should be safe, especially if it is only carnauba wax. Or better yet, McDonald's is usually more than happy to give away their five gallon buckets (they usually get their pickles in them) so check with a manager there.

Tplant, tomatoes are looking good, a regular jungle! Even the big winds won't stop those plants, will it!? You'll love the OSU-blue tomatoes; they were fun to grow and good eating but really need to be super ripe for their flavor to come out, at least mine did.

Shoe

aniegr
Thought you ment floor stain and varnish. Sorry about that.
Annie

Annie- no prob.
just trying to get containers together for tomatoes. making those self watering ones. and the rubbermaid totes too for other veg's.

Tplant those maters look wonderful! I'm only a few weeks away from starting seeds and I'm chomping at the bit. Don't ask me where we are going to put all 18 of the EB's but DH will figure something out. I'm craving the taste of a fresh tomato...and badly. Mind if I ask what type of tomato is OSU? I'm drawing a blank on that.

That was the purple red tomato grown by Oregon State University thus the name OSU as it does not have a name. It is still in the processing stage. It is to be a boon to health minded people as it contains an extremely high amount of antioxidants and lycopene. Have not eaten any yet as they are not ripe at this time. I recieved the seeds from Brandywine Beth (spelling?) and am very grateful as I have severe osteoarthritis. They are a cross between a blueberry and a tomato. It would be wonderful if it would also be an aid to my bronchitis.
By the way go to lap band on the internet! My pictures of before and after are advertised there...

That was the purple red tomato grown by Oregon State University thus the name OSU as it does not have a name. It is still in the processing stage. It is to be a boon to health minded people as it contains an extremely high amount of antioxidants and lycopene. Have not eaten any yet as they are not ripe at this time. I recieved the seeds from Brandywine Beth (spelling?) and am very grateful as I have severe osteoarthritis. They are a cross between a blueberry and a tomato. It would be wonderful if it would also be an aid to my bronchitis.
By the way go to lap band on the internet! My pictures of before and after are advertised there...I look pretty good in comparison. I'll post it later.

That was the purple red tomato grown by Oregon State University thus the name OSU as it does not have a name. It is still in the processing stage. It is to be a boon to health minded people as it contains an extremely high amount of antioxidants and lycopene. Have not eaten any yet as they are not ripe at this time. I recieved the seeds from Brandywine Beth (spelling?) and am very grateful as I have severe osteoarthritis. They are a cross between a blueberry and a tomato. It would be wonderful if it would also be an aid to my bronchitis.
By the way go to lap band on the internet! My pictures of before and after are advertised there...I look pretty good in comparison. I'll post it later.

Just thought I'd show you my advertisement sponsored by the Lap-Band people. Can't believe I'm the same person?

WOW! You look 15 years younger, Tplant! And that smile on your face makes you look like a movie star!

What a success story. Big time congratulations.

Shoe

Thanks Shoe! It has been a very interesting journey to say the least and to see my toes without bending over? WOWIE???

Did it take a long time to lose all that weight? And didja have to also go on a different diet along with it?

No wonder you have so much energy now, working all those EB's and flower beds!

Shoe

It took less than two years actually and no special diet after the first six weeks. I eat ice cream and candy , limited, like everyone else but not as much.

TPlant: You do look better in the after pics. I wish I could lose some weight, but, can't give up the soda or the spinach/artichoke dip long enough (groan).
Beautiful set up with the tomatoes.
joy112854

Thanks Joy! I know what you mean as I could not have accomplished my goal without the lap-band. Unfortuneately my bronchitis has become a severe problem for me because as soon as I start doing my work I start coughing excessively and have to rest so I may have to cut back next season? Not for certain as I am a fighter and will somehow overcome this disease which robs me of my strength. I lifted a 40 lb bag of fertilizer yesterday and hacked so much afterwards that I had to quit at 1 pm in the middle of my work. I must get out there and spray my tomatos with Ortho as they are in perfect health and I want to keep them that way. Just have to learn to really slow down and instead of spending 6 hours or more out there limit it to one or two working hours but I can still sit out there and take it easy. My meds do help but thinking on going to a pulmonary specialist although I am seeing a general practioner.

T-Plant,
Please do follow through with a pulmonary doctor or at least have your lungs X-rayed if you haven't already to be sure you don't have other additional issues besides bronchitis. Unfortunately some friends of mine have waited too long to have their lungs checked after being diagnosed with bronchitis by their general practitioner. Only after the bronchitis went on for a long time did they check their lungs and the results showed far more serious problems. Here's hoping you are not in that category. You look great in your ad. Always enjoy your info on the E boxes! Hope you recover soon from the bronchitis, especially for the Holidays! Jessica

Jessica -- I am planning to see a pulmonary specialist as this is a bit much and preventing me from enjoying my garden.

TPlant, I have emphesemia along with my degenerative bone and disc disease; so, know exactly what you are talking about, not being able to breathe right robs you of your strength which the bone ailments have already made you weakened. My doctor (pulmonary specialist) gave me a nebulizer, which helps a lot. It helps clear out the lungs.

I like your ideas for your new EB garden. I have these sod pallets I was planning on using to put my EBs on, that way I could disperse them around my yard, don't want my viney ones to entangle the rest of them. LOL That happened last Spring to me as I planted my cukes in 2 then planted my tomatoes in 2, then my peppers in 2 then my okra. Next thing you know, the cuke vines are trying to strangle my tomatoes, had to move them around. In my situation though, I just called my brother and his son-in-law to do that, they brag about being my pack mules. LOL

By the way, my lil sister says she loves the EB Ioaned her, her strawberries are really taking off, so are mine. I think I prefer the EB over the GP already though, as they seem to be doing better in the EB than the GP, I did nothing different to either the GP or the 2 EBs.

joy112854

Great idea! I would also use weed cloth to prevent any weeds from growing up thru the slats. I even spray the area prior with weed killer to keep the weeds from growing under the weed cloth as they will try!

TPlant, Glad to hear you plan to see the pulmonary specialist. Hope he can help you. I was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease in my neck and one section is herniated so I understand the problems of lifting and hauling things. But working in the garden (as in weeding!) actually helps me to relax and reduce some of the tension as long as I don't overdue.

Question for those of you who grow cabbages, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts in EB's. I understand that one should rotate these vegetables each year and not use the same soil again on the ground. If I grow them in the EB's can I re-use that soil? If not what veggies can I grow in that soil the next year? Do you add any different supplements for the cabbage family? My cabbages did not do well this year so I thought I would try the EB's.They got medium size but never formed any cabbages and then it got too cold. The Broccoli did fine in the regular soil but I guess I must plant next year's in a new spot, right?

Concerning using weed cloth: I put down layers of cardboard under the weed cloth which really helps keep the weds down. After placing the EB's on that I put straw down on the paths around the EB's. Works great against weeds and looks nice and trim.

We now have 7" of snow from yesterday's storm - first big one of the season! So now I suffer from garden envy while reading this thread! Still love all the ideas which I am squirreling away for next spring. Having reread the thread really like the idea of using a bulb planter to put in the seedlings.

I had planned on putting weed cloth down on the pellets; but TPlants suggestion of the weedkiller is great also. I'm afraid I'd attract slugs with the cardboard wouldn't I? The reason I like the pallot idea is that it raises the EBs off the ground, and I can manuever them far enough apart to not have the problem of all the EBs too close together, as I plant a variety of things in mine. I don't want the vines too close to the other veggies and I also have heard that you shouldn't plant corn too close to tomatoes either. Since I'm growing cukes, watermelons, and other melons I need to keep these all seperate from my other veggies. I am going to use the bulb planter to plant my startings in the EBs this year also. I'm also going to do my own soil testing on my flower beds and then amend according to what I have growing in them (cannas) and what the soil should be.
joy112854

Joy,
Raising the EB's off the ground on the pallets does make a lot of sense. When I put down cardboard or newspaper I cover them with weedcloth larger than the cardboard, then hold the cloth down with garden staples so have no trouble with the slugs. If the cardboard is exposed then that could attract them. I just hate to spray chemicals around if it can be avoided. Isn't the sod pallet made of wood? If so, couldn't that also attract slugs underneath when it's damp? I'd probably put down the newspaper or cardboard underneath to keep the weeds down and then cover the pallets with the wider cloth stapling it into the ground to keep the slugs from going underneath. But that's me. I'll do anything to avoid spraying and thus make more work for myself!

Good idea gardadore! I just kill the grass underneath the weedcloth with weedkiller and set my EBs on top without any problems. Wish I could afford the professional heavy plastic weed cover but it costs $6 per running foot of 6' wide but it lasts forever and is practically indestructible. I'd need at least 60 running feet? $360???

Joy --- If you use the pallets you will have to use weedcloth in two ways if you grow any vining plants as they will grow down under the slats between the spaces. You will also have to staple the the weedcloth on the flats to prevent this. Under and on the flats.

TPlant: I know those cukes get viney. I have this rust proof thing I bought from Gardeners Supply around the end of the season where the cukes can be trained to run up it, that I'm going to try this Spring/Summer also. I'm also going to be growing watermelon, and they get viney too. So; that is why the sod pallets, I can place them where a want them that way and they are big enough to accomodate one EB.
joy11285

T Plant,
That's another reason I use the cardboard or newspaper under the weed cloth. I don't have to buy the expensive stuff! I have had weed cloth on top of cardboard for walking paths in my one veggie garden for the last 5 years and it's still fine. I do sprinkle straw on top so it doesn't have full sun exposure. I use cardboard for everything! My shed is full of it. It is the best for walking paths!

Gardadore: I should have plenty of cardboard on hand, so that might work too, I don't want slugs, as they attract moles and voles eeks. Then I'll have competitors for my veggies and I definately don't want that.

TPlant: I know this is going to sound stupid here; but, what kind of staples? Do you know I didn't even think how I was going to hold the weed cloth down? I have a few rolls of some weed cloth for gardens that comes in 3 ft by 100 ft rolls that I was going to put in my beds also when I get ready to dig up my cannas and split them and replant them, I was also going to put the weed cloth in the beds. Now my question is how do I fasten them into the ground? Staples? What kind? What size?
joy112854

Joy,
They are called Garden Staples. I buy them by the box of 40 at Walmart. Here is a link to a site that carries the exact same thing online if your Walmart doesn't have them. http://www.bestnest.com/bestnest/RTProduct.asp?SKU=GAD-GS-40
BestNest is a great site and very reliable! The staples are 2 pronged in a long horseshoe shape made of steel and do rust. I just consider the rust additional iron! With the cardboard I often have to use a rubber mallet to get the sharp ends of the staples to penetrate into the earth.
I am editing to add the fact that I see Best Nest also carries another brand of staples which are an inch longer and less expensive: Master Gardner Fabric Pins, 75 Pins for $9.99. Can't vouch for the quality compared to the Gardeneer Heavy Duty. I don't think it will matter that much just so they hold down the cloth! Both will eventually rust yet I haven't had to replace the Gardeneer - just break off the rust.

This message was edited Dec 22, 2008 1:04 PM

This message was edited Dec 22, 2008 1:05 PM

Joy, if your boyfriend is handy with hand tools, he could make the staples for you from wire coat hangers...that is if the ground where you will be using them is not too hard as in rocks, etc. Most everyone has an over abundance of wire coat hangers.

This message was edited Dec 22, 2008 2:15 PM

That's a good idea, Texasrockgarden. I have made them from coat hangers when I wanted much longer ones to hold down hoses or my 5 tier growhouse. But I don't really have the right tools so don't make a lot since it hurts my hands. They actually just break after bending back and forth. With the right cutters it would be very easy, I would imagine!

Thank you, clumsy as I am, I'd better stick with the staples. Wire hangers aren't plentiful around here as I've thrown them all out for plastic ones. Groan. Here I hold onto all the stuff I can't use and throw out what I can hey? The perfect pack rat I suppose. LOL I'm happy to see my strawberries doing well, the leaves are nice and green now and not that brown color they were. They adjusted really well to the EBs and GP.
joy112854

Joy, there is an old saying, "that with enough money you can make anything work". LOL

Being retired I have to save every penny I can, so I would have to go with the coat hangers. (smile)

Glad your strawberries are OK. Post up some pictures when ever you get the chance.

The weed cloth was a gift from a family member; and so, the staples won't be that much. Actually the weed cloth was only $22 a roll for 6ft by 100 ft. Not bad I would think?

I'm waiting for the berries to show, so far all there are is leaves; but they are definately healthy looking leaves and I was surprised as when I put them in the EB they were already turning brown.
joy112854

Thanks for the staple info. :)

Staples are relatively cheap everywhere so, I will probably wind up buying mine.
joy112854

Boca Bob, I don't mean to step on Typlants' thread, but I have searched in vain for a follow-up on your corn plants, and can't find any. That doesn't appear to be any of the containers mentioned here. As I am just starting with 2 EBs and don't want to waste growing space. I would like to know how that corn was planted, and how it turned out, unless you'ld rather not talk about it. LOL
Carol

Hi Carol- My corn was a miserable failure. The stalks grew real nice, but the corn didn't pollinate well. I just don't have enough room to plant the needed rows necessary for good pollination. (I dream of a acre of cleared land) I planted the corn in a big 35 gallon nursery tub. Maybe that was my mistake. I'll buy corn from the market. Everything else is growing beautifully.

BocaBob