I'm thinking of digging a small bed in next to the fence, ready for planting pumpkins in the spring. The Idea is that I'll hammer some trellis to the fence and experiment with training the pumpkins up the trellis.
Along the length of the fence is a foot wide strip of concrete that the posts are secured into, so the bed will be dug right up against this strip. I wonder though, is there any danger of icky chemicals from the concrete leeching into my pumpkins?
I've done a bit of Googling and most people say I'll be fine, but I thought I'd check with the geniuses of Ooooby before I start digging!
Thanks :)
You need to be a member of ooooby3 to add comments!
I've made raised bed gardens using concrete which is a great thermal mass for capturing heat from the sun during the day and slowly releasing it at night, extending my growing season significantly. See http://www.organoponico.com/
Kia ora dude! I thought that would be the case but wasn't entirely sure. I've gone and dug out a nice bed that I can't wait to get planting in. :D
Porangi Hoiho said:
Kia ora Sonya,
Cement, the basic ingredient of concrete, is a closely controlled chemical combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and small amounts of other ingredients to which gypsum is added in the final grinding process to regulate the setting time of the concrete. Lime and silica make up about 85% of the mass. Common among the materials used in its manufacture are limestone, shells, and chalk or marl combined with shale, clay, slate or blast furnace slag, silica sand, and iron ore.
I do not believe anything in there is an issue for your lovely pumpkins. :-)
Cement, the basic ingredient of concrete, is a closely controlled chemical combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and small amounts of other ingredients to which gypsum is added in the final grinding process to regulate the setting time of the concrete. Lime and silica make up about 85% of the mass. Common among the materials used in its manufacture are limestone, shells, and chalk or marl combined with shale, clay, slate or blast furnace slag, silica sand, and iron ore.
I do not believe anything in there is an issue for your lovely pumpkins. :-)
Replies
Porangi Hoiho said:
Cement, the basic ingredient of concrete, is a closely controlled chemical combination of calcium, silicon, aluminum, iron and small amounts of other ingredients to which gypsum is added in the final grinding process to regulate the setting time of the concrete. Lime and silica make up about 85% of the mass. Common among the materials used in its manufacture are limestone, shells, and chalk or marl combined with shale, clay, slate or blast furnace slag, silica sand, and iron ore.
I do not believe anything in there is an issue for your lovely pumpkins. :-)
Nga mihi, Porangi Hoiho.