Raised beds

[flyboy718]

so with the plastic on the raised bed you can extend your growing season right?

 

[HunkieDorie23]

so with the plastic on the raised bed you can extend your growing season right?

That's the goal, it also raises the temperature of the soil faster which allows the plants to thrive quicker. It doesn't matter when you plant if your soil temp isn't warm enough. I did that several years ago. We had a warm spell in April and I had tomatoes and peppers looking pretty good so I put them into the garden. Then the temp went back to seasonal and they just sat there not really getting bigger waiting for the soil to warm up. Then we had a cold spell (it was the year that moved the frost date back to May 20), so I was covering plants on the 18 & 19 which had been "safe days". Anyway even though the temps were OK because for the plants the soil temps hadn't warmed enough for the to thrive.

The Mama Chicken has a tomato plant in her garden which she has covered with a clear pop bottle. This will also help. It protects the plant from cold but it also warms the soil near the plant so it will grow faster.

 

[flyboy718]

so with the plastic on the raised bed you can extend your growing season right?

That's the goal, it also raises the temperature of the soil faster which allows the plants to thrive quicker. It doesn't matter when you plant if your soil temp isn't warm enough. I did that several years ago. We had a warm spell in April and I had tomatoes and peppers looking pretty good so I put them into the garden. Then the temp went back to seasonal and they just sat there not really getting bigger waiting for the soil to warm up. Then we had a cold spell (it was the year that moved the frost date back to May 20), so I was covering plants on the 18 & 19 which had been "safe days". Anyway even though the temps were OK because for the plants the soil temps hadn't warmed enough for the to thrive.

The Mama Chicken has a tomato plant in her garden which she has covered with a clear pop bottle. This will also help. It protects the plant from cold but it also warms the soil near the plant so it will grow faster.

If only you could figure a way to have heat in the soil, you coul have tomato's year round!

 

[HunkieDorie23]

I read about heating a hot bed with horse manure. It was a really good article but I don't have a horse. And you have to replace your manure every 2-3 weeks to keep it hot.

 

[catjac1975]

so with the plastic on the raised bed you can extend your growing season right?

That's the goal, it also raises the temperature of the soil faster which allows the plants to thrive quicker. It doesn't matter when you plant if your soil temp isn't warm enough. I did that several years ago. We had a warm spell in April and I had tomatoes and peppers looking pretty good so I put them into the garden. Then the temp went back to seasonal and they just sat there not really getting bigger waiting for the soil to warm up. Then we had a cold spell (it was the year that moved the frost date back to May 20), so I was covering plants on the 18 & 19 which had been "safe days". Anyway even though the temps were OK because for the plants the soil temps hadn't warmed enough for the to thrive.

The Mama Chicken has a tomato plant in her garden which she has covered with a clear pop bottle. This will also help. It protects the plant from cold but it also warms the soil near the plant so it will grow faster.

If only you could figure a way to have heat in the soil, you coul have tomato's year round!

I think it's greenhouse megastore that sells a heating element that you put under the dirt. FOr a greenhouse.

 

[chris09]

That's the goal, it also raises the temperature of the soil faster which allows the plants to thrive quicker. It doesn't matter when you plant if your soil temp isn't warm enough. I did that several years ago. We had a warm spell in April and I had tomatoes and peppers looking pretty good so I put them into the garden. Then the temp went back to seasonal and they just sat there not really getting bigger waiting for the soil to warm up. Then we had a cold spell (it was the year that moved the frost date back to May 20), so I was covering plants on the 18 & 19 which had been "safe days". Anyway even though the temps were OK because for the plants the soil temps hadn't warmed enough for the to thrive.

The Mama Chicken has a tomato plant in her garden which she has covered with a clear pop bottle. This will also help. It protects the plant from cold but it also warms the soil near the plant so it will grow faster.

If only you could figure a way to have heat in the soil, you coul have tomato's year round!

I think it's greenhouse megastore that sells a heating element that you put under the dirt. FOr a greenhouse.

Greenhouse Mega Store does have heat cables there about 70.00 for 40 feet of cable for the one that has a built-in thermostat.

Chris

 

[flyboy718]

If only you could figure a way to have heat in the soil, you coul have tomato's year round!

I think it's greenhouse megastore that sells a heating element that you put under the dirt. FOr a greenhouse.

Greenhouse Mega Store does have heat cables there about 70.00 for 40 feet of cable for the one that has a built-in thermostat.

Chris

I might check it out.

 

[897tgigvib]

My raised beds are made out of smallish logs above ground, and used wood below ground. The walkways between are also raised halfway up. Not all my beds are done being made this way. Some are simply heaped up still

 

[trunkman]

looks awesome hunkie...