Acorn Squash

I guess that, in a way, gardens are like your children.  They grow a little bit every day, but you’re so close you don’t realize it, until something makes you stand up and take notice.  The garden that I’ve referred to as my summer project is absolutely taking off.  The hydroponic versions have pretty much outstripped the regular soil- in-container versions, with the exception of the Thai hot peppers and I realize that the soil versions are getting about 1 1/2 more hours of sun each day and it’s making a real difference.

If I start thinking now about all the new ways to use acorn squash I might be able to manage what is looking to be the start of a bumper crop.  The snow peas are starting to produce very tender and very tasy pods and I’ve recently added some beefstake and heritage “Brandywine” tomatoes in a newly configured garden that I’m hoping will create “The Tomato Solution” because I cannot possibly bring this to market without a tomato configuration.

But what has truly blown me away beyond my wildest expectations is the cut-and-come-again salad garden.  I’m a big salad eater and so far, from a 4 foot planting of mixed greens I’ve taken at least 6 salads for 3 people in a two week period and it just keeps getting fuller.  And the taste and texture of these greens is like nothing else I’ve ever had- which is I guess what happens when you’re not eating a commercially grown crop that must be a variety that travels well.

Here are some more shots!

Salad Greens

Snow Peas

Well, it’s too early to say for sure what works, but I’m getting a feeling for what doesn’t work and I’m sorry to say I need to go back to the drawing board for the larger plants.  The two tubs that I made to hold 3 – 6 large plants each have some challenges and so far, they’re not insurmountable, but I think I have a much better idea for the design.

I shouldn’t have put the aggregated clay at the bottom of the bags, not sure why my brain was dead that day but until the roots reach into it, the clay doesn’t allow the moisture to work it’s way higher up into the bag.  And the roots aren’t likely to reach the bottom when the top and the middle – where they’re living now doesn’t get the nutrient.  I made the same mistake with the pipe gardens, but I used very little aggregate so some of the coir still made contact with the moisture.  This is not to say that any of the plants are doing anything less than thriving- they’re growing like gangbusters!

Even though the hydroponic test plants were 1-2 weeks behind the plants I potted into traditional containers with compost and soil,  they have pretty much surpassed them in size and have started to flower sooner.

The pipe gardens so far are total winners ( a.k.a. nothing has gone wrong yet) I’ve had 3 salads so far from the container greens- very satisfying and once the cukes take off I’d better dig up the pickle recipe again.

I now just need to refine the pipe gardens and figure out the most economical way to produce them- and I need a stand for balconies and patios that don’t have a place to affix them vertically and for people who don’t have the time, tools or the desire or skills to do that kind of job.

This was a lot more work than I expected it to be, but things always are – however  I’m very excited to say that I have the pipe gardens up and working and the tub garden is just waiting for my tomatoes to arrive.

I have  some pictures of the current state of affairs in my crowded little backyard and only wish that I had the energy to haul some of the ugly stuff out of the background before I took the shots.

The pipe gardens might need a little more waterproofing. I’m not sure yet because it won’t stop raining long enough to tell if the outside is wet from rain, dew or leakage – I’m hoping for the first two.

Hydroponic beans in the pipe garden

On top of everything else – it’s been so bloody cold here that on the evening of May 30 ( if you can believe it) I almost lost my hot peppers from the cold – one of two degrees colder and it would have been a frosty death.

The Hydroponic Pipe gardens

I have set beans, and peas on the top shelf so that they can climb up the deck posts.  On the second level I have my cut and come again baby salad greens.  and on the bottom shelf is basil, Thai basil and some small Thai peppers – The valves seem to be working just find and so I’m ready now to start tracking the growth and comparing it to the plants I’ve set up on the deck that are planted in compost.