Something about rain, good old rain!

[superjono]

  tmblack 
What kind of mulch can I use on my vegitable raised bed?
I dont have to worry about my Earth Boxes drying out too much.
My vegitables are going to be planted in my raised bed on the side of my house.

[tmblack]

Superjono...

I think that's something you really need to talk to a specialist for I am afraid.  I used it on my perenials, not vegetables, although I don't see why it wouldn't work. 

It was a suggestion that I would love to discuss though.  Maybe even cover it with another moisture barier?  Suggestions?  Maybe a compost mixture of 3-4 inches?

Question...Doesn't a raised bed dry out moreso than an inground garden 

[superjono]

  tmblack 
I would think yes a raised bed drains faster than a non-raised bed.
but it is way!!!!! easier to manage my garden in than in the rest of the soil in my area, which is dark clay.
My raised bed is 100% Organic compost.

[tmblack]

Superjuno

Because of all the rain here, I thought of raised beds so that my garden would keep drier, but then thought that the nutrients would probably leach out of it.  I like the idea of the EB's better.  And, now that I have researched the watering system for the EB's, I like it even more.  I actually feel quite lazy just thinking of how much easier this is going to be! 

Next purchase is the watering system for me!

[superjono]

  tmblack 
Raised beds are easy to work with, but Earth Boxes are so much more easier because they have a water resivor so the plants don't dryout nearly as quick.
I garden in 5 Earth Boxes, and have also a raised bed.

[BronxBaby]

Have you considered weed barrier and straw for your raised bed?

[superjono]

    My raised bed is 13 inches off the ground.
I was told weeds could not grow through it being that tall.
I did use straw last year and it really helped keep moister, but the straw had powder mildew all over it and I thought that was how straw looks.
Anyway I put the straw around every plant and within a week my garden had a major Powdery Mildew Outbreak. So trash with that idea. 

[John]

Superjono,
I would also stay away from using Peat.  If allowed to dry it will repel water.
Some years I use it on my inground garden using less than 1/2 inch.
If you keep the proper pH, have good edging, and maintain good soil texture you shouldn't have any major problems with weeds. 

[cushman350]

Hello all,

I know some you you have rain barrels to collect rain for watering your EB's.  I can not do this yet because of my roof tiles (lead residue).  Is there another way to collect large amounts of rain??  I am using filtered water for my EB AWS because my municipal water supply has chloramines in it.  Here is what I have found:

In my EB's I do not mound the potting mix exactly like EB recommeds.  I make a mound in the middle but make sure there are 1 inch deep valleys all around the edge of the EB cover -- into which I poke holes.  Why??  So that my EB potting mix can get the benefit of rain water when it rains.  I do not want the rain water to just roll off onto the ground.  I have noticed that after any good rain when those 'valleys' fill with rain water and this water soaks into the EB potting mix and then drains into the reservoir -- my plants get a real big 'boost'.  Am I dreaming or does rain water have a 'beneficial' effect on EB grown veggie plants??  Anybody??

Cheers,
DL

Today after their first rain since my toms have been growing like crazy and fruiting, I remembered dancing lemons' post. Rain kicks ass. 

[superjono]

  This is a nice sounding unique song about the rain.
  http://vimeo.com/8703945 


This year I am trying a different kind of organic mulch on my raised beds.
Here is a link to the mulch I will try.
http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2646350