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Post by pepperhead212 on Jan 26, 2018 13:16:51 GMT -5
Sorry Laura_in_FL, but I don't recall where I ordered it - it was some unknown (to me) company that had a deal on it, and I got a 250 x 4 ft roll really cheap. I do have it in the oroginal box, so whenever I get downstairs I'll look for it. I keep it down there because that's where I do the cutting. If it wasn't a box stuck inside another box, maybe the address is on it. The silver wears off some, but is still on them by the end of the season.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Jan 26, 2018 20:46:47 GMT -5
Here it is Laura_in_FL Grower's Solution. In Cookeville TN Price went up to $30 from $25, when I got it, and shipping was just $4,but I didn't check what that's gone up to. Still $10 less than Amazon or eBay. I must have found this by accident when I was looking for places with greenhouse film remnants.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Jan 27, 2018 2:58:33 GMT -5
Thanks, Dave!
Unfortunately, the shipping is up to $13 for the 100' roll, bringing the total cost to $34. Shipping for the 250' roll is $18+ for the 250' roll, bringing the total for it to $48. So it is not quite as good a deal as you got last time.
If I order the same product from the same company but go through Amazon's website instead of ordering direct, the price including shipping is $5 cheaper for the 100' roll but $1 more for the 250' roll. Go figure. Happily, the 100' roll is enough for me to try it and see how I like it.
Dave, how long does it last for you? One year? Two? More?
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Post by pepperhead212 on Jan 27, 2018 7:14:26 GMT -5
I've had that roll for 5 or 6 years, and there is still quite a bit there. I cut the film in half lengthwise, then 10" longer than the EB. And I don't remember the exact sizes, but I cut one side narrower, for the 5 gal buckets, and the wider side for the 18 gal tub ones. I use a razor blade in a holder (my coupon cutter!) for this - utility knives, even with new blades, tend to snag the film.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Jan 27, 2018 13:34:27 GMT -5
Sorry, I was trying to ask how long individual covers you make from this film last before they have to be replaced.
By comparison, the official Earthbox covers lose their elastic after one year, but can be tied/taped down or tucked in and used for another year or two before becoming brittle. Covers that I make from heavy garbage bags (contractor bags) are good for 3 years at least.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Jan 27, 2018 17:33:01 GMT -5
I have used them for two years, tucking them down the sides, though often, the silver is pretty much gone. The plastic is only 1 mil, so the 3 mil black lasts longer, but not much longer.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Jan 27, 2018 22:32:29 GMT -5
Thanks!
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Post by daylilydude on Feb 1, 2018 4:44:34 GMT -5
Wife stopped by the restaurant yesterday and they had another 5 buckets with lids for us...
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Feb 1, 2018 10:44:13 GMT -5
I discovered by accident this week that most of the buckets I am growing in are now getting brittle to the point that I don't think I could move them without them falling apart. I had some money my in-laws gave me for my birthday, (yep, it's been burning a hole in my wallet for almost two months!) so yesterday I ordered three more Earthboxes. I hadn't ordered any boxes since the company was sold to Novelty Mfg., so they didn't have my prior web shop account on record. So I was able to take advantage of the 10% off for new customers discount. The discount applied to the shipping, too. It's not as big a discount as when they have a free shipping sale, but it was still enough for me to get all 3 boxes without overspending my b-day money. And three more boxes is just what I needed to replace my 6 brittle buckets. It was not the cheapest way to do things (homemade SIPs are cheaper) but my oldest boxes are somewhere between 12 and 15 years old now, and they are still not showing any signs of decay. So, at least I know I won't have to replace these EBs any time soon.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Feb 1, 2018 16:54:36 GMT -5
Good to know about those EBs lasting so long! I know how some of those buckets get brittle quickly, while others seem to last forever. Glad you got more EBs.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 13, 2018 19:05:29 GMT -5
I just made a template for the Rubbermaid Roughneck 18 gal tub, and made the shelves for two more SIPs! I would probably have gone down and at least started on the last of them, but I've got to get my friend to get me a 10' piece of 4" pvc with holes in it, to cut the supports out of. I like using that for the large ones, since it's heavier duty.
I also have to look and see if I have enough fill tubes.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 16, 2018 17:48:51 GMT -5
For those less handy than Dave (or who don't mind spending the money) Earthbox is running a free shipping deal for all orders of $99 and up this weekend. Since their shipping is pricey, this is a substantial discount.
Additionally, for email subscribers there is a 10% discount on your order. I think you can get the extra 10% by entering the code Lucky2018 without signing up for their emails, but I am not 100% sure about that. You definitely can get both the discount and the free shipping on the same order.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 16, 2018 19:13:25 GMT -5
That sounds good, Laura_in_FL. I was considering a deal like this, as I was going to plant even more in SIPs this season, since once they are in, the gardening is much easier, which I need this season. And today I found 2 more 14 gal roughnecks ( both were originally at my Mom's place, as I never bought this size), so I cut two more shelves from the lids, then, my friend stopped by with the pvc pipes! So, I cut ten 4 1/2" pieces for the supports for the 18 gal tubs (this gives over a 4 gal reservoir), and ten 3 1/2" pieces for the 14 gal tubs (around a 3 gal reservoir), plus, I cut ten more 4 1/2" pieces from the end of the 4" pipe, and that will be enough for 2 more 18 gal SIPs in the future! Now, the drilling comes! It really does help to have a workshop for these things.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 18, 2018 1:02:14 GMT -5
I drilled all of the holes in the 4" supports for the 4 SIPs - 20 supports, and about 20 holes in each. Now, I have to drill the holes in the "shelves", and zip tie all those supports to the shelves. I may have had them done today, but I took a break, to bake some bread!
I have decided to plant all of my pepper plants that I usually cover with a hoop house and agribon in 3 Earthboxes, covered with agribon. Since I won't be able to do much of this stuff, like I usually do, and others will be helping, I wasn't going to try to show them my usual methods! lol In fact, I may be able to do all of my peppers in SIPs, just a few less plants, figuring that they usually produce much more in the containers. That's one less row to 'til, and cover, and lay an irrigation line down. I just have to figure out where to line all these SIPs up! I'm thinking 3 in the front flower bed, and the usual peppers in the front, as the back row is usually awkward to deal with, so those will need no cultivation at all.
I just ordered some of the pvc fittings I need - some of the things are $.79 each online, and $4.95 each where I can find them locally. I'd rather buy locally, but some of these price differences are ridiculous!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 18, 2018 11:27:13 GMT -5
That is a crazy price difference. So tell me...did you dream of drilling last night?
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 18, 2018 12:57:56 GMT -5
That is a crazy price difference. So tell me...did you dream of drilling last night? I think that I was still hearing the drill as I was falling asleep...sort of a "white noise".
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 19, 2018 22:58:21 GMT -5
Now I'm really hearing the drill! LOL See all of the holes each one requires? Enough to make most people pay regular price. DSCF0499 by pepperhead212, on Flickr I finished one of them, but ran out of zip ties. When I went to Amazon and eBay, the prices were way higher than Harbor Freight, which is where I usually get mine, so I checked there, and, while even the regular price is much lower, they happened to be half price - just $.99/100 8 inch! And there were some promo codes, as well (you can't imagine how many flashlights and tape measures I have!), and I got a few other things I usually get there, when I go out to the store area. Their shipping rates are reasonable, as well, but it is nice to have the stores around.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 21, 2018 23:36:05 GMT -5
I just finished the SIPs, except for the plugs for the wicking columns - those $.79 items I am waiting for. I only need 3 more, but I ordered a bunch more, for later tubs. I found another bag of zip ties, the only other things I was short on. Here is the bottom view of the shelf, showing the two wicking columns with the plugs in place: DSCF0501 by pepperhead212, on Flickr And here are the 18 gal and 14 gal ones next to each other. The large one still needs the plugs in the bottoms of the wicking columns: DSCF0500 by pepperhead212, on Flickr
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 22, 2018 10:00:06 GMT -5
The divider between the soil and water reservoir should be nice and strong with 5 sturdy supports. I like the plugs - I guess that's to keep soil from working out from under the wicking columns and getting into the reservoir? That's a smart idea to put plugs on the bottom of the pipes since the bottom of the bins isn't flat - with those raised and lowered areas there would be fairly big gaps between the bottom PVC and the floor of the bin. Were the holes in the bin handles already there or did you drill them? Why? So water wouldn't collect in them? Or were you going to use the holes to tie the bins to stakes/trellis poles? Since your divider and wicking columns are so sturdy, and since the bins are a standard size (right?), if the bins break down in the sun in a few years, you could just transfer the divider assembly into a new bin. That would save virtually all of the work of building a replacement SIP.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 22, 2018 13:02:32 GMT -5
Laura_in_FL Another thing that I do, to prevent the soil mix from leaking into the reservoir, is to line the insides of the wicking chambers with a strip of screen about 14" x 4", which covers the holes. I also line the shelves with screen, and cut holes for the wicking columns and fill tube. Also, for those wicking columns, I cut them just slightly shorter, so when the plugs are glued in, they are the same length. Those holes are in the handles when bought; I never thought about it, but it is probably for drainage, since they sell those for "indoor outdoor use". I have a couple of cheap tubs, that will probably break down much sooner, but those Rubbermaid Roughneck tubs are made of the same material that some trash cans are, that I have had out there for over 20 years! They are in the sun, as well as getting tossed on the back of trash truck loaded with trash, sometimes in freezing temps, and only a couple have gotten holes or cracks in them. So I'm not buying any of the cheap ones again, and the roughnecks are often $4.99, on sale. I do like the idea of re-using the shelves and supports, if the outer part fails.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 24, 2018 18:46:36 GMT -5
Today I cleaned up more down there (never ending!), and I cut a number of covers for the new ones, plus a few more for the EB. Not sure how many will be good still - I'll find out when I uncover all those things - a project for after seed planting.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 25, 2018 9:21:55 GMT -5
I did a little planting and a lot of clearing and moving things around in my EBs yesterday to make room for the rest of the tomatoes and peppers. I have two more boxes intended for tomatoes that need some work, still. But all of the pepper boxes are ready for use.
I got the parts for the irrigation system for the rest of my EBs a couple of days ago, but I need to finish planting my peppers, tomatoes, etc., first. They are getting pretty rootbound.
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Post by paulf on Mar 25, 2018 10:49:44 GMT -5
All your work makes me feel like a slacker. All I do is plant and watch things grow. Which reminds me, I need to go into the basement and do the first re-pot of peppers and tomatoes. Only around three hundred this year so an afternoon's work at most. I would love to see your set up sometime.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 25, 2018 11:18:13 GMT -5
Laura_in_FL The good thing about the early part of the season is that there is no hurry to get the irrigation hooked up to the EBs, as they don't need filled that often. Unlike later in the season, with huge plants, and high temps, when I have the timer set for two fillings a day! Just found another tub yesterday! lol
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 25, 2018 19:10:29 GMT -5
Just finished that one I found yesterday - another 18 gal tub. It went quick, since I had the template, and the 4" pvc cut and drilled already. Still waiting for those plugs, but I won't be planting for a long while, so no big deal.
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Post by pepperhead212 on Mar 26, 2018 22:25:30 GMT -5
Got my fittings today, and finished the SIPs. Also found a 5 gal bucket, and already had a 4 gal with holes cut, and a wicking column for it, so it's all done!
So, unless I find more to make some out of, I now have two 14 gal, fourteen 18 gal, and 13 bucket SIPs, 9 Earthboxes, and 4 jr Earthboxes. I'll have all of my tomatoes, eggplants, okra, melons, and most of my peppers in them this year.
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Mar 27, 2018 9:18:37 GMT -5
Nice! And with your drip irrigation setup, once planted they will take almost no maintenance. That will be a big help for you this year.
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Post by daylilydude on Apr 1, 2018 19:13:04 GMT -5
Ok got a few ready to go, but I was wondering what fertilizer do you use for the band?
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Post by pepperhead212 on Apr 1, 2018 20:31:57 GMT -5
I've gotten different ones - last time I got both dolomite and fertilizer by Espoma, since there was a deal on it. Just be sure to get the granular - not soluble, or time release.
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Post by daylilydude on Apr 2, 2018 3:47:20 GMT -5
I have "Expert Gardener" tomato and plant food 3-5-6... do you think that it would be alright to use this, or should I wait and get something different?
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