Early Spring. The first step, 4 pieces of wood, Painted on the outside (a personal choice) filled with "Mel's Mix"
A few weeks later. We set the bare wood trim pieces on the corners of the frames for the picture, they need to be painted and installed. We also have built 4 - 6 foot tall frames with conduit and netting for the vertical plants. Things are beginning to grow!
Mid Summer. The tomatoes are taking off! The Zucchini is making a nice showing, carrots look pretty good. The barrel to the right of the garden is filled with peppermint ( a plant best kept well contained as it likes to take over)
Corner posts for trim have now been installed. My thanks to Mel for the inspiration!
Here is my strawberry pyramid. To my way of thinking this is THE way to grow strawberries. Strawberry jam was the first thing I ever canned was after my diagnosis. Yum!
How to build a Strawberry Pyramid: My first job, when we built this one, was to figure out if it was a good size for the space I had. Remember, when planning placement, you will need space to work around it. In the past, I have set things up and made them so that I had a hard time working. My additional advice is, don't make it too large, if you have lots of space build two! (or more! :) ) I do think this one we made is a great size for the job at hand. It is screwed together (drill pilot holes in the first board to aid construction) nails will not hold the joints solid. If you build more than one, make sure you have good clearance between structures and build as many as you can to the same dimensions, it will make building security structures (chicken wire cages, etc.) to cover and save your crop from bunnies and birds, much easier (faster) if the dimensions are the same. (See the SFG book above for ideas regarding additional structures to secure your crop of berries.)
My boards for this pyramid are cypress, an expensive choice and really not necessary. My next pyramids will be built with scrap or salvaged lumber. Look carefully at how the corners are made, they are "staggered" taking 30" lumber to make a 31" square. (Looking at the upper layers will explain).
Following is a list of the dimension of each progressive square and a materials list (the size of the finished boards you will need to build it with)
SQUARES
31" square
24 3/4" square
18 3/4" square
12 3/4" square
6 3/4" square
MATERIALS
Base 4 pieces 4x30
2nd 4x27
3rd 4x21
2nd 4x15
5th 4x9
Good luck with the project! We have really enjoyed ours!
Stacked to illustrate the Pyramid
Filled with Soil and Planted
This is mid-season of the first year. I expect it will produce many strawberries next season. 1/2 are everbearer's, they will make fruit all season next year. 1/2 are June bearer's so will produce in the spring. June bearer's tend to produce more fruit at one time. There are nearly 50 plants in a less than 36 inch square.
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last updated
9-4-06
Here is the "experimental" Hanging Garden. Mostly tomatoes and one cucumber, with flowers as companions! These are recycled buckets. We'll have instructions by springtime 2007. I hope to find a good website to send you to for specific instructions or, perhaps take photo's, and provide the how to here.
With the plants in the air, there is no worry about slugs or other ground based pests, they get plenty of air flow, and they can be in the back yard with our dogs. Our dog, Bailey, is part "harvest hound", she will not be able to pick these tomatoes!
The really cool thing about these hanging plants is, as the weather turns colder, they can be moved indoors to the garage for cover overnight and brought back out in the morning for their daily dose of sunshine. I am hopeful they will extend our growing season!
All the directions and many cleaver, yet simple suggestions can be found in the book, All New Square Foot Gardening. The author Mel Bartholomew, has written other books on Square Foot Gardening (SFG) but this book is the most complete and easiest book to date. The book will cost you $19.95 from the SFG site or less from discount sellers. It is well worth the investment and will be used as a reference for years to come. It has all the info you need to grow crops during the season, early in the season, late into the season, spring and fall crops through the "hot season", easily save your crop from birds, bunnies and other pests. It is truly a "revolution in gardening". Almost no weeding (minutes a week or less) and, no tilling. Without this method, I would never have been able to garden as I have. I strongly recommend if you have the inclination, that you strongly consider Square Foot Gardening. The only thing I get from recommending this system is, deep satisfaction. www.squarefootgardening.com
One of my first responses to the news of corn allergy was, "oh my gosh! What will I eat!" It was March and one of my early coping strategies was to figure out how to grow my own food. I have a history of serious back problems and arthritis in my knees. I was recovering from a seriously broken wrist at the time of diagnosis. Fast and furious research lead me to, Square Foot Gardening (SFG) as the answer,www.squarefootgardening.com, I highly recommend it! If I can do it, you can too!
Please take a look at my, Allergy Free Experimental Gardens, below.
