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Garden Gate:  I'm Starting Seeds Tomorrow!!!  |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
 Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 8:17:35 PM
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Hey girls, I just wanted to write a little something about starting my garden. I have always been right by my dad's side for years while he's been gardening and quite honestly, I learned from the best. So this year I've just built five 4 foot by 8 foot raised beds, and all my seeds came yesterday! So I'll be starting my pepper plants in the aquarium inside! This is my first year doing it ALL myself! I'm really excited. WE love vegetables sooo much and I just can't wait!!! Best of luck to you gardenin' gals! We'll get a good suntan while raisin' healthy food for our families!!!
Hugs,
Cristine |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Jan 23 2007 : 8:30:12 PM
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Cristine--
What did you build your raised beds from-did you till already, or are you simply filling in with soil? How deep?
What zone are you in?
I don't mean to pepper (ha, no pun intended :)) you with questions, but I'm totally new at this and I'm feeling rather anxious-it happens every year and I totally chicken out.
I make a REALLY big deal of the planning of it all, and I think, well, I think I OVERTHINK it!!
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 09:25:27 AM
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Each raised bed is made from 3 treated 2x10x8' long boards. They're 10 inches deep. In the corners I used a 10 inch piece of 4x4 to screw the corners together, the 4x4 goes on the inside. On the long sides, there is a piece of re-bar driven in the ground and attached in the middle of the long board on the inside, to prevent the longe boards from bowing out once they are full of soil.
It cost me $52 dollars to make two.
The bad thing is that I haven't filled them up yet, but I will be filling them with grass clippings and horse year old horse manure, and then whatever garden garbage I come across between now and the time to plant. I could send you pictures if you'd like. My dad says that the yeild from plants grown in raised beds is much greater than in the ground!!! I think I'm in zone 7. Central Virginia. |
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FlipFlopFarmer
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Carla
Molalla
Oregon
198 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 10:40:26 AM
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MsCwick - I hate to say this after all the work you did but I don't know that using treated wood for a garden is best. The chemicals leach into the soil.
 Carla
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly. |
Edited by - FlipFlopFarmer on Jan 24 2007 1:58:11 PM |
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Tina Michelle
True Blue Farmgirl
6948 Posts
Tina
sunshine state
FL
USA
6948 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 1:38:26 PM
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hey Cristine! way to go! I'm also so glad to see you posting again and sounding happier...I sincerely hope that everything is going much better. I'll be starting some veggie seeds too soon.Waiting on my seed order to come in the mail.
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
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MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 2:46:58 PM
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| They don't use arsenic anymore. It's just salt treated. I'm sure it's no worse than what we eat from the grocery store. |
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blueroses
True Blue Farmgirl
1323 Posts
Debbie
in the Pandhandle of
Idaho
USA
1323 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 3:14:13 PM
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Christine,
I'm a bit jealous. We won't be starting seeds til - oh - I'd say March or April. I really have to look into some sort of greenhouse. But now that we can't buy the extra land behind our house, it will have to be a small one. Have fun. I haven't even ordered seeds yet. I'm drooling over all my catalogs while looking out at the snow.
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
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FlipFlopFarmer
True Blue Farmgirl
198 Posts
Carla
Molalla
Oregon
198 Posts |
Posted - Jan 24 2007 : 3:35:22 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by MsCwick
They don't use arsenic anymore. It's just salt treated. I'm sure it's no worse than what we eat from the grocery store.
Well that's good to know.
Live simply.
Love generously.
Care deeply.
Speak kindly. |
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Nance in France
True Blue Farmgirl
1438 Posts
Nancy
St. Laurent de la Salanque
France
1438 Posts |
Posted - Jan 25 2007 : 04:13:26 AM
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| Cristine, way to go! I have about 9 raised beds of different sizes in my city size back yard and love them. Cuts way down on the time and effort it takes to cut the grass... The elevated soil heats up faster so you can plant earlier, and drainage is improved, too. Not to mention all the goodies (mulch, grass clippings, veggie scraps, etc.) that you can enrich the soil with, and you can more easily control the ph/acidity levels, to help certain plants along. Happy sowing! Nance |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 10:54:19 AM
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Just a thought, if anyone is worried about chemicals from treated wood still... I've seen where people have stapled plastic to the insides of their raised beds on the SIDES only. This keeps the wood from directly contacting the soil. May garden situation has changed, so I don't have raised beds anymore.
Rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com |
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 4:21:38 PM
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I'm jealous! I can't start my seeds until my need Sow & Grow's arrive in the mail; probably two more weeks since they're coming from Canada. I've got all my seeds though and I'm itching to get started!
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 4:45:48 PM
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What is a Sew and Grow? I've not heard of that before...
Rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com |
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kitchensqueen
True Blue Farmgirl
521 Posts
521 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 5:03:43 PM
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Oh, the Sow & Grow's are these great seed-starting flats available from Veseys (www.veseys.com). They are lime green (instead of boring black), come in several different configurations, are extra-sturdy commercial-grade plastic and super affordable. I got four of the windowsill kits that hold 30 seedlings each for $7.50 a piece.
http://apartmentfarm.wordpress.com |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 5:06:30 PM
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Ahhhhh! Thanks! Have you ever used newspaper cups for your peat cup replacements? They are pretty cool... and easy to make. I like the lime green idea! I bought boring black this year... but I might have to see about a cuter color next!
rachel
Rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com |
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KarenP
True Blue Farmgirl
666 Posts
Karen
Chippewa Falls
Wisconsin
USA
666 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 5:57:47 PM
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Rachel,
Did you buy the newspaper cup maker or make one?
I've been looking at them but don't think I should spend 12.95 + shipping or up for one.
Thanks for any info you can pass along.
KarenP
"Purest Spring Water in the World" |
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oceanfarmgirl
True Blue Farmgirl
231 Posts
Rachel
A Little Closer to Heaven
Oregon Coast
USA
231 Posts |
Posted - Jan 31 2007 : 6:01:25 PM
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I just made them myself. I used a baby food jar, but any will do. I wrapped the jar with newspaper, and then folded the bottom of the roll onto the bottom of the jar. If you do this while the paper is damp, then just remove the cup and allow it to dry before you plant with it. I maily just made sure that the roll went around the jar a good couple of times. It worked really well!:)
Rachel
See what I'm up to on my blog... http://minetothine.blogspot.com |
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Garden Gate: I'm Starting Seeds Tomorrow!!! |
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I'm Starting Seeds Tomorrow!!!
