Let's Talk BBQ
Tips, Tricks & Just Good Advice! => Good to Know! - A collection of How-To's & Sage Advice => Garden to Table - Growing Your Own! => Topic started by: Smokin Don on May 27, 2014, 02:11:36 AM
-
May 26 2014
Getting older I was getting tired of either carrying water or dragging out the hose and stand there for 15 minutes to water my garden. My small 8X10 raised bed garden is small and I only have 6 tomato plants in. Tomatoes are my favorite crop so I decided to not try to squeeze them in and give them more room.
I had been looking for some short watering system. I finally found a soaker hose at Lowes, 25 feet. I could cut it in half and with a Y connector and a female to female connector I could use both pieces. The hose puts out 1 gallon per foot per hour.
I plugged the cut ends with a ½ X 2 inch wood dowel and a stainless steel hose clamp. Plastic would be better but could not find any.
I have a brick sidewalk that goes to the shed so I will leave my hose out, lying on the walk. My wife does not like the looks of it lying out but I tell her you get out here and roll that thing up every day or two. Besides after it’s hot and the mosquitos come out she stays inside.
Picture below with my watering system and garden are my favorite tools a garden claw and a Tennessee hoe. The garden claw my wife bought for me. I kind of made fun of it at first but it does well for weeding in bad soil if you do it after a good rain. I can till my little garden that has good loose soil in less than 10 minutes with it.
The Tennessee hoe is the easiest I have ever used. The head is heavy enough, made of cast iron; it is almost effortless to use. A lot easier than a standard garden hoe. It probably has a proper name but I call it my Tennessee hoe!
I had a good neighbor for 20 years before he died and his wife was here another 10 years, Harold and Pat. Harold had a Honda Goldwing and him and Pat went on a lot of trips with it. Harold and I drank a lot of beer together too. After a trip to Tennessee they came over and he had this hoe, he said go try that and see how easy it is to use; I did and agreed. He said I found this in Tennessee and couldn’t see how we could carry it on the motorcycle. A trucker friend said I will be at the Wapakoneta truck stop next week and I will take it for you if someone comes to pick it up. They said ok and he gave her info about his rig.
Since Harold had to work Patsy said she had to pick it up. She laughed and said I just knew if I couldn’t find him I would look pretty silly asking drivers if they had a hoe from Tennessee for me! And that is why I call it my Tennessee hoe!
Back yard and the hose on my sidewalk
(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/My%20Favorite%20Photos/_5261927_zps3b5d499d.jpg)
The Y hook up
(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/My%20Favorite%20Photos/_5261926_zps293809a9.jpg)
My garden and tools
(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/My%20Favorite%20Photos/_5261924_zps0837ff49.jpg)
Smokin Don
-
Good stuff Don. ;)
-
Looks like it will work great Don!
-
Great set-up. Love the story! Thanks.
-
That should be a time saver Don ;)
-
Very nice setup you put together. ;)
-
Nice looking setup Don ...
-
Good set up. How long is the garden? Been trying to get Kimmie to help me build a few so I can have a garden. My back and knees won't let me have a reg garden :(
-
Great set-up. Love the story! Thanks.
X2!!
-
Good set up. How long is the garden? Been trying to get Kimmie to help me build a few so I can have a garden. My back and knees won't let me have a reg garden :(
Here's some info on how I built my raised beds ...
I used 2"x6"x8' redwood (redwood isn't cheap but they hold up to weather better) and 4"x4" for the corners. Used screws rather than nails.
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Beds/garden3_zps822513ff.jpg)
The raised bed is 4'x8' and raised 12" ... filled with a garden mix from a local nursery
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Beds/garden5_zps2051b48a.jpg)
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Beds/garden7_zps92fc925d.jpg)
Modified the existing sprinkler system for a drip irrigation system
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Beds/garden2014-9_zpsbfc562fb.jpg)
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Beds/garden2014-8_zps245429fa.jpg)
Happy gardening ...
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/Summer2014/garden2014-82_zps543d02bc.jpg)
-
Now SP has the ideal raised beds and watering set-up looks great Pete. Tommy mine is 8'X10' and I used 2X10 treated lumber a little cheaper than red wood. I never see red wood here anymore, if you can get it, it would be special order. I used deck screws and angle brackets on the corners. I used four 1 1/2 perforated angle iron, drove them in the ground and fastened on the inside to help hold down. I forgot to say in the original post that watering my garden with my simple set up is actually fun now. Just turn on the water, and set for a half hour with a cold one! ;D Don
-
Great set-up. Love the story! Thanks.
Ditto, got a good chuckle out of that! Clever way to set that up!
-
Don, Looks great. That Tennessee Hoe we call a grubin' hoe here in JAWJA. Dee
-
Update on watering my garden.
I didn’t leave my hose lying on the sidewalk long. The main reason was every time I would mow grass I needed it up. I thought of the ones you see on TV that retract to a small package. That would be easier than using the hose reel. If I could get one that was 75 feet it would reach the soaker hose I had put in my garden.
I found one at Amazon and it was cheaper than from the co. that sells them, $32 on prime. When it came I already had a quick disconnect for hooking to the faucet. It came with a spray nozzle, cheap one, so I plugged it in and turned on the water it stretched out to full length. I turned off the water and it coiled back to a small package.
I took the nozzle off and when I tried to pull it to reach the garden it was too hard, it needed the water pressure. So off to Lowes to see if I could find a quick disconnect with a shut off. I found a set of 5 pieces in plastic that would work and I would have one for the spray nozzle too. I needed something to keep it in so looked at pots there. A 3 gal plastic bucket would work but I wanted something that looked nice. I found a nice glazed crock that had handles and would be easy to put away for winter.
I got home and installed all the connectors and it worked great. The daughter in law said they could use the hose reel and had a connector left for a nozzle for it too. I did not keep track of the exact cost of my set up to water my tomatoes; but I paid $37 for that pretty crock, $32 for the hose and have about another $30 in the soaker hose and quick disconnects! Those will be some expansive tomatoes; but they will sure taste good and I will be happy!
(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/My%20Favorite%20Photos/_5311980_zps1cd8e108.jpg)
Don
-
Nice gardening setup but the concern I have is the smoker under the overhang and the proximity of the grill to the house.
From a fire safety viewpoint, that's not a good idea. (IMHO)
NFPA recommends a minimum of three feet from anything combustible (like vinyl siding).
Just my humble $0.02 worth.
Mike
-
Nice gardening setup but the concern I have is the smoker under the overhang and the proximity of the grill to the house.
From a fire safety viewpoint, that's not a good idea. (IMHO)
NFPA recommends a minimum of three feet from anything combustible (like vinyl siding).
Just my humble $0.02 worth
Mike
Mike I think you have raised concerns before. I do not use my smoker unattended for very long. I always have my Maverick remote with me monitoring grill level temps. I cook mostly low and slow and 325 or below, most wood ignition temps are 350 deg. F or above If I am above that I am with the smoker. I have a fire extinguisher with in 10 feet and you can see a water faucet and hose close by. With any cooking inside or out you have to be careful. I don't figure I am any more unsafe than someone cooking in their kitchen.
When I was young my Mom was heating oil on a gas stove in the kitchen for French fries. We both were outside the back door talking to the neighbor; the neighbor said I smell something burning, we looked inside the kitchen. From the pan of oil to the ceiling it looked like a blow torch. Mom ran around front and got my baby brother out of the crib and the neighbor called the fire dept. I followed Mom in and went upstairs to save a new pair of shoes!
The house was saved but the kitchen was completely burned out.
I do know the dangers of fire Mike! Don
-
Don,my BIL in Colorado has been singing the praise of that hose too.Looks like the only issue to determine will be durability,function seems a winner. ;)
-
Don,my BIL in Colorado has been singing the praise of that hose too.Looks like the only issue to determine will be durability,function seems a winner. ;)
Spuds thanks for getting back on the subject of the post! I figure if it lasts 3 years I will be happy. One thing you don't want to do is be dragging it across concrete. I have a hose made by Toro years ago probably 20, it was made like a fire hose and wound up on a real, 50 ft. I still have it hanging in my shed and I had it out a few years ago and was still good. If it has not dry rotted is probably still good. I do like the hose! Don
-
My wife bought a hose,black heavy thing,from Sears well before we were married,and have 20 years together at least.That hose is still good,it only doesnt have pressure on it during the winter,talk about value. I asked what she paid,said didnt remember but a lot.
Want a good hose nozzle,remember these? I found it 2 years ago on Amazon,still not a drop leaks,dang cant beat a good design.
I got so fed up buying a plastic one every year,or sooner!
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001DGII5O/ref=oh_details_o03_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Dramm 12380 Heavy-Duty Brass Adjustable Hose Nozzle-$13.99
(http://i1298.photobucket.com/albums/ag47/1spudster/71QR68BsPFL_SL1500__zps58ff26ee.jpg) (http://s1298.photobucket.com/user/1spudster/media/71QR68BsPFL_SL1500__zps58ff26ee.jpg.html)
I have a new motto,if I can run over it with the truck,and it can survive,buy it.
-
I have a new motto, if I can run over it with the truck, and it can survive, buy it.
Great motto! Words to live by... ;) ;D
-
Update:
Aug 12 2014
I think this time last year I had harvested about ¾ of my tomatoes. As you can see in the photo I sot today all you can see is green! Looks like I will be eating a lot of fried green tomatoes! Last summer was hot and dry and this summer has been rainy and cooler than usual.
Earlier I showed the expandable pocket hose I bought to replace my heavy indestructible rubber hose, like Spuds! Well when he gets my age he will be tired of dragging it around. ;D
I have used it at least 3 times a week to water my garden and all my flowers this summer. I love that thing, light to drag around and easy to put away. You have to treat it a little better than most hoses.
I always wondered what the inside hose looked like without the outer nylon covering. I found out when the grandson had a large rubber like snake filled with water hanging around his neck; it was 2 inches in diameter and about 4 feet long. I wanted to get a pic of it but it burst before I could get a photo. Below is a shot of the left overs. The longest piece was the one that was 4 feet long.
He got the hose from a friend, who was dragging it around the corner of the house and it got caught on a piece of sharp siding and burst. The kids were playing with it like water balloons. To me it looks like what surgical gloves are made of only thicker.
Green
(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/My%20Favorite%20Photos/_8122711_zps543cf5e5.jpg)
(http://i1039.photobucket.com/albums/a474/deains/My%20Favorite%20Photos/_8122710_zps5f59878c.jpg)
Smokin Don
-
Update:
Aug 12 2014
I think this time last year I had harvested about ¾ of my tomatoes. As you can see in the photo I sot today all you can see is green! Looks like I will be eating a lot of fried green tomatoes! Last summer was hot and dry and this summer has been rainy and cooler than usual.
Earlier I showed the expandable pocket hose I bought to replace my heavy indestructible rubber hose, like Spuds! Well when he gets my age he will be tired of dragging it around. ;D
Thanks Don for the post,I wont be getting one if its easy to destroy.
Sorry on maters not ripening,my crop is quite a bust this year too,after an early spring to boot,go figure. ::)
I hear you on dragging that heavy hose,instead of 150 feet I now have one that goes 50 feet to a y,then two 50 foot hoses to either side of yard.Each has a hose nozzle that turns off fully on ends,I keep the water always on.They lay out there all season and put away in winter.Its so true,they are BEARS to drag around. ???
8)
-
Too bad your garden is not in my area - extremely hot and sunny all summer ;D