"Gardening... Cheaper than Therapy"
Preparing the Raised Beds
Learn how to do your own raised garden beds. Go to the page Raised Bed Garden Training
All the pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.
All the pictures can be enlarged by clicking on them.
Setting up and placing the raised beds.
The Liner - Once the vinyl liner is in place, you add rock, then a weed barrier, then the soil/soil mix you will use.
Wicking Garden Beds with pipe for water from bottom up. This means you don't have to water as often. It also conserves water. You can use plastic pipe (less expensive) or PVC.
It also has a wire cage over it. One use is when it gets too cold you can easily put plastic over your plants to protect from frost. Greenhouse effect. Another purpose is to keep deer out.
It also has a wire cage over it. One use is when it gets too cold you can easily put plastic over your plants to protect from frost. Greenhouse effect. Another purpose is to keep deer out.
Plants that are already growing.
Here’s Everything We Wish We’d Known Before Putting in a Raised Bed
This article will answer questions like how to plot the location, choosing the right materials, the proper height and width of your raised garden beds, soil composition, and how to protect your garden.
You can read the article here>>> Raised Bed Garden Knowledge
You can read the article here>>> Raised Bed Garden Knowledge
The CPR members like to help one another. So if some of this seems overwhelming, know there will be someone to guide you and make suggestions that fit what you want or need.
We also have a wide variety of training at our monthly meetings.
We also have a wide variety of training at our monthly meetings.
Rootcellar - How to preserve the "fruits of your garden" for longer
Creating a rootcellar is a way to preserve some of what you plant during our short growing season. This is especially handy when you don't have electric.
It's an old method that you can apply new technology to, creating a space to keep veggies longer.
Here is the link to this blog post>>> How To Create A Rootcellar
It's an old method that you can apply new technology to, creating a space to keep veggies longer.
Here is the link to this blog post>>> How To Create A Rootcellar
Planting Potatoes
May is Potato Time in Chaffee County
Brian shared this information...
We chose red potatoes, this year, as we grew 65 pounds of Russetts last year.
So, pick potatoes that have started sprouting eyes. Wrap them in newspaper or put them in a brown paper bag, as they are starting to sprout and off gas. You want to contain this to get the sprouts larger so you can make a cutting once the eyes have grown to 1/4-1/2 inch.
With each (in about 2-3 weeks once the soil can be worked) cutting, dip the cutting in rooting hormone, then direct plant the cutting and within 8 to 13 weeks later, pick your own potatoes.
So start those eyes sprouting! Here three photos od our starter potatoes.
Brian shared this information...
We chose red potatoes, this year, as we grew 65 pounds of Russetts last year.
So, pick potatoes that have started sprouting eyes. Wrap them in newspaper or put them in a brown paper bag, as they are starting to sprout and off gas. You want to contain this to get the sprouts larger so you can make a cutting once the eyes have grown to 1/4-1/2 inch.
With each (in about 2-3 weeks once the soil can be worked) cutting, dip the cutting in rooting hormone, then direct plant the cutting and within 8 to 13 weeks later, pick your own potatoes.
So start those eyes sprouting! Here three photos od our starter potatoes.
Home Grown Garlic
Brian shares his garlic planting experience...
Best planting time is late October to early November. A cold snap soon after planting is a good thing. The crop should be ready for harvest by late July.
In 2024 Brian planted in March hoping for an August or September harvest.
Starter selection: I got my starter heads from LaGree's in the produce aisle. Pick the heads with the most "purple" (anthocyanin) on the outside. These are the most cold hearty and they will grow very pungent garlic. I learned that from my Italian Great-Uncle Joey Canzano (not kidding), and, he was right. Generally, the less anthocyanin, the "weaker" the garlic.
I fully subscribe to the maxim "There is no such thing as 'too much garlic'!!" The next time I am cooking, you will all be looking at the color of the garlic cloves!! HAHAHAHA!
You should see sprouts in 3 to 4 weeks.
The layout: Every 8 inches (left to right) drill a hole with your finger half to three quarters and inch deep. Place one corm (the segment you busted off the whole head) point side up in the hole. Cover with soil and pat down/tamp a couple of times with a hoe or rake. Water.
Best planting time is late October to early November. A cold snap soon after planting is a good thing. The crop should be ready for harvest by late July.
In 2024 Brian planted in March hoping for an August or September harvest.
Starter selection: I got my starter heads from LaGree's in the produce aisle. Pick the heads with the most "purple" (anthocyanin) on the outside. These are the most cold hearty and they will grow very pungent garlic. I learned that from my Italian Great-Uncle Joey Canzano (not kidding), and, he was right. Generally, the less anthocyanin, the "weaker" the garlic.
I fully subscribe to the maxim "There is no such thing as 'too much garlic'!!" The next time I am cooking, you will all be looking at the color of the garlic cloves!! HAHAHAHA!
You should see sprouts in 3 to 4 weeks.
The layout: Every 8 inches (left to right) drill a hole with your finger half to three quarters and inch deep. Place one corm (the segment you busted off the whole head) point side up in the hole. Cover with soil and pat down/tamp a couple of times with a hoe or rake. Water.
Happy Gardening!
God bless, and remember St. Isidore the Farmer who said:
"None are closer to God than those who work the earth."
God bless, and remember St. Isidore the Farmer who said:
"None are closer to God than those who work the earth."