Container gardening/raised beds
I've decided that this year I really want to grow some veggies. I live in Utah and have the worst crappy clay soil! I've tried before and just have never had much luck so this year I'm thinking of building some raised beds so I can put in good soil and stop dinking around. Has anyone else done this?
I'm trying to decide between the kits (really nice but expensive) or hitting Home Depot and doing it myself.
I tried veggies for the first time last year on my porch, in large plastic 35 gallon planters. I tried zucchini and artichokes, both produced but I was limited to a single mini-yield. I would try a larger container or build a raised bed next time for sure.
If I had time and a bit of money to invest, I would try to go the do-it-yourself route. good luck athomas78!
Thanks! I have a 14'x14' area that gets full sun on the side of my house. My sister and her family are going to come and help me build some raised beds. I'm excited to see how it turns out!
I agree with building your own, its cheaper and easy. you just need wood, a saw, some steaks, and maybe a hammer for the steaks, and thats about it. let us know how it goes!
I've done peas and tomatoes in pots and both did fine. good quality soil is a must!
Saw this fabulous segment on PBS a few weeks ago, about growing tomatoes in hanging peat baskets. i was really intrigued. you run them out the sides and let them hang down. if i run out of room in the ground this year, i might try it.
That sounds like a great idea! I may try that just to see how it works. You can never have too many tomatoes anyway. 
thats true! i gave away about a pound of tomatoes a week last year.
on the other hand, you can have too many zucchini, and the world will refuse to take them at a certain point. i'm thinking if that happens this year, as i am determined to grow them, i'll just put a little basket of extra zucchinis out by the side walk with a sign that says "free."
ok. i've got cucumbers and peas growing in pots. we'll see how they do!
well, the cukes haven't sprouted yet, just planted them today. the peas were starts.
incase anyone is already planning for next year:
http://www.mysquarefootgarden.net/building-bu ying-cost-comparison/
just came across this site looking for info on harvesting potatoes. its a cost comparison between the kits and do-it-yourself for making raised beds.
i think she's in utah too!
Hi!
I'm from Ontario, Canada.
I tried SFG this year. Some worked, some didn't. Here is my website, if you want to see my progress. My husband made the boxes using mostly scrap wood from Home Depo (we are on a budget)
My potatoes in straw didn't work. I'll have to investigate that.
2