Water Your Plants When Not At Home Cheaper

Water Your Plants When Not At Home Cheaper





























 A little improvement - tread the exposed string into straws to lower evaporation into the air.

Maybe elevate the water source higher than the plant, moist seeks lower level due to gravity.
(HomeMadeIsEasyblogger)

 http://snapguide.com/guides/water-your-plants-when-youre-away/
 

Garden Tower Project Best Idea

THIS IS THE BEST I HAVE EVER SEEN.
The middle has red worms to make "worm dropping tea".
THIS is the way to go.
Tip my hat to this site and bless them for sharing all their data!


gardentowerproject    
Please visit this site for even more data.

Initial set-up and planting:

 

Add a soil mixture (6-7 cubic feet) that is organic if possible.  Very light and lofty mixes are available that will do a great job while only adding 20-30 pounds of weight (dry). 

 

Remove a handful of soil from the pocket to be planted (when planting starts).  Plants can be grown from seed in the Garden Tower as well, but special care must be taken to maintain moisture in each pocket without disturbing the seed and soil (frequent bottle misting is an effective method).

 

 

Straighten bound plant roots and insert starter plant into pocket. 

 

 

Replace removed handful of soil and use it to support the new plant.

 

 

Lightly press soil around the plant stem to bolster root zone and prevent soil loss during watering. 

 

 

Gently water each pocket 1-2x daily for 7 days or until plants develop new roots and appear stable.

 

 

Watering from the top is all that is necessary beyond the first week.  Adding some mulch, leaf littler, coir, or other fibrous material to the top surface will help reduced evaporation and prevent soil disturbance making watering even easier. 

 

 

Add 2 or more pounds of compostable kitchen scraps to the compost tube prior to adding worms.  We suggest adding your worms after you have been adding kitchen scraps for at least 3 days, this provides time for decay which is necessary for the worms to feed.  Adding some shredded cardboard or newspaper periodically (1 part paper to 4 parts kitchen scraps) will help provide the carbon:nutrient balance for the worm community to thrive.

 

 

 

Add 2 to 6 ounces or about one cup of healthy worms.  Red wigglers and nightcrawlers will work in companion to maximize productivity and nutrient cycling in the Garden Tower.  Red wigglers and nightcrawlers can be found locally at very low cost in most communities (outdoor sporting stores, bait shops).  However, numerous online outfits will deliver healthy worms to your door. 

 

 

The planted Garden Tower after one week!

 

 

 

 

The planted Garden Tower after exactly 14 days!

 

 

 

 

 

 

50 Plants + Composting in Four Square Feet!

The Garden Tower grows plants vertically, enabling you to grow 50 plants in a very small space -- the ultimate square foot garden with integrated composting! Most container gardens only allow planting on the top. The Garden Tower has 45 openings around the outside and space for up to 5 taller plants on top, resulting in an impressively bountiful harvest.  Along with the top, side planting pockets are large enough to accommodate compact root vegetables such as turnips, carrots, and radishes.

 

  

 

 

  

    

  

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Container Garden Helps

Container Garden

Peas Zucchini Green Beans Tomatoes

My Container Garden (had 50) 2012

The HOA refused my request to put garden and remove grass. SO I planeted container garden for front yard. NO they were not happy, but it's not against rules!

Perfect planting area for herbs (patial sun) in front yard ----but any type of   "food" is banned from front yards by HOA rules. 

The #10 cans in the post are two-fold helps.

1. Hold young plants up against wind

2. Bring in electric from air every plant here has a "can" around it.

This garden is from May 2012.

I plant inside in March, April then put outside when frost is gone.

This garden kept us in fresh veggies until late October when frost hit.

I did take plants inside but cat & dogs helped themselves so they were happy & healthy but we didn't get more from the plants ourselves.

Garden Pallet Ideas For Up-Cycle

GARDEN UP-CYCLE PALLETS

 EASY PROJECT And a huge  time saver while gardening

SEEDSTARTER NURSERY

I like that this Gardner has large photos for us all. 

No more using sheets etc on all your plants before all the cold leaves!

COMPOST BIN

Four pallets & easy hardware.

YOU DO want to make sure you can open this to TOSS your compost. Note the latch on the R.H.S. of photo.

Pallet Box

The only thing I do note about this is the white mold on the lower L.H.S. of photo.

NOT something I want to eat, so maybe TOO much watering here! 

My Mom has a huge planter like this in her yard that my Dad made for flowers and her garlic.

EASY

Put the soil in and plant.

Happy Planting!

Container Greenhouse Gardening

I like this idea. I would vent it more & keep a close watch on this so it doesn't burn your plants. I did do this a few summers ago with seeing the photos and I enjoyed my results. NOW you have photos to use & DO.


photo credit: Homesteading Ways


Photo Credit: Homesteading Ways. Please Give Credit If YOU COPY.

Water Bottle Upcycled to Sprinkler

PHOTO CREDIT unknown

Raised Bed Garden Extended Growing Season

Build a raised bed cloche in 8 steps

 Learn to construct a covered raised garden bed in 8 easy steps, for around $200.

Sam Angima and Bill Biernacki, Oregon State University Extension  TEXT COPYRIGHTS. Jan 2013

Extend the growing season

A cloche is a glass bell jar that is set over individual plants, acting as a mini greenhouse and extending the growing season,

especially in cooler regions. This raised garden bed is built with a cover, essentially a cloche that covers an entire bed!

It is best suited for growing tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, melons, and other crops that need to be planted after danger of frost and generally mature late in the season.

Follow these directions to build a structure approximately 8 feet long and 4 feet wide at the base, and 5 feet high at the center.

Adjust the length by increasing or decreasing the length of the boards and number of PVC hoops, and alter the length of the polyethylene plastic appropriately.

The cost for materials is about $150-$250.

Gather your materials

Before you begin, compile all your materials. Label the boards as indicated.

• 2 A boards: 2-inch x 12-inch x 8-foot boards, treated with water-based preservatives
• 2 B boards: 2-inch x 12-inch x 4-foot boards, treated with water-based preservatives
• 3 C boards: 2-inch x 4-inch x 8-foot boards, treated with water-based preservatives
• 8 D boards: 1-inch x 4-inch x 10-foot boards, treated with water-based preservatives (to be cut to fit)
• 1 piece of 6-mil polyethylene plastic sheeting, 9 x 10-foot wide (cloche sides)
• 2 pieces of 6-mil polyethylene plastic sheeting 5 x 5-foot (cloche ends)
• 3 10-foot lengths of 0.75-inch schedule 40 PVC (hoop supports)
• 1 rubber bungee cord, 18 inches long
• 20 schedule 40 PVC clips (see Step 4/Detail. Obtained by sawing off one-third of a section of 1-inch PVC)
• 0.5 lb (approximate) 3-inch galvanized or stainless steel screws
• 0.5 lb (approximate) 1.5-inch galvanized or stainless steel screws
• 12 0.75-inch galvanized pipe straps
• Hand saw
• Appropriate screwdriver (preferably a power drill)

Step 1: Build the frame

Attach the two B boards to the ends of the two A boards using 3-inch screws at each end.

Cut six lengths of 11.5 inches each from one of the C boards and attach them to the inside of the longer side of the cloche frame you have just made. 

Use 3-inch screws to attach one 11.5-inch board in each corner and one on each side,

centered in the middle and flush with the bottom. These short pieces will support the corners and serve as anchors for the PVC ribs.

Option: Add support to the corners

You may add outside corner metal straps to the corners to further stabilize the raised bed base

Step 2: Add PVC hoops

Slowly bend each of the three 0.75-inch, 10-foot PVC hoop supports into each corner and one in the center to shape the arch of the cloche.

Secure each hoop flush at the bottom of the anchors using the 0.75-inch pipe straps and 1.5-inch screws.

Detail: Pipe straps

Use two galvanized pipe straps on each side, making sure ribs are vertical.

Instead of using pipe straps, you can attach sections of 1-inch PVC pipe to the anchors and just insert and

anchor the0 .75-inch hoops into these sleeves if you prefer.

Step 3: Build the backbone

Lay one of the D boards across the top of all three hoops, creating the top backbone and support of the cloche.

Check that the backbone is level and that the three hoops (ribs) touch the bottom of the backbone.

The ribs can be adjusted by loosening the pipe straps and making the necessary adjustment.

Measure the height of both ends of the frame from the bottom of the frame to the bottom of the backbone to make sure they are equal. 

You will use this information in the next step.

Step 3, continued: Build the backbone

Cut two C boards to the length measured in the last step (approximately 51 inches) and attach them to the outside of each end,

centered and flush with the bottom of the frame (B boards), using 3-inch screws. Cut the backbone to make its ends flush with

the C boards just placed (approximately 8 feet, 4 inches).

Attach each end of the backbone, flush to the outside of both vertical C boards, using 1.5-inch screws.

Check to make sure each PVC hoop is vertical and secure with a 1.5-inch screw down through the backbone and rib.

The remaining seven D boards can be cut to the same length as the backbone.

Step 4: Cover the ends

Open, spread, and attach the 5x5-foot plastic sections of the 6-mil polyethylene plastic sheeting to both ends using the

PVC clips, five on each side. Make sure the plastic covers the entire end, and tuck the plastic against the inside of the frame.

Detail: Make PVC clips

Make the PVC clips by sawing off a third of a section of 1-inch PVC. Pull plastic tight and make adjustments,

being careful that clips do not dig into the plastic. Trim extra plastic but leave a good 6 inches of excess.

Detail: Trim as needed

The plastic should be tucked against the end of the frame and trimmed to fit.

Step 5: Add the top cover

Drape the 10'x10' piece of 6-mil polyethylene plastic sheeting over the hoops, making sure each end and the

bottom sides are even. Do not trim excess plastic until later.

Step 6: Secure the plastic

Place another D board on top of the backbone, sandwiching the plastic between the two, and screw down using 1.5-inch screws.

Step 7: Hold the sides in place

For the side plastic curtains, use one D board on the inside of the plastic curtain and another on the outside,

sandwiching the plastic in the middle. Screw the D boards tightly together, resting on the frame, using 1.5-inch screws.

Curtain should hang with no slack. Trim excess plastic, leaving 6 to 8 inches of overhang below the sandwich assembly.

The overhang prevents rain from entering the cloche. Repeat on the other side.

For more wind resistance, you can wrap the plastic once around the first D board and then sandwich it with the other D board.

You also can attach a hook to the outer D board at each end and two hooks to the frame.

Attach bungee cords between the two hooks to prevent wind from flapping open the curtain.

Step 8: Finishing touches

For added strength and support, attach a D board to each rib (or hoop) on each side about 10 inches down from the

top of the backbone using 1.5-inch screws.

Attach the rubber bungee at the top center of the cloche.

When the side curtain is rolled up, the bungee will hold it in place.

Detail: Opening the cloche

Attach the bungee cord at its center to the backbone.

This will hold the rolled-up plastic for easy access to both sides of the raised-bed cloche.

One last tip

The cloche can get very warm on sunny days, especially. You may want to cut and leave open the top 6-12 inches of each end to allow for ventilation.

Photos and text copyright Oregon State University. Used with permission from Angima, S., and Biernacki, B. 2008.

How to Build Your Own Raised-Bed Cloche.

EC 1627. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University Extension Service.

Bug Bucket Traps

Bucket traps

"Here is an inexpensive solution for ridding the area of bugs," says Ron Stiteler of Clarksville, Florida.

"The buckets are available from dollar stores for $1.00 to $1.50. Use any old lamp fixture

with a 13-watt compact fluorescent bulb to light up the bucket. Coat it inside and out with brush

on "Tangle Trap" formula available in quart or gallon size from Gempler's Hardware.

I went through six of these this summer."

Soft, glowing light

"With photocells at the connections, you will also have soft, glowing,
(moonlight-like) outdoor light in the front and back of your house," says Stiteler.

Detergent traps

"You can also coat bleach and liquid laundry detergent containers and hang them without a
light anywhere you want to slow down being 'bugged,'" Stitleler says.
"Bright blue seems to attract the biting insects better than any other color.

http://www.livingthecountrylife.com/homes-acreages/country-homes/going-green/your-green-projects/

Organic Aphid Control

Organic Aphid Control

by: Home Made Is Easy 

 http://homemadeiseasy.blogspot.com/

photo credit  Wikipedia


No one wants to work and toil to find aphid's eating their harvest. NON- CHEMICAL killing of aphids is easier than you think and better for your health, environment and "good bugs" in your garden. Here's some tips I have learned in my 20+ years of gardening. Use ground or row covers. You can remove covers when plants start to flower.

I use a cheap spray bottle for about $1.00 and mix 1 small quirt of mild (MILD) dish soap into a spray bottle of water. I spray each plant. Let it set overnight then rinse the plant off the following morning.  Don't forget to spay under the leaves. The solution dehydrates the aphids thus killing them. I also spray the soil. If  I  have mulch, I remove it and use solution on it as well. I put mulch in the sun to fry anything in mulch. NEVER leave the soap solution on my plants. This method has always worked in my garden. I want them to live and thrive.


I have made a garlic spray on aphids. I used powered garlic and water letting it infuse. The smell doesn't kill them but drives them somewhere else. Onion solution does the same, it drives the aphids somewhere else and I want them dead.
 
Make a spray of 1 cup white mineral oil (vegetable oil works I have read but I only use Mineral Oil) with 2 cups of water and 2 teaspoons bleach free dish soap. Mix in spray bottle and spray on aphid plants. It will suffocate the aphids. Keep up the treatment of solution and keep ALL plants sprayed with this solution out of the sun or they can burn. I do let this sit overnight but rinse plant the next day. And I re spray solution again, put out of sun and rinse again the next morning. This has always killed aphids in my garden.
 
Introduce beneficial bugs, like lacewings and ladybugs to your garden as a natural way to kill aphids.
Plant fennel, dill, yarrow, clover and dandelions to attract lacewings and ladybugs, these plants are knows as aphid predators. Use these plants around the plants you wish to protect.

You can also grow plants AWAY from you garden that will attract aphids to them: Nasturtium, Aster, Mum, Cosmos, Hollyhock, Larkspur, Tuberous begonia, Verbena, Dahlia & Zinnia.


Some gardeners use a strong spray of water from hose to knock off aphids. BUT, I have done this and it also knocked off starting fruit, vegetables and blossoms. You have to spray every day until the aphids are gone.  Again, I didn't have success with this method.

Some use cedar chips in their garden. Some fruits and vegetables will tolerate this mulch. Do research before using cedar chips. It's normally an effective deterrent, but not all plants do well in cedar chips.

I plant garlic and onions in container gardens and alternate veggie and then onion or garlic container. If I'm doing ground-raised bed gardening I plant garlic and onion in every other row. I also use flowers in every other row to bring in butterfly's and bees. Aphids don't like the smell of garlic, onions. I'm also big on planting marigolds throughout my gardens, container or gardens. Happy Harvest!

Note this is my flower garden. I would only use the marigolds, seen on the left back in my veggie garden.
copyright photo: HomeMadeIsEasyJennyHW

Upcycle Plastic Bottle Greenhouse

NO PHOTO CREDITs WERE GIVEN ON SITE THAT POSTED THIS ORIGINALLY.

Mini Greenhouse for Each Plant in your Garden Plot

 I did this but with metal post. These would be lighter to move, but remember, using metal in your garden plot or container garden will bring electric out of air and into your garden for growth. 

MINI greenhouse give plants boost in cooler weather. photo credit: Prepper Nana

Photo credit: Prepper Nana

Straw Bale Gardening

Photo credit:Prepper Nana

Water is important with celery

Growing in bales is different than growing in soil.
The excess water will run through the bale - the bales are actually quite airy.


Photo Credit: Prepper Nana


Preparing Your Bales (cooking the bales) by: Prepper Nana

It takes at least 10 days to prepare your bales.
 
Days 1–3: Water the bales thoroughly and keep them wet.

Days 4–6: Sprinkle the bales with 1/2 cup of ammonium nitrate (32-0-0) per bale per day, and water it well into the bales. It can be found at the ag-supply store in I think 40-pound bags.

Days 7–9: Cut back to 1/4 cup of ammonium nitrate per bale per day and continue to water it in well.

Day 10: No more ammonium nitrate, but do add 1 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer per bale and water it in well.

Day 11:We placed a bit of dirt on top of the bales around the bales, and in the hole where the plant goes. A lot of those who do this use only enough to actually surround the plant- a sort of way of using the bale only as an 'organic planter box'. Transplant your plants into the bales. I used the next of a wine bottle, twirl it from side to side and in a circle motion to make an opening in the bale for each plant.

We get our bales in January/Feb and let the snow and rain have their way. After bales start to cook, ugly 'mushrooms' will emerge. This is a good sign, as that means the bales are starting to breakdown. Any green grass that sprouts and mushrooms are cooked - brown - dead. You can stick your hand into the bale and feel warmth and the straw turning to 'mush' from decomposing. Our son uses about 40 bales in his garden. Treatment is key. We place bales with the string going around the sides and not on top.

Strawberry Stones For Your Garden

  www.growtest.org/bumper-sticker

Stones painted to look like berries will keep the birds out of your berry patch.

After pecking a few of the hard painted stones, the bird will assume that all

of the berries in the patch are hard as a rock and will seek its food elsewhere.

 THIS IS A GREAT IDEA. JUST HAD TO SHARE.

Old Posters for Gardening

Dinners Camping

Please DO NOT COPY MY PHOTOGRAPHS. copyright HomeMadeIsEasyJennyHW

Foil Dinners. We went camping in Utah (forgot the table cloth, yuck) summer 2011. Our daughter taught us this and we just loved it. Also note "Stephens Hot Chocolate" on table. WE don't camp without Stephens Chocolate. ALL of the veggies came from my container garden. We also used white chicken. SO GOOD.

Garden Tortilla Wrap

 HOME GROWN. Well, not the avacado. But the rest came from my container garden. I made the spinach tortilla too. Gotta' love doing it on your own. Tomatoes, Zucchini (cut by my little boy with a butter knife so he could help!) & Lettuce. We eat well on fresh veggies all season.

PLEASE DO NOT COPY ANY OF MY PHOTOS ON THIS SITE. HomeMadeIsEasyJennyHW