Gardening thoughts
Jun. 11th, 2012 09:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
helwenSo one of the things I got out of working a full day at Goldthread was that working on the ground, even raised beds, was physically way too challenging. Raised beds are higher but you can't necessarily get closer to the plants because these had soil sides instead of boards so they're wider at the bottom than at the top. So I was thinking, wouldn't it be nice to have tables instead? L and I were talking about it at a later date, and figured that for all plants that were smaller than a bush or tree, this could work. Make the tops of the tables be wood frame with hardware cloth on them (drainage) and shaded on the sides. Put your pots/flats on top and mushroom logs underneath. Depending on number of tables you'd also have tool storage space underneath.
I favor the idea of getting/building large flats rather than using small pots because if you have a hot summer the roots will get baked pretty quickly in a small pot. You really need mass to protect your plants. Although with a frame you could also attach posts and put up shade cloth as needed as well... and if it was a really wet summer you could up up a solid cover to give the plants a break from getting rained on for a day or so.
Thought needs to be given to what you're going to grow -- for instance some plants need to go deep, so a table for them would be shorter than for plants that don't need quite as much soil -- otherwise you'd be reaching up to weed. So tomatoes would be on a lower table, and lettuce would be on a higher one.
The other reason I think large flats would be good is that it would be easier to mix in compost and other amendments.
Today I also toyed with the idea of a slanted surface -- only a few tiers (1' deep) and not as deep as a table (3'), but might be handy for sheltering say a cart or similar height item. Just a thought on maximizing small acreage.
I favor the idea of getting/building large flats rather than using small pots because if you have a hot summer the roots will get baked pretty quickly in a small pot. You really need mass to protect your plants. Although with a frame you could also attach posts and put up shade cloth as needed as well... and if it was a really wet summer you could up up a solid cover to give the plants a break from getting rained on for a day or so.
Thought needs to be given to what you're going to grow -- for instance some plants need to go deep, so a table for them would be shorter than for plants that don't need quite as much soil -- otherwise you'd be reaching up to weed. So tomatoes would be on a lower table, and lettuce would be on a higher one.
The other reason I think large flats would be good is that it would be easier to mix in compost and other amendments.
Today I also toyed with the idea of a slanted surface -- only a few tiers (1' deep) and not as deep as a table (3'), but might be handy for sheltering say a cart or similar height item. Just a thought on maximizing small acreage.
