Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks > Greenhouse!
- e-beach 1.21 GW
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- Joined: Jan 10 2012 9:48pm
- Location: Any Los Angeles area beach I am at. Or Santa Monica or possibly the south bay beaches.
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
At OVF we are not allowed to have standing water under any circumstances due to mosquito's except if you have mosquito fish to eat the larva. It's been working around here since the 1970's. Also, there is a whole science to aquaponics using fish as the fertilizer.
As a side note, mosquito's need calm water to lite on the water. Fish need water the is oxygenated with bubbles. Between the fish and the blubber, IMO, mosquito's should not be a problem. Let us know how it goes.
As a side note, mosquito's need calm water to lite on the water. Fish need water the is oxygenated with bubbles. Between the fish and the blubber, IMO, mosquito's should not be a problem. Let us know how it goes.
Favorite Quotes:
"This is L.A., sugar. There is no 'over the top." Chris Erskine
"At a certain point the entropy wins." Maria Helena Braga
Current Build: ProFlex 757 Expert full suspension. Yescomusa 36v 800w Rear DD, upgraded 10AWG solid core through axle phase wires. 15ah Headway, 1000+ cycles, 80% DOD 30A Tronsung controller.
Past: Trek 4500 Yescomusa 36v 800w front DD.
Liahona, Yescomusa 36v 800w generic front DD.
1992 Trek 800, Yescomusa 800w 36v front DD.
"This is L.A., sugar. There is no 'over the top." Chris Erskine
"At a certain point the entropy wins." Maria Helena Braga
Current Build: ProFlex 757 Expert full suspension. Yescomusa 36v 800w Rear DD, upgraded 10AWG solid core through axle phase wires. 15ah Headway, 1000+ cycles, 80% DOD 30A Tronsung controller.
Past: Trek 4500 Yescomusa 36v 800w front DD.
Liahona, Yescomusa 36v 800w generic front DD.
1992 Trek 800, Yescomusa 800w 36v front DD.
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
INDEX
Split Tomatoes
Mildew
Garden Pests
Soil Additives
De-Chlorinating City Water
2019 Week -4
Family Beds Rebuild
Pantry Beds Prep
2019 Growing Season - Week 0
Tomatoes and the interminable Bacterial Wilt
41.6oz Homegrown Tomato
Goldfish, in moderate numbers do not require a "bubbler" witness the typical goldfish bowl, Koi ponds, etc (or the tiny bowls used to separate male Betas). Air to water interface is usually sufficient for oxygen transfer.
Split Tomatoes
Mildew
Garden Pests
Soil Additives
De-Chlorinating City Water
2019 Week -4
Family Beds Rebuild
Pantry Beds Prep
2019 Growing Season - Week 0
Tomatoes and the interminable Bacterial Wilt
41.6oz Homegrown Tomato
Goldfish, in moderate numbers do not require a "bubbler" witness the typical goldfish bowl, Koi ponds, etc (or the tiny bowls used to separate male Betas). Air to water interface is usually sufficient for oxygen transfer.
Last edited by DrkAngel on Aug 26 2019 7:02am, edited 5 times in total.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
.
... Week 3 - June 8 2019
Laid down ground cover cloth around Tomatoes. Should prevent weeds and should prevent "bacterial wilt" from rain water splashing soil on leaves.
Peppers, eagerly awaiting a full day of rain!
Peas growing, Green Onions ready for harvest and Lettuce actually noticeable.
Strawberries galore with a few getting red.
Winter Squash fence with Sunflowers being slow to get going.
SW view of Family Beds
NE view of Family Beds
Front Gate revisited
Some "Families do a little extra!
Deep Potato bed experiment. And some cheat? Must be cheating if looks better than mine!
... Week 3 - June 8 2019
Laid down ground cover cloth around Tomatoes. Should prevent weeds and should prevent "bacterial wilt" from rain water splashing soil on leaves.
Peppers, eagerly awaiting a full day of rain!
Peas growing, Green Onions ready for harvest and Lettuce actually noticeable.
Strawberries galore with a few getting red.
Winter Squash fence with Sunflowers being slow to get going.
SW view of Family Beds
NE view of Family Beds
Front Gate revisited
Some "Families do a little extra!
Deep Potato bed experiment. And some cheat? Must be cheating if looks better than mine!
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- e-beach 1.21 GW
- Posts: 3758
- Joined: Jan 10 2012 9:48pm
- Location: Any Los Angeles area beach I am at. Or Santa Monica or possibly the south bay beaches.
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
That is true if the surface water is agitated, like it might be if a little waterfall was added to a tank. Or changing the tank water periodically does the same thing. It adds oxygen supplied water. The proof of this is to watch a fish in a small 1 gallon fish tank placed in a still place. At some point, the fish begins to labor, as if panting, as the oxygen is depleted. If the water is not changed or a bubbler or other other oxygen transfer system like a aquarium waterfall, not added, the fish will eventually die.
Favorite Quotes:
"This is L.A., sugar. There is no 'over the top." Chris Erskine
"At a certain point the entropy wins." Maria Helena Braga
Current Build: ProFlex 757 Expert full suspension. Yescomusa 36v 800w Rear DD, upgraded 10AWG solid core through axle phase wires. 15ah Headway, 1000+ cycles, 80% DOD 30A Tronsung controller.
Past: Trek 4500 Yescomusa 36v 800w front DD.
Liahona, Yescomusa 36v 800w generic front DD.
1992 Trek 800, Yescomusa 800w 36v front DD.
"This is L.A., sugar. There is no 'over the top." Chris Erskine
"At a certain point the entropy wins." Maria Helena Braga
Current Build: ProFlex 757 Expert full suspension. Yescomusa 36v 800w Rear DD, upgraded 10AWG solid core through axle phase wires. 15ah Headway, 1000+ cycles, 80% DOD 30A Tronsung controller.
Past: Trek 4500 Yescomusa 36v 800w front DD.
Liahona, Yescomusa 36v 800w generic front DD.
1992 Trek 800, Yescomusa 800w 36v front DD.
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
https://fishlab.com/aquarium-oxygen/
Where does the oxygen in your aquarium come from?
Even though H2O (Water) is part oxygen, it is bonded with hydrogen – essentially locked together, thus making it inseparable.
Your fish can’t breath this.
So if that’s the case, then where does the oxygen that your fish breath come from?
Believe it or not, plants and fish actually breath the exact same oxygen as you and I.
In order for your fish to “breath” oxygen, it needs to get inside the water. And how it gets there is actually very interesting…
The surface of your aquarium is always in contact with the air. And it is here, at the surface, that oxygen enters the water through a process known as gas exchange.
The reason it is called gas exchange is because the air and water do a trade. The water in your aquarium swaps carbon dioxide (CO2) for the oxygen (O2) in the air.
I find that a diagram makes it much easier to understand…

Pretty simple, huh?
Since fish breath in this oxygen and give off carbon dioxide, this exchange is a continuous process.
It is also worth mentioning that the larger the surface area of the water, the more efficient the gas exchange.
So a larger tank is much easier to oxygenate than a small one.
Once the oxygen enters the water, it is referred to as dissolved oxygen. When discussed online, dissolved oxygen is often shortened to DO.
Where does the oxygen in your aquarium come from?
Even though H2O (Water) is part oxygen, it is bonded with hydrogen – essentially locked together, thus making it inseparable.
Your fish can’t breath this.
So if that’s the case, then where does the oxygen that your fish breath come from?
Believe it or not, plants and fish actually breath the exact same oxygen as you and I.
In order for your fish to “breath” oxygen, it needs to get inside the water. And how it gets there is actually very interesting…
The surface of your aquarium is always in contact with the air. And it is here, at the surface, that oxygen enters the water through a process known as gas exchange.
The reason it is called gas exchange is because the air and water do a trade. The water in your aquarium swaps carbon dioxide (CO2) for the oxygen (O2) in the air.
I find that a diagram makes it much easier to understand…

Pretty simple, huh?
Since fish breath in this oxygen and give off carbon dioxide, this exchange is a continuous process.
It is also worth mentioning that the larger the surface area of the water, the more efficient the gas exchange.
So a larger tank is much easier to oxygenate than a small one.
Once the oxygen enters the water, it is referred to as dissolved oxygen. When discussed online, dissolved oxygen is often shortened to DO.
- e-beach 1.21 GW
- Posts: 3758
- Joined: Jan 10 2012 9:48pm
- Location: Any Los Angeles area beach I am at. Or Santa Monica or possibly the south bay beaches.
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
Well, there is actually a way you can “artificially” increase the surface area of your aquarium.
And that method is surface agitation.
To put it simply, water movement on the surface of your aquarium increases its surface area, allowing more oxygen to dissolve and more carbon dioxide to escape.
Any product that helps produce water flow is perfect for agitating the surface of your aquarium, including:
Aquarium bubbler (like an airstone)
HOB filter, or point your filter return at the surface
Powerhead
Wavemaker
Spray bar
Lily pipe
By agitating the surface water in your aquarium, you can potentially stock more fish than you otherwise would have been able to without it.
https://fishlab.com/aquarium-oxygen/#in ... gen-levels
Favorite Quotes:
"This is L.A., sugar. There is no 'over the top." Chris Erskine
"At a certain point the entropy wins." Maria Helena Braga
Current Build: ProFlex 757 Expert full suspension. Yescomusa 36v 800w Rear DD, upgraded 10AWG solid core through axle phase wires. 15ah Headway, 1000+ cycles, 80% DOD 30A Tronsung controller.
Past: Trek 4500 Yescomusa 36v 800w front DD.
Liahona, Yescomusa 36v 800w generic front DD.
1992 Trek 800, Yescomusa 800w 36v front DD.
"This is L.A., sugar. There is no 'over the top." Chris Erskine
"At a certain point the entropy wins." Maria Helena Braga
Current Build: ProFlex 757 Expert full suspension. Yescomusa 36v 800w Rear DD, upgraded 10AWG solid core through axle phase wires. 15ah Headway, 1000+ cycles, 80% DOD 30A Tronsung controller.
Past: Trek 4500 Yescomusa 36v 800w front DD.
Liahona, Yescomusa 36v 800w generic front DD.
1992 Trek 800, Yescomusa 800w 36v front DD.
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
Week 3
Better pics
Tomatoes surrounded with ground cover fabric, to kill weeds and prevent Bacterial Wilt, (caused by water splashing dirt onto leaves). Strawberries, producing a bounty!
Transplanted less than a month ago. Peas and GreenBeans against the fence
Green Onions in the middle (to be harvested out over the next 2 weeks)
and, Lettuce in the block holes (Romaine and Buttercrunch as "head lettuce" the 2 types of leaf Lettuce, some type and Black Seeded Simpson
Better pics
Tomatoes surrounded with ground cover fabric, to kill weeds and prevent Bacterial Wilt, (caused by water splashing dirt onto leaves). Strawberries, producing a bounty!
Transplanted less than a month ago. Peas and GreenBeans against the fence
Green Onions in the middle (to be harvested out over the next 2 weeks)
and, Lettuce in the block holes (Romaine and Buttercrunch as "head lettuce" the 2 types of leaf Lettuce, some type and Black Seeded Simpson
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
.
... Week 4 - June 16, 2019
Onions, perfect for harvest as green, for cutting up in salads etc. Personal favorite is adding to Tuna fish or Egg Salad sandwiches.
Peas and Lettuce doing well, lost a section of Green beans to Snail plaque, pick over 100 Snails from bed along fence! Dropped them in bucket of water with some Ammonia added, will use as fertilizer later ... Ammonia is great source of Nitrogen! - Must be diluted!!!
Tomatoes looking god and healthy.
Began tying up plants using 2 different methods ...
#1 vinyl coated steel cable tied to overhead bar and and stiff enough to shove 8-10 inches into ground to stabilize
#2 Polypropylene twine tied to pipe and ground staple. then clipped to plant with plastic clip.
(will expound in later post) .
Some critter been chewing on leaves of 2 plants haven't caught yet ...
Peppers ... still waiting on soil to warm to optimal temperature for growth explosion.
2nd Tomato beds received ground cover.
Beetle sticky traps deployed, will add cups with sticky paste and attractant soon.
Unsure if should deploy upwind or downwind of of crops to protect ... ?
Awaiting expected teenager help for tackling final fence cleanup and block deployment.
... Week 4 - June 16, 2019
Onions, perfect for harvest as green, for cutting up in salads etc. Personal favorite is adding to Tuna fish or Egg Salad sandwiches.
Peas and Lettuce doing well, lost a section of Green beans to Snail plaque, pick over 100 Snails from bed along fence! Dropped them in bucket of water with some Ammonia added, will use as fertilizer later ... Ammonia is great source of Nitrogen! - Must be diluted!!!
Tomatoes looking god and healthy.
Began tying up plants using 2 different methods ...
#1 vinyl coated steel cable tied to overhead bar and and stiff enough to shove 8-10 inches into ground to stabilize
#2 Polypropylene twine tied to pipe and ground staple. then clipped to plant with plastic clip.
(will expound in later post) .
Some critter been chewing on leaves of 2 plants haven't caught yet ...
Peppers ... still waiting on soil to warm to optimal temperature for growth explosion.
2nd Tomato beds received ground cover.
Beetle sticky traps deployed, will add cups with sticky paste and attractant soon.
Unsure if should deploy upwind or downwind of of crops to protect ... ?
Awaiting expected teenager help for tackling final fence cleanup and block deployment.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
.
... No Stake Tomatoes
Last year, we built overhead supports for twine strung Tomato plants.
Organic twine did not hold up for the entire season, trying 2 new systems this year.
Vinyl coated steel cable, thinnest I could find, local surplus-bargain store had 200' rolls for $12.
Polypropylene twine, could use heavier variant.
Cable-twine tied to overhead support (pipe).
End of cable shove 8-10" into ground.
Tomato plant wrapped, in stages, around cable.
Polypropylene twine tied to ground staple, connector clipped around twine and stem.
Tied to overhead support.
... No Stake Tomatoes
Last year, we built overhead supports for twine strung Tomato plants.
Organic twine did not hold up for the entire season, trying 2 new systems this year.
Vinyl coated steel cable, thinnest I could find, local surplus-bargain store had 200' rolls for $12.
Polypropylene twine, could use heavier variant.
Cable-twine tied to overhead support (pipe).
End of cable shove 8-10" into ground.
Tomato plant wrapped, in stages, around cable.
Polypropylene twine tied to ground staple, connector clipped around twine and stem.
Tied to overhead support.
Last edited by DrkAngel on Jun 19 2019 3:29am, edited 1 time in total.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
.
... Just for Fun!
Too much like work?
A few pics to just enjoy ...
Snap Peas flowers, remarkably beautiful from useful vegetable
Strong, healthy Tomatoes, but plucking flowers to allow stronger plant before dedicating plant strength to fruit. (Same with Squash and Peppers) Healthy Lettuce, will try transplanting some, when I thin out.
Squash, from seed, caught up with early started plants.
Beets doing nicely, planted in April.
Sweet Onions from "sets" about 3' tall with no seed-flower stalks! ... ?
French Marigolds getting into bloom!
Yes, cement block hole will support a large healthy Marigold "bush".
Alternate Marigold variety.
.
... Just for Fun!
Too much like work?
A few pics to just enjoy ...
Snap Peas flowers, remarkably beautiful from useful vegetable
Strong, healthy Tomatoes, but plucking flowers to allow stronger plant before dedicating plant strength to fruit. (Same with Squash and Peppers) Healthy Lettuce, will try transplanting some, when I thin out.
Squash, from seed, caught up with early started plants.
Beets doing nicely, planted in April.
Sweet Onions from "sets" about 3' tall with no seed-flower stalks! ... ?
French Marigolds getting into bloom!
Yes, cement block hole will support a large healthy Marigold "bush".
Alternate Marigold variety.
.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
.
... High Tunnel (greenhouse) progressing.
Will be laying down beds and planting some, before end walls and roof are completed. Leaving 3' center aisle, near 4' paths against end walls, for storage, tools, bench, possible heated and lighted cold frame for starting plants?
Large picture - click on picture then click again (+ sign) esc to return
Testing block layouts:
5x 48" wide x 8.5' beds, with 32" center and 24" walkways
or
6x 40" wide x 8.5' beds, with 24" center and 24" walkways
or
6x 48" wide x 8.5' beds, with 32" center and 16" walkways
5x or 6x per side, 10 or 12 beds total
I think 16" walk ways will be fine, as long as block holes limited to smaller plants, herbs etc
Beauty is blocks can be easily rearranged
.
... High Tunnel (greenhouse) progressing.
Will be laying down beds and planting some, before end walls and roof are completed. Leaving 3' center aisle, near 4' paths against end walls, for storage, tools, bench, possible heated and lighted cold frame for starting plants?
Large picture - click on picture then click again (+ sign) esc to return
Testing block layouts:
5x 48" wide x 8.5' beds, with 32" center and 24" walkways
or
6x 40" wide x 8.5' beds, with 24" center and 24" walkways
or
6x 48" wide x 8.5' beds, with 32" center and 16" walkways
5x or 6x per side, 10 or 12 beds total
I think 16" walk ways will be fine, as long as block holes limited to smaller plants, herbs etc
Beauty is blocks can be easily rearranged
.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
.
... Week 5 - June 23, 2019
Summer is here!
Tomatoes getting tied up. Will need to get more diligent about trimming "suckers" etc.
Upside down hanging Tomatoes, green bags , in background, Will not be trimming Suckers. Hoping for wider, rather than longer, plants
Harvesting out most the Green Onions this week, makeing room to properly weed the Peas and Beans.
Lettuce doing great, did some sample tasting of leaf Lettuce, and chopped Green Onions, on my Tuna fish sandwiches ...
Beans - Green Onions - Romaine Lettuce
Left 1 persistent Sunflower in with the Tomatoes
Squash doing well, along the fence. Whole garden ... getting green!
Thinning the Lettuce from Pantry fence bed and transplanting some into Family section fence bed (block holes)
Over populated or max use?
Covered by mesh, so minimal imsect intrusion!
Each Family bed getting it's own personal touches and personality.
Sticky cards being "sticky" ... no Cucumber Beetles caught yet.
Finally letting some Squash plants flower, so will be deploying Yellow Sticky Cups w/Clove Oil attractant.
Still plucking flowers from most Tomatoes and Peppers, letting the plants get bigger and stronger 1st!
Judging by bug pieces, and 1 covered in feathers, birds might be picking bugs off the sticky traps?
Harvested this 3" Beet
... Week 5 - June 23, 2019
Summer is here!
Tomatoes getting tied up. Will need to get more diligent about trimming "suckers" etc.
Upside down hanging Tomatoes, green bags , in background, Will not be trimming Suckers. Hoping for wider, rather than longer, plants
Harvesting out most the Green Onions this week, makeing room to properly weed the Peas and Beans.
Lettuce doing great, did some sample tasting of leaf Lettuce, and chopped Green Onions, on my Tuna fish sandwiches ...
Beans - Green Onions - Romaine Lettuce
Left 1 persistent Sunflower in with the Tomatoes
Squash doing well, along the fence. Whole garden ... getting green!
Thinning the Lettuce from Pantry fence bed and transplanting some into Family section fence bed (block holes)
Over populated or max use?
Covered by mesh, so minimal imsect intrusion!
Each Family bed getting it's own personal touches and personality.
Sticky cards being "sticky" ... no Cucumber Beetles caught yet.
Finally letting some Squash plants flower, so will be deploying Yellow Sticky Cups w/Clove Oil attractant.
Still plucking flowers from most Tomatoes and Peppers, letting the plants get bigger and stronger 1st!
Judging by bug pieces, and 1 covered in feathers, birds might be picking bugs off the sticky traps?
Harvested this 3" Beet
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
.
... Green Dog Pixie?

... Green Dog Pixie?

A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
High Tunnel Progress
11 "beds", Might widen center aisle another half block.
"Ends" left with large storage-work areas, as they will have limited sunlight.
250 gallon storage tank for rainwater irrigation. I think I have a reasonible method of collecting rainwater and dispensing it.
Will likely paint storage tank black to prevent algae growth.
11 "beds", Might widen center aisle another half block.
"Ends" left with large storage-work areas, as they will have limited sunlight.
250 gallon storage tank for rainwater irrigation. I think I have a reasonible method of collecting rainwater and dispensing it.
Will likely paint storage tank black to prevent algae growth.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
.
... Week 6 - July 02, 2019
Tying up the Tomatoes and trimming the "Suckers" ... delayed too long and it looks like a Tomato massacre!
Peppers are noticeably larger, still plucking flowers, till they get larger. Thunderstorms and rain predicted. 75-80 degree rain is ideal for rapid growth!
Summer Squash
Harvested out our 1st batch of Zucchini.
Winter Squash along the fence, Acorn and Butternut
Peas and Green Beans and lots of Lettuce
Herb corner, getting some red from Scarlet Runner Beans
In the background ... getting greenhouse beds started.
... Week 6 - July 02, 2019
Tying up the Tomatoes and trimming the "Suckers" ... delayed too long and it looks like a Tomato massacre!
Peppers are noticeably larger, still plucking flowers, till they get larger. Thunderstorms and rain predicted. 75-80 degree rain is ideal for rapid growth!
Summer Squash
Harvested out our 1st batch of Zucchini.
Winter Squash along the fence, Acorn and Butternut
Peas and Green Beans and lots of Lettuce
Herb corner, getting some red from Scarlet Runner Beans
In the background ... getting greenhouse beds started.
Last edited by DrkAngel on Jul 03 2019 3:43am, edited 1 time in total.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
With so many projects this year, the North fence got neglected, became a dumping ground and went to weed.
An older volunteer got inspired and cleaned and cut down all the weeds.
Got me shamed ... so rototilled, tore out the falling apart wood and built a nice straight block fence bed.
Broken down wood, garbage and weeds replaced with ...
... nice straight, durable blocks.
Northern Fence Bed curves gently into the Western Fence Bed.
Center bare area was freshly leveled by rototiller and rake, spread grass seed and clippings then rolled with white cylinder. (6" drain pipe filled with concrete, 3/4" pipe through center, still need to make handle)
An older volunteer got inspired and cleaned and cut down all the weeds.
Got me shamed ... so rototilled, tore out the falling apart wood and built a nice straight block fence bed.
Broken down wood, garbage and weeds replaced with ...
... nice straight, durable blocks.
Northern Fence Bed curves gently into the Western Fence Bed.
Center bare area was freshly leveled by rototiller and rake, spread grass seed and clippings then rolled with white cylinder. (6" drain pipe filled with concrete, 3/4" pipe through center, still need to make handle)
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
As always, impressive work~
Thanks Justin_le we're here thanks to you. All the best to the mods for their tireless work keeping it on an even keel.
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
Got started on Greenhouse beds, no "plants" yet, not till we get some walls, so planted periphery with Lettuce, Radishes and Onion sets.
2 beds with ButterCrunch and Romaine Lettuce, to be thinned to 1 plant per block hole.
2 beds with 4 Radishes per hole.
Onion sets around interior of 2 beds
Will see how well everything holds up to Summer heat ...
Still debating ... solid or clear end walls.
Experimenting with 2 tiered facing Southern exposure.
1 flower ... for ornamental purposes?
2 beds with ButterCrunch and Romaine Lettuce, to be thinned to 1 plant per block hole.
2 beds with 4 Radishes per hole.
Onion sets around interior of 2 beds
Will see how well everything holds up to Summer heat ...
Still debating ... solid or clear end walls.
Experimenting with 2 tiered facing Southern exposure.
1 flower ... for ornamental purposes?
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
Nice garden!
To let it be known. Them blocks are called concrete blocks. Cement is just one part of the recipe. Also those blocks with the space in the center. Home Depot? Think space is so you can crack them in the middle. Not sure why but I am bothered by those type of blocks. Heavier? Smaller holes in the center? Home Depot not wanting to stock 1/2 blocks? Buy concrete blocks from a dusty concrete supply type of place. Get them delivered. And no don't even think of asking to return any extra ones. Labor to move blocks can be more then what the blocks are worth.
Best video on YouTube.
To let it be known. Them blocks are called concrete blocks. Cement is just one part of the recipe. Also those blocks with the space in the center. Home Depot? Think space is so you can crack them in the middle. Not sure why but I am bothered by those type of blocks. Heavier? Smaller holes in the center? Home Depot not wanting to stock 1/2 blocks? Buy concrete blocks from a dusty concrete supply type of place. Get them delivered. And no don't even think of asking to return any extra ones. Labor to move blocks can be more then what the blocks are worth.
Best video on YouTube.
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
.
... Week 7 - July 8, 2019
Tomatoes accelerating growth, with plenty of flowers and small green starters.
Tomatoes and Cucumbers doing well in "stand-up beds".
Peas everywhere, 7' and growing, shucking type, unless you really like fiber?
Edible pod type, delicious unless you let Peas get too mature. Peppers, finally filling spae between plants.
Squash, healthy enough to produce quantities of fruit.
Unsure of effectiveness of Cucumber Beetle traps?
Leaf Lettuce ready for staged harvesting. Romaine will likely be more weeks ...
More Tomatoes, mostly tied up, am experimenting with pruned vs unpruned for each type. Roma are a Determinate "bush" type which might do better unpruned?
Family plots doing great ... but for 4 untended plots, we keep track and limit - restrict future allocation.
Someone transplanted Corn(?) into fence bed, not sure how well that will work?
Room for another new bed ! ?
Neglected taking pictures of beds near front gate ...
... Week 7 - July 8, 2019
Tomatoes accelerating growth, with plenty of flowers and small green starters.
Tomatoes and Cucumbers doing well in "stand-up beds".
Peas everywhere, 7' and growing, shucking type, unless you really like fiber?
Edible pod type, delicious unless you let Peas get too mature. Peppers, finally filling spae between plants.
Squash, healthy enough to produce quantities of fruit.
Unsure of effectiveness of Cucumber Beetle traps?
Leaf Lettuce ready for staged harvesting. Romaine will likely be more weeks ...
More Tomatoes, mostly tied up, am experimenting with pruned vs unpruned for each type. Roma are a Determinate "bush" type which might do better unpruned?
Family plots doing great ... but for 4 untended plots, we keep track and limit - restrict future allocation.
Someone transplanted Corn(?) into fence bed, not sure how well that will work?
Room for another new bed ! ?
Neglected taking pictures of beds near front gate ...
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
Greenhouse progress
Applied the wood "hips" for plastic sheeting attachment.
Laid down the "sills" for the endwalls.
Hips left long until final design determined. "Plans" detailed a 2x4 bottom sill with uprights toenailed into bottom sill. We decided to bury additional 2x4 flush with surface, build standard frame wall and screw into buried 2x4 for simplicity and structural stability.
This should ensure a nearly airtight seal and deter Rabbits and Groundhogs from tunneling in. End walls should be going up this coming weekend.
Having a difficult time maintaining remainder of of started Tomato and Pepper plants for planting.
Will be rooting Tomato "suckers" for greenhouse planting. Small 4" suckers set in water, still alive after full week, exhibiting root growth. Will add rooting hormone to next test batch. Try larger size suckers also.
.
Applied the wood "hips" for plastic sheeting attachment.
Laid down the "sills" for the endwalls.
Hips left long until final design determined. "Plans" detailed a 2x4 bottom sill with uprights toenailed into bottom sill. We decided to bury additional 2x4 flush with surface, build standard frame wall and screw into buried 2x4 for simplicity and structural stability.
This should ensure a nearly airtight seal and deter Rabbits and Groundhogs from tunneling in. End walls should be going up this coming weekend.
Having a difficult time maintaining remainder of of started Tomato and Pepper plants for planting.
Will be rooting Tomato "suckers" for greenhouse planting. Small 4" suckers set in water, still alive after full week, exhibiting root growth. Will add rooting hormone to next test batch. Try larger size suckers also.
.
Last edited by DrkAngel on Jul 13 2019 12:00am, edited 1 time in total.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
Nearly 20lb of Squash probably more ready by Monday.
3 Squash last week, 14 Squash this week, looking for 1st crop from late blooming Yellow Crookneck.
Will be more, each harvest ... till the Cucumber Beetles or the mildew ruin everything.
Did my 1st spray of Neem Oil, even sprayed inside every Squash flower, where the CBs congregate.
Willing to sacrifice 1 crop of Squash!
More progress on the Greenhouse tomorrow ...
.
3 Squash last week, 14 Squash this week, looking for 1st crop from late blooming Yellow Crookneck.
Will be more, each harvest ... till the Cucumber Beetles or the mildew ruin everything.
Did my 1st spray of Neem Oil, even sprayed inside every Squash flower, where the CBs congregate.
Willing to sacrifice 1 crop of Squash!
More progress on the Greenhouse tomorrow ...
.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
Dude, nice work on this - i'm envious.
"Love and compassion are necessities, not luxuries. Without them, humanity cannot survive." - Dalai Lama
My first major build: 1.6kW 8T MAC motor on a Trek 4500 MTB.
Monster MTB: Leafmotor 1500w @ 4kW on a Turner O2 full suspension.
The monster scooter: Heavy duty Cannondale semi recumbent - under construction.
Blue Dream: Maxaraya FS semi recumbent and high efficiency mid-drive - under construction.
My first major build: 1.6kW 8T MAC motor on a Trek 4500 MTB.
Monster MTB: Leafmotor 1500w @ 4kW on a Turner O2 full suspension.
The monster scooter: Heavy duty Cannondale semi recumbent - under construction.
Blue Dream: Maxaraya FS semi recumbent and high efficiency mid-drive - under construction.
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
We used 200 mm x 50 mm jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) sleepers as our garden beds. They aren't raised very much, just enough to keep the compost in and the grass out.
Well done on your beautiful garden!
Well done on your beautiful garden!
Voltron Evo - Electric Superbike
Voltron - the dual Agni powered smoke machine
My Lithium powered E-Max scooter
My stolen e-bike
I build great batteries!
If you think electric bikes are slow, build a faster one and we'll see you next year.
Voltron - the dual Agni powered smoke machine
My Lithium powered E-Max scooter
My stolen e-bike

I build great batteries!
If you think electric bikes are slow, build a faster one and we'll see you next year.
- DrkAngel 100 GW
- Posts: 5435
- Joined: Dec 15 2010 11:14am
- Location: Upstate-Western-Southern Tier NY. USA
Re: Raised Bed Gardening - Cement Blocks!
.
... Progress on Greenhouse ...
End walls framed up and mostly sheathed.
Redoing the "hips". ... more level with drainage capability.
Oh, got some more grant money so beds are going 2 blocks high. More dirt coming, so start filling the block holes.
Framed and endwalls started.
Yes, block beds being raised to 2 blocks = 16". For better crops, less bending and can sit while tending.
Framed and endwalls started.
Yes, block beds being raised to 2 blocks = 16". For better crops, less bending and can sit while tending.
4' sliding door planned for front
.
... Progress on Greenhouse ...
End walls framed up and mostly sheathed.
Redoing the "hips". ... more level with drainage capability.
Oh, got some more grant money so beds are going 2 blocks high. More dirt coming, so start filling the block holes.
Framed and endwalls started.
Yes, block beds being raised to 2 blocks = 16". For better crops, less bending and can sit while tending.
Framed and endwalls started.
Yes, block beds being raised to 2 blocks = 16". For better crops, less bending and can sit while tending.
4' sliding door planned for front
.
Last edited by DrkAngel on Jul 14 2019 5:09am, edited 1 time in total.
A little learning is a dangerous thing;
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?
Drink deep, or taste not the Pierian spring:
There, shallow draughts intoxicate the brain,
And drinking largely, sobers us again.
I enjoy enlightening ... and enlivening the spirit of the innovators.
New & Improved - Acronym Definitions
Index - Homemade Battery Packs - Updated - December 2019
EBike Toolbox - Bargains! $
Endless Sphere Wiki - Lost?