I won't bore you with more photos of the construction process. It was easy, the same as BEFORE. I used the raised bed corner brackets, screwed them together with Deckmate screws (rustproof), and rolled them, like square wheels, into position. They are all three feet apart from each other, to make it easier to get wheelbarrows carts and other things in between them. |
| 4x4 Raised Beds |
This is a side to side view. I did the four on the right last weekend and the last four (on the left) this weekend, before the rain hit. I'm not kidding when I say we literally just got the last one into place when it started sprinkling. We loaded up the car to keep the tools out of the rain and then went to the porch when it started pouring. Work outside done for the day!
Next step comes irrigation. I'm currently figuring out the best way to do it since the water faucet is so far away. Most likely, an underground pipe or hose from the house to the garden area. Once I get it there, I've got a drip irrigation system ready for that end that will, hopefully, work.
Of course, the weather changed yesterday, rained all day again and got cold...down into the 30's during the day. I'm not sure what this weekend's weather will be like. If we wait long enough, it will change. One good thing for sure, the rain will loosen the ground for digging a trench, which will help ease the hardest part of the work.
You are going to have lots of space for LOTS of vegetables. I look forward to seeing your progress.
ReplyDeleteFingers crossed! I don't think we'll do all beds this year, the plan is to start small.
Deletei think you are going to need to open a farm stand. you are going to have tons of veggies! great job!
ReplyDeleteHa, perhaps someday. We're starting small this first year so we can concentrate on doing it right.
DeleteI don't know if this helps because your raised bed garden area is much larger than ours...
ReplyDeleteMy guy ran a hose to the raised bad and attached it to a secondary spigot that he mounted on one of the wooden pillars where we attach our deer netting. We then either used a second hose or the drip irrigation attached to that second spigot. We could then turn the water on and off at the garden bed without running back to the house...just don't run over the hose with the mower!
Great minds! I was thinking of something similar. I'm going to to run a hose to the garden area and I"m thinking of a spigot in the corner so I can control the on off there. I may put it underground, need to research that.
DeleteOH, and the mower, um, I totally understand...don't ask me how I know, ha.
And remember to line those babies with cardboard. Looks like good progress to me, even with the weather!
ReplyDeleteAs a vegetable gardener-to-be, I'm interested to know why you would need to these beds with cardboard.
DeleteI am not sure you would need to. Cardboard serves as a weed/grass barrier, that decomposes over time. However, 1st has weed fabric down already.
DeleteI'm with you both. I do have the weed fabric under the beds, dindin do I need to still put down cardboard? Just curious, I defer to everyone's expertise since this is still new to me.
DeleteI've moved from the Houston area to north central TX which is in a severe drought. For the raised beds I am going to try ollas (oy-yas). There are some great DIY ones I found on the internet. Basically you glue 2 clay pots together with Gorilla glue, with the bottom hole plugged. Bury them so the top hole is slightly above dirt level and fill with water. The larger the pot the longer the water lasts, up to 7 days in some cases. Roots will be drawn from 18" away to the water source. I will be setting up soaker hoses too but I hope the ollas will cut down on the amount of water needed. I'm also planning to mulch with several inches of straw to cut down on the evaporation.
ReplyDeleteHope we both have great gardens this year!
Oh my gosh, I was JUST last night reading about Ollas. I saw a DIY thing with them made from two 8" or 10" clay pots put together, and the bottom hole plugged up. I saw the 18" water radius. I think I might try that as a back water event as well. Never thought about the straw though, that's a great idea too.
DeleteFrom your lips to Mother Nature's ears! ;-)
Are you going to install a water tank as well? This is what we hope to have when we build our own vegetable garden.
ReplyDeleteThat could be in a future project. For this year and perhaps next, we'll see how it goes without. I also saw a great idea with rain barrels at the ends of each row of beds. Might try that at some point too. I can't wait for you guys to have yours too. It's going to be awesome.
DeleteWe got a rain barrel last year. You need to attach them to a downspout to collect any significant water. Of course last year, we got tons of rain. If you do get a rain barrel, put it up on a little platform - it helps the gravity feed to get the water into your watering can or whatever.
DeleteI forgot one thing. When that barrel is full of water or even partially full, it will be EXTREMELY heavy!
DeleteIn Melbourne, where we will move to next year, it is the law that a new home is built with a water tank that has a pump attached so that you can use the water as if you were using an ordinary tap…
DeleteSo as you can imagine, we are very 'tank' conscious.
Ist Man, inspired in no small part by you, I can hardly wait to get started!
Around here we use drip irrigation. Kind of expensive at first, but pays off in the long run. You did a beautiful job on the planters. Can't wait to see them filled with veggies
ReplyDeleteThank you! i'm trying a hybrid DIY/Professional setup. We'll see what happens. Thanks, can't wait myself, ha.
DeleteIt is finally going to be the year that you both serious garden. Fantastic!
ReplyDeleteYep! Well, by 'both', I'm guessing you mean me harvest and do the work and he cooks the results. But I can live with that set up, ha.
DeleteNot a bad system you have there. ;)
DeleteHey, whatever works, right? LOL!!!!
DeleteGreat job! Now the fun part, filling up with soil and planting.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait!!! Still a few more steps but almost there and ready!! :-)
DeleteI'm drooling over the amount of space you have and how lovely and uniform your beds are. I do believe I'll live vicariously through you! I have 2 long raised beds. All the room that we have. They are about 3' x 20'. Mostly dedicated to tomatoes. I need more room!!!!! Now that I'm done pouting lovely job on your beds! :)
ReplyDeleteHey, you have 120 square feet of gardening space, that's nothing to sneeze at. Our fenced in area is 36x44 but the beds of course take up less than that. I'll have a post coming up soon with the layout. I understand about tomatoes....might do the same here, ha. Thanks for the very kind words. :-)
DeleteThey look really good!
ReplyDeleteThank you I appreciate that!!! You always inspired me (and of course Granny, the ultimate inspirer, lol).
DeleteOh, WELL DONE!
ReplyDeleteTHANKS! :-)
Delete1st Man,
ReplyDeleteLooking good my friend!
You are very kind as always, thank you. It's work but it will hopefully pay off in the end.
DeleteSaw you mention putting spigot in corner .... a little extra digging but think running a hard line towards the middle and putting the spigot there would make it easier in the long haul ... having water available to go any direction from the center of the raised bed complex... just an idea...
ReplyDeleteYou know, that's something I hadn't considered. Thanks!!! I'll check that out and see what my options are.
DeleteEnjoying watching your garden come together.
ReplyDeleteThank you very much!!! :-)
Delete