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The raised bed frame system is in. Now, to have the infill soil delivered.
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My new family additions. No less than 10 new rhisomes ranging from Low Alpha European to High Alpha American varieties. My 3 year plan is to use homegrown hops exclusively. Naysayers be damned regarding the use of HGH for bittering. I say bring it on, I aint' skeered of the challenge.
Proof positive that I am no carpenter. But I think the result is turning out as planned. Ambitious? Perhaps. Insane? Maybe a little. Useless? Gosh! I hope not.
A close up of my "box-in" design. An attempt to keep these hops restricted within their own corral, per se. Of course, once the root system gets deeper than a foot they'll hav a free range. Better than nothing I suppose. The white plastic is an attempt to preserve the metal behind for a longer period than otherwise left bare. An attempt to protect the fence behind from damage.
Now all I need is dirt to fill this garantuan thing in. No less than 8 cubic yards is needed, after consideration of settling. I figure I'll get 10 to be safe.
I'll be watering this with 150 feet of soaker hose set just below the soil surface. The hose will be controlled using a Nelson programmeble controller ($35 WalMart). I'll start the watering schedule at 2 times a day (6 am and 5 pm) and water for 15 minutes each time and adjust it as needed dependent on soil moisture levels
I'll also be seeding the soil using a vegetable blend Osmocote slow release beaded fertilizer. In consideration of the baby, we chose to not burn the fireplace this year so, I have no stockpile of wood ash to use as an organic source of nutrient. To supply necessary Boron to the soil I will be adding Borax. I'll test the soil for pH once it's received and plan amendments for the fall to adjust, but I doubt it will be necessary
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My new family additions. No less than 10 new rhisomes ranging from Low Alpha European to High Alpha American varieties. My 3 year plan is to use homegrown hops exclusively. Naysayers be damned regarding the use of HGH for bittering. I say bring it on, I aint' skeered of the challenge.
Proof positive that I am no carpenter. But I think the result is turning out as planned. Ambitious? Perhaps. Insane? Maybe a little. Useless? Gosh! I hope not.
A close up of my "box-in" design. An attempt to keep these hops restricted within their own corral, per se. Of course, once the root system gets deeper than a foot they'll hav a free range. Better than nothing I suppose. The white plastic is an attempt to preserve the metal behind for a longer period than otherwise left bare. An attempt to protect the fence behind from damage.
Now all I need is dirt to fill this garantuan thing in. No less than 8 cubic yards is needed, after consideration of settling. I figure I'll get 10 to be safe.
I'll be watering this with 150 feet of soaker hose set just below the soil surface. The hose will be controlled using a Nelson programmeble controller ($35 WalMart). I'll start the watering schedule at 2 times a day (6 am and 5 pm) and water for 15 minutes each time and adjust it as needed dependent on soil moisture levels
I'll also be seeding the soil using a vegetable blend Osmocote slow release beaded fertilizer. In consideration of the baby, we chose to not burn the fireplace this year so, I have no stockpile of wood ash to use as an organic source of nutrient. To supply necessary Boron to the soil I will be adding Borax. I'll test the soil for pH once it's received and plan amendments for the fall to adjust, but I doubt it will be necessary
. I am going to be planting mine this weekend I think. Mine should not be nearly as bad as that... lol
