Building a Raised Bed
- Ginger2778
- Reactions:
- Posts: 1431
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 3:01 pm
- Location: South Florida zone 10b
- Ginger2778
- Reactions:
- Posts: 1431
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 3:01 pm
- Location: South Florida zone 10b
Re: Building a Raised Bed
Here is our raincover tacked on with our new clips. They seem to work well. 10 will be used to secure each cover, and we can just remove 6, fold it over, and clip to other side during sunny times so the plants get light. It seems to have good airflow while the cover is bring used too. When the plants are getting some decent size we will put it away for next year.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- Marsha
-
- Reactions:
- Posts: 870
- Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2019 1:01 pm
- Location: S Florida USA Zone 10
Re: Building a Raised Bed
Looks great! Really nice to have a place for the transplants during heavy rains. I still don’t have my trailer for transplants set up and it is a pain moving them constantly.
The concrete blocks will be so convenient to sit on while you work with your plants. Even standing and not having to bend all the way to the ground is wonderful
Particularly when harvesting. Now we only need the cooler weather to come.
The concrete blocks will be so convenient to sit on while you work with your plants. Even standing and not having to bend all the way to the ground is wonderful
Particularly when harvesting. Now we only need the cooler weather to come.
"When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work."
Carl Huffaker
Carl Huffaker
- ddsack
- Reactions:
- Posts: 937
- Joined: Wed Dec 11, 2019 2:26 pm
- Location: Northern MN - USA
Re: Building a Raised Bed
Marsha, where did you buy your clips? I couldn't find any when I needed them, do not have any tools for cutting pvc that heavy, so I ended up buying some thick flexible indoor plumbing hose and cutting sections and slitting that. If you find that your plastic wants to sag in between sections, you can just add a light support string halfway down from the arch running all the way across. Very nice set-up!
- Ginger2778
- Reactions:
- Posts: 1431
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 3:01 pm
- Location: South Florida zone 10b
Re: Building a Raised Bed
Dee - Wayne got them on Amazon. I'll edit with a link when we get home.ddsack wrote: ↑Tue Sep 08, 2020 9:42 am Marsha, where did you buy your clips? I couldn't find any when I needed them, do not have any tools for cutting pvc that heavy, so I ended up buying some thick flexible indoor plumbing hose and cutting sections and slitting that. If you find that your plastic wants to sag in between sections, you can just add a light support string halfway down from the arch running all the way across. Very nice set-up!
- Marsha
- habitat-gardener
- Reactions:
- Posts: 466
- Joined: Thu Dec 12, 2019 1:56 am
- Location: central california, Sunset zone 14
Re: Building a Raised Bed
I make raised beds by mounding up soil from the paths. I dig a few inches deep and fill the paths with mulch. iirc I originally got the idea of simply mounding soil from Ed Smith https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/192 ... er_s_Bible
-
- Reactions:
- Posts: 870
- Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2019 1:01 pm
- Location: S Florida USA Zone 10
Re: Building a Raised Bed
Forgot to mention , it still can get really hot/muggy under plastic despite having the sides flare out. I had to use shading on occasion. I try to use the plastic as little as possible but when it rains all the time you have to do something if they are getting too wet. Unfortunately, Clear plastic really heats up whatever is underneath it, particularly when it is close. Just like solarizing earthboxes. Now all the places I used to park the trailer are in too much shade —I would like morning sun and shade in the afternoon and don’t have that. Right now, I am carrying trays in and out of rain/sun. What a pain. Maybe I can get the trailer moved soon when more are transplanted but that spot may draw the iguanas which would be disastrous.
We really are growing seedlings at the worse possible time, super hot and rainy.
We really are growing seedlings at the worse possible time, super hot and rainy.
"When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work."
Carl Huffaker
Carl Huffaker
- Ginger2778
- Reactions:
- Posts: 1431
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 3:01 pm
- Location: South Florida zone 10b
Re: Building a Raised Bed
[mention]MsCowpea[/mention] , I agree it can get hot, but ours isn't. We are using "clear" dropcloths, which are really white plastic, so the reflectivity helps. Also we are being diligent to only leave the westside clipped, and fold the cloths over when not raining. This gives them full sun, and great natural airflow. We were carrying the trays in and out it was a colossal pain! Thanks for showing your cart, it was the start of great ideas.
- Marsha
-
- Reactions:
- Posts: 870
- Joined: Sat Dec 14, 2019 1:01 pm
- Location: S Florida USA Zone 10
Re: Building a Raised Bed
Marsha:
That’s great! They will be very comfy in their new home.
MsCowpea , I agree it can get hot, but ours isn't. We are using "clear" dropcloths, which are really white plastic, so the reflectivity helps. Also we are being diligent to only leave the westside clipped, and fold the cloths over when not raining. This gives them full sun, and great natural airflow. We were carrying the trays in and out it was a colossal pain! Thanks for showing your cart, it was the start of great ideas.
That’s great! They will be very comfy in their new home.
Last edited by MsCowpea on Wed Oct 14, 2020 12:55 am, edited 1 time in total.
"When we kill off the natural enemies of a pest we inherit their work."
Carl Huffaker
Carl Huffaker
- Ginger2778
- Reactions:
- Posts: 1431
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 3:01 pm
- Location: South Florida zone 10b
Re: Building a Raised Bed
I just gave them the first real test, this afternoon's torrential thunderstorm. Then uncovered, and the plants were very nice and dry.
Uncovered to get some full sunlight for an hour, then back under the dropcloth. These "umbrellas" are working fantastically well.
Uncovered to get some full sunlight for an hour, then back under the dropcloth. These "umbrellas" are working fantastically well.
- Marsha
- Ginger2778
- Reactions:
- Posts: 1431
- Joined: Tue Dec 10, 2019 3:01 pm
- Location: South Florida zone 10b
Re: Building a Raised Bed
The "umbrellas" held up like champions. Yesterday we had a tropical storm pass through with torrential rain and winds upwards of 30 miles per hour. One clip came loose and we just clipped it back, and the little plants under it withstood the storm just beautifully. I'm so happy and it's peace of mind! Today in the photos you see our one-week-old seedlings with the coverings folded over so that they can get light.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
- Marsha