My first Earthbox has sprouted nicely. One of two plants is a ginormous creation. I think it's an eggplant but I can't honestly remember what my wife was germinating originally. Barely visible to the left is a second small green plant doing okay next to it's massive neighbor. For some reason iguana action has abated a bit around here. I hope it's the cooler weather.
When the guy with the plants shows up at the Big Pine Key flea market, it's time to plant. So we pulled out our Topsy Turvy planters and got to work filling them after months of keeping them ready for action in the shed.
The Topsy Turvy is available by mail for monstrous mailing fees or from Target if you happen to be in Miami among the big shops. Basically it's a plastic tube with a sponge at the south end and an opening at the north end. The plant of your choice hangs from the south end while the contraption is suspended from the north end after you fill it with a plant and some dirt:
The beauty of the Topsy Turvy is that it doesn't need weeding, it's iguana-proof and by hanging the plant it takes up not much room if that's a concern for an apartment dweller. I figure one could make a planter with a bucket, a sponge, a drill, some wire and so forth but this works for me:
A quick slosh with some water (tomatoes can't get enough water I'm told):
Such that when I asked my wife to hold the camera she used her initative to take a picture of the hanging in progress:
And presto! As unlikely as it may seem the tomato will thrive hanging upside down. I will water it frequently from the deck when I am watering the other plants and the tomatoes will taste splendid:
We have been growing some seedlings for planting in one of the beds left over from last winter, and I think we will see some lettuce if the iguanas can be induced to stay away. We also planted a few herbs in our other Earthbox along with a tomato and we shall see what we shall see:
Our fruit trees are doing nicely into this their second season and with my experiences from last year I hope this winter will see a more productive growing season. All I've got to do is keep the iguanas away. By any means necessary.
When the guy with the plants shows up at the Big Pine Key flea market, it's time to plant. So we pulled out our Topsy Turvy planters and got to work filling them after months of keeping them ready for action in the shed.The Topsy Turvy is available by mail for monstrous mailing fees or from Target if you happen to be in Miami among the big shops. Basically it's a plastic tube with a sponge at the south end and an opening at the north end. The plant of your choice hangs from the south end while the contraption is suspended from the north end after you fill it with a plant and some dirt:The beauty of the Topsy Turvy is that it doesn't need weeding, it's iguana-proof and by hanging the plant it takes up not much room if that's a concern for an apartment dweller. I figure one could make a planter with a bucket, a sponge, a drill, some wire and so forth but this works for me:A quick slosh with some water (tomatoes can't get enough water I'm told):Such that when I asked my wife to hold the camera she used her initative to take a picture of the hanging in progress:And presto! As unlikely as it may seem the tomato will thrive hanging upside down. I will water it frequently from the deck when I am watering the other plants and the tomatoes will taste splendid:We have been growing some seedlings for planting in one of the beds left over from last winter, and I think we will see some lettuce if the iguanas can be induced to stay away. We also planted a few herbs in our other Earthbox along with a tomato and we shall see what we shall see:Our fruit trees are doing nicely into this their second season and with my experiences from last year I hope this winter will see a more productive growing season. All I've got to do is keep the iguanas away. By any means necessary.
10 comments:
I'd love to have fresh veggies all year. Make sure your topsy turvy is well anchored. Mine fell and smashed the plant just has they were getting ready to ripen. Don't be surprised if the stems start to grow up towards the sun, that's what mine did and others I saw. Good luck.
It would be nice to be able to grow that stuff year round. Just last weekend, we took down our tomato and pepper plants and most of the herbs. We haven't yet hard a hard freeze so some of our herbs are still surviving. We will miss the tomatoes until next year.
Dear Sir:
I awoke yesterday and discovered a huge bite on my forearm. This is the unmistakable mark of a noctural feeding tarantula, one of thousands which I suspect infest this house.
Research I've conducted has revealed these same spiders, which are the size of a VW Beetle hubcap, will eat iguanas at the rate of forty per hour.
How many do you want?
It is important that you constantly check to see they are not eating the free-ranging chickens in Key West, as I these will be a large part of my diet when I come there as the only homeless person with a BMW motorcycle this spring.
I am not a proud man. I will also eat iguanas if they taste like chicken. In fact, if I figure out where you live, I may have iguana complete with salad.
Fondest regards,
Jack • reep • Toad
Twisted Roads
http://jackriepe.blogspot.com/
Oh God, you garden in the buff!? My eyes! Well, it IS Key West... :)
It is hot enough to forget one's shirt inside the house. The law in Florida says you can be naked if you a reasonable expectation of not being visible from apublic place. So call before you visit.
Mr Conchscooter:
and to think that Fantasy Fest is over for another year, as was your secret desire to garden au naturelle. Just remember eye contact is a must to stop prying eyes.
bob
bobskoot: wet coast scootin
Growing stuff in the summer is tha hard part in the Keys. Practice I hope will teach me what is doable.
Judi: ignore the riff raff I don't know where they come from. I have upgraded my topsy turvy anchors this year. last year I used flat pieces of wood and they barely made it. This year I sacrificed two pieces of firewood.
Iguanas, aren't they related to tree rats ie squirrels?
One squirrel cage trap, set with a dab of peanut butter inside. One squirrel or one iguana as the case may be. Place trap into garbage pail of water and ensure entire trap is below surface of water. Place lid on pail, and maybe tie strap on so lid does stay on garbage pail. Leave to bake for 30 minutes in hot sun.
Remove cage and then remove hopefully dead and baked iguana.
Dispose of deceased critter as you wish, either bury, or place on street with the hope somebody will mash the beast or place out in appropriate bag for recycling.
Continue until no more if iguanas or squirrels are seen.
Problem solved. next obtain a much larger cage and get rid of raccoons
in the same manner.
Problem solved.
Florida iguanas must be smarter than Canadian ones. I've seen them basking on top of cages with uneaten watermelon and hibiscus flowers inside. Some get caught, some get shot with pellet guns and the ones that don't lay up to 50 eggs to continue the cycle. It is endless.
I'm very impressed with your topsy turvy. I tried to fill one to grow some good old Jersey tomatoes. I nearly cut my fingers off, dropped it off the porch, and broke the plant. It didn't live. My other tomato plants are still giving fruit, though.
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