March 27, 2017

It’s a rainy and cloudy day here in upstate New York. While traces of snow still linger in shaded areas, my experimental “Minibeds-on-Plastic” garden is clear. Today, amidst the dampness, I’ve placed some Whizbang solar pyramids on the minibeds.

As shown in the picture, the pyramids fit perfectly on the minibeds. The plastic flaps on the pyramid covers tuck nicely under the minibed frames. This alignment is a welcome coincidence, as I wasn’t considering the solar pyramids when I determined the minibed size last summer.

Readers of my “Planet Whizbang Idea Book for Gardeners” (and visitors to the accompanying hidden website) will recognize my solar pyramid concept. For those unfamiliar with these gardening devices, here’s a photo from a few years ago showcasing their effectiveness.

The picture highlights a thriving tomato plant inside a solar pyramid. The smaller tomato plants in the background (right side) were, surprisingly, transplanted into the garden on the same day and were the same size initially. The superior growth of the pyramid-enclosed plant demonstrates the impact of its controlled environment.

The growth difference isn’t due to some mystical pyramid power but rather the focused solar energy. This concept, as detailed in my book, is inspired by Leandre Poisson’s insightful book, “Solar Gardening.” While Leandre used a pricey rigid plastic for his solar cones, my pyramids utilize a more budget-friendly yet durable woven plastic. This image shows Leandre Poisson with one of his solar cones.

The diffused light within the cone creates ideal conditions for plant development. The open top and sealed bottom of the cone also contribute significantly to maintaining an optimal growing environment, resulting in remarkable plant growth.

It’s still too soon to plant in the garden directly. However, Scott Cooper’s writing on winter sowing of garden seeds has sparked my interest. I believe I can adapt this method by sowing seeds directly into the earth within the solar cones. The seeds would then sprout when the temperature and environment inside the cones are favorable, potentially long before conditions outside are suitable.

Having tomatoes ready for planting in early spring from seeds sown directly in the ground, potentially surpassing the size of typical transplants, would be a considerable feat here in upstate New York. The same applies to other crops that aren’t usually planted this early.

While I’ve been eager to try this for a few years, I haven’t gotten around to it. This year, with my experimental “Minibeds-on-Plastic” garden, will be different.

Stay tuned…