2020 Gardening Thread

[Calculon]

Most of the concern re: pressure treated wood goes back to the practice of treating the wood with CCA (arsenic) but that was banned by n 2004. Unlikely you’ll find any pt wood with that these days. Now they use copper which the body needs tint amounts of anyway. Here’s a couple links - 2 are older and one from 2018. I’m certain there is prob more scientific analysis out there.

EDIT - you can seal or line the internal surfaces with plastic if it will allay any concerns.

Safely Using Pressure Treated Wood for Garden Frames

Pressure treated wood can be safely used for above ground raised garden frames

www.naturalhandyman.com

Raised bed lumber, pressure treated safe?

extension.oregonstate.edu

Vegetable Gardening With Pressure Treated Lumber? Yes You Can! - Wood. It's Real.

Pressure-treated Southern Yellow Pine is a great choice for planters because it ensures your project will last for years. Best of all, it’s safe for growing food. See why.

wooditsreal.com

 

[S&W Fan]

Thats' the route I'd like to go but I wonder what chemicals come off the pressure treated lumber that get leeched up by the plant roots.
Robin

I was concerned about the same things when I built a couple of my newer boxes because my grandkids eat a lot of the veggies that I grow straight out of the garden. ( I don’t use Any pesticides or chemical fertilizers). In my research I found out that most, if not all lumber companies no longer use the more dangerous pressure treating chemicals because of all the green initiatives and certifications contractors can take advantage of when using better pressure treated wood. I researched this pressure treated lumber in particular because Home Depot sells it.

DIY Raised Garden Bed Plan

Transform your yard with raised garden beds full of healthy flowers or vegetables. The simple, DIY raised garden bed plan from YellaWood give plants room to grow.

www.yellawood.com

 

[BDinPutnam]

Don’t forget the fence posts and chicken wire. You’ll have every manner of wildlife dining on your veggies before you can.

Don't I know it. I've been toying around with some ideas. We do have some aggressive eaters in the hood.

 

[fnfalguy]

Subtle suggestion.

 

[MilesTeg]

Well I got the first bed in this weekend. I still haven't planted it yet. I really like the final product but I can tell you it fought something terrible. Most of the issues were self inflicted. My father took the lead of making the forms and pouring the panels. He didn't take enough time to make the forms perfect and we paid for it during the install. With that said I'm grateful he did do it because I plan on doing a great big garden out of this system.

 

[Doc8404]

that's an awesome idea!

 

[BDinPutnam]

Those look awfully neat, Miles.

Better kill those dandelions.

 

[MilesTeg]

Those look awfully neat, Miles.

Better kill those dandelions.

That's my 1+ acre rock garden. I can't get anyone to rock pick the lawn for me still. If it's not done by the fall I will end up renting the equipment and doing it myself.

 

[BDinPutnam]

That's my 1+ acre rock garden. I can't get anyone to rock pick the lawn for me still. If it's not done by the fall I will end up renting the equipment and doing it myself.

Dumb question- what do you use for that?

I pick em up and will spade / pickax out the ones I can get but man is there a lot of it and i probably have some land here i could use better if i could get the G-D rocks out...

 

[MilesTeg]

Well I should say I gave it an honest attempt to hand pick it. I picked a spot on my leach filed that was about 15' wide and 60' long. I took out over 25 side by side bed loads out of it. Then I ran that spot over with a set of drags to level it out. I can tell you what you couldn't tell what I rock picked to what I didn't. That's when I tapped and said I would use equipment. Also I took over 100 gallons of rocks out of last years garden.

There are two main pieces of equipment. The fun one first, skid steer rock hound. Local company will rent them out with a delivery. The price is reasonable, but I'm afraid of damaging the machinery and having a large bill.

The next one which is what everyone recommends is called a harley rake. It basically picks up and loosens the top few inches of top soil and moves the rocks to the side in a row. Then I can com back with the tractor bucket and scoop up the rows. I found one to rent for cheap that can run on my 3 point hitch, but wont deliver.

I live next to a very good site work contractor I will do the work, but because they usually do it for cheap it falls to the bottom of the list. Which is understandable.

 

[Calculon]

Well I got the first bed in this weekend. I still haven't planted it yet. I really like the final product but I can tell you it fought something terrible. Most of the issues were self inflicted. My father took the lead of making the forms and pouring the panels. He didn't take enough time to make the forms perfect and we paid for it during the install. With that said I'm grateful he did do it because I plan on doing a great big garden out of this system.
View attachment 74014

Beds look great. I wanted to try the concrete but couldn't sell the wife on it so we went 2x12's.

 

[MilesTeg]

Beds look great. I wanted to try the concrete but couldn't sell the wife on it so we went 2x12's.

It's a ton of work! It really is a one bed a year kind of project. I will be trying to put in a second one soon, but am not too optimistic.

 

[Calculon]

Perhaps a winter project in the garage - take your time and pour a few concrete forms for springtime.

 

[BDinPutnam]

Thanks for the info, @MilesTeg, much appreciated.

 

[Robin]

Miles, co the concrete panels interlock or just rely on their weight to stay in position? Very cool!!!!
Robin

 

[MilesTeg]

Miles, co the concrete panels interlock or just rely on their weight to stay in position? Very cool!!!!
Robin

They interlock with rebar. This is where we had issues, broke 3 panels. They are sleeved with conduit and the rebar has just enough clearance. So they have to be perfect in order to lock together. My new solution to use the panels that are already made is to ream the conduit to give myself more wiggle room.

In case anyone missed it here's where I got the idea from.

 

[Depick]

Came home to a decapitated pepper plant today.



Not sure if it was the wind, a flying predator or one that climbed the fence. Maybe I need a cover on the top.

 

[S&W Fan]

Those look awfully neat, Miles.

Better kill those dandelions.

Nooooo, don’t Kill the dandelions ! Believe it or not they are essential for honey bees . Before other plants start flowering dandelions are an important source of pollen and nectar.

 

[Saltwater60]

Came home to a decapitated pepper plant today.

View attachment 74040

Not sure if it was the wind, a flying predator or one that climbed the fence. Maybe I need a cover on the top.

Rabbit.

 

[Saltwater60]

Nooooo, don’t Kill the dandelions ! Believe it or not they are essential for honey bees . Before other plants start flowering dandelions are an important source of pollen and nectar.

Good I can tell my wife this.

 

[BDinPutnam]

Good I can tell my wife this.

Metoo!

Err, tell MY wife this. Not yours

 

[Depick]

Rabbit.

I put a 3’ high fence around the raised bed. Could a rabbit still jump in and out?

 

[Saltwater60]

I put a 3’ high fence around the raised bed. Could a rabbit still jump in and out?

Likely No they won’t. Is it possible probably.

 

[Depick]

Likely No they won’t. Is it possible probably.

Guy I work with said it might’ve been a squirrel digging for it’s buried treasure

 

[S&W Fan]

I put a 3’ high fence around the raised bed. Could a rabbit still jump in and out?

They could, but they usually won’t go to that length. They will however work their way under a fence if possible. It seems strange that it was only One pepper plant though. They will usually eat their fill before exiting.

 

[pramaglia]

Now that I am retired, I'm rebuilding my victory garden that I had stopped tending many years ago. It's a 32ft x 32ft fenced in area that the previous owner of my house used as a goose pen.

 

[Saltwater60]

Guy I work with said it might’ve been a squirrel digging for it’s buried treasure

I doubt it was a squirrel eating the plant. I’ve seen birds gigging in my mulch a lot lately. I’ll still bet rabbit bit the top. That’s what they do at my house and I’ve seen them do it and lots of times. Mine were good at my new place and hadn’t seen rabbits around. Now I’ve got two around my house and my plants are getting trimmed.
In warm dry weather they will go for your plants more if you’re watering because they don’t drink water they get hydration from food they eat.

 

[BDinPutnam]

Now that I am retired, I'm rebuilding my victory garden that I had stopped tending many years ago. It's a 32ft x 32ft fenced in area that the previous owner of my house used as a goose pen.

That looks like a bucolic little spot.

Do you have much in the way of deer? I am still wracking my brain as to enclosure for here. I would almost think some of mine would be inclined to knock that down- or jump right over.

 

[Doc8404]

These will be in the ground in the next few days.
WTF is wrong with the leaves?

hot peppers.

 

[enigma]

These will be in the ground in the next few days.
WTF is wrong with the leaves?

hot peppers.

Have you fertilized them? Looks like they might need some Nitrogen.