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Frank · Garde Manger Chef Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 43

Wow, that's alot more thinking than I ever did. More power to you if you're able to do all that - I'm sure you'll have fewer problems than I do.

By the way...my basil is already starting to break the soil! The season is finally under way!
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Babette · Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 5:07 pm Post subject:

OK.. I took some photos so you can see what I'm dealing with:

Frank · Garde Manger Chef Joined: 03 Dec 2006 Posts: 43

The size definitely seems workable, but I'd be worried about two other things.
Will the plants get enough sunlight and what conditon is that soil in?

If they won't get sun most of the day, you'd be better off using planters in an area that will get the sun.

The soil in my yard is just terrible. It would take me a few years of working the earth to get it where it should be - until that time, I'm going to have problems. This earth looks similar. Is it as sandy, dried and packed-down as it looks? If so, again, you'd be better off using planters.
If do you have enough sun, you could always get planters big enough that you can "plant" in the ground and give the illusion of an in-ground garden.
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Babette · Posted: Wed May 09, 2007 6:19 pm Post subject:

Yes, it's as packed as it looks.. hahahahah Is it possible to add fertilizer? I'd like to have a rose garden. Sad

Am I doomed?

kitchensqueen · Chef Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 186 Location: Chicago

If you want roses in that spot, it's going to take work. I' recommend raised beds because your soil looks severely compacted. You'll need to clear out the debris (bricks, etc.) then double-dig the soil. Then build raised beds at a six inch height over the beds. Fill it in with a rich compost/topsoil mixture. Then plant your roses in that. And you'll want to pick shade-tolerant varieties because those trees are blocking a lot of light.

For full-light veggies you'll have to do containers on the patio or sacrifice the trees. And I would err on the side of keeping the trees because you'll probably still end up with shade if you remove them from the buildings.
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bubbamom · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 8:47 am Post subject:

Did you mention how much space you have available? Sorry if I missed it. If not a lot of space is available, try a tomato plant or two and a basil plant. (Try to work in some compost,or fertilizer.) Basil is wonderful in most tomato recipes or just sprinkled over fresh tomatos with a little bit of fresh mozzarella and some EVOO. I used to plant 6 tomato plants, parsley, basil and a row of lettuce in a garden spot about 15" wide and about 8' long. Figured there wouldn't be room for weeds! The rabbits ate the lettuce and we enjoyed the rest.

Babette · Posted: Tue May 15, 2007 9:05 am Post subject:

OK, I'm going to sound like an idiot, but how do you do a raised bed?

kitchensqueen · Chef Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 186 Location: Chicago

Trust me, you don't sound like an idiot. You're just new to gardening. Smile

You can build a raised bed with just about anything, but the most common/popular materials are 2x4 boards (untreated if you're going for organic gardening) or cinder blocks. You can customize the height to your liking, but it's usually just one or two high of both boards and cinder blocks.

With the cinder blocks, you can just line them up and stack them because their weight will keep them in place.

With the boards you may want to nail or screw them at the corners and reinforce the corners with spikes of either scrap lumber or metal. I recommend screwing them together instead of nailing because it makes them easier to disassemble for the season or moving them.
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karen · Junior Sous Chef Joined: 22 Feb 2007 Posts: 108

Great info.. I'm going to try the raised garden too. I have the same space and specs so it should work. Who new you couldn't just throw some seeds on the ground to have things grow.

kitchensqueen · Chef Joined: 01 May 2007 Posts: 186 Location: Chicago

Ha, you certainly can just throw seeds in the ground and have them grow... you just get better results with a little effort. Smile

I love gardening. It's fun.
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