tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730218229428770234.post2597524382459991580..comments2023-10-30T09:39:01.797-04:00Comments on <center>Grim Wytche Farm</center>: Day 7Yarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11482143022186609509noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730218229428770234.post-82440832701646914722011-09-29T10:54:38.691-04:002011-09-29T10:54:38.691-04:00I grow so much in containers! There are many diff...I grow so much in containers! There are many different designs and ideas online you can use. I have 2 different types set up in 'totes' (you know, the storage totes you can buy at places like Walmart?):<br /><br />1. Drilled totes: I drill about 6 drainage holes in the bottom, fill with a soil and compost mixture, and then just plant my plants. The soil is very deep, so plenty of drainage area (usually). I then mulch the top with things like dried leaves, lawn clippings, newspapers, whatever I have on hand to help keep weeds down.<br /><br />2. Non-drainage Self-watering: the term self-watering is a little misleading. You are still going to drill 1 hole though: about 6-10 inches up from the ground level (I'll explain later...)<br /><br />I take half-gallon (empty) milk jugs. I drill (but you could poke with a screwdriver if you're talented) a few holes on one side (I use as the 'top') and then I slice a slice with a knife thru the 'bottom'. I fill the bottom of the tote with a layer of these jugs...but don't CRAM them in - a little wiggle room is desired.<br /><br />In one of the jugs (I pick a corner jug usually), I take plastic water bottles and cut the bottoms of them off, setting one inside the other and taping them together in a long line to form a watering tube, taping the seams together with sturdy, clear tape. I usually only make it high enough to come about 3/4 of the way up the side of the tote.<br /><br />I cut a hole into that corner jug that is just big enough for the bottom water bottle to set it's spout end into the hole. I tape that into place. Then fill the entire tote with soil/compost, being sure soil falls within the sides and cracks between the jugs.<br /><br />(there are descriptions online of this whole process with pics that might explain this better than I am now attempting to do). <br /><br />The soil between the jugs will be what transports the water up through the soil. Be sure the top water bottle from the watering tube sticks up at least a couple inches above the soil level. Now fill the bottle, and keep filling. It will take a bit, because water needs to get into those milk jugs. When the soil has enough water in it, it will start to dribble out of the 6-10 inch high hole (called the over-flow hole). That's when you stop watering!<br /><br />You can now walk away, and only water when the top of the soil is dry to the touch, and if you peek into the watering tube and cannot see much water down there. Go ahead and fill again to the over-flow point.<br /><br />I find with the self-watering system, I only have to water about once a week (even less if it's rainy, of course).<br /><br />Both kinds of totes have worked well for me. A nice advantage to these tote gardens is that you can move them to the perfect sunny spot. If you get loads and loads of rain, you can (carefully, and possibly with help!) lift the totes up onto a pallet or onto some logs to allow the totes to keep from getting too soggy and allow them to drain (if the ground below is already soggy, it will not let your tote drain, so that's why lifting them up in a real rainy patch can be helpful. Some of my plants, like strawberries, that do not like 'wet feet' I always keep up on pallets).<br /><br />You can camoflage the totes with potted plants or low-lying bushes tucked around the base of the plants.dreaming in mainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00351781973941395751noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730218229428770234.post-89628431101288669552011-09-26T21:47:55.016-04:002011-09-26T21:47:55.016-04:00Let me warn you ... the squirrels and chipmunks wi...Let me warn you ... the squirrels and chipmunks will beat you to the hazelnuts!<br /><br />We have a large beautiful bush that has been growing for a couple of years under the oil tank. We mowed it down for several years not knowing what it was. This year, we noticed hazelnuts. Then, we started looking around and found a half dozen more hazelnut bushes growing wild. I had one of our daughters count the hazelnuts on a single bush ... 22. A few days before I was going to pick them, I went back to look. They were all gone! From the half dozen bushes or so, I picked a meager, puny 4 hazelnuts.<br /><br />I would investigate wild nuts in your area. If your space is limited, I recommend saving it for your very prolific tomatoes (see Food Storage).<br /><br />We, too, tend to learn from our mistakes. You'll see in the livestock section.Deus Ex Machinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05425336387322313716noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730218229428770234.post-24325493586854072542011-09-26T11:08:14.861-04:002011-09-26T11:08:14.861-04:00Thank you for the advice. I know I'm still wai...Thank you for the advice. I know I'm still waiting to order things too.Yarthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11482143022186609509noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3730218229428770234.post-61880537405148913192011-09-26T09:36:11.375-04:002011-09-26T09:36:11.375-04:00Walnuts take years & years to produce nuts, ha...Walnuts take years & years to produce nuts, hazlenuts can produce in just a few. If you're short on space, I'd think the hazlenut bushes would be easier. Having said that, we have yet to order ours, but that's on the "do order" list this fall.Carolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14436557172029575513noreply@blogger.com