What casn i plant to get the maximum return with limited space. I am Moving into base housing soon so I will probily be limited as to how much room and what i can plant. I might only be able to do raised beds.
With those kind of conditions you would probably be better off with raised beds. You can grow about anything in them and per sq footage, you can fit more in them than an in the ground plot.
__________________ But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing.
There are other factors to consider into your equasion as well. Having been on active duty myself... base housing is not all equal! LOL ... Remember to factor in how much light the proposed area for the garden will get. What direction does the yard sit in direction to the available sun?
I agree with both you and jtuck on considering the raised bed garden and think you will have better success and can cram alot of veggies into a small space. I would point out that you can do the same thing with several smaller garden plots spread out right into the ground, its all about the 6-P's! LOL prior planning prevents piss poor performance! When I was in the military I heard that alot! Plan your crops out right and combine that to suit the amount of light, soil conditions, amount of water and climate zone you are growing in and you will maximize your success!
You may also consider container gardening. I have had LOTS of success doing that when space limited and as a novelty growing on my decks! I started many tomato plants growing in 2 liter empty bottles for my city bound friends... but around my house, many are looking better than the ones in my gardens since the rabbits cant get to them! LOL go figure!
Another option that is addicting is to switch your grow philosophy and garden whenever the notion strikes you is to build your own indoor growing operation. You control EVERYTHING!!! LOL you can maximize the best and healthiest plants and harvest 25% faster at least. I built my own small setup and enjoy fresh veggies even when the snow flies, I think this winter I will build a setup with PVC pipe to grow strawberries in. The biggest expense is the light, but if you utilize prevailing windows correctly can get away with a cheap one. The dope growers put a bad stigma on this great hobby, but I KNOW if we could get enough interest legitimately back into indoor growing people could realize how easy it is to grow your veggies year round right in your kitchen and it would revolutionize many of our lives.
sorry to ramble LOL
__________________ Most of my life I've spent hunting,... the rest of it I've just wasted
Another option that is addicting is to switch your grow philosophy and garden whenever the notion strikes you is to build your own indoor growing operation. You control EVERYTHING!!! LOL you can maximize the best and healthiest plants and harvest 25% faster at least. I built my own small setup and enjoy fresh veggies even when the snow flies, I think this winter I will build a setup with PVC pipe to grow strawberries in. The biggest expense is the light, but if you utilize prevailing windows correctly can get away with a cheap one. The dope growers put a bad stigma on this great hobby, but I KNOW if we could get enough interest legitimately back into indoor growing people could realize how easy it is to grow your veggies year round right in your kitchen and it would revolutionize many of our lives.
sorry to ramble LOL
Okay, this one struck me! I am an apartment dweller, and my south facing windows are blocked by two massive trees. They may restrict me to ferns and ivy, but damn they are nice when the mercury hits the triple digits! Anyway, I already have some lights going for some african violets (girlfriends), and have been wanting to expand to something edible. I have done a little research on hydro and aeroponics, but any new links could be useful!
My other idea would be to just get a big stack of Aerogardens like Will Smith had in "I Am Legend".
__________________
I take my coffee how I take my women: bitter and overbearing.
Aerogardens are terribly expensive... they work very well, but you are limited on the verticle and horizontal growth that any one plant will do.
I use 5 gallon buckets. I drilled at the bottom edge of each bucket about 1/4 -1/2" up and put 1" fittings then I connected all the buckets using large tubing.
I have 4 buckets in my system all connecting to central "reservoir" where the pump is. I got my pump at my local indoor gardening store, but you can get them cheaply at a pet store too. The ones at Lowes or Menards hardware stores are way overpriced ornamental statue pumps. You do not need a large volume pump by any means... I think I gave $12 for the one I use.
In one of the buckets I have an airpump running two large airstones to keep oxygen in the water at all times... I never shut it off.
The pump is connected to a feeder tubing line that at the end of the run I simply bent over and zip tied closed... I put silicone in the end before smashing it closed, but dont know if it was necessairy.
I took the lids of the buckets and cut out 2 to 4 holes that will hold 3"net pots suspended over the bucket. I partially fill the net pot with expanded clay pellets or hydroton as it is called in the store. Next I put a 1" cube of rockwool and fill the hydroton around it to hold it into place.
Once your pots are in place get some parts for irrigation. I punch a small hole in the feeder line and insert a 1/2 GPH nozzle piece and attach a short run of tubing to drip the water onto each pot.
For smaller plants you may want to put your pump on a timer so as to not flood them out. Large plants you will probably want to pump full out and remove the GPH reducer.
Technaflora makes a kit that has everything you need to mix into water to make your solution to grow plants, just follow the easy directions... It is called the recipe for success. From doing it for a long time and from the advice of the indoor garden shop owner cut the recipe in half! Trust me its plenty powerful, and I also do not change the nutrient solution weekly like it says unless I am trying to bloom a larger plant that will suck up more nutrients than a small one. Small plants I change the solution every 3 weeks, but top off the water to the fill line. Currently my sytem holds 8 gallons of solution.
I will find some links and put some pics up for you of my build.
I can answer about any questions you have, I think you will enjoy it as a hobby.
__________________ Most of my life I've spent hunting,... the rest of it I've just wasted
