Rhonda, I need your help. Please!

**Mom23boys** · 03-16-2005, 10:08 AM

Rhonda, we were going to till up our garden, but that is a no go!! The tiller won't cooperate. It broke.

Anyway, back to square one. Our ground is way too hard to try and dig it or use a hoe. We have soil with rocks underneath. It is very hard and time consuming. I would be trying to work it for months and months. That is why the tiller is vital to us.

My new plan is this....container gardening. I wanted to know if I could grow the following in containers and what would be the best types of containers, soil, etc.

Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Onions
Peppers
Squash
Lettuce
Beans

Maybe strawberries??

Any suggestions? I knew if anyone could help it would be you.

**SewCrafty** · 03-16-2005, 12:54 PM

Michelle,

I'm not Rhonda and I have a black thumb personally

. BUT, I did grow up having a garden. I don't see why you couldn't grow those items in containers. Although I think the cucumbers and squash would do best in long containers, like window box ones. They need to spread out a bit.

Good luck to you!

**forestdale** · 03-16-2005, 01:53 PM

Dee is right, Michelle, you can grow all those things in containers. BUT !!

There is a better way if you can afford to do it. Try no dig gardening. Many people use this method and it's more like regular gardening than gardening in containers. Just one word about the methods used, this method of gardening uses a lot of compost, if you have no compost or not enough, buy a bulk load of top soil - here you can buy an organic top soil mix which contains organic matter and it doesn't cost a lot. I bought half a truck tray a few years ago and it cost $30. Check out your local prices. The rest of your outlay will be for straw/lucerne/hay and edging. Keep in mind that if you build this garden up during your growing season to replenish the soil, you'll be able to use it year after year.

If you can't use this method, I'll be writing an article on container vegetables very soon, maybe today if I get a chance.

Here are some good links on no dig gardens:

http://www.bestgardening.com/bgc/how...nicnodig01.htm
http://www.mitra.biz/howto_nodig.htm
http://www.showplacelandscaping.com/les5.html
http://www.hdra.org.uk/factsheets/gg2.htm <-- this one has a section on no dig potatoes

Good luck.

**Mom23boys** · 03-16-2005, 03:59 PM

Thank you Dee and Rhonda. I look forward to reading more about container gardening.

I am going to read about the "building your garden up" method now with the links you posted.

Thank you!

**Mom23boys** · 03-16-2005, 04:09 PM

After looking at the websites you linked I decided I like the no dig method Rhonda! I am going to show this DH. I think it is actually cheaper than buying different containers for each type of vegetable.

It looks easy and I we have some friends that will give us some cow manure for fertilizer.

**forestdale** · 03-16-2005, 04:28 PM

Michelle, I love your avatar, you're very pretty. I just love seeing the faces of the ladies I communicate with every day.

I've know a few people who have used this way of gardening with great success. I hope Rick likes it too. It's easy, organic and will give you fabulous vegetables. It's a lot easier that digging your difficult backyard and cheaper than containers.

**Mom23boys** · 03-16-2005, 04:39 PM

Thank you Rhonda. I figured everyone else was posting pics so I might as well jump in. I just hope it doesn't scare anyone off. The lightening isn't to great.

I think Rick will like this way too. It will make us feel like we are working our land so to say.

Plus from what I read, I believe we can use this year after year...just work it after and before each season??

**forestdale** · 03-16-2005, 05:40 PM

yep, that's right, you can use the same no dig garden bed year after year. you just have to add to it as it needs it. Because the bed is so nutrient rich - and those cow manure friends of yours will be worth their weight in manure - you will get healthy, big vegetables.

And you're right about the feeling of satisfaction you get from working your land. It will show you and the kids that your land is not just something you live ON. It's a vital part of your life that, with care and nourishment, will help produce food for your table.
Good luck michelle!

**jlxian** · 03-17-2005, 09:15 AM

Originally posted by forestdale
I just love seeing the faces of the ladies I communicate with every day.

I agree it is great to see the photos of the forum members! It makes this forum more like talking in person -- and I am enjoying the lawn & garden forum very much having lots in common with these members. That said, I'm not sure I want to post my own photo, but I sooooo enjoy seeing the rest of you! Thanks to all.

**homesteadmamma** · 03-17-2005, 12:01 PM

Michelle, thought you might find these interesting.

http://www.mastergardenproducts.com/raisedbed.htm

http://www.tdc.ca/raisedgardens.htm
http://www.pioneerthinking.com/raisedbedgarden.html
http://www.uri.edu/ce/factsheets/sheets/raisedbed.html

http://www.thegardenhelper.com/bed~const.html

http://www.plantanswers.com/garden_column/jan_03/4.htm (specific to Texas)

http://journeytoforever.org/garden_sqft.html

**Mom23boys** · 03-17-2005, 12:24 PM

Thank you for posting the links CJ. I am going to go check them out now. You have been very helpful too.

**Mom23boys** · 03-17-2005, 12:41 PM

http://www.plantanswers.com/garden_column/jan_03/4.htm (specific to Texas) That is a good link for me. It relates to my rocky soil. Exactly what you get if you start digging...nothing but rocks.

**jlxian** · 03-17-2005, 04:00 PM

Originally posted by Mom23boys
http://www.plantanswers.com/garden_column/jan_03/4.htm (specific to Texas) That is a good link for me. It relates to my rocky soil. Exactly what you get if you start digging...nothing but rocks.

I checked on this one myself because we have lots of rocks, but I don't think our rocks are as bad as what is described! I hope your soil isn't that bad either Michelle! It does sound like UP is the way to go..... hooray for a solution to that problem!

**frugalmel** · 03-17-2005, 06:26 PM

Michelle, just make sure you don't put fresh manure right on your plants. You can "burn" them with it. I think you have to let it set for a bit first, but not sure.

Anybody know?

**SewCrafty** · 03-17-2005, 07:10 PM

Originally posted by frugalmel
Michelle, just make sure you don't put fresh manure right on your plants. You can "burn" them with it. I think you have to let it set for a bit first, but not sure.

Anybody know?

I remember my dad always had a 55 gal drum that he put manure in and lots of water. That is what we used to water the garden with in the beginning. Peee Yewwww stinky! But it works great and doesn't *burn* the plants. HTH