LostGirls Outdoor Garden Center 🚨

Just laying fertilize soil over the ground for this, when it starts to root is it going to break through that hard ass clay? How far apart would you put them?

You can combine crops, it is called companion cropping. The classic is the Three Sisters that I talked about earlier.
You need to make sure that compliment one another. In your specific, Squash and cukes are both vining. It could work if you have the cukes climb a trellis and allowed the squash trail along the ground. I would space the main origins of the tomato, squash, and cuke about 3’ apart for good root development.
So in your 6’ by 6’ bed, you could plant a hill of 6 squash plants in the front left corner (1.5’ in from each edge). 3’ from center of where the squash has been planted, plant two tomato plants. In the front right corner, place a trellis 1.5’ in from right edge and plant cukes so they can climb.

Now…that’s 25% of the available space…

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Feel free to tell me to mind my buisness but id suggest if doing 6x6 to make grooves/indentations(not sure what the right word would be) so you can access the whole bed, particularly the center of the bed. If that doesnt make sense hopefully someone can put it in better words :sweat_smile:

Watermelons have relatively shallow roots. I would use a pitchfork to break up the soil, or tiller. Then amend soil, mound and plant. Individual plants should be spaced 6-8" apart in the mound

Size of mound is determined by how many plants you got. Once they get established, the roots will spread, but only go maybe 6" deep and should be strong enough to penetrate the clay layer that you broke up earlier. Spreading a layer of mulch will help retain moisture and, as I said earlier, you will need every drop. They are called watermelons for a reason!

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I think that are talking about a path to access the center and that would be wise. Again, mulch may prevent muddy shoes.

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Yes! Lol sorry its been a long morning but that way you can fully utilize the whole bed and have the access to it that you need to inspect or prune your plants.

Been working on my garden area as soon as i got off this morning. Just came in a few mins ago because of the rain. Last year i had a big problem with the grass trying to overtake my area so im working on what i hope to be a solution. Its not much but i took the landscaping wood up and put some cardboard under it and made sure it came up my “fence” a few inches. Needa get a finish shot but the damn rain is killin me rn lol

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Below you’ll see an image that I drew of how I would assume I would set this up. I’m going to make two boxes 6x6 by 3 ft high my intentions were to build dividers in each box as seen below

You’ll see I have a 3x3x3x3 option or a 2x2x2x2 option

Will pretty much any vegetable grow in a 2x2 in the box?

In the 3X3 area can two of the same plants go into the same square?

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That’s a beautiful space you got there. And feel free anytime to suggest as I’m blind to this stuff. Your input is much appreciated.

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Thank you! Luckily this year someone with a tractor scraped away the top layer for me. Cant tell you what a life savor that was. I did it with a few hand tools the first 2years :upside_down_face::upside_down_face:

Also, not to take away any fun you may be having with this adventure, but that drawing and idea is very similar to this​:point_down::point_down: just thought id share.

Fabric Raised Garden Bed, 135 Gallon 8 Holes Rectangle Breathable Planting Container Grow Bag Planter Pot for Plants, Flowers and Vegetables (1 Rectangular)

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Ment to share the link for Amazon idk why that didnt work :rofl:

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I got a question if I were to take this box each individual 3x3 is a space can I put multiple of the same sprouts like tomatoes etc in the same three by three square?

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Most of the time it won’t matter, but there is some which should be to close together. Some fight for the same nutrients, some attract pest which then make their home in an nearby plant.

But as mentioned, companion planting can really help mitigate pest and weeds. Even flowers in the garden to attract or repel insects. You just look up the plant you’re gonna grow, i.e. sweet potatoes.

Sweet patatoes

Just to be safe, I’d google all the ones I’m planting. Also, if researching, remember your zone / location, and how it may or may not apply to pest in your area.

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Solid info country boy. :kissing_heart: It’s funny I actually did exactly what you said I googled all the ones that I was going to grow and print it out their companions to give me a ballpark of what the heck I’m doing

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Well I figured the only way I’m going to get this is to jump in with both feet so off to Home Depot I go!!

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When I buy the seeds today I’ll probably start germinating everything tonight once I plant them in Solo cups can I sit the cups in my tent with the girl?

The light would be all the way to the top of the tent at 75% the relative humidity is 45% and the temperature fluctuates between 70 and 78°

Humidity should be up around 60+, at least that’s where I germinate. Temps are great, low 70’s is perfect. I seem to do slightly better with germination rate if I put the seeds in the fridge for a week before I begin germination. But it may just be the way it “feels”.

If you look at my seedling starter pic in my “it’s only a test” thread, you’ll see my girls surrounded by cucumbers, zucchini, peas, peppers, mater’s; hell, all kind’s of stuff.
In one of the first tent pic’s, you’ll see the lettuce.

We started early enough and are far enough south, we harvested zucchini this morn.

We have 4 young’ns and they’re local to use so we supply a lot of their veggies as well. Mostly because we over plant just cause ya never know, but any extra goes to the kids. We always give the grandkids seedlings and they enjoy growing their own veggies too.

Same as cannabis, there’s a deep satisfaction from taking a seed and turning it into meals.

I do my own battle with quackgrass and canada thistle. My answer is for every thistle and every clump of quackgrass is to replace it with a prairie plant.

Prairie Clover and Liatris. Previously, Big Bluestem, Indiangrass, Little Bluestem, asst. asters, coneflowers, and other a few others that my addled brain is not remembering.

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That is what I do, In every available nook and cranny, When that got crowded, I took over my portable work bench, when that filled, I moved to the three season porch. I hope the warm weather continues and I can begin moving things outdoors.


Three Season porch


Kennel made raised bed garden


Prairie Garden


Prairie Smoke beginning to make buds. It will flower soon.

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I went to Home Depot for the wood to make the boxes.

Once I figure out what plants will be in there and how many I can figure out do I even need dividers and build them as I need them. (It’s a mathematical thing)

I’ll lign the bottom of the box with cloth and cardboard. I’ll add about 2 to 3 inches of rocks in the bottom for drainage.

I’ve got about two totes full of Happy frog soil. (Use from previous growing) I’ll use that to start the seeds.

:rotating_light: What type soil and/or mixture of compost etc should I put in there?

@ModestMoose67 you’ve been tagged. Please feel free to watch/join/follow the thread. I have no idea what I’m doing. Any and all suggestions are appreciated

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