Raybo's EarthTainer "Farm" Photo Update - June 1
 

The Season has been pretty good so far. Harvesting Stupice and other tomatoes for the past 2 weeks:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2866_zps834da1db.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2866_zps834da1db.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I planted my main crop 3 weeks behind the Stupice and they are setting fruit. Applause hybrid:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2938_zps383475ce.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2938_zps383475ce.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2940_zps9d727d41.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2940_zps9d727d41.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

The Dona F1 and Carmello are doing quite well:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2899_zps7c4f6bdd.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2899_zps7c4f6bdd.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Nice clusters of 6 tomatoes per truss:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2900_zps7d3f2847.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2900_zps7d3f2847.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

The Better Boys are liking the sunshine:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2935_zpscbda05ec.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2935_zpscbda05ec.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2941_zps383e4170.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2941_zps383e4170.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Big Beef is always a strong plant here:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2916_zpsa12544e9.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2916_zpsa12544e9.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

So far, no insects yet - but that generally happens in July:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2914_zps5d73fb9f.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2914_zps5d73fb9f.jpg[/IMG][/URL]


The cukes have been going crazy:

DIVA
[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2897_zpsa8c03c52.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2897_zpsa8c03c52.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Sweeter Yet
[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2898_zps0b626fbf.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2898_zps0b626fbf.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Had this one for lunch today:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2894_zps638e4368.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2894_zps638e4368.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

And the sweetcorn is just planted in:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2920_zps35b18fa1.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2920_zps35b18fa1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

I even found some New Mex Joe Parker at the local Nursery last week:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2880_zps18d3c712.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2880_zps18d3c712.jpg[/IMG][/URL]


Now, to go take a nap in the garden......

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Raybo:D:D:D

So healthy and beautiful, Ray!! Thanks for sharing with us. My spring veggies are winding down and summer stuff will get going soon! Can't wait to catch up with you!

Nice work as always Raybo!

Hello Raybo,

Looking good, I am envious of your cukes as mine are just setting on.
Your tomatoes look great and very healthy. Thanks for posting

Rick

Rick,

This comprised my entire lunch today:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2952_zps1365b9de.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2952_zps1365b9de.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Tasted great after working in the hot garden all morning:D

Raybo

Encore !

I'm growing Joe E Parker this year also. Your plants look great!

Wow! What an incredible garden in containers, well done!
Karen

Ray, container grower extraordinaire! You truly have this down to a science and continue to amaze year after year. :yes:

Ami

great looking plants ray, as always !!

Gorgeous!

Everything looks amazing, per usual! :)

I always love how neat, organized and bountiful your earthtainers are every year :)

Raybo! As usual looking fantambulous!

Thanks all for the encouraging comments!

My crash project this week is to re-design the lawn irrigation system away from the wasteful and inefficient spray type heads, to the newer rotating multiple streams design nozzles.

[URL]http://www.hunterindustries.com/irrigation-product/nozzles/mp-rotator[/URL]

Spent the day today measuring with a yardstick the current sprinkler installation and then matching the flow rate and emitter distance needs with dozens of nozzle options from Hunter Industries. So, in addition to a more uniform lawn watering pattern, I should be able to reduce my water consumption by 30%. Kind of important during this California drought we are in. But I am $200 poorer this evening after placing an online order for the new sprinklers.

Raybo:D

Looking great, Raybo. I remember one of your threads saying you were going to cut back your pepper plants from 6 to 4 per container. Did you do that this year?

Dan

I always enjoy your EarthTainer farm updates. Looks awesome.

As always, a joy to peruse your updates Ray. I'm surprised you're not growing any Sweet Success Cucumber this season (don't you always?) This is my first year trying Sweet Success based on your monster fruit expressions; I've got it in two EarthTainers covered by 50% shade cloth. They seem to be doing well so far.

Enjoy those Stupice tomatoes.
-naysen

Dan,

I have 2 Peppers in an 18 gallon InnTainer; plus 3 Mew Mex Peppers in an EarthBox.

Naysen,

I am growing Sweet Success in 1 EarthTainer recently planted on the deck in partial Sun.

Focus right now is re-engineering the entire sprinkler system in the yard to be more water efficient, so 4 EarthTainainers remain unplanted..........

Raybo:D

Great looking plants! Beautiful tomatoes too. When working with containers like you have for the tomatoes what all are you putting in them soil/ compost wise? Also are you drilling holes for drainage?

Looks great!

[QUOTE=Brandon558;415287]Great looking plants! Beautiful tomatoes too. When working with containers like you have for the tomatoes what all are you putting in them soil/ compost wise? Also are you drilling holes for drainage?

Looks great![/QUOTE]

Brandon,

Go to this site for more info on the EarthTainer and the link to download the construction / planting guide, for all the questions you ask.

[url]http://www.earthtainer.org/[/url]

Raybo:)

Really nice!

[QUOTE=rnewste;414188]Thanks all for the encouraging comments!

My crash project this week is to re-design the lawn irrigation system away from the wasteful and inefficient spray type heads, to the newer rotating multiple streams design nozzles.

[URL]http://www.hunterindustries.com/irrigation-product/nozzles/mp-rotator[/URL]

Spent the day today measuring with a yardstick the current sprinkler installation and then matching the flow rate and emitter distance needs with dozens of nozzle options from Hunter Industries. So, in addition to a more uniform lawn watering pattern, I should be able to reduce my water consumption by 30%. Kind of important during this California drought we are in. But I am $200 poorer this evening after placing an online order for the new sprinklers.

Raybo:D[/QUOTE]


Thanks for posting the link! I had never seen or heard of the rotating multiple stream design. We have an older system with conventional spray heads that are starting to need replacing, so maybe we'll just bite the bullet and re-do them all with these.

Looking at your pictures of your container plants is one of the reasons I rarely try container planting. My results are just too depressing after seeing the magnificent plants you grow. Kudos on a job well done.

Bill

Bill,

I appreciate full well the difficulties you experience with your climate. I tried for years growing tomatoes when we lived in Huntsville - but with very little success.

Anyway, now we are complaining it is too dry here in NorCal and wish for a long rainstorm.:panic:

Raybo:)

Hey Raybo, how are those new sprinklers working out? I am interested in hearing your thoughts on them.

...just a few from the "Farm" today:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_2998_zps689a4874.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_2998_zps689a4874.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Applause tomatoes, Sweet Success and Sweeter Yet cukes.


I am very happy with the new Hunter rotating multiple stream nozzles. Have 2 of the 5 zones converted, just waiting to "train" my Sons (when they show up) on how to install the remaing 3 zones:

[URL="http://s1066.photobucket.com/user/raybo31/media/IMG_3001-001_zps55741e7d.jpg.html"][IMG]http://i1066.photobucket.com/albums/u405/raybo31/IMG_3001-001_zps55741e7d.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

Much less wasted spray on the driveway and sidewalks.

Here are a couple YouTube links:

[URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dffQ7b9nGTo[/URL]

[URL]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmBIojB6zmk[/URL]



Raybo:D:D

Raybo I used the same hunter nozzles on my system on two ends and in the middle of my yard.
On the sides I used the rain bird rotater nozzles.
Just about 40 nozzles all together.
So far I have 12 zones running.
Both brands of these nozzles are fantastic.
For once I dont have to spend all of my time dragging a hose around.

Worth