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Post by ERR0R1755 on May 23, 2021 19:54:05 GMT -5
This barrel is a 55 gallon barrel, filled with logs (see: hugelkultur) and food scraps, then topped off with bagged potting soil. I let it sit for fourteen days and now I've planted some seeds into it: In the middle of the barrel and in a plus shape, I planted some Lemon Cucumber seeds from Baker Creek. I then sprinkled a packet of a wild flower mix and a packet of a cut flower mix onto the rest of the soil. I covered the seeds with a small amount of mulch (maybe half an inch at most?) since I figured that if weeds can grow through it when it is a few inches thick, my plants should be able to grow through a small amount with no issue. It should help germination by preventing evaporation. My hope for this barrel is mainly to provide a pollinator attractor to help encourage bees and other insects to check out my barrels
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Post by ERR0R1755 on May 28, 2021 19:37:31 GMT -5
There's a lot of plants coming up! You can tell the cucumber plants from the rest, since they're the biggest and in groups:
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on May 29, 2021 4:10:21 GMT -5
This is wonderful! I am happy they are coming up
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Post by ERR0R1755 on Jun 6, 2021 1:28:23 GMT -5
I thinned the cucumber seedlings to just one in the center, and the flowers are coming up!
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Jun 6, 2021 4:14:31 GMT -5
It will be nice and full.
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Jun 6, 2021 6:52:29 GMT -5
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airscapes
AGA Bounty
Lettuce eat Cake!
Posts: 642
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Post by airscapes on Jun 6, 2021 7:00:00 GMT -5
where will the cucumber run? over the side and across the ground or are you going to trellis the barrel?
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Post by ERR0R1755 on Jun 6, 2021 10:54:12 GMT -5
where will the cucumber run? over the side and across the ground or are you going to trellis the barrel? I'm planning to have it run off the side, but I don't know if it will be able to support itself due to the height of the barrel, especially once it starts forming cucumbers. I might create a net-like horizontal trellis for it to climb across.
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airscapes
AGA Bounty
Lettuce eat Cake!
Posts: 642
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Post by airscapes on Jun 6, 2021 12:01:54 GMT -5
The 7" square concreate reinforcement stuff or live stock fencing works really well as a support for any vine, is not very expensive and will last a lifetime. One year I had pumpkins running up it to the roof of the garage. This was back in 2012.. went a little overboard.. couple years before, I grew cucumbers but neither of us eat them and the cucumber beetles kill anything in that family, as you can see by the pumpkins.. However the reinforcement mesh worked great for all vines Now I just use it for tomatoes. Not all that pretty but versatile and reusable
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Post by ERR0R1755 on Jun 8, 2021 21:20:49 GMT -5
It has only been two days since my last update, but this has grown a lot:
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Jun 9, 2021 0:12:54 GMT -5
ERR0R1755, I think that is something I would like to try next year!
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Jun 9, 2021 17:24:29 GMT -5
You really are having good luck with your barrels
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Post by ERR0R1755 on Jun 20, 2021 0:37:40 GMT -5
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Jun 20, 2021 4:58:13 GMT -5
Amazing on how fast these filled out. You sure have a green thumb.
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Jun 20, 2021 5:29:38 GMT -5
It is starting to look like a beautiful mini jungle!
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Post by ERR0R1755 on Jul 2, 2021 21:34:53 GMT -5
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Jul 3, 2021 3:18:56 GMT -5
These are growing and filling in so well.
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Post by ERR0R1755 on Jul 15, 2021 13:33:46 GMT -5
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Sher
AGA Farmer
Posts: 7,025
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Post by Sher on Jul 15, 2021 15:06:32 GMT -5
Beautiful!
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Shawn
Administrator
Posts: 16,267
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Post by Shawn on Jul 15, 2021 18:13:43 GMT -5
Pretty flowers. Look how close to that bee you got. Brave man.
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