Spring Garden

Calypso Jones wrote:We usually can't plant till mid May.   We're close but in the past, we've seen frost up till the first week in May.   That's why i dare not.  Nurseries say they won't have tomato plants till the 27th so i really can't plant till at least the 27th.   I could put them in the ground at that point, and just watch the weather daily....if it looks suspicious, i could do what hawk does and put a bucket over the plants and then a blanket.

Maybe you should consider building a transportable greenhouse unit where the 1" Grey PVC pipe is used and have the ends slide into the permanently buried 1 1/2" PVC pipe in the ground which should be capped (NOT glued) when not used to keep the dirt out.

I use the 90 degree sweeps to connect the sides to the roofs and NEVER use cement at all but Duct tape if there is too much wind.

i've saved my windows and screens for just such a possiblilty.    l'm trying to visualize what you've done.   So you've got four sides and a top??

Calypso Jones wrote:i've saved my windows and screens for just such a possiblilty.    l'm trying to visualize what you've done.   So you've got four sides and a top??

My Garden beds are 4'X20' by 6" raised beds which I never walk on. Will use the 5'X30' x 6" size in the future when I finally move to a bigger place.

Most of my plantings are in a block of 4'X10' sections thus my portable Greenhouse units are in 4'X10' and 3 1/2' tall above ground sections for cold sensitive plants to survive under.

I use Schedule 40 grey PVC pipe that have strong sun resistance and are strong enough for wind to last for many years. 3/4" to 1" pipe size are strong enough.

This is the best I could find but would never use white PVC as they turn brown and brittle in just around 3 or so years while Grey PVC will last for many years as they are solar resistant for the electrical industry.

I avoid hoop designs because the pipe is under stress which is an injury waiting to happen when they explode on you the design you see here is very safe as there is no section of pipe under stress and a good set up but I prefer the buried pipes outside of the beds to stick the poles into this way I can have the plastic sheets fully cover the entire bed or you can leave it in place all summer and use the shade netting for heat sensitive plants.

Do not use pipe cement for them as you want to be able to separate them for storage or add another section onto it.

The 90 and 45 degree sweeps are great from going from the sides to the roof of the unit.

Build A Mini Greenhouse For Raised Beds

LINK

How did i miss that. thanks for ideas.

nice past two days. Actually hot today..well...too hot and too early for me. Had to quit and went back out at 4pm. got in 10 mounds of potatoes, mulche and watered and put down walkways between row.

also got in all my onions, red and sweet...watered and marked. hopefully the captain won't mow them down as they come up like he did my potatoes about 6 years ago. That was a disappointment.

Calypso Jones wrote:nice past two days.  Actually hot today..well...too hot and too early for me.  Had to quit and went back out at 4pm.  got in 10 mounds of potatoes, mulche and watered and put down walkways between row.

also got in all my onions, red and sweet...watered and marked.  hopefully the captain won't mow them down as they come up like he did my potatoes about 6  years ago.   That was a disappointment.  

You plant your potatoes in mounds?  Hm.  That's different.  Interesting.  How much do your plants generally yield.

Next question:  The captain is still alive?


Been in the 80's here the last couple of days. Spent about an hour weeding yesterday. Cut up a bunch more parsley. It's spread out on paper bags to dry. Got cut worms to get rid of.
AC guy is coming today. Air finally started running right, but not quite. Needs serviced, anyway. The grass is so high I can't stand it.

https://www.wikihow.com/Turn-Clay-Into-Growing-Soil
Working on some serious clay soil.

all this past week....very cool...40s at night and only slightly better during the day. No rain and the grass is crispy now. OH JOY...woke up to light rain monday morning and it has rained all day long off an on a good steady straight down rain. It is supposed to be in the 80s this week. Well...at least i have nearly made it to June 1 before i turn on the air conditioner. That's good.

Where are you, CJ?

Lummy wrote:Where are you, CJ?

shenandoah valley Virginia.    It's been UNseasonably cold...did i say that already??  BUT... hardly any flowers....and the ones that are bloomng have only just done so in last couple weeks.   However....saw my first two little hummingbirds yesterday. I've waited a month and more. I put it out late april because it had been so cool.  and what is more  Lummy....i just turned on the AC on friday June 23 and still don't need it.     THIS is weird.