Comments on: Cedar Fence Post Garden Planters

By: Elaine

Elaine — Fri, 29 May 2015 17:00:26 +0000

This is a very nice tutorial. I am 70, at the age age that I hate to stoop. So I have been planting in half of 55 gallon poly drums. I work at a place that makes Moonshine Hotsauce, so we have an ample supply of empty vinegar drums. The drums are 24″ in diameter, so I have to basically plan on one drum per plant. The soil I use to fill the half drum costs $14 per bag, and I will use a whole bag for each planting. The old habit of cost accounting, learned as a child in 4-H kicks in, and I wonder – will I really get $14 worth of cucumbers from that plant? Taking into consideration that I have made low, and no cost trellis. We get a lot of rain, but I used the hose frequently when first planting, so I should factor in the cost of water as well – Point being your planters would be more cost efficient in the long run, I think. I haven’t priced cedar yet.

By: Mindy

Mindy — Thu, 28 May 2015 20:01:14 +0000

Looks great!

By: Jordan

Jordan — Tue, 26 May 2015 13:26:35 +0000

Awesome little tutorial here! I definitely love the look of plant boxes like this – simple but beautiful in their own way, y’know? Thanks so much for sharing!

By: annalynne km

annalynne km — Sun, 24 May 2015 22:31:12 +0000

Even if you can’t eat it, that asparagus really is the cutest little plant I’ve ever seen! 🙂 I’m curious, how did you attach the drip line? You said it hooked up to the sprinklers. I don’t think I’m brave enough to ever mess with sprinkler heads, haha.

By: Gaidig

Gaidig — Sun, 24 May 2015 04:11:14 +0000

Glad you already knew about the asparagus and that you got cedar because pressure treated lumber is toxic!
Also, I have a theory about your peaches: it takes at least two peach trees to cross pollinate to get fruit, so I’m thinking one of your neighbors planted one some time in the last year. Apples are this way, too, but cherries and some others can self-pollinate.

By: Corinna - For My Love Of

Corinna - For My Love Of — Sat, 23 May 2015 00:08:06 +0000

Mandi, I need you to come to Virginia asap so you can see the raised planters my dad built. He’s a friggin genious. Yours are still beyond my capabilities, but golly his are so cool. My garden is in pots. Because I have no carpentry skills. But I do have 6 wax bean, 9 different tomatoes, 6 cucumber, 2 pumpkin, and 8 different peppers (4 of them hot peppers because wtf not?).

By: Mandi

Mandi — Fri, 22 May 2015 22:10:14 +0000

In reply to Charly.

Hey Charly!! Thanks so much, I was not planning on harvesting this year (Court’s grandma said it could take a few years) so we’ll just enjoy it for its adorable good looks for a bit! Thanks so much for chiming in, you are the best!! I can’t wait to check out the recipes!

xo
m

By: Charly

Charly — Fri, 22 May 2015 21:21:42 +0000

Hey Mandi!

I’ve been reading your blog for a year (love it) and have never commented, but being an avid gardener myself, I had to chime in about the asparagus. Hopefully the folks at the nursery told you this (and forgive me if they did or you already knew this), but it takes at least a year before you can begin harvesting from new asparagus plants. If you can make yourself wait that long, and believe me, it’s worth it, you’ll give the plants a chance to really get established. Once they’re established, you can harvest asparagus for literally decades. Here’s a good source for more info on that: https://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/growing-asparagus/growing-asparagus-zmaz10djzraw.aspx?PageId=2.
As to chard, here’s some recipes from my favorite cooking blog (SmittenKitchen), all of which are delicious. https://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2008/10/spaghetti-with-swiss-chard-and-garlic-chips/
https://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2013/01/lentil-soup-with-sausage-chard-and-garlic/
Keep up the good work mama! What great role-modeling for your kids!

By: Mandi

Mandi — Fri, 22 May 2015 19:15:05 +0000

In reply to Kristy B.

He totally supports the planters! He said we did a great job on them. It took him a few days to notice the tire tracks (because hello, I’m not going to point them out) and wasn’t super excited…picture something along the phrase “why do you have to make my life so hard?”

xo
m

By: Kristy B

Kristy B — Fri, 22 May 2015 18:56:26 +0000

It looks fantastic! I’m curious, what was Court’s reaction when he got home and noticed the planters? And did he notice the tire tracks? LOL!