Raised Gardens

[CLTPanther]

I am not planning on any under ground veggies at this point. The current list of plants is 3 types of tomatoes, bell pepper, lettuce, cucumber, squash, zucchini, some hot peppers, cilantro and basil. I have been doing container gardening for the last 3 years, but bought a raised garden because it was a good deal at $50 for 24x48x8. The main issues I've had in the past is a blue/green mold growing on the leaves of the cucumbers, then spreading to the squash/zucc. I'm not sure if they were overwatered or I didn't use enough insecticide (organic).

[CLTPanther]

If I want to grow tomatoes, cucumbers and jalapenos, when is the best time to plant?

You can start sowing the seeds now and move them in at night. Plant after chance of last frost, which around here is usually early to mid April.

[Carolina Husker]

What's the easiest way to sow the seeds before planting them?

[Darth Urious]

all of my materials for raising my garden are coming from the woods behind it... I'll be boxing it in with fell trees, and using the fill dirt from the forest floor... I also have compost that has been going for several years that will be mixed in...

one of the reasons I'm raising it is because of the slope of our lot... one side will likely be just slightly above current ground while the other end might be a good foot or more...

[Darth Urious]

What's the easiest way to sow the seeds before planting them?

needle and thread, duh

yeah, I know that is sew... but SO what!

[Darth Urious]

on the real, though..

Tomatoes are pretty hardy... You could start them in 5 gallon buckets or window planters indoors if you wanted... Jalapenos are similar...

Cukes I don't have much experience with, but I would assume they would be equally as hardy...

Set them in some good soil and in a window where you get some good sunlight, water at once a day or so, and you're good...

[Panthro]

The thing that worked the best for me is to bury a couple of plastic cups or something similar near the garden and pour some beer in them. Slugs love beer and will slide and die.

That's also how to keep me away from your garden

[CLTPanther]

What's the easiest way to sow the seeds before planting them?

You can get some small seed starters from lowes or HD for cheap, put some miraclegro soil in them, put the seeds in, water, put in sunlight, bring in at night. Most veggies will sprout above the soil in 7-14 days or so. Do not transplant to full outside until early to mid April. Also, try to use 5 gallon buckets if you're going to use pots. The smaller ones will make some larger plants get root bound and they will start wilting and die.

[CLTPanther]

all of my materials for raising my garden are coming from the woods behind it... I'll be boxing it in with fell trees, and using the fill dirt from the forest floor... I also have compost that has been going for several years that will be mixed in...

one of the reasons I'm raising it is because of the slope of our lot... one side will likely be just slightly above current ground while the other end might be a good foot or more...

You should treat the wood with something. My neighbor did what you're going to do a few years ago and did nothing to the wood. Now it's warped and ugly as hell

[CharlotteBeer.com]

You should treat the wood with something. My neighbor did what you're going to do a few years ago and did nothing to the wood. Now it's warped and ugly as hell

I've read that you should use untreated wood, as you don't want chemicals from pressure-treated wood leeching into your soil.

I had scrap lumber and used it to build my three boxes.

[Johnny Rockets]

That's also how to keep me away from your garden

I have them surrounding my house for that very reason.

[dimbee]

I built 3 8' x 4' raised gardens last year. Worked out well. This year I'll be installing preventative measures to keep the deer out

[CLTPanther]

I was thinking if I should put anything up as well for protection. Yesterday morning there was a good size doe, probably 175lbs or so wandering around in the woods beside my house.

[dimbee]

The deer were very well-fed last year off of my gardens. :( They picked my mater plants clean. Out of 12 plants, I think I got to eat 1 ripe tomato. It burned me up to say the least.