Quarantine Vegetable Gardens

[Midwestmom2019]

Soak them in water overnight then plant outside. Hopefully, they will revive.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Soak them in water overnight then plant outside. Hopefully, they will revive.

This is SWFL, bulbs don’t grow here. If I hadn’t forgotten about them, I was going to put them in the fridge for the summer. Anyway, nothing grows here from May-Oct, except peppers and grass. I will have to be a better Plant Mom!

 

[PayrollNerd]

Hello, all you experienced gardeners, I need advice on my next project. Here in SWFL, it is garden planning time. Earlier this week the oak trees were trimmed, yesterday all the debris (twigs, leaves) was raked into piles. Next, the landscaper is going to scoop all the old white landscaping rock out from around the house. The plan is to pour it all in the back yard rather than haul it off. So here's where I need help.

Along the back fence which separates me and the wetlands, I'd like to dump the old rock and messy dirt into the shape of a berm. Then I'd like to have soil added on top deep enough to plant flowers. No edging or wall, just a sloped area, add the seeds, then once plants are established, place mulch. The lawn guy will keep it edged. I'm thinking sunflowers, really tall ones, some mid height ones and shorter ones. It will block the warehouse view across from the wetlands. If I don't do sunflowers, I'm thinking corn or maybe a combo of sunflowers in one area and corn at the other end?

Any idea if this will work well? I can do some weeding on my strong days and once it cools off I can do even more. I'll get some pictures of the back fence uploaded so you can visualize it.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

@PayrollNerd if I were you I would look into perennials rather than annuals that must be replanted each year.

Sunflower drop seeds that resprout the next year (whatever the birds don't eat), but not always where you'd want them to be.

They are fun to see, though -- I grow lots of them.

But for an area where you want plants to stay in one place to block a view, not sure they will serve that purpose.

 

[PayrollNerd]

@PayrollNerd if I were you I would look into perennials rather than annuals that must be replanted each year.

Sunflower drop seeds that resprout the next year (whatever the birds don't eat), but not always where you'd want them to be.

They are fun to see, though -- I grow lots of them.

But for an area where you want plants to stay in one place to block a view, not sure they will serve that purpose.

I was thinking that the rats with tails, aka squirrels, would be hanging out eating sunflower seeds, rather than my veggies. But maybe not. I was trying to think of what else I could plant along that back fence that has height?

 

[mickey2942]

I was thinking that the rats with tails, aka squirrels, would be hanging out eating sunflower seeds, rather than my veggies. But maybe not. I was trying to think of what else I could plant along that back fence that has height?

Bamboo is always an option. But it can be invasive. But since there are no neighbors, it would probably be okay. Double check if you want bamboo.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I do like that rodent diversion strategy! And sunflowers are skinny so you can add them easily into a bed also containing other plants.

I've been looking at things like daylilies and hollyhocks -- tallish for flowers but not sunflower-scale tall. What about some kind of bush or shrub? Maybe a willow? Lilac?

I'm really not very knowledgeable but I have found that googling things like "zone 5 tall perennials" does find me links containing good ideas.

 

[MimosaMornings]

Bamboo is always an option. But it can be invasive. But since there are no neighbors, it would probably be okay. Double check if you want bamboo.

Think carefully on bamboo. The shoots will start showing up in your yard. Starts small and I think it will grow quick in your climate. What about a butterfly bush?

 

[PayrollNerd]

If I remember right, here in SWFL which I am in Zone 10A, you need to keep bamboo in containers to control it. I don't know if you buried the containers, if that would still contain it. The butterfly bush is invasive also.

I have an invasive carrot tree that is now illegal to plant in FL. I had it chopped down 3 years ago and the stump ground up. However, it just keeps coming back. So the landscaper is going to attempt to kill it with poison. I've told him he needs to dig up the root. The language barrier is making it hard for him to understand my reasoning. It's getting frustrating. Anyhow, it attracted a ton of butterflies.

I had a huge hibiscus but it was overgrown and in an awkward place so it was removed. I could probably plant some of those to stabilize the berm, maybe. I've been reading about the non-invasive Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) too. It could climb the fence for stability.

See, this is why I need you garden experts..... I don't know what the heck I'm doing when it comes to flowers.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I was just reading a blog where there is often garden talk. One woman put some metal arches over her propane tank with a plan to grow clematis vines to hide it from view.

Which gave me the idea -- you could install a trellis in the area where you want to block a view, and then plant some flowering vine to wend its way up the trellis.

One I like, that I will try to put in my own garden, is hops.

But hops dies back each year and resprouts. One can leave the dead vines and let the new growth add to the "bulk" each year, for visual blocking purposes, but if one doesn't like the look of the dead vines then it would only actually be tall enough to block a view for a short time each year. Not to mention the annual work of clearing away the dead vines.

(maybe these things that die off each year in my cold climate might stay green all year in yours? I really don't know)

But even a bare trellis serves to block some view. Then can add whatever viney flowery thing you choose. Even ivy or something cool like that!

 

[SeesSeas]

here in SWFL which I am in Zone 10A

I can offer some guidance to you. I get lots of praise and compliments on my corner lot yard where I have lived for 40 years.
I am often considered to be an "Amateur Expert' in Florida landscaping. Thank you mom and grandma!
I have very little 'lawn'. My yard is a variety of groundcover, perennials, ferns, shrubs, vines, trees, and bamboo.
I am also in Zone 10a, although I am close to the border of 9b.
Home The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

About 20 years ago, my yard received this recognition:
Landscape Recognition - Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - UF/IFAS
FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE RECOGNITION

Not all bamboo is bad. I have grown 4 varieties of CLUMPING bamboo since 15 years ago.
Clumping Bamboo - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
Clumping Bamboo
Bamboo has a bad reputation with Florida gardeners. And while it's true that some kinds do spread aggressively, there is a whole category of bamboos that do not.
There are actually two groups of bamboos: runners and clumpers. Running bamboos can grow rampantly and don’t stay in one place, but clumping bamboos grow only a few inches wider each year.

The photos you posted show a very large shade area. There are so many variables when choosing what to plant, but the most important is Right Plant / Right Place.
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ - Helping Florida One Yard at a Time

Sunflowers require a lot of sun: Sunflowers

Floridata Floridata ID#: 277 Tithonia rotundiflora
Common Name(s): Mexican sunflower, tithonia
Light: Likes full sun, but can tolerate filtered sun or partial shade.

A great resource is your local County Extension Service:
Find Your Local Office - UF/IFAS Extension
Here is an Interactive Map to our Extension County Offices by district

UF/IFAS - Extension Services, Programs, and
EXTENSION SERVICES, PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

FFL Plants
FFL Plant Guide

 

[mickey2942]

On gardening, our dinners the last few nights, are 100% from our garden! Tomatoes, peppers, squash, basil, sage, parsley garlic..stir-fry. A bit of cheese. Dinner is served.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I can offer some guidance to you. I get lots of praise and compliments on my corner lot yard where I have lived for 40 years.
I am often considered to be an "Amateur Expert' in Florida landscaping. Thank you mom and grandma!
I have very little 'lawn'. My yard is a variety of groundcover, perennials, ferns, shrubs, vines, trees, and bamboo.
I am also in Zone 10a, although I am close to the border of 9b.
Home The 2012 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

About 20 years ago, my yard received this recognition:
Landscape Recognition - Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - UF/IFAS
FLORIDA-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE RECOGNITION

Not all bamboo is bad. I have grown 4 varieties of CLUMPING bamboo since 15 years ago.
Clumping Bamboo - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences
Clumping Bamboo
Bamboo has a bad reputation with Florida gardeners. And while it's true that some kinds do spread aggressively, there is a whole category of bamboos that do not.
There are actually two groups of bamboos: runners and clumpers. Running bamboos can grow rampantly and don’t stay in one place, but clumping bamboos grow only a few inches wider each year.

The photos you posted show a very large shade area. There are so many variables when choosing what to plant, but the most important is Right Plant / Right Place.
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ - Helping Florida One Yard at a Time

Sunflowers require a lot of sun: Sunflowers

Floridata Floridata ID#: 277 Tithonia rotundiflora
Common Name(s): Mexican sunflower, tithonia
Light: Likes full sun, but can tolerate filtered sun or partial shade.

A great resource is your local County Extension Service:
Find Your Local Office - UF/IFAS Extension
Here is an Interactive Map to our Extension County Offices by district

UF/IFAS - Extension Services, Programs, and
EXTENSION SERVICES, PROGRAMS & RESOURCES

FFL Plants
FFL Plant Guide

This is great info! If I plant that clumping bamboo, I could eventually use it for plant stakes! That back fence is shaded in the morning but now that the trees are trimmed, there is a lot more sun back there. It is 8' high and has barbed wire on top. I've let the vines grow over it but I will definitely cut them off once they start trailing on my side. I really like the ideas everyone is sending my way.

I found a vegetable gardening schedule for FL that I had downloaded last year so I read that. Then I found a vegetable list of what type of veggies will grow here. I printed the tables so I can refer to them when picking out seeds and plants. My friend who is a gardener offered to help me get it all set up and pay for most of the seeds and plants. Yay!

The carpenter is coming in the morning so we can talk about my raised garden beds. I will plant veggies in them. While the food bank gives me veggies, sometimes they're beyond salvageable. Plus, I am literally allergic to some of what they give me. I found these concrete corners for raised beds at $3/ea but I'd need 60 of them plus the wood. I don't know if having wood corners and deck screws is cheaper after adding the cost of labor.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Raised garden beds on the brain.....

I toured Lowe's this morning to see the concrete corner blocks. It says they're 22lbs each. So I lifted one and yup, they're a tad heavy. However, not too heavy. I think if they were delivered, I could move them a few at a time from a pile, onto my dolly and roll them out to the backyard.

I found the wire garden mesh you put underneath the bed to keep the rodents out. I found it cheaper online but at least now I have a better idea of what I need to use. I also found the heavy plastic to line the beds with like I did last time.

One way I thought to do this without needing so much help and expense, is to have the wood cut at the store. That would make it easier for me to pick up, then roll it to the backyard. Altho, instead of 8' beds, they'd be 4' beds. I'd need more connector blocks to make them longer.

I looked at renting a piece of equipment to scoop the dirt and drop it in the garden boxes. A mini skid steer I think it was called.... about $300/24 hour day.

Thinking...thinking....thinking....

 

[mickey2942]

Raised garden beds on the brain.....

I toured Lowe's this morning to see the concrete corner blocks. It says they're 22lbs each. So I lifted one and yup, they're a tad heavy. However, not too heavy. I think if they were delivered, I could move them a few at a time from a pile, onto my dolly and roll them out to the backyard.

I found the wire garden mesh you put underneath the bed to keep the rodents out. I found it cheaper online but at least now I have a better idea of what I need to use. I also found the heavy plastic to line the beds with like I did last time.

One way I thought to do this without needing so much help and expense, is to have the wood cut at the store. That would make it easier for me to pick up, then roll it to the backyard. Altho, instead of 8' beds, they'd be 4' beds. I'd need more connector blocks to make them longer.

I looked at renting a piece of equipment to scoop the dirt and drop it in the garden boxes. A mini skid steer I think it was called.... about $300/24 hour day.

Thinking...thinking....thinking....

We have raised beds, I bought them online at Costco. And rather than fill them with dirt, I use "Grow Bags", put in the raised beds. I like this, because I can move the plants around in the beds or out and change things up.

 

[Midwestmom2019]

Bamboo is always an option. But it can be invasive. But since there are no neighbors, it would probably be okay. Double check if you want bamboo.

Two different kinds of bamboo. Clumping and running. Rings on the stalks tell the story.

 

[Midwestmom2019]

If I remember right, here in SWFL which I am in Zone 10A, you need to keep bamboo in containers to control it. I don't know if you buried the containers, if that would still contain it. The butterfly bush is invasive also.

I have an invasive carrot tree that is now illegal to plant in FL. I had it chopped down 3 years ago and the stump ground up. However, it just keeps coming back. So the landscaper is going to attempt to kill it with poison. I've told him he needs to dig up the root. The language barrier is making it hard for him to understand my reasoning. It's getting frustrating. Anyhow, it attracted a ton of butterflies.

I had a huge hibiscus but it was overgrown and in an awkward place so it was removed. I could probably plant some of those to stabilize the berm, maybe. I've been reading about the non-invasive Mexican Sunflower (Tithonia rotundifolia) too. It could climb the fence for stability.

See, this is why I need you garden experts..... I don't know what the heck I'm doing when it comes to flowers.

Best, most fun class I EVER took was the Master Gardener class put on by my county. Check it out. You’ll find all kinds of information, people, like minds.

 

[Midwestmom2019]

Raised garden beds on the brain.....

I toured Lowe's this morning to see the concrete corner blocks. It says they're 22lbs each. So I lifted one and yup, they're a tad heavy. However, not too heavy. I think if they were delivered, I could move them a few at a time from a pile, onto my dolly and roll them out to the backyard.

I found the wire garden mesh you put underneath the bed to keep the rodents out. I found it cheaper online but at least now I have a better idea of what I need to use. I also found the heavy plastic to line the beds with like I did last time.

One way I thought to do this without needing so much help and expense, is to have the wood cut at the store. That would make it easier for me to pick up, then roll it to the backyard. Altho, instead of 8' beds, they'd be 4' beds. I'd need more connector blocks to make them longer.

I looked at renting a piece of equipment to scoop the dirt and drop it in the garden boxes. A mini skid steer I think it was called.... about $300/24 hour day.

Thinking...thinking....thinking....

Any time I rent equipment, I get their extra insurance. More than once it has saved me, especially if you’re not familiar with the equipment. Blow a tread? Covered. Burn it up, covered. Peace of mind? Covered.

 

[PayrollNerd]

We have raised beds, I bought them online at Costco. And rather than fill them with dirt, I use "Grow Bags", put in the raised beds. I like this, because I can move the plants around in the beds or out and change things up.

Yesterday, I watched 3-4 videos on grow bags. Even a video on how to make them from sturdy landscape fabric. As a seamstress / quilter, they would be easy for me. However I would want them corralled like you mentioned, not just sitting everywhere. I’m looking into a baby pool now. Maybe fill the pool with 2” of water and let the plants soak it up. Rather than water from above.

Still waiting on the concrete bid to fix the front patio. Then I’ll know how much cash I’ll have leftover for my gardening.

 

[mickey2942]

Yesterday, I watched 3-4 videos on grow bags. Even a video on how to make them from sturdy landscape fabric. As a seamstress / quilter, they would be easy for me. However I would want them corralled like you mentioned, not just sitting everywhere. I’m looking into a baby pool now. Maybe fill the pool with 2” of water and let the plants soak it up. Rather than water from above.

Still waiting on the concrete bid to fix the front patio. Then I’ll know how much cash I’ll have leftover for my gardening.

I bet that you could sew them up perfectly! Probably not put them in a pool though, unless you cut out the bottom, don't want to have the bags sit in water and get moldy or scummy.

It would be cute to use a pool for a raised bed, you could easily paint it. Just cut out the bottom.