Two weeks ago as I kicked off this year’s garden experiment, I was stymied by a long string of Spring rains. Fortunately, the rain held up long enough last weekend to get the garden fully installed.
Saturday, I got up bright and early. By 10am, I was picking up the first of three pickup truckloads of top soil needed to fill my 100 square foot raised bed. It took me about three hours to pick up and unload all the dirt I purchased from a local landscaping supply company. I originally estimated it would take two truckloads, so I was disappointed to need a third. Total cost of top soil: $41.06.
Once the soil was in place, I headed out to pick up the plants. As I wrote earlier this week, I found great, cheap plants at a local nursery and eagerly loaded up my cart with tomato cages, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, jalapeños, cayenne, red and green bell peppers, chives, parsley, oregano, basil, and something called “sugar herb”. Total cost of plants and cages: $101.17.
I knew as I was darting around like a kid in a candy store that I was buying too much, but this was far more than my garden could hold. After I brought the plants home and planned the garden layout, I discovered I had about 12 too many plants. I intended from the beginning to put the strawberries in last year’s container garden pots, but I still went way overboard. This forced me to go out and buy new pots so I didn’t waste the plants.
Garden Closeup
Before I got down to installing the plants, I mixed the fresh top soil with about $10 worth of peat moss I had left over from a previous project. This helps aerate the soil and puts natural nutrients in there for long-term release. And as I dug each hole, I also scooped in a cup of the vermicompost I harvested last Autumn for another organic fertilizer right where their roots could get to it quickly. With the worms I added this Spring to my worm composting setup, they should produce enough compost that I can fertilize my garden solely with the worm castings. I’m going to try for a “chemical-free” garden this year and leave the MiracleGro for my potted plants.
I finally wrapped up the initial work on the garden around 5pm – clocking 7 hours of labor (and one bright sunburn) for Saturday.
Sunday, we went to Lowe’s after church and picked up some pots, potting soil, stepping stones, a soaker hose and stakes to keep the hose in place for a total cost of $98.25. It took me about two hours to get the stepping stones where I wanted, the hose in place, and to plant the remaining plants in their pots.
Container Garden
Since regular sprinkler watering is very wasteful in gardens (not to mention bad for tomatoes), I opted to put in a soaker hose so the water would go directly to the root areas and leave the plants and leaves dry. Unfortunately, I ran into some problems using the hose due to all the turns it has to make: The holes in the hose won’t stay down, but instead spray in just about all directions. I may have to replace this irrigation plan with a custom-built PVC setup.
But the garden’s done! I invested way more money than I intended, but I suppose that’s normal for a garden’s first year. Next year, my expenses will be much lower since I won’t have to buy all the durable goods again. Now to watch it grow!
Garden Experiment Scorecard
| April Cost: | $257 |
| Time Spent: | 14 hours |
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I like what you are doing, just wondering if you are harvesting vermicompost throughout the year….I see you used some from autumn…just wondering.