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Re: [hoops?] PVC Length and Coffee Grounds

Square Foot Gardening List - http://www.flinet.com/~gallus/sqft.html

>what length PVC do I need to cover a 4' wide bed?
TIA
Judy (zone 7, close-in SS, MD)
----------------------------

Wish we had digest mode so I'd know if this done already...

Answer: 4FT.

Depends on chosen arc and height.  Pretty flexible.
A perfect half circle would be a 2ft radius, since the span,
diameter, is 4 ft.

Math is: diameter times pi, yields a full circle.
4 x 3.14 = 12.56
(12.57 with more decimals, but that's overkill.)

Half of that is 12.56 / 2 = 6.28 Ft, for a half circle.

Ok. 6.28 Ft.. hmm let's use inches, 0.28 x 12 = 3.36 Inches.
6Ft, 3.36 inches.  OK... 0.36 x 8 = 2.88 eigths..
Finally!  6Ft, 3-3/8 inches is about it.

Ok.  Now add PVC, "To stick-in-both-ends" length.
Say a generous Foot.  I'd bet Jeff uses this, as he likes
sloppy easy fits.  Avoids sticking from sand... Yours may be 6".
Leave extra.  Easy to remove.  A pain to lengthen.

So 6'3-3/8" + 2Ft = 7' 3-3/8"or 8' 3-3/8"...
>>>Ahh! 7 or 8 Ft.<<<<

Note:
What are the gating factors?
Sheeting to cover may be 12Ft wide.  Very common.  Mine is.
Oh!  But PVC is often 10 or 20 ft lengths!

Oh crap!  Now what do we do.  Do the math backwards.
Well, If u get 20Ft pieces of PVc u can have 6'8"
pieces... less than a half circle but ok for short crops
or windy area.

Plastic in half is 6Ft, and you have 6"x2ea in PVC
stanchions (?) so that is economical.  It works.
Enough for an 8Ft bed too.

If your crops are taller, use 10Ft pieces.
If 1Ft is used on each end you have an extra 1.72 ft to
play with.  Half goes to each "leg," so about 10 1/2 inches
are added to a 2 Ft high radius for a nearly 3 Ft clearance,
(+ dirt to bed-wall-top height or PVC stanchion height.)

Every 2 Ft you add is 1 Ft higher you go.  You could go taller
but the 20 cents for the connector etc makes it a pain so it's
appropriate for stuff that you'll protect that is tall, say
in the fall when tomatoes are 4-5Ft in cages and you want
to stretch the season a month.  Not an issue in the spring
when plants are short, except for Cyn'tain folks who must
hack their leiges into submission annually, so noone
realises their craftiness, and the villagers burn
them at the stake...

In fact you could have a supply of 2 or 3 or 4 ft lengths
and connectors.  Might not need to glue them. In fact
I've used Elec tape (avoid masking tape) for this.
But it then affects cover size.  The upper regions of
greenhouses are hot so better taller than not. Is your
area windy?  I see less heat loss with short height in
the cool spring.  Anda need for tall ones later, PERHAPS.
At THAT time I can extend toa greater height and fab a
few longer cover panels for key crops.

I recall Ron and I are uncertain as to the PVC Jeff used
and I have not yet followed this up.  Has anyone ???

BTW.  Probably half of the membership is math able, but
it's fun for me so if you want any conversions done of
ANY sort, I'll be glad to give it a shot.

I make refried beans and there's always a stray or one I
don't care to eat and let it sit in standin water
somewhere around the south facing (only) kitchen window.
The last one was pretty abuse and I gave it a 25% chance,
when at 1/2".  It is 2 days later and 2 1/2".

I stuck it in a container almost shot glass sized,
with yesterday's coffee grounds, which I collect daily
in quart sour creme/cottage cheese containers we usually
have. I make strong coffee by the individual cup 4x a day.
I expect (as opposed to "plan") more experiments using this
mild ~2%N, very friable growth medium for starting seedlings.

Last Item... There were allegedly some folks who asked us
to stick to items more directly related to gardening.
I was probably as guilty as the majority of offenders.
With 300 folks, we should have a few other names pop up.
I think part of what started the OT discussions was we
felt all alone in a private setting.  Other groups
re-introduce themselves occasionally.  Might some of
you older members and (to a newbie as I) lurkers, ask
or add to the content?  We'd like to meet other members!
:>)
Bill
San Fog'cisco, Ca Zone 9.4973
37.5 degrees lattitude.
9 1/2 " rain so far...50F +/- 5.

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