After much thought, I’ve decided to come up with gardening Plan B.
While I’d love to have the Grow Camp garden in my yard, I just couldn’t convince my inner frugal gene. No matter how excited I got about my garden, there was a little voice in side that just wouldn’t quit. It kept saying, “$700 for a garden? Are you crazy?”
Plan B
Although I don’t have all of the kinks ironed out of Plan B, Plan B includes two 50-gallon storage containers that I have sitting in my basement. These containers are currently doing nothing but collecting dust.
Here’s the scoop. I’ll create a drainage system in these two bins (poke holes in the bottom and place a base layer of some sort of drainage material such as gravel or sand) then fill it with dirt and compost material.
Challenge Number 1: Mobility
Before filling it with dirt, I’d like to find, buy or create a rolling base. This way I can move the garden on an as-needed basis. I intend to place one of the 50-gallon gardens on the deck and the other in the yard. The deck makes it convenient for me to get to my tomatoes and herbs. In the yard I’ll grow things like kale, cucumbers, lettuce and the like (depending on space).
Challenge Number 2: Protection
I still have the same critter problem, so I have to find, create or buy some sort of protective mesh covering that will allow the sun and rain in but keep the critters out. I’m sure I’ll find something
Encouragement
I found this video on YouTube where a guy grew a garden in 5-gallon buckets. If he can grow vegetables in 5 gallon buckets, I know I can grow veggies in a 50-gallon container. Take a look at what he did:
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I’m not sure if this is the right place for this post but it is about moveable containers and bananaless banana trees. I’ve had an indoor banana tree for almost ten years. If you do not know that much about indoor banana trees, they do not produce fruit, but have pretty leaves and I’ve not killed it in all that time. Ten years ago I was more of an “act, then think” type person. I didn’t plan ahead and read about the plant I was buying.
I did not realize you would need to repot it as it grows. How in the world that poor plant has lived this long is beyond me. It must be “meant to be”…LOL. I finally read up on them and found out I should repot it in a larger pot with a good potting mix such as Miracle Grow Potting Mix. I went to Lowe’s yesterday, pot two bags of the mix and a nice new teal/aqua (my fav color these days) 18 inch wide pot (it is now in a 9 inch wide pot). The new pot is heavy duty plastic and cost me $24.00. More than I wanted to pay but I figure my lil tree deserves it for lasting so long with me. It gives me joy.
Showing the newbie gardener I am, I didn’t notice til I got home there are no drainage holes. There are indentations to drill them and that will be no problem (after I get something to catch the water).
I’m writing for advice. Instead of drilling holes, can I place something in the pot so that the mix will stop about 5 inches from the bottom and when I water it, it will drain below whatever I place in the pot so that my roots will not rot from too much water? Am I making any sense?
I have the bottom of a “do it yourself” bathroom storage shelf that I thought about putting roller thingys on to be able to push it to the sunniest window. In the a.m. my kitchen is sunny in the afternoon my living room catches the sun.
Any advice for a brown/purple thumb who really wants to be a gardener one day?
Thanks,
Joni
LOL. Joni your plant must be a strong one. You’re like me. My kids asked me why we have so many of two types of plants. I told them it was because they were the only types of plants that survived my gardening style. 😉
As far as a water reservoir, I’m thinking you can use the same type of system that I’ll be using for my self-watering system. The one problem is you will have to drill a hole if you use the self-watering system so that you won’t accidentally over water the plant.
I’m sure you could place rocks/gravel/sand on the bottom for 5-inch drainage without drilling holes, but you’ll have to be real careful when it comes to watering. There’s also the concern that the roots might grow down into the rock/gravel/sand area and absorb too much water.
I’m not expert when it comes to gardening, so it’s the blind leading the blind here.
My hanging shoe holder also houses craft supplies. I’ve seen them in thrift stores for cheap so you might look there if you can’t empty the one you have or decide that you need more than one. As for the squirrels? Well, I’m afraid I don’t have any tips on that one other than getting a yappy little terrier that lives in your yard (won’t do any good from inside the house). I’ll bet your kids would love a puppy!
Oh no! Not another dog! My “kids” are pretty much grown up at this point and are busy doing teen things. Not so sure they’d want to take care of another dog (I sure don’t). Guess I’ll have to sit on my deck with a super-soaker water gun and have squirrel target practice. 🙂
Our family dog recently lost his vision so he won’t be very helpful when it comes to chasing squirrels away. 🙁
My cousin posted a couple of days ago about growing in a repurposed hanging shoe holder. I found the source online if you want to take a look. Pretty clever!
http://www.instructables.com/id/VERTICAL-VEGETABLES-quotGrow-upquot-in-a-smal/#step1
Holy Smokes! What a GREAT idea! That would be great for growing herbs. I’ve got a hanging shoe holder, but it’s currently holding odds and ends from the various crafts I got involved with over the years. I think it might be time for me to remove a little more of my clutter and use it for growing herbs.
My only problem will be keeping the squirrels away. Oh well, if there’s a will, there’s a way. Thanks for the link.