building a raised bed around diff plants, what determines if its ok?
ahappy camper zone10
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
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theforgottenone1013 (SE MI zone 5b/6a)
4 years agochadinlg Zone 9b Los Gatos CA
4 years agoRelated Discussions
Sweet Corn in raised beds in OK City area
Comments (7)I thought that probably was the case, but wasn't sure because it wouldn't surprise me if some seed company named a variety "Triple Sweet" just to confuse us all. The seed companies do stuff like that all the time. I've grown both Kandy Korn (an SE type)and Serendipity (a Triplesweet or Synergystic type), and probably even in the same year and had no problem with them crossing because those types don't have to be isolated from one another. I've also grown Honey Select. I like all three, but Serendipity was my favorite in terms of flavor. Spacing is tricky, as Scott noted, because of variations in soil and climate. The better the quality of your soil, in terms of it being highly fertile, the closer you can plant and still get a crop. When I planted in raised beds, I planted the plants (any variety, no matter the type) 12" apart in all directions. That was my choice because I wanted the most ears possible and I got a good yield because the soil in the raised bed was highly enriched with tons of organic matter like compost and cow manure. However, with closely-spaced plants, your ears likely will be smaller. When I plant at grade-level, I use slightly farther spacing, maybe 15-18" in-between plants in the same row, but still with rows spaced about 12-15" apart. I'd rather plant more plants and get more ears, even if they are smaller, than plant further apart and get fewer but larger ears. That is because all my corn has to be planted inside a fenced area with a 7' tall fence to keep the deer out of it. If I could just plow up a section of land that wasn't fenced and plant corn without losing it all to the deer, I'd follow the recommended spacing of both rows and distance between plants in the rows. I usually don't plant the second variety, the one with the longer days-to-maturity, until the first variety is about knee-high. There's a reason for that and it is to keep them from pollinating at the same time. Sometimes, when you try to use staggered planting dates, the corn planted later is growing in warmer soil so it "catches" up with the corn planted earlier, especially if there's just a couple of weeks difference in their days-to-maturity numbers, which are just estimates anyway. Even though you don't have to isolate the two varieties you're growing (great job of doing your research and figuring that out, by the way!), you might want to stagger the planting dates a little bit anyway....by maybe 3 or 4 weeks or by planting the second corn when the first is knee-high. Why? Well, how much corn do you want at one time? Will you be canning or freezing it? If not, will you be harvesting more than you can eat in a reasonable time frame? By staggering the planting times, you spread out the harvest. By the time you're through harvesting and eating the Kandy Korn, your later planting of Serendipity will be about ready to pick. That's what you call perfect timing. I am growing 4 varieties this year and probably will plant two early (in different fenced areas) and then two later on once the early varieties are knee-high (in the same two fenced areas about 3 weeks later). Even though I'm prepared to freeze or can a lot of it, I don't want to have to harvest and process 4 kinds of corn all at once. Dawn...See MoreOld railroad ties OK for a raised bed garden ?
Comments (6)I live in Gainesville, former home to the infamous Koppers plant that made creosote and arsenic treated lumber, mostly utility poles from what I understand. The soil within a 2-mile radius of the former property is so polluted still that no one can plant anything edible in the ground. The most dangerous health-threatening component of creosote is dioxins, which can be released into the air and settle everywhere as dust. Lethal levels of dioxins were found miles away from the Koppers plant site. The statistics on cancer and especially miscarriages within that two-mile radius is unbelievable. If you care anything about your health, don't use creosote treated lumber in your yard, much less in your veggie garden. According to the EPA, it is illegal to use anything treated with creosote in your landscape. http://www.gardensalive.com/product/railroad-ties-are-not-legal-for-home-landscape-use/you_bet_your_garden...See MoreGrapevines and a flat yard. OK to mound into raised beds?
Comments (6)on most things... trunks are made to be dry .. in the air ... not in the ground ... and constantly moist... there are a few things.. like tomatoes.. that dont care ... mounding wouldnt be bad.. but you dig the plant out first.. make your mound ... and then replant at the proper height ... for as much work as you are going to do.. with hauling soil .... popping them out of the ground is extremely minor... and i dont know why you would skip such... for the minute or two.. it would take to lift them properly ... confirm such in the fruit forum ... maybe grape is one of the exceptions... let us know ken...See MoreWhat is the cheapest way to build a raised bed?
Comments (11)Ditto the concrete blocks (like these: http://www.homedepot.com/p/Oldcastle-16-in-x-8-in-x-8-in-Concrete-Block-30161345/100350252 ). Cheap, readily available, and will last forever (well...longer than you...). Run rebar down through the holes to stabilize. While at first glance they may seem to take up a lot of space, you can fill the cinder block holes with soil and plant herbs or annuals around the border of your raised beds. The cinder block holes are handy for supporting arches for row covers, vertical trellises, or posts. They are sturdy enough that you can easily place a board across the tops and make a bench....See MoreJohn D Zn6a PIT Pa
4 years agoNick (9b) Modesto Area
4 years agolgteacher
4 years agodirtguy50 SW MO z6a
4 years agoJohn D Zn6a PIT Pa
4 years agofloral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
4 years agoahappy camper zone10
4 years agoJXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)
4 years agoahappy camper zone10
4 years agoJXBrown (Sunset 24, N San Diego County)
4 years agopurslanegarden
4 years ago
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