Monday in the afternoon I went out and emptied the  3 ft x 4 ft elevated container that is 8 inches deep. I put the top layer down to the charcoal separation point including the charcoal in one 20 gallon storage bin I had. Then I put the bottom layer into another 20 gallon storage bin. Washed out the container and then cut my 1 x 6 inch boards to make the octagon corner. Installed those with screws and then cut the four triangle caps for each corner and installed those. That was it for Monday.

Tuesday I went out and installed the aluminum screening in the bottom of the container. Then I mixed my bottom layer I had in the storage bin with a 40% perlite to 60% container mix. I dumped that into the container to the half way point. I mixed the top portion containing the charcoal with a 20% vermiculite and 80% container mix with the charcoal. Filled the bin to about one inch from the top. Now I have left over top and bottom container mix I will use on the two empty 16 x 16 inch containers I made last year which I never filled. When I am done I should have a quantity of container mix left over for the additional containers I was going to get at the dollar store I mentioned in an earlier post. Tired of making wood containers.

Today I went out and put on low nitrogen ferlizer using about 3/4 of the bin. Then I spaced out my 2 inch grid pattern and planted the radish seeds 1/4 inch deep. Should give me my spring crop of radishes before it gets hot. Checked the soil temperature in the 16 x 16 inch containers which is only 60 degrees right now. Checked the temperature of the lawn soil which is only 60 degrees. A little early yet.

Tomorrow I plan on working on the 16 x 16 inch containers. Need to do some lumber work on those, then put screening in the bottom where the burlap rotted. I decided not to put screening on the sides of the containers. I figure the container mix should not wash out the side gaps that much until the container mix gets settled in.

The violas are still blooming well. The pansies and hyacinth are starting to bloom again. The aster plant is still alive sprouting new green. The aster took some winter kill on the foliage it had from last year.

Deciding what I want to put in the balance of the elevated container along side the radishes. Maybe I will just finish the container with radishes and pickle the extras for summer use. There are different ways of preserving radishes. https://www.bing.com/search?q=pickling%20radishes%20raw&pc=cosp&ptag=C1AF44D29E0DB&form=CONBDF&conlogo=CT3210127

Do not do much every day as I have severe arthritis in my hips and legs and use a cane to get around on my bad leg. I will be glad when this prep work is done on these containers. Get that done all I will need to do is plant, tend and harvest anything that grows. Plus have some flowers to look at.