I have been looking at using old gutters for gardening lately. My question is what kind of veggies could I grow in them? Green onion of course but what else? Thanks fellas.
Because I have a 109' long fence and a small yard. If I attach them to the fence I can easily fit 400 + ft on it without any issue. It is a very sturdy fence.
Lettuce's, Spinach, Arugula. I just threw this together from 1" irrigation tubing. ($55 for a 100' roll) Leftover from the wife's "Hula Hoop" project. I made them a little too long, I think they are 10' each. I will cut them down a bit after tonight's frigid temps.
Anything shallow rooted should be ok. Water retention may be an issue could maybe try a cotton wicking system in the bottom or some of the water bottle spikes like HF sell spaced out every so often. I have read of others doing it.
I'd like to see how it works out for you. I may try a few of these pallet gardens this year. We too, are tight on space. There are quite a few options.
Can you send me what you picked up and what your doing? I am trying to do this without spending a lot...
If you go the gutter route any leafy green(outside of head lettuce) herbs, radishes and beets for the greens - probably wouldn't be great for setting good sized root/bulbs. Snap peas might do well if you had a trellis behind it. The later developing peas/beans probably require too much of a root system and water to justify the space/yield Can always put a few summer squash or zucchini 3-4' apart at the base in the ground to catch the missed water. Cucumbers will do well if caged from the ground(train them to grow up not out) - a few plants will give you all the pickling cukes one could ever ask for Don't seal the gutters tight drainage is required or the seedlings will rot. Throw a marigold in here and there on the spacing - the natural scents/oils help repel bugs
After I read the hoophouse link above I figured I'd add real world pro-built experience. Buy greenhouse poly - you will replace the cheap crap annually and costs you more in the long run - it's lasts about 3-4yrs...the first time the wind rips up on that luffing poly all your hard work/plants are toast - a big greenhouse could be $$$thousands in losses. Don't staple the poly to your end frames or base ledger. Use lathes - one set to anchor initially then wrap over the tacked lathe and place another one directly on the ledger tight to the top of the first lathe. Rip 1x4" in half if you don't have pallet material to do this. Rolling excess poly on the top lathe will help even more with stretching.. Doubling the poly and mating a muffin fan to the inside sheet would keep it from luffing and tearing - also adds an air insulation layer
I used to work at a greenhouse....and replaced the plastic twice. This is all good advice. I'll add that you should put the plastic on on a relatively warm day without much of a breeze. Too cool and you won't get a good stretch. Too windy and you'll get taken for a ride...ask me how I know.
I took an involuntary ride off the peak of a hoop...got about 20' in the air....then deposited with a certain amount of authority. I was pi$$ed because the plastic tore and we had to refasten a whole side with those stupid cam lock things (not fun)...my boss had the most unbelievable oh chit look on his face...that kind of made it all worth it. Now that I'm a lot older and slightly smarter, I would probably wait out the wind.
Just picked up 19 pieces of schedule 40 (was going to go 80, but this is prototype so I thought I would go cheap this time. 10 T sections. Still need 5 crosses and 4 corner T's, going to check Home Depot. Maybe I should add a garden hose attachment and drill some sprinkle holes.
