More of the Stock Tank Raised Beds

While the spring flowers have been slow to appear here, the stock tanks continue to move along in preparation for spring seeding.

The first steps in this project can be found in an earlier post here: http://applesandasclepias.blogspot.com/2015/02/starting-on-stock-tank-raised-beds.html

Landscape fabric over rocks, drainage pipe

After the layer of river rock, the man-gardener covered the rock with a permeable landscape fabric to prevent the future sand layer from falling through into the rocks.  The vertical pipe at the end will be the inlet for water that will sit around the rocks and wick up to the plants (theoretically).   A perforated plastic pipe covered in a fine mesh of some sort (to keep out the sand) crosses the tank above the landscape fabric and sticks out a hole cut in the side of the tank.  The purpose of this pipe is to drain off any excess water, should it reach the level of the pipe. 

Drain pipe from middle layer of tank

After the drainage pipes were all installed, the layer of sand was added.  It appears there is only a few inches of sand (I didn't stay to watch the whole process).

Sand layer is added in stock tank

Next will be a layer of potting mix (no landscape fabric to separate potting mix and sand though).  We are waiting until the local suppliers have bulk amounts of potting mix available.  The spinach seeds are waiting! 

Starting on the stock tank raised beds

The resident heavy-lifter (man-sort of gardener here) has begun the spring work of creating raised beds out of stock tanks.  He purchased them at a place down in Washington state that has cheap prices on such things and hauled them up here last fall. Now, they have been placed on the south side of the barn and it appears he has placed perforated plastic pipes in the bases, with the upwards-pointing end functioning as a port for watering. 

Stock tanks destined to be a garden

On top of the pipes is a layer of river rock, which will eventually be topped with permeable landscape fabric, a few inches of sand, and then potting mix.  I have some doubts about the whole YouTube-researched project, but it seems many others have tried this sort of thing and have had success.  The home-design website, Houzz, even has a selection of photos of such garden additions.  I originally had dreams of a French-inspired gated- and lavender hedge-surrounded potager garden complete with ornamental allium, calendula and sweet pea flowers.   He wanted to match the barn's metal roof with the adjacent metal tanks to complete the agri-industrial look.  Whatever.   

My planting ideas for these things so far includes tomatoes, peppers, strawberries and lettuce.  We don't need herbs in here because they already have their own very successful location elsewhere.  With the high number of rodents around here, un-protected strawberries quickly disappear.  I am planning to cover one entire tank with netting just to protect the strawberry crop.  After that thought, I also wondered about covering another one with a shade cloth tent in which to grow lettuce in shaded comfort, so that the Okanagan heat doesn't make it go to seed so quickly.  Any ideas or tips?