I figured that it's probably about time I start documenting my gardening progress.
Matt and I have made, with James' generous help, two raised garden boxes. They are larger than most others I've seen, but I hate bending down to get things. We planted peas, carrots, onions, leaf lettuce, spinach and cherry tomatoes in the northmost bed. In the south, we put in pumpkin, watermelon, cucumber and bell peppers. We also put in some chamomile plants. They are all doing well, some better than others. The onions I'm concerned about, they look a bit spindly. But as I've never grown real food plants, other than herbs and strawberries, I've no idea.
My nephew will be over next friday to help me get more planting space ready. I currently have 128 square feet of gardening space. And I'm going to expand my herb garden to be placed in the flower bed that runs along the house. I already have a few herb there, but the four o'clocks have always taken over in the summer. I just hate the little white flies that congregate around them. I can use them for picking, and I can't tell if they have a scent.
One thing I'm leaving in the herb bed is the climbing rose bush that I planted two years ago. Mostly because I love roses, and the other is that they are a pain in the ass to move or remove. So, I'll trim it up, put a trellis behind it and let it go up.
I have some bricks that I pulled from my front flower bed. I thought to use them as a pathway from my house to the garage in winter. But I may have a better use for them. I'm not going to raise the herb bed, but I was thinking about using them to give a few places some height. Just a couple of places that I put the bricks in, make an island and fill in with dirt and herbs. Like the ones that need better drainage and ones that kind of creep. It will also give the side yard some dimension and more visual appeal. The flat flower beds are kinda boring.
The northern bed that is next to the garage will be a double dug bed, but first, it needs to be cleaned out. All the wildflowers and volunteer trees will need to be removed, and the dirt dug down and sifted to remove all the weeds. We will take it in stages. It's damned hot at the end of the summer. But it's the first step. This bed will be raised a little. Running some 2 by 8's along the edges will give it some height and I'll be able to make a separated space in the same bed where I can plant my mints and they won't be able to invade the other beds. The west side of the bed will be used for the strawberry patch. I'll be moving all my plants to this area in the spring before they flower and have all them in the same place. Between the mints and strawberries will be spinach and leaf lettuce. And maybe a couple other plants that like a shady spot.
The small bed in front of that one will be used for blueberries. I'd put in raspberries, but I don't like eating them fresh like I do blueberries. Maybe if I expand the planting space into other flower beds, I'll add raspberries and blackberries. Maybe make jam to give to friends.
Since this is all for planning next year, it's time for me to hit the books and the internet to get the exact information I'll need to ensure a good crop next year. I don't want to do it on the fly like I did this year. Slapdash work just drives me nuts. And hey, if I get enough food, I might take it to the people's market and get tentspace and sell it.
