Larry Hallâ's "Rain Gutter Grow System"
Comments (23)
johns.coastal.patio
9 years agoricman
9 years agoRelated Discussions
In ground or roof top garden
Comments (25)Glib, Perhaps the gutter system wont be operational during the 4 months of high heat. It would be for the remaining 8 months. Btw, trying to thinking out of the box. The greenhouse is generally for cold weather but we can also have a greenhouse in place for such summer months and controlling the temps by Fans and / or Air conditioners. It might get expensive but have a look at the tomato prices in Karachi between these months and the winter months - i.e. Dec/Jan In August they were Pak Rupees (PKR). 200 per kg (retail) and in Dec/Jan they were PKR 10 per kg. i.e. @ 5% of the summer prices and they say tomato is a warm season veggie :) These number may make the greenhouse viable....See MoreComments on my SWC fertilization plan?
Comments (6)Initially, I ordered EBs with Organic planting kits. I dont have anymore of that but I assume it is based on bone meal, blood meal, feathers, etc. I was using staight peat as a potting mix as I thought that is what was needed. I grew several crops of toms that way. Now, I add some bark, perlite and potting mix, along with peat, sometimes a handfull of worm casting but I go pretty easy on "compost" type or "manure type ingredients, again, I am reusing my mix and I dont want it to go all soggy on me. Since I grow primarily tomatoes I like to use Tomatotone but I have used any number or organic ferts available at big box store or nursery. I also add dolomite lime. I add a teas of calcium nitrate in the watering tube weekly to help against BER. Toward the end of my long season if I am trying to get that last round of maters, I sometimes add some liquid ferts, seaweed or fish based....See MoreVegetable Gardening Mentor in Las Vegas
Comments (11)So sorry you got bum advice a the ag center. I am a master gardener too, but I research my answers through the University of Florida before I make a recommendation. We aren't supposed to give our own opinion. I can't think of any where that you would only water ever two weeks! We have two growing seasons also. Or maybe three. Only me and my neighbor seem to be the only ones still growing tomatoes. I have more tomatoes than I know what to do with. Most people have yanked theirs out when it gets this hot. Compost and mulch will be a big help to retaining water along with deep watering. I always learn by experimenting. Been growing plants in pots and some gardening for 40 years and I'm still learning. Our best crops were grown in a garden called a hugel. Google it for the heck of it....See MoreBrooklyn Bridge park
Comments (3)I will thank u. under the bkln bridge there is a garden dedicated to Larry hall, made by high school kids. They used his rain gutter grow system... pretty cool... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NtvEYYgukM8&list=UUVnDfVS8raCaGEM0BOypsLg...See Morejohns.coastal.patio
9 years agosuncitylinda
9 years agoricman
9 years agoricman
9 years agojohns.coastal.patio
9 years agoricman
9 years agojohns.coastal.patio
9 years agogjshawk
9 years agoRain gutter system - good!
This is my first year trying it. I'm very happy so far. As you can see, my plants are doing great. Also as you can see, I have a lot of weeds on the ground. I"m working on that, I mean on getting rid of them not on helping them grow, but Weeds Are The Champions, My Friend.The photo is from last week. The plants are quite a bit bigger now.
gjshawk
9 years agoHere's a newer photo. The plants are bigger, but so are the weeds. At least they are not in the buckets. I sprayed'em yesterday. Die, weeds die!
ricman
9 years agogjshawk
9 years agosunflower_child
9 years agogjshawk
9 years agoThought I'd post an update photo of my rain-gutter setup. Plants are really growing so far, and are kinda crowding out the peppers. Green tomatoes on about all of them.
ricman
9 years agoHey gjshawk,
Looking great very healthy looking plants. Here is a shot down one of my rows. My son is standing at the end of the row. I have really enjoyed the RGGS.
ricman
9 years agoA quick shots of the days harvest. Red Bell Pepper, Yellow squash, zucchini, cucumbers and tomatoes-Black Krim, Cherokee Purple, Big Boy, Better Boy, Big Beef and Super Fantastic. The largest Black Krim , the one in front weighed in at a little over 1 pound. Love the RGGS!!!
sunflower_child
9 years agogjshawk
9 years agoRicman, where are you located? Looks like you have quite a bit of room for the garden, which is impressive, as is the harvest! I'll be expanding my RGGS next season, since the "trials" will be a success this season. I really, really like being able to ignore watering that area of the garden. I have other sub-irrigated planters but I have to fill the reservoirs pretty much daily. They are growing great, but i still have to keep watering them, but not the RGGS.
gjshawk
9 years agoricman
9 years agoIt's hard to say about any differences because I didn't do any tomatoes in pots just the RGGS. I have done container tomatoes in the past and they did not do as well as in the RGGS this year. But without a side to side comparison no proof I guess. My other plants in the pots have done well this year but it has not got really hot yet, but that starts very soon as you well know.
Rick
fizzix1955
8 years ago
ricman