JOIN NOW LOG IN
iVillage GardenWeb iVillage GardenWeb THE INTERNET'S GARDEN & HOME COMMUNITY ADVERTISEMENT
Blogs Forums Photo Galleries Ask The Experts Tools & Directories        
Return to the Market Gardener Forum | Post a Follow-Up

 o
Winter Plans

Posted by jrslick ks/5 (My Page) on
Mon, Nov 2, 09 at 8:15

Besides cleaning up, what are your winter plans for this year? I am planning on building my 4th high tunnel, haven't started yet, but I need too! I don't want to have to chip frost out of the ground. I am going to repair my other three tunnels, if needed.

1) Have neighbor come up with tractor and plow two of my garden spots, he offered, and I am going to take him up.

2) Have neighbor till up large area for potato garden.

3) Spend time making raised beds in two of my garden areas. I used this last year, in limited places and I liked the results.

4) Build more seed starting racks and try to find more lights, as cheap as possible.

5) Make low tunnel row cover supports. I am wanting to make a wooden jig and bend the pipe myself.

6) Lay out plans for next years garden. Write down rotation schedule and ask others about it.

7) Take plastic off current high tunnels. They are not built for snow load. I still have stuff growing and so I don't want to take them off, yet. Maybe during Thanksgiving break.

8) Find more food grade plastic 55 gallon drums to build raised planters out of to plant lettuce in.

9) Do everything in the house that my wife wanted me to do all year, but I never got around to doing it.

10) Relax by the warm fire.


Follow-Up Postings:

 o
RE: Winter Plans

As far as your #5....I've used low tunnels for many years and all you need for supports is wire...pipes would be overkill and a lot of extra work and expense. If you buy a roll of 9 gauge wire and then cut it into the proper length pieces to span your growing area they will be the proper curve to just stick the ends in the ground without having to do any additional bending of them.
My project is to erect a cold frame that I bought used from someone. Must get the support posts in the ground before the ground freezes also.


 o
RE: Winter Plans

I do you #9 wire for inside my high tunnel. However, outside, it is too windy to use just #9.


 o
RE: Winter Plans

#5 for low tunnels use 1/2 sched40 pvc 10' lengths. 3/8 rebar 6 to 8" above the ground put pipe over it measure 5' over repeat rebar i put 3' apart by whatever length you want. i also cut pipe in 5' lengths to make row covers. 10' of pipe about $1 cheap and works great. john


 o
RE: Winter Plans

#5 . . . have you seen all those political signs on the side of the road? After elections many are still left there. The signs are supported by heavy-duty wire that we use to make supports for Reemay. They are free and most people will gladly let you take them.


 o
RE: Winter Plans

hmmm...maybe the wire I use is not #9. I think when i bought it (many years ago) it was a roll of brace wire for cattle fences. I can easily bend the wire with my hands. My low tunnels are just 2 or 3 feet high and I bury the edges of the row covers with soil. it gets very windy here too. this year i had a problem with a hail storm at the end of april when I had my tomatoes in these low tunnels. we had a storm that dumped small size hail a couple of inches deep and it collapsed a lot of the tunnels. First time that happened since i started using them (almost 20 years ago).


 o Post a Follow-Up

Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum.

    If you are a member, please log in.

    If you aren't yet a member, join now!


Return to the Market Gardener Forum
 
 


iVillage GardenWeb: The Internet's Garden & Home Community  
  iVillage Home & Garden Network