c/gardening-setup

PSA: My $35 automatic drip line timer flooded my raised beds last Tuesday because the battery died mid-cycle.

Honestly, I found my entire setup underwater after leaving it for just a few hours, so has anyone found a more reliable brand or a backup system for this?

3 comments

the_morgan•3d ago

Can we talk about my weird experiment with a $20 plastic greenhouse?

I set up one of those cheap plastic mini greenhouses on my apartment balcony in Phoenix, thinking it would help my herbs through the winter. I planted basil and cilantro, expecting them to thrive with the extra warmth. Instead, the cilantro bolted in like two weeks, and the basil got these weird white spots. I think the plastic trapped too much heat and humidity during the day, even in December, and then it got too cold at night. It basically created a tiny, awful climate. I learned that a 'greenhouse' setup isn't a magic fix; you have to really manage the air and temperature inside, maybe with a fan or a thermometer. Has anyone else in a hot, dry area tried one of these and actually had it work?

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kai_park•4d ago

My old garden was a mess of pots and hoses until I saw a setup in Portland

Three years ago, my backyard in Tacoma was just a bunch of plastic pots on the deck and a green hose I'd trip over. Last month, I finally built a simple raised bed from some old cedar fence boards I had. It's only 4 feet by 8 feet, but it made a huge difference. Last week, I added a basic drip line kit from the hardware store, about 35 bucks, and hooked it to a timer. Now I don't have to drag the hose around every evening. It's not fancy, but it feels like a real garden now instead of a pile of stuff. Has anyone else switched from a bunch of scattered pots to a more planned setup? I'm curious about simple ways to keep it tidy.

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robert_anderson69•5d ago

The drip line for my raised beds took three weekends to get right

I thought setting up a simple drip system for my three 4x8 beds would be a Saturday job. The main issue was getting even water pressure to all the emitters, especially the ones at the far end. I tried adjusting the pressure regulator and re-running the main line twice, but the last bed kept getting a weak drip. I finally fixed it last weekend by adding a separate zone with its own valve off the main hose bib. Anyone else run into pressure problems with a multi-bed setup? What was your fix?

3 comments

abbyg14•9d ago

My raised bed mix hit a 6.8 pH reading and everything just took off

I was checking my soil after adding some compost last month, just to see where things stood. The little meter showed 6.8, which I guess is that sweet spot for a lot of veggies. Honestly, I wasn't really paying close attention to pH before, just mixing dirt and hoping. Now my tomato plants have doubled in size in about two weeks. Has anyone else seen a big change from just one small number like that?

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wyatt_green31•9d ago

Appreciation post: My raised bed soil mix turned to concrete after a heavy rain in April

I used a cheap bagged topsoil with too much clay, and it took a pickaxe to break it up. Anyone have a better soil recipe for wet climates?

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miles_sanchez•11d ago

So I just counted and I have exactly 37 different types of tomato cages in my garage right now

It started with a few basic ones, then I got some fancy collapsible ones, then some heavy duty ones for the beefsteaks, then these weird spiral ones I saw online... I wasn't paying attention until I tried to clean up yesterday. My partner walked in, looked at the pile, and just said 'you know tomatoes don't need a condo complex, right?' I guess it's a problem. Has anyone else ended up with a weirdly specific collection of one type of gardening gear?

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lucaslee•13d ago

TIL my cheap plastic greenhouse frame from the hardware store only lasted one season.

I chose it over a pricier metal kit to save $80, and a heavy snow in February crushed it flat. Anyone have a sturdy small greenhouse brand they actually trust?

2 comments

riverthompson•13d ago

My drip irrigation line split open right at the main valve connection

It happened two days ago after I turned the system on for the first time this spring. The pressure must have built up from a small winter freeze crack I didn't see. What's the best way to reinforce that connection point to stop it from happening again?

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phoenix198•13d ago

I used to think raised beds were the only way to garden

For years in my old Seattle yard, I built tall cedar boxes and filled them with bagged soil. After moving to a place with better ground, I tried direct planting last spring and my tomatoes grew twice as big. The deeper roots found more water and nutrients naturally. Has anyone else switched from raised beds and been surprised?

3 comments

karen_perry38•15d ago

I finally figured out the perfect way to keep my hose from kinking after it ruined my new petunias last spring.

My neighbor in Phoenix suggested I coil the hose in a figure-eight pattern on a simple $15 hose reel instead of a circle, and now I never have to stop mid-water to untangle a knot.

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claire_walker•15d ago

Am I the only one who had a raised bed collapse after using untreated pine?

I built a 4x8 foot raised bed last spring with cheap, untreated pine boards from the local hardware store to save money. After one winter in Michigan, the sides are bowing out and the corner joints are pulling apart from the soil pressure and moisture. What's a better, affordable wood that can handle wet dirt for a few years?

3 comments

fisher.adam•15d ago

My entire seed starting rack collapsed at 3 AM last Tuesday

I built a cheap PVC frame for my grow lights and it gave out under the weight, dumping 72 seedlings onto my basement floor. The mess took me four hours to clean up and I lost almost all my early tomatoes. What's the sturdiest DIY light rack you've actually built that can hold real weight?

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leej52•15d ago

Vent: My neighbor in Austin said my raised beds were a waste of space for just herbs.

He argued that dedicating a full 4x8 bed to basil, thyme, and rosemary was inefficient, but his point about maximizing yield in a small yard actually made me reconsider my whole setup plan.

3 comments

rileynelson•17d ago

Trying to figure out a drip line for my sloped backyard took me three full weekends

I have a small garden in my backyard that slopes down toward the fence. I bought a basic drip irrigation kit from the hardware store, thinking it would be a simple Saturday job. The problem was the water pressure. At the top of the slope, the emitters worked fine, but at the bottom, they just dribbled or didn't work at all. I spent the first weekend just moving the main line around, thinking I had a kink. The second weekend, I tried adding more pressure regulators, which made it worse. Finally, I called a friend who does landscaping. He came over, looked at it for five minutes, and said, 'You need to run separate zones for the high and low points.' I had to redo the whole layout with two different lines coming off the tap, each with its own valve. Has anyone else had to deal with a big slope in their setup? What did you do?

3 comments

amy_adams13•19d ago

PSA: I finally stopped using old plastic pots for my seedlings

For years I just reused any old container I had, like yogurt cups with holes poked in the bottom. Last spring, over half my tomato starts got stunted and I lost about 30 plants. My friend in Madison said to try those cheap 1020 trays with the proper cell inserts, so I bought a set for 12 dollars. The difference in root growth after just three weeks is crazy. What's a small change that saved your plant starts?

3 comments

the_margaret•19d ago

TIL using a cheap plastic tarp under my raised beds was a huge mistake after my yard flooded last spring.

I switched to a proper woven ground cloth and the drainage is way better, so what's the best heavy-duty fabric for a wet climate like Seattle?

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noahc14•22d ago

I thought those cheap plastic greenhouse kits from the hardware store were a total waste of money until my neighbor in Phoenix showed me his tomato harvest in February.

He used a basic $40 kit but added a simple drip line on a timer and a layer of bubble wrap for insulation, which completely changed my mind about starting seeds early in a cold frame. What's one simple add-on that made a basic setup work way better for you?

3 comments

robin_lee•23d ago

Remember when everyone just threw a few pots on a patio and called it a garden?

I tried setting up a proper drip system for my raised beds last spring. The problem was getting the water pressure right across all the zones. I spent maybe 4 hours on a Saturday thinking it would be simple, but it turned into a whole weekend project. I had to go back to the store three times for different pressure regulators and emitters. In total, it took me about 12 hours over two days to stop it from either flooding one bed or barely dripping in another. It's so much easier now, but man, that first setup was a headache. Anyone have a go-to brand for those little pressure-compensating drippers that actually work?

3 comments

ross.felix•24d ago

Thought those self-watering pots were just a gimmick for lazy people.

My sister gave me a 3-gallon 'Aqua Globe' pot for my patio tomatoes in Phoenix, and I figured it would drown them. After a month of 100-degree days, the plants are the healthiest I've ever had. I guess the slow, deep watering actually works better than my daily hose spray. Anyone else have a good result with these in a hot, dry climate?

3 comments

sandrac55•24d ago

Update: My raised bed in Portland collapsed after a heavy rain

I built a 4-foot by 8-foot cedar raised bed last spring, filling it with a popular local soil mix. After a big storm in October, the whole side wall blew out, dumping soil onto my pathway. Everyone says to just use more screws, but I think the real issue was not accounting for the lateral pressure from wet soil. Has anyone else in a rainy climate tried a different bracing method?

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mia_murray1•24d ago

Serious question, how many of you started with your plants in the wrong spot?

For two years, my basil on the back porch in Austin kept getting leggy and weak. I figured it just needed more water. Then my sister visited, pointed at the wall, and said, 'That fence is blocking the morning sun.' I moved the pots just three feet out into the open yard, and the difference in a month was crazy. What's a simple fix you missed for way too long?

3 comments

avery305•25d ago

I thought a 5 gallon bucket was fine for my patio tomatoes

I planted three cherry tomato plants in a single bucket last spring, thinking the roots would be fine, but by July they were all stunted and barely gave any fruit. My neighbor in Phoenix said I needed at least 10 gallons per plant for our heat, which totally changed my setup plan for this year. Has anyone else had a similar surprise with container size?

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drew_park•25d ago

Serious question, what do you do when your drip line splits right before a big trip?

Mine blew a fitting in the 95-degree heat last Tuesday, and I had to MacGyver a fix with electrical tape and a zip tie from my garage. How do you guys handle emergency irrigation repairs on short notice?

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troylane•25d ago

Pro tip: I finally switched from a basic oscillating sprinkler to a soaker hose for my raised beds

The sprinkler was wasting so much water, especially in the afternoon sun, and my lettuce in the back row was always dry. I put in a 50 foot soaker hose from the brand Gilmour last month, and the water use dropped by about a third. Is the initial setup for drip or soaker systems really worth it over just setting out a sprinkler and forgetting it?

3 comments