As many of you know I just moved into a new house. It is wonderful with acres of grass (read between the lines –no garden beds). Before I left my old house I had already planted a vegetable garden. The email yesterday from the new owners said “thank you for the raspberries, rhubarb, arugula, and peas”. I do miss the fresh things from my old garden!! I usually fix meals for one or two, lots of family on occasion but on a day to day basis just for me. Can I just tell you that I have liquified so many bags of store bought lettuce and turned carrots and cucumbers into limp messy things. I don’t eat store bought produce fast enough to keep it fresh and the veg garden has been the perfect solution. I can simply get lettuce by the hand full instead of by the bag, one or two little sweet carrots leaving the rest in the ground, or a handful of beans and a little sweet onion. So great!
Even with all this grass and being a little late in the season I thought, I can do a veg garden. Here is a little trick I learned along time ago and it still works today. This method uses cardboard as a barrier between soil and other grass, and weeds. As the cardboard breaks down it breaks down the grass underneath it also. It also gets rid of weeds that are there. Sadly it will not get rid of horsetail or morning glory but most perennial weeds will be dead. I know many great gardeners on Bainbridge Island that have reclaimed all their garden beds this way. For my use the veg garden will not put down deep roots and the 18 inches of soil will be sufficient. In the fall I can spread it out or turn it under and use the beds again.
First I spread down a thick layer of cardboard (Lots of moving boxes :)). Then I added some metal edging recycled from a precast concrete company (has to look good). The a couple of big scoops of great organic soil from my favorite supplier (Short’s family farm magical soil) and presto (or Shazam)I have a veg bed ready to plant.
I started this project on July 4th and the nursery’s are empty of all veg starts except tomatoes and basil. I grab tomatoes and go home to look for seeds. I looked at the packets and most of them are 60 – 90 days to maturity. We have had a great summer so far with warm weather. That means maturity by September 30 and that is totally feasible so why not? Yes some things are cool weather crops so lettuce, spinach, and arugula may have to be picked fast or shaded. The pumpkins will grow fast in the warmth (81 today), and basil LOVES heat. Beans, beets, and zucchini are good anytime. I got three 1 gallon tomatoes with fruit on them already, so it looks like a garden right away. They should be ready to harvest first. It is interesting that I’m really between seasons at this point. The spring starts are gone and our winter veg starts aren’t here yet. I never really realized that happened. Definitely a “Who knew” moment!
So today I planted ghost, fairytale, and halloween pumpkins. Basil and three tomatoes (black kilm, roma, and century). Rustic and regular arugula, Catalina and dolce vita spinach, flashy trout back and redina lettuce, and super sugar snap peas. The beans are tricolor and the beets are gourmet blend. I found a couple of seeds in a packet of romensco zucchini and tri-color patty pan squash. Remember that the packets tell us the average time to maturity. Even so, I really like to eat the babies, which means I don’t have to wait for full maturity. Small zucchini and squash are best and don’t forget fried squash blossoms.
I am amazed in my industry (gardening) how many people don’t do vegetable gardening. It is silly really. I will keep you posted as to what happens. What vegetables are hard for you to live without?
And just in case you feel you need special equipment or organizers for your seeds it’s a lie. Here’s my nifty seed organizer…
I love the repurposed materials you used for your raised bed, it has a great look. I have been doing ornamentals for ages and I am now starting into growing veggies so the basics were very much appreciated.
You are so amazing! We only planted a few things this year but all are doing well. Looking forward to bumper crop.