147. Brainstorm at the Garden Center

I was only there to buy flowers for the barrels on the porch.  I was feeling especially mellow that afternoon, and surprisingly the crowds at the garden center were low, especially for Memorial Day Weekend.  I was wandering a bit after choosing my flowers.  I like to grow flowers, but I LOVE to grow vegetables, so even though I started my own seeds this year, have more seedlings than I have places to put them, and had no business venturing into the vegetable section of the nursery, I couldn't help myself.  I wandered on through.  I saw lots of things that didn't interest me because I already have my own seedlings of same.  Then I saw sugar pie pumpkins and winter squash.  I have not grown those for many years because they are huge space hogs and I really don't have the space.  I walked away. 

Then I had a brainstorm.  I have three compost bins which are mostly full right now.  And what are compost bins but, as I described in my lasagna gardening post, just lasagna gardens in a slightly different shape?  They're taller, but they're just sitting there helping the stuff decompose. They're filled with nutritious decomposing stuff, and they are heat sinks. And being taller, they might be just the thing for space-hogging, vining, heat-loving plants like pumpkins and winter squash. Why not use the compost to grow things in as it's decomposing?!

An experiment is born. 

I bought two pairs of pumpkin seedlings and one pair of winter squash.  (99 cents for each pair)  Then while I was at it, because I know it will take a little while for those plants to get as ginormous as they will eventually become, I decided to get another flat of Romaine lettuce to stick in around them.  Might as well have a few salads from this thing, too. 

I came home and, using the mostly decomposed stuff in the center bin, which is the best-made of the three and therefore the most efficient at "cooking" compost, (improvements in the design keep getting made) I finished filling up the two bins on the side, to the brims.  I plunked my new seedlings in, and I watered.  Let's just see how they perform, shall we?  The only problem I envision is that as the stuff in the compost bins decomposes, it settles down quite a lot.  Hopefully that will not draw the plants and vines down in too far to benefit from the sun, and/or put stress on the vines that are climbing out over the rather sharp edges of the bins.   

That still leaves the better, faster-acting bin in the center for us to use to continue our ongoing composting all summer long. 

I'll keep you posted as to the success or failure of this little experiment. These photos were taken immediately after planting, and as of this writing it's actually been about 48 hours.  And you should SEE how the plantlets have taken hold and settled in and almost doubled in size!  Like plants on steroids! They are clearly loving their environment.  I'm excited and pleased about this, and actually wish I'd gotten more of that Romaine. 

Meanwhile, would you massage my back a little?  For some reason, it hurrrrrrrts.

Comments

[Lana]

De-lurking to say stand back... they will grow like crazy. We usually have a few volunteer plants that spring up in the corners of our composting area, and they always do really, really well.
Love reading your posts!

[Mel]

That's actually an interesting idea. I may need to try a variation on that. I got some Dill's Atlantic Giant seed this year to see what sort of monstrosities I can grow.

[sandy]

Mmmmm. Pumpkin Pie!!! xo

[Manise]

Try potatoes in there too! It would be perfect! Looking forward to progress on the produce in your compost bin.

[Shell]

I know how it goes with buying even if you have seedlings growing. I have such a small yard - its a problem, so Dh doesn't let me out to the garden centers alone any more.
Look forward to seeing how it works out!

[margene]

Have you thought about writing a how to journey for first time gardeners. Have you thought about writing for gardening magazines. You could reinvent yourself yet again, my dear. You make ME want to garden.

[Angie]

Margene is so right, Norma. You are inspiring me and I'm having to push myself out to the garden lately (not a usually situation.) Keep up the great posts.

[AnnaMarie]

Very cool idea! I love reading your gardening tips and can't wait to actually put them into play. You've managed to shift our gardening plans a bit with all your posts and I think that is a very good thing.

[mary lou]

Thanks for the lasagne tutorial. I did one in a fallow spot in the garden and put some black plastic over it to see what happens. I have two of those same compost bins. Might have to buy some vining veg, or maybe flower. Interesting idea.

[naomi]

We once had a volunteer pumpkin in the compost bin that grew up one of the trees nearby--we noticed it when we saw the pumpkin hanging from the tree.

[Roxie]

I lived in an urban neighborhood where a pumpkin seed germinated in the slush next to the apartment building dumpster. The vine grew up the side of the building, clinging to the cement block construction. When a pumpkin started to form, someone nailed a bra to the bricks to support it. Lord, I wish I had a camera!

[scoutj]

*massage*
*massage*
Sends T. to work on you too.
*massage*

Better?

[Kathy]

I'm sore too -- planted my vegtable garden yesterday afternoon. Thank you for all of your garden posts this year -- I've vegtable gardened in the past, but you make it all really approachable. Now, if only garden boy can get the fence up before the critter come out.

[jodi]

Norma, you are a genius.

[jessica~]

Mmmmm... compost. Can't wait to see how this turns out!

[anne]

hahaha, every year our neighbor throws his used-up halloween pumpkin over the fence into our compost pile, and every spring we get at least one huge vine that grows out of it, trailing around the corner of the garage and into the yard. we don't usually see pumpkins out of it (since we're not cultivating), but i love the leafy vine in all its glory.

[Teresa C]

What happens when the vines fall over the side? Will they just grow up all around? What if a huge pumpkin sprouts part way up and pulls on the plant? I worry about these things.

[CindyCindy]

I got some baby sweet potato plants yesterday because I love sweet potatoes. I do believe I'm going to try your experiment with just a few mods.

[Beth]

Norma, the Gardening Queen....

[claudia]

But where does the pre-compost (kitchen scraps and stuff) get thrown? Right on the seedlings?

[Stephanie]

Now there's an idea! Huh. I can't wait to see how the experiment works. But also wonder the same thing as Claudia -- where do you throw the scraps while this is growing?

[Carol]

I'll go you one better. I have 4 pumpkin seedlings growing in my open compost heap that were seeds I threw in there as compost! Tough little guys started growing so I'm letting them live to see what I get!