I can has garden?

[tsaiko]

One thing about owning a house that I am going to absolutely love is the backyard. We don't have a huge backyard, but it's nothing to sneeze at either. This year I'm going to put in just one 8' x 4' raised bed. Next year will be another. I'll do one a year until I have four beds with a mixture of flowers, herbs, and vegetables in it. Then I'll rotate which bed has which plants in it to keep the soil from wearing out and the plant diseases to a minimum.

This year the plants I am putting in the raised bed are:
- Ancho Peppers
- Borage
- Broccoli
- Oriental Cabbage
- Lemon Balm
- Dwarf Oakleaf Lettuce
- Nastriums
- Green Onions
- Oregano <- I haven't fully decided whether to do this or thyme
- Paprika Peppers
- Pole/Bush Beans
- Violas

I have bought seeds for everything but the oregano, mostly because I am still unsure whether I am going to grow oregano. I had to order some of the seed from Seed Savers because some of the plants (like borage) are impossible to find at stores or even most nurseries.

I'm not growing borage because of it's taste, which most people say is like cucumber. I have never tried it. I'm growing it because it's supposed to be attractive to bees, and I want bees to visit the other plants in my garden. The next bed I grow I'll probably plant bee balm since that flowers later and also attracts bees. The third bed will probably have zinnias in it or asters. That way I have stuff that attracts bees blooming in spring, summer, and fall.

I cannot wait. :D

Comments

[mechante-fille.livejournal.com]

Yay garden! Hm, I've found my 8'x4' beds are much smaller in real life than they look on paper, but maybe you have a better plan. All your container garden experience will come in handy. ^_^

Looks like you'll have some great salads this summer!

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

The layout for this bed came from a gardening magazine, so I'm pretty sure everything will fit. I made a couple of substitutions because they called for a few plants that I did not want taking up space in my garden (like boxwoods). There are two different layouts for 8' x 4' beds, so after the second one I am going to experiment. I figured after the second year I'd be comfortable with the size because I know how garden beds shrink when you aren't looking. :D

I am so looking forward to fresh veggies just by stepping outside the house.

[amatsubu.livejournal.com]

Your garden sounds awesome!!! I wish I had the yard to do bed gardens. All that I'm able to do is pot items and they don't tend to be the same.

Having all of those items just steps away is going to make for some really great salads and munchies!

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

I grew herbs and vegetables in pots for many, many years. When I lived in Indiana, we had a balcony which supported two types of tomatoes, an eggplant, chard, lettuce, parsley, mint, and I think thyme all in pots. I always had lots of flowers going in NC. In Virginia, it was a ton of herbs. I'll agree it's not the same, but you can still get lots of awesome stuff growing.

[m-steelgrave.livejournal.com]

This sounds awesome. I always have such grand plans when it comes to gardening, and then things like forgetting to water do me in.

I am a big proponent of bee balm for that very reason. It's hardy AND pretty. I have it surrounded with some yarrow, which the bees also seemed to like and was a nice, low contrast to the gangly bee balm.

[tsaiko.livejournal.com]

I will keep the fact that bee balm is hardy in mind. I admit, I haven't grown it before, but it's come highly recommended on-line.