Rocky, clay soil - Page 2

Velutina · 06-21-2008, 08:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean W.

Velutina, how high did you go with your raised beds?

I used a 12" piece of pine. The soil-less mix is probably 10" deep.

[IMG]

[/IMG]

Richard · 06-21-2008, 09:19 PM

Dean, I'm currently building a raised bed in my front yard. I will fill it with 1/4 native clay soils, 1/4 coarse sand, 1/4 quarter-inch pumice, and 1/4 ground coir or sphagnum moss. These last 3 items I buy in bulk (cubic yard) from material suppliers. Here's a picture of the construction and a drawing made earlier this year when we (bananas.org) were discussing heated raised beds. In the current construction the french drain is already in place and drains to the street.

Dean W. · 06-21-2008, 10:25 PM

Wow, Richard, that's sophisticated. More than what I want. What do you plan on planting there?

I called around for the gypsum. Most places were closed already. I did find one place that has it though. It's just a bit of a drive. Maybe tommorow I'll get some.

Richard · 06-21-2008, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dean W.

Wow, Richard, that's sophisticated. More than what I want. What do you plan on planting there?

True, I won't need the heating elements or insulation for this planter. The drainage though is critical because my soil is mostly clay with rocks and cobblestones mixed in for entertainment.

Originally I was going to put a Mohawk Pecan there, but it died an early and sorry death. Now I'm back to considering a whole assortment of things, from deciduous fruit or berry, perhaps Bilberry or maybe an evergreen fruiting shrub like Chilean Guava. Decisions, decisions ....

pitangadiego · 06-22-2008, 12:12 AM

That's not rock, that's sand. I have rocks from 4" to 16" and the rest is sticky clay. Drainage is almost zero. Dig a big hole, set the plant high, fill it with compost and about 6" above the ground, sort of like a raised bed. It will grow like a weed, if fertilized well. Have a hundred or so planted that way.

Richard · 06-22-2008, 12:33 PM

Yep, San Diego is temperate but the native soil in most places is terrible for non-native plants. Here's a 6 x 6 x 2 foot pile of rock and debris I removed from the planter bed I'm currently constructing:

mskitty38583 · 06-22-2008, 12:46 PM

richard that looked like the pile i had in my yard this past winter. now i just have a pile of chipped wood in my drive way that hasnt found its way into the yard yet. ive slowly, between work and the grandbaby, try to do a little everyday...sometimes it works sometimes it dont. lol.

Dean W. · 06-23-2008, 08:05 PM

Well, I'm not done yet, but here's an update.

Taylor · 06-23-2008, 08:44 PM

Richard,
Those stones would look great in a bed (plant bed, I mean).

Maybe I can find some in the mountains to bring home whenever we go there again.

natedogg1026 · 06-23-2008, 10:15 PM

Looks good Dean. Gives it a "mat look."

mskitty38583 · 06-24-2008, 12:25 AM

awesome job!!!!

Dean W. · 08-01-2008, 08:19 PM

Update, I dressed up the bed. I also have have alot of pups coming up. Seemes to like the new enviroment.

austinl01 · 08-01-2008, 08:37 PM

Dean, your plant look great!

Richard · 08-01-2008, 10:06 PM

I agree, a great implementation. Keep the pups thinned out or it could rapidly get overcrowded!

natedogg1026 · 08-01-2008, 10:35 PM

They look very happy Dean. I might suggest 2" of mulch. It will hold in the moisture and keep the weeds down.

Dean W. · 08-01-2008, 11:55 PM

Nate, I put a bunch of compost around them. I also planted some Colocasia esclenta 'Illustruis' (Imperial Taro) around there. Tommorow I plan on putting on some more mulch. It's been in the 100's here for like 40 days straight.

natedogg1026 · 08-02-2008, 01:20 AM

CookieCows · 08-02-2008, 09:35 AM

Your bed looks awesome!!! I remember that nasty clay and shale dirt! Don't dig down too deep or you might fall through a cave!

I know it's got to feel good to see your nanas flourishing as a result of all your hard work. Beautiful!

Deb

06-21-2008, 09:19 PM	#22 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,427 BananaBucks : 227 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 363 Thanked 588 Times in 388 Posts Welcomes: 624	Re: Rocky, clay soil Dean, I'm currently building a raised bed in my front yard. I will fill it with 1/4 native clay soils, 1/4 coarse sand, 1/4 quarter-inch pumice, and 1/4 ground coir or sphagnum moss. These last 3 items I buy in bulk (cubic yard) from material suppliers. Here's a picture of the construction and a drawing made earlier this year when we (bananas.org) were discussing heated raised beds. In the current construction the french drain is already in place and drains to the street. __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com Last edited by Richard : 06-21-2008 at 10:10 PM. Reason: comma fault

06-21-2008, 10:25 PM	#23 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,199 BananaBucks : 8,189 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 645 Thanked 223 Times in 210 Posts Welcomes: 199	Re: Rocky, clay soil Wow, Richard, that's sophisticated. More than what I want. What do you plan on planting there? I called around for the gypsum. Most places were closed already. I did find one place that has it though. It's just a bit of a drive. Maybe tommorow I'll get some. __________________ Dean

06-22-2008, 12:12 AM	#25 (permalink)
pitangadiego Senior Member Location: San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 488 BananaBucks : 4,432 Feedback: 5 / 100% Thanks: 0 Thanked 177 Times in 70 Posts Welcomes: 0	Re: Rocky, clay soil That's not rock, that's sand. I have rocks from 4" to 16" and the rest is sticky clay. Drainage is almost zero. Dig a big hole, set the plant high, fill it with compost and about 6" above the ground, sort of like a raised bed. It will grow like a weed, if fertilized well. Have a hundred or so planted that way. __________________ Encanto Farms Nursery http://encantofarms.com We Be Bananas http://webebananas.com

06-22-2008, 12:33 PM	#26 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,427 BananaBucks : 227 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 363 Thanked 588 Times in 388 Posts Welcomes: 624	Re: Rocky, clay soil Yep, San Diego is temperate but the native soil in most places is terrible for non-native plants. Here's a 6 x 6 x 2 foot pile of rock and debris I removed from the planter bed I'm currently constructing: __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com

06-22-2008, 12:46 PM	#27 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: sparta, tn. Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,598 BananaBucks : 16,946 Feedback: 24 / 100% Thanks: 23 Thanked 466 Times in 396 Posts Welcomes: 59	Re: Rocky, clay soil richard that looked like the pile i had in my yard this past winter. now i just have a pile of chipped wood in my drive way that hasnt found its way into the yard yet. ive slowly, between work and the grandbaby, try to do a little everyday...sometimes it works sometimes it dont. lol. __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION "kokomo" beach boys:

Members currently in the chatroom: 0
	The most chatters online in one day was 14, 11-13-2007. No one is currently using the chat.

06-23-2008, 08:05 PM	#28 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,199 BananaBucks : 8,189 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 645 Thanked 223 Times in 210 Posts Welcomes: 199	Re: Rocky, clay soil Well, I'm not done yet, but here's an update. __________________ Dean

06-23-2008, 08:44 PM	#29 (permalink)
Taylor KING OF KORM. Taylor 's Photo Gallery Location: VA Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Taylor Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,415 BananaBucks : 11,309 Feedback: 13 / 100% Thanks: 192 Thanked 153 Times in 100 Posts Welcomes: 194	Re: Rocky, clay soil Richard, Those stones would look great in a bed (plant bed, I mean). Maybe I can find some in the mountains to bring home whenever we go there again. __________________ Taylor Update: 23 California Gold fruit expected by Thanksgiving! Harvested!

06-23-2008, 10:15 PM	#30 (permalink)
natedogg1026 Banana addict natedogg1026's Photo Gallery Location: Pittsburg, Kansas Find me on the map! Zone: 6b Name: Nate Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 616 BananaBucks : 8,661 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 134 Thanked 113 Times in 92 Posts Welcomes: 3	Re: Rocky, clay soil Looks good Dean. Gives it a "mat look." __________________ Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.

06-24-2008, 12:25 AM	#31 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: sparta, tn. Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 3,598 BananaBucks : 16,946 Feedback: 24 / 100% Thanks: 23 Thanked 466 Times in 396 Posts Welcomes: 59	Re: Rocky, clay soil awesome job!!!! __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION "kokomo" beach boys:

08-01-2008, 08:19 PM	#32 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,199 BananaBucks : 8,189 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 645 Thanked 223 Times in 210 Posts Welcomes: 199	Re: Rocky, clay soil Update, I dressed up the bed. I also have have alot of pups coming up. Seemes to like the new enviroment. __________________ Dean

08-01-2008, 08:37 PM	#33 (permalink)
austinl01 Got pink bananas? austinl01's Photo Gallery Location: Little Rock, AR Find me on the map! Zone: 8a Name: Austin Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 510 BananaBucks : 8,915 Feedback: 7 / 100% Thanks: 358 Thanked 197 Times in 107 Posts Welcomes: 114	Re: Rocky, clay soil Dean, your plant look great! __________________ Austin Arkansas River Valley Average January Low: 31°F, Average August High: 92°F Typical Low Each Winter: 13-15°F, Annual Precipitation: 52 inches

08-01-2008, 10:06 PM	#34 (permalink)
Richard Hermitian Operator Richard's Photo Gallery Location: NW San Diego, CA Find me on the map! Zone: 9+ / 10- Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 2,427 BananaBucks : 227 Feedback: 4 / 100% Thanks: 363 Thanked 588 Times in 388 Posts Welcomes: 624	Re: Rocky, clay soil I agree, a great implementation. Keep the pups thinned out or it could rapidly get overcrowded! __________________ . . . http://www.plantsthatproduce.com

08-01-2008, 10:35 PM	#35 (permalink)
natedogg1026 Banana addict natedogg1026's Photo Gallery Location: Pittsburg, Kansas Find me on the map! Zone: 6b Name: Nate Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 616 BananaBucks : 8,661 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 134 Thanked 113 Times in 92 Posts Welcomes: 3	Re: Rocky, clay soil They look very happy Dean. I might suggest 2" of mulch. It will hold in the moisture and keep the weeds down. __________________ Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.

08-01-2008, 11:55 PM	#36 (permalink)
Dean W. Dean W.'s Photo Gallery Location: Cedar Park, TX Zone: 8b Name: Dean Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 1,199 BananaBucks : 8,189 Feedback: 6 / 100% Thanks: 645 Thanked 223 Times in 210 Posts Welcomes: 199	Re: Rocky, clay soil Nate, I put a bunch of compost around them. I also planted some Colocasia esclenta 'Illustruis' (Imperial Taro) around there. Tommorow I plan on putting on some more mulch. It's been in the 100's here for like 40 days straight. __________________ Dean

08-02-2008, 01:20 AM	#37 (permalink)
natedogg1026 Banana addict natedogg1026's Photo Gallery Location: Pittsburg, Kansas Find me on the map! Zone: 6b Name: Nate Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 616 BananaBucks : 8,661 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 134 Thanked 113 Times in 92 Posts Welcomes: 3	Re: Rocky, clay soil Yuk! __________________ Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.

08-02-2008, 09:35 AM	#38 (permalink)
CookieCows Member CookieCows's Photo Gallery Location: Kentucky Find me on the map! Zone: 6-7 Name: Deb Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 628 BananaBucks : 3,983 Feedback: 2 / 100% Thanks: 219 Thanked 118 Times in 99 Posts Welcomes: 88	Re: Rocky, clay soil Your bed looks awesome!!! I remember that nasty clay and shale dirt! Don't dig down too deep or you might fall through a cave! I know it's got to feel good to see your nanas flourishing as a result of all your hard work. Beautiful! Deb __________________