Friday, August 1, 2014
A Greenhouse of sorts
Seems my tomatoes on the deck may be getting a bit too much sun causing them to wilt a bit during the day before I can get home to water them in the evening . And this may be the cause of my Blossom End Rot . We also have the problem of frequent thunderstorms pummeling the tomatoes and the need to give them some shelter to keep them from being shredded . I figured it was time for a better solution . So yesterday I restacked my firewood wall in the woodshed from the outer edge where it made a nice exterior facade , to the back wall of the barn.
And using the three large glass panels saved from a job a couple of years ago I glassed in the outer wall .
Normally I only lean the glass panels up against the roof header in winter and remove them in spring so I can mow the edge properly . But given that each half inch thick 45" x 76" panel weighs about 150 pounds it is a bit of a chore . So I built a proper rail out of pressure treated five quarter at the bottom for the glass to fit on and made them a bit more permanent .
And a shelf with a couple of old staging planks for the plants.
Seems while restacking my firewood I disturbed a bumble bee nest and got stung a couple times in the ankles . Lost count of the number of mosquito bites , but the tomatoes might just be happier .
And I'll have to fuss with the tomatoes and the glass a bit less.
I don't recall whose blog I was on when I read a comment of yours and then traveled from there to here....it's an age thing I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteThe blossom end rot was probably promoted by infrequent or irregular watering as you stated so putting them under glass may help as far as drying out. Next year try putting a half cup of hydrogenated lime and a half cup of bone meal into the planting holes and then lightly dig it in so the tomatoes roots don’t come in direct contact with the stuff. And when I plant a new tomato I always lay it on its side and just tenderly bend the top three to four inches of the plant up and then cover the rest with soil with just that top bit above surface. The whole portion underground will become root mass and makes for a stronger and healthier plant.
Hi Doc, thanks for visiting. I do water them at least twice day. But where I had them on my deck they were exposed to a lot of reflected sun from the white wall of the barn and it seems even though I watered them in the morning they wilted a bit before I got home in the evening. Thus the new covered arrangement. I also added a good bit of dissolved pellet lime as per this video. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i0febDi7iak. Should help with any magnesium and calcium deficiency.
DeleteLooks a great idea, also looks really smart. I've got some big glass like that kicking around as well. I might have to copy it next year.
ReplyDeleteAlso love your saw horses - they look as well used as mine - I need to build some more really as mine are getting a bit rocky!
ReplyDeleteHi Kev, yes those saw horses are just quick and dirty builds. Just bevel the top piece at ten degrees either side and screw the legs on to them with a 3/4 inch plywood end cap for bracing . They are getting a bit long in the tooth, I have two pairs of them and both sets are a bit wobbly. I need to spend some time on them and tighten them up again.
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