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Garden Gate:  Stock Tank Garden  |
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Shery Jespersen
True Blue Farmgirl
115 Posts
Shery
Upton
Wyoming
USA
115 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 12 2010 : 06:36:51 AM
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There was an old 8 ft. stock tank in a lower pasture...bottom rusted out completely...all that is left is the ring. I've had my eye on it for a garden container. We live in northeastern Wyoming on the windswept plains. It is absolutely not garden friendly. Coming from a garden family, it has felt weird not having a garden for several years.
My question is for those who have container gardens or raised beds...taking into account our region...what kind of crops do the best? I don't have much space, so I want to make the most of it. I'll have a couple tomatoes, carrots, beets, lettuce, cilantro. I opted out of cucumbers since they take up a lot of space. Anything else that you can suggest? I'm down to the last bit of space available.
I'm going to put picket style snow-fence most of the way around it as a wind shelter. I've got 2 boxes for upside-down tomatoes that hang from the barn eve beams. I was skeptical, but they worked well. The next step is making soil for the tank. Got the makings, just have to do it. There is a lovely mountain of 20 year old sheep manure I have to go fetch. That ought to be really good.
Shery Jespersen
Farmgirl Sister #753
Ranch Farmgirl http://rfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org
My Blog http://reataroseranch.blogspot.com/ |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
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natesgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
1735 Posts
angela
martinsville
indiana
USA
1735 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2010 : 10:08:15 AM
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You can grow peppers in those upside down things too if you like. My grandma grows cabbage and leaf lettuce in hanging baskets. You can also grow green onions and spinache if it's a shady spot. If you want cucumbers try a five gallon bucket or like sized container with a trellis in it. I have had a good deal of success with that method before. Anything can be grown in containers of the right size. By the way, my local recycling center has been willing to call me when people bring in stock tanks. They have them set them off out front of the building and then I pay the recycle guy back for it plus $2 for holding it for me. You could maybe get some more that way if you want to expand you garden.
God - Gardening - Family - Is anything else important? |
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Hosanna
True Blue Farmgirl
466 Posts
Hosanna
Alton
Virginia
466 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2010 : 10:14:55 AM
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I did this too! We had several rusted out stock tanks in our woods and tree lines on our farm..... I went and got them, brought them to the house, and filled them with rich dirt and compost. I have spinach planted in 2 of them, and a heirloom tomato plant in the other one. They are so quaint!
I also found an old galvanized pail rusted out on the bottom, and I put it in my flower bed, and plan to put hens and chicks in there. (Hen and chicks, the seedum plant.....)
I planted things in old metal tea kettles, and I even planted seedum in a metal chick waterer with a jar.... except I filled it with dirt. The seedum grows out of the holes in the metal base and it is just too cute......
www.happilyeverafterhosanna.blogspot.com
www.thewindofheaven.blogspot.com
www.CarolinaRoses.etsy.com
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Shery Jespersen
True Blue Farmgirl
115 Posts
Shery
Upton
Wyoming
USA
115 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2010 : 6:56:13 PM
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Thanks for the feedback. I bought 2 packets of Nasturtiums today for my stock tank garden. I love them in salads. I leveled out the tank this afternoon and began with the filler...some old nasty-rotten hay that needed to go away anyhow. Now for some sandy soil from our friend's ranch and the old sheep poop! I've got some 2 year old corral manure here at home too that I can fold into the mix. After I got the tank squared away. I planted 3 little pines and 3 cedars a'ways back from it along the fence. I Am POOPED...my feet are hammered. Another day the dirt making can happen, I'm going to put an old iron bed headboard toward the back of the tank and plant something climby there...maybe runner beans? It's gonna be a Clampet looking farmgirl garden...shabby rusty junky chic? There are several other stock tanks on the ranch that could work...but not today!!! :o) Shery
Farmgirl Sister #753
Ranch Farmgirl http://rfgblog.maryjanesfarm.org
My Blog http://reataroseranch.blogspot.com/ |
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Annika
True Blue Farmgirl
5602 Posts
Annika
USA
5602 Posts |
Posted - Apr 12 2010 : 7:06:28 PM
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A climbing honeysuckle would look sweet too, but I love runner beans . Have you seen the painted lady variety? red upper part and white bottom lip, very pretty! Oh Shery, please post pics when you've got it all blooming!
I hope you took a well deserved hot bath to soak your tootsies and all. We've got it raining cats and dogs here, and I am so ready to till, but the yard is all mud. Can't wait for it to dry out a bit to get my taters in!
Annika
Farmgirl & sister #13
Palouse Prairie Girls Chapter
http://palouseprairiegirls.blogspot.com/
http://prairiegirlsjournal.blogspot.com/
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. ~Leonardo DaVinci
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Garden Gate: Stock Tank Garden |
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Stock Tank Garden
