Here's my newest thread with lots of pics:
1st is the famous Earth Box (recommended by T-plant) I'm growing lettuce, broccoli, collards, spinach and zucchini in them right now
I'm using 5 different growing systems this season
2nd is my own creation (Bob's Green Thumb Planter -BGTP) It works on the same science as the Earth Box.. I sold quite a few at a flea market last year. They grow 1/2 the recomended amount as the EarthBox (ie 1 tomato plant)
3rd - 5 gallon grow bags with a spray watering system containing nutrients in the water pumped from a 32 gallon tub on a timer (fed 3 times a day) The grow bags use coconut coir as the growing media. I love that stuff. These tomato plants were started indoors from seed Aug 19th.
4th - Hydrostacker vertical growing system These a styrofoam planters 5 on a pole 4 growing spots in each pot ( my period button doesn't work) I'll be growing strawberries soon in this system 20 plants per stack
I also bought a similar system last year made out of heavy plastic.. Here I am growing romaine lettuce
5th - Something new I just get delivered They a lay flat grow bags filled with coconut coir The bag comes with the coir dry and compressed You cut a slit in the bag and add water As you can see it puffs up to about 6 inches in height. I'll try growing all sorts of veggies in them
Here is another pic of them
how did you make #2?
There actually is one more but not really that special I bought a long piece of plastic gutter, filled it with coconut coir and planted bibb lettuce seedlings along it a 6 inch intervals
Everything is growing on my pool deck which is screened in When it really cools down, I'll be planting outside the pool area too (not enough space you know, is there ever enough?) I WANT AN ACRE OF LAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MitchF - 1- 5 gallon pail, 1- 3 1/2 gallon pail, 2" plastic pipe 19" tall (fill tube) , 5" net pot, (5", 2", 3" hole saws), 4 - 2" plastic end caps (for shipping tubes), 1" drill bit for the drain hole You can but all the stuff and make it, or I'll be selling them soon on DG Marketplace
BocaBob
Here's another pic of them
I love them and I have a big pile of 1 and 5 gallon pails to work with!
Wow, leetom. This is like a primer on self-contained box gardens! How did you decide what to grow in which set-up?
Be sure to let us know how each did at the end of your season!
Wow, I'm so jealous of you folks Way Down South. I have space indoors but no possibility of a GH. Would it be totally crazy to try to grow veggies inside in the winter? Maybe with artificial lighting? Or should I just sit tight and get my seeds ready for next year?
Tigerlily09 - From what I have read, if you bought the necessary lighting and paid the energy cost to run it, you would have to win a lottery to afford to do it.
BocaBob
BocaBob...are the white grow bags "Easi-Lift"? They look a little different.
David_Paul - Are you referring to the lay flat or the upright 5 gallon white bags? Either way neither are easy lift if you mean they have a handle.
BocaBob
BocaBob...the upright white grow bags. "Easi-Lift" is a brand name. They have handles on them. Only white grow bags I've been able to find. They're a good product--double stitched so they last--but I'm curious if there are others on the market.
David_Paul- I saw an ad for the ones you are talking about. A little pricey. And I haven't seen any others on the market.
BocaBob
CapeCod Gardener -Sorry, I missed your post. I'm trying everything I grow in each of my growing systems to see what works best in each. One conclusion from last season is the Hydro-stacker units are only good for strawberries and lettuce in my opinion, based on what I grow.
BocaBob
THanks, BocaBob, for the information on the Hydro-Stackers. I can't wait to see your results with the other systems!