Harvest between the storms

We've got a series of showers and thunderstorms rolling through but I managed to get out and get 13lbs or so more of produce yesterday morning.

The plum tomatoes to the left are from the Growboxes. They are still neck and neck with the Squarefoot gardening technique (17 and 18 lbs respectively) except...

...there are only two plants in the grow box, versus 3 in the Squarefoot garden! So the Growbox appears to be 1/3 more productive. It's looking like next year more of the Growboxes will be devoted to tomatoes in order to maximize yield.

In other news, there at least a couple butternut squashes that are growing. I hope there is enough time for them.

I also spotted a tiny acorn squash and an even smaller watermelon. I don't think the melon will make it before frost but we'll see.

A globe eggplant is growing nicely. In my limited experience, eggplant do very well at the end of the season.

I am already planning to expand for next year, but that will require the relocation of some of the perennials to the front or donating them to friends.

Now I'm off to do some tidying up. There are parts that are completely out of control heat and rain aren't just good for the vegetables. But that is a different post.

I leave you with an "art shot."

Future pickle

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - @gastrogardener
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email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Tuesday Harvest 15 lbs of goodness

I suppose it is the IT  manager in me that wants to measure, to compare, to categorize. Maybe some day I  will be able to be a bit more mellow about it and roll smoothly with good and bad instead of hyper-analyzing what is happening. But as it is only the second year, I think it'll have to wait.

Tonight was a good harvest. The tomatoes are coming in fast. Sadly the Dark Prince seem prone to splitting, while the Celebrity are not so much. There has been some BER in the Romas but it has not been terrible. The romas are clearly determinate, they are coming all at once. Sauce or salsa is in the immediate future.

By the way tonight had 5# 11.4 oz of tomatoes from the SFG, and 5#6oz from the Growboxes. They continue neck and neck.

Anyway, here is the bounty.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener
email: thegastronomicgardener at gmail dot com

Growing method Comparison - Early August

When we last looked at the different growing techniques, there was not a big difference between between the Growboxes and the Squarefoot gardening methods.

As of this weekend, there is also not a huge difference in production, but there is a surprise.

The Growboxes are still lush but the cucumbers seem to be slowing down and yellowing.

Growboxes do require daily filling of the water reservoir in hot weather. The tomatoes are doing pretty well but I'm finding there is some BER which is a little surprising considering there are nutrients in the covers.  One thing I have learned is next year I will have to stake them up. The jalapenos are loaded and flopping over as well.

The square foot garden is going like crazy!

The cucumbers show no sign of slowing down.

I have no pictures of the veggie plot but it is a neglected mess. But it's not all about looks. It's about production.

So far to compare the tomato production:

Squarefoot garden:   8.28 lbs
Growbox                   6.90 lbs
Veggie plot                8.81 lbs

Grow box could catch up with two tomatoes, they are big. The veggie plot, I'm harvesting them green as any that start to ripen rot, or are pillaged by some critters.

So the verdict is still out.

In other news, the Brussels sprouts are sprouting.

I removed the last of the carrots, radishes, and beets. I'll be putting in some fall crops this weekend.

How does your garden grow?

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt






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Midsummer report on Growboxes

As previously discussed, one of the exercises this summer is the investigation  of various growing techniques. We've got raised beds over at the remote veggie plot, Squarefoot in the back and the Growboxes in the drive way.

Here are the growboxes from this weekend.

In the boxes from left to right, 2 tomatoes, about 8 peppers (below capacity) and in the final box 1 zucchini and 1 cucumber, also below capacity. Everything is exceedingly healthy, the tomatoes while not tall, are full of fruit, the peppers are producing and loaded with blossoms, zucchini on the vine, and the cucumbers you saw a few days ago.

So what can I say about this system? First, I need to fill the reservoirs every day. So don't think it will save you on watering time.  But it is easy to fill.

There is no weeding, and the start up was super easy.  No tilling.  Just fill plant and go.

It is ideal for balconies, or small spaces, or extending your growing area onto the driveway/parking pad.  Good for beginners or seniors, this appears to be a system that works!

The proof now is how much will it produce. Stay tuned!

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Other than the Growbox samples themselves, no consideration or compensation was granted from The Garden Patch.

Comparing growing methods after one month

Welcome Kalipso, glad you are following, and welcome to everyone else who recently started following. I'm glad you are here. From now on, I'll do my best to acknowledge you, the readers, especially those who are new to my blog.

About a month ago I planted tomatoes and peppers using three different techniques.
1) Grow boxes

2) Square foot garden

3) And over at the Veggie plot a few miles away.

So far moisture has not been an issue between the gardens. The Growboxes do come with fertilizer strips, the Squarefoot garden is naturally fertile from all the compost, and the veggie plot we know is very fertile.

In the Growboxes

• Tomatoes 
• Celebrity - 24" tall, fruit and many blossoms
• Roma - 18" tall, fruit, many blossoms
• Peppers
• Between 8 and 12" tall, no fruit loaded with blossoms

In the Squarefoot beds:

• Tomatoes
• Celebrity - 21" tall, fruit and many blossoms
• Roma - 21" tall, fruit, many blossoms
• Peppers
• Between 8 and 18" tall, some fruit, many blossoms

 

Here's a shot of the garden behind the house, with the veggie beds surrounded by flower beds. Quite a difference from a month ago!

A quick drive over to the veg plot, some weeding and scratching - as expected this is a little neglected - but as we have had sufficient rain (and more on the way) things are growing - including the weeds!

• Tomatoes
• Celebrity - 23" tall, no fruit and some blossoms
• Roma - 16" tall, 2 fruit and some blossoms
• Peppers
• Between 6 and 10" tall, 2 fruit, some blossoms 

And a shot of the whole garden...

Observations:
Growth:
Not much difference in growth between Growbox and SFG in terms of plant size, and the tomatoes at the veggie plot  are not far behind, but the peppers are relatively stunted.

Fruit production:
The difference so far between the Growbox and SFG is, in my mind, negligible, and the in-ground veggie plot lags behind.

Some of the difference might be explained by differences in light exposure between here and the veggie plot. Time will tell if any ground is made up, if the SFG can support larger plants later in the season, and if there is difference in long term fruit production. Stay Tuned!

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!


The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener

Growbox assembly

Tonight after work, I put together the Growboxes.

The parts: Top and bottom and cover with fertilizer strip.

The fertilizer is attached to a sheet that covers the potting mix (not potting soil) and also has a handy numbering system for plant spacing. The instructions tell you which numbers to use for different plants.

Snap the top and bottom together.

Now looking into the box, the tabs are bent down, this forms the wicking chamber.

Bend those tabs down and pack firmly with potting mix.

Fill the box halfway and water thoroughly.

Fill completely and water again. Add plants per the instructions. Tomatoes are two per box, I planted Romas and Celebrity. They are already in the square foot garden, and I have two more to put in the veggie plot. The instructions say to use small plants, these are not so small. Hopefully that will not be an issue. Yes it was dark by the time I finished. You can see one of the fertilizer strips on the right.

Add the cover, and fill the well.

One is done, the other two await residents. I'll get to that this weekend.

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
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The Growboxes are here!

For those of you following along, you know this is only my second year involved in vegetable gardening. Last year we grew food over at a friend's property with modest success. The tomatoes were successful as were the eggplants, but root crops ( beets, onions, carrots, and radishes) didn't do so well.

One likely reason is the large amount of stone and gravel in the soil. It was just too much for these crops that I suspect would do well in more friable soil. We'll still use the plot, but I plan on tomatoes, and some vining plants that will take up more space than I have in my little back yard.

Looking at alternative growing methods led me to investigate and begin a Square Foot Garden, which is mostly planted.  Hopefully it will do well. So far so good, and it solves the issue of stones in the soil. It certainly looks nice and organized, but frankly, I am interested in production. That's why I'm growing my own food, to have fresh vegetables and to be able preserve as much of the crop for the non growing season. Controlling my food supply as much as I can while living in suburbia is increasingly important to me, I suspect it is for you too wherever you live.

The third method I want to try are SIPS, sub irrigated planters. I'll be making my own from 5 gallon buckets in the near future and will share the process with you. It seems rather simple. That remains to be seen.

Probably the most famous commercial SIPS in the U.S. are Earthboxes. While this seems like a fine product, there is another product called Growboxes. They are about the same price as the Earthboxes. Both are made from molded plastic, and allow you to water from the bottom. Both websites show outrageously successful results.

In consideration for reviewing Growboxes over the season with you, my readers, the nice folks at The Garden Patch sent me three Growboxes! There is no endorsement yet. Just an honest intent to test them and compare the results with SFG, homemade SIPS, and the in ground veggie plot. Part of the test will be to plant the same tomatoes and peppers in each environment and compare through the growing system.

The results will, in part determine how I proceed in subsequent growing seasons.

I'll be assembling the Growbox in the next few days.

If you have experience with Growboxes or SIPS, I'd like to hear from you.

Stay tuned!

Until next time, Keep Digging & Eat Well!

The Gastronomic Gardener
Garden blog http://amidwestgarden.blogspot.com/
Cooking blog http://ihopeyouarehungry.blogspot.com/
Twitter - www.twitter.com/DavidPOffutt
http://www.facebook.com/TheGastronomicGardener