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Garden Gate:  Roof Gardening  |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 05 2011 : 07:25:49 AM
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Okay, so... We have a very tiny plot of land in our backyard that is mostly taken up by a small deck, a swimming pool, an antique lilac, and two raised garden beds - one in an "L" shape with a rectagular shape filling in the "L". Our gardening space is extremely limited, but I really want to expand somehow. It just so happens that we also have a detatched, flat-roofed, two-car (and one-half?) garage that is really sizeable. My DH and I would really, really like to try a roof garden over the garage this summer - something small, just to see how it goes. We also have a very small, virtually flat roof over my laundry room which might be an additional option. My DH is thinking maybe doing some small sections of box gardens up there as a trial this summer, but we honestly don't know where to start. Does anyone have any experience with this, or are you able to recommend some good resources to help point us in the right direction? I am not even sure what type of plants would do well up there, but I am so ready to give this a shot!
I may be the "Al Capone of Green Thumbs," but my garden last year ended up turning out pretty well. Now I'm really inspired and ready to work toward attaining the title of "Mother Earth!" LOL!!!
In all seriousness, though, we really want to start growing more of our own food and work toward becoming more self-sustainable despite our present limitations. We're not allowed to have any livestock - no goat, no pig, no chickens, or anything like that - where we live, but it sure would be good to be able to produce and store more healthy, organic food. We would love to make a success of the roof garden and maybe even at some point inspire others where we live to do the same. We just really need some direction.
Any ideas?
Thank you SO much! - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
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adnama
True Blue Farmgirl
171 Posts
inge
fargo
north dakota
USA
171 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2011 : 12:45:31 PM
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| I have had very good luck with growing roma tomatoes, and peppers in the buckets that cat litter comes in. Our city has a clean up week every year and you get to throw out all the stuff you don't want any more ( some limitations) but this is when I get all the buckets that I want. I drill holes in all four sides of the buckets, put crushed aluminum pop cans in the bottom for drainage and mix up a batch of soil using some amended soil with compost that is well broken down. The nice thing about doing this is that I am able to move the buckets quite easily if a cold snap is coming and my growing season can be extended quite easily. The first year I had 2 buckets and it kept us in peppers all summer. Last year I had 6 buckets and I had a bumper crop, where I could freeze peppers (chopped) and made salsa all summer long once the tomatoes came in. I also have a garden, and even though I plant the same variety of peppers, the ones in the bucket are bigger, faster, and longer to fruit then the garden ones. I don't think it's just the soil as I somewhat amend the soil in the garden. I think it's that the plastic buckets get warmer and keep the roots warmer. I do have to water daily and I use the big wash tub I have outside and drop each bucket into the water and after they quite bubbling I remove them and drain. All the water is recycled to the other outside plants so I get to play in the water, the plants get what they need and everyone wins. I still have the buckets that I started with and have now plans to add many more. |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2011 : 2:27:59 PM
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Wow, Inge! That's awesome! Thank you! My husband is thinking he can get a lot of old pallet wood from work and create small boxes from them. Our garage roof is black rubber, and there are no trees around, so I'm a little concerned about it getting waaay too hot up there. I thought maybe we could run a hose up there with little holes in it to water from underneath, but he said that he'd rather we just hand-water by hose until we see how the plants weather up there. We get a lot of hard rains, thunder, lightning and wind in the summer, so I am also really concerned about the plants being exposed to those elements so high up - wondering if they'll stay put or blow into our regular garden below, since they will be unprotected... and then there is the drainage issue, too. I'm also not sure what combination of soil, compost, peat etc to use - what will help retain moisture, but not too much to do any damage to the roof... The roof is sound, of course - I'm just trying to think ahead. And I'm wondering if there is a special lining we should use? I like the bucket idea, though, too. There are actually a few buckets out in the garage from the laundry detergent we used to use, but I was thinking maybe they wouldn't be safe for the plants because of the chemicals that were once in them? I like that you can move them indoors for a cold snap, though - how great is that!? I went out to the bookstore yesterday to look for some books on roof gardening, but didn't find even one. I guess I'm going to have to do a little research on line. :) Thanks so much, though - I'm going to run your suggestions by my DH tonight! - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2011 : 7:33:56 PM
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We are going to make the self watering buckets. You can get directions off the Mother Earth News Website. We do lots of "bucket" gardening and I am very excited to try them. I think they would work great for a roof top garden because you would only have to water 1-2 a week. And, they are moveable and don't leak!
Do what you love, love what you do. |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Mar 06 2011 : 8:33:06 PM
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I am going to have to check that out, Angie! Thank you! - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2011 : 12:46:25 PM
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Angie - thanks again for directing me to the website! The bucket gardening directions are soooo easy, and I love the whole "self-watering" concept! We'll probably visit the other site they recommend for tub gardening, too. I'm thinking we might want to do something bigger than 5 gallon buckets - ALTHOUGH I really did like everything Inge had to say about the buckets' portability, too. I'll be discussing this with my hubby tonight for sure, though... This seems like a great option for us to begin with! Thanks to BOTH of you! :) Hugs - Nini
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
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emsmommy5
True Blue Farmgirl
1547 Posts
Angie
Buckley
WA
USA
1547 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2011 : 5:07:43 PM
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We have a yard and still bucket garden. Easy. Few weeds. Good crops so far!
GOod luck I'd love to see pictures and hear how it goes for you.
Do what you love, love what you do. |
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Ninibini
True Blue Farmgirl
7577 Posts
Nini
Pennsylvania
USA
7577 Posts |
Posted - Mar 07 2011 : 9:58:16 PM
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We'll see... I'm getting excited. My husband said he can get lots of buckets from work (non-chemical buckets). I told him how these self-watering buckets are made and he was pretty excited. He really liked the idea of carrying them inside in the event of a cold snap, and the possiblity of extending the growing season in the house! I also plan on using MaryJane's "recipe" for potting soil - can't wait to get mixing!
I have this crazy picture in my head of a whole bunch of veggie filled buckets lining the edges of the garage roof - kind of like the top of a castle! LOL! I'm still thinking we should do something bigger like tubs (I'm just so worried about the buckets blowing over in a storm), but the buckets are beginning to sound more and more like a viable option for our first try! I will keep you posted for sure! Thanks Angie! :)
God gave us two hands... one to help ourselves, and one to help others!
Farmgirl Sister #1974 |
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Garden Gate: Roof Gardening |
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Roof Gardening
