Raised Bed Garden - v.2010

[Green_Woman]

I've been reading my way through Dave the Garden Guy's (http://www.gardenguy.com/) fantastic book about gardening in the low desert, EXTREME GARDENING.

I tried a tiny potted veggie garden last year but the pots were black and too small, and my plants all fried into little crispy strips under the brutal Southwestern Summer sun.

And, since we all know I'm a RAW girl and prefers UN-cooked food ;), I've decided to take my gardening to the next level (along with everything else - I apparently enjoy leveling my Life out every so often) I'm building a Raised Bed Garden in my front yard.

I have been drawing up plans for a few days before deciding where to have the Raised Garden Bed and the various potted/boxed plants in my small yard. I also have some lawn furniture I acquired from a tenant sale (charming, brightly colored antique pieces) that I want to incorporate into the theme.

Whereas my home interior is a non-allergenic, subdued, earth-toned, sustainable theme, I want my yard to be bright, cheerful, vibrant, active, alive and highly functional.

Photos forthcoming. This is now officially my Raised Bed Gardening adventure thread. Join me... 'tis the season of the Millenia to grow your OWN raw foods. ;)

[Green_Woman]

I'm picking out my crops for the Spring... based on my dietary tendencies, I'm thinking I will start with:

Green Onions
Spinach
Beets
Carrots
Swiss Chard

As my secondary crop to assist the health of my primary garden, I'll plant:

Chamomile
Chives
Dandelion
Bachelor's Button
Basil

I'm still working out the details, of course, but these are some ideas for starting out. I have to make sure nothing I'm planting will be toxic for my Fur Babies, and that I'm combining plants wisely in my space and maximizing the sunlight in my fully-fenced yard with trees!

I'm building either 2 small raised garden beds, or 1 large raised garden. Then I'm planting in pots and containers, and possibly planting flowers around the bases of the two trees. Planting a small patch of lawn is also a consideration, but I will have to feel out what works best for my new tiny Ecosystem more than what sounds cute and clever. ;)

I'm so eager to get started that I can hardly wait for my Honey to come visit this weekend and help me build the raised garden beds and lay out the compost. :D

But my reliable little car is not big enough for hauling the lumber for the garden beds, so wait I must....

*tap tap*

:cool:




*tap tap tap*





Waiting is no fun. :D

[RawKnitster]

I'll be watching eagerly! I'm sure your space will be lovely.

I'm looking to do some roto-tilling in my back yard this year. Before I do any planting I want to set up a rain barrel system to collect water.

Are your Fur Babies cats? I have issues with neighborhood cats. They can't resist scratching in loose soil.

[RawKnitster]

Kale is on my must have list. My SIL grows it in raised beds. She harvests the bottom leaves and the plant continues to grow new leaves out of the top. It starts to look like a palm tree. The plants lasted well into Fall. By the end they were 3 feet tall. I think Swiss Chard has the same growth pattern.

[skier2]

I'm doing raspberries, blueberries (both already established), carrots and radishes, brussels, lacinato and curly kale, chard, romaine, cabbage (if there is space), tomatoes, basil, rosemary, thyme, bell peppers, hot peppers, winter and summer squash, and cucumbers.

[Revvell]

Here's my garden from last year. http://revvellations.com/weekly/category/gardening/

Just now preparing soil for this year. Some of the produce I want ~ beets, corn, tomatoes, garlic, lettuce, peas, artichoke, carrots, cukes, melons, bell peppers, squash.

We have a dwarf lime tree, a cherry tree and a fig tree in pots I'd like to plant.

Tomorrow I'm going to the LA Arboretum and look at some of their aloe vera plants. There are about 356 varieties and the arboretum has about 120 of them. Ronnie of Ronnie and Minh gave me some yet, I want more, different ones. We'll see tomorrow.

Also going to put out a note to some of my neighbors and see if they want to start a garden club ~ share seeds, tools, ideas, etc.

Planning on getting my seed from http://rareseeds.com.

[Mary Kay]

Green Woman, don't forget to plant some wheatgrass between rows! I do small batches, then turn under and move to a diff't area.

and Revell, I was just reading an article about how someone got all his suburban neighbors to convert their front yards into gardens. A really cool unexpected thing happened because of it. The neighborhood became united! Neighbors could be seen conversing/comparing out front in their gardens, and they began to KNOW each other and hung out outside more.

Cool story, no?

Mary Kay.

[Revvell]

...
and Revell, I was just reading an article about how someone got all his suburban neighbors to convert their front yards into gardens. A really cool unexpected thing happened because of it. The neighborhood became united! Neighbors could be seen conversing/comparing out front in their gardens, and they began to KNOW each other and hung out outside more.

Cool story, no?

Mary Kay.

Absolutely. And I just read about a gent who moved into a not-so-good neighborhood in LA that had bars on the windows. He planted in front of the windows and removed the bars. Then began planting that trees on the patch of green between street and sidewalk. Asked his neighbors if he could do that in front of their houses. They began asking for tips on creating their own gardens. They he started a garden club so the neighbors could share tips, seeds, produce, flowers, whatever.. which is where I got the idea.

They can/will grow stuff I can't depending on the soil, etc.

[DebB]

Just now preparing soil for this year. Some of the produce I want ~ beets, corn, tomatoes, garlic, lettuce, peas, artichoke, carrots, cukes, melons, bell peppers, squash.

Hi Revvell ~ Do you eat your artichokes raw? I've never tried them raw. I miss them, I always steamed them. Any info you can give me will be appreciated! Thanks. *Ü*

[Revvell]

I don't eat artichokes. I just want to grow the plant cuz it's purdy. He'll probably eat 'em though.


Hi Revvell ~ Do you eat your artichokes raw? I've never tried them raw. I miss them, I always steamed them. Any info you can give me will be appreciated! Thanks. *Ü*

[Shine]

I'm currently designing a raised bed garden as well. I still have a few months to go before anything can be planted but.... :) I already have a 20x20 and an edged eatible landscape garden (lots of herbs and greens) and my dad wants me to re-start my grandparetns old garden so don't have to spend any money on food this summer :) The soil at my house is very rocky so root veggies tend to not grow well, I am thinking a couple small raised beds for carrots, beets, turnip and sweet potatoes. I am also thinking I can actually do some melon in them since the soil will be warm faster and I can heat it up with floating row covers or some such thing. I have always wanted to grow melon... :)

Growing your own food is awesome!! And with the last name "gardner" I kinda come by it naturally :o can't wait to see the picks of your yard!!

[DebB]

I don't eat artichokes. I just want to grow the plant cuz it's purdy. He'll probably eat 'em though.

Ahh, thanks. (Shucks!) ;)

[freespirit]

What kinds of plants will everyone be using to ward off insects?

[Revvell]

Well, some insects are beneficial but, I'm looking into a couple of books that will (hopefully) answer, that question.

What one person told me to do is to make our yard "bird-friendly" and that will stave off a lot of insects that eat plants. We did that and had no tomato thingies and I'd look in the garden and see lots of lil brown birds hanging out in it so, I'm guessing it worked some.


What kinds of plants will everyone be using to ward off insects?

[Green_Woman]

Because I live in the low desert (southeastern section of Arizona, USA) and have always struggled in past to grow healthy gardens, I'm basing much of my NEW gardening strategies on Dave the Garden Guy's book EXTREME GARDENING.

I found this book at a Wholefoods store in Phoenix, AZ. Maybe your local health food stores or farmer's market will have similiar "garden guru" books that are area-specific for you guys, too?


Before I do any planting I want to set up a rain barrel system to collect water.

Excellent plan!!! My sweetheart is an experienced water-harvester. (http://annesley.wordpress.com/) He's helping me design a system using recycled barrels acquired from a local business for water harvesting/caching in my front yard. My Landlord is bewildered as to how I'm going to pull it off, but he gave me permission to proceed so here I go. ;)

My Fur Babies are dogs! 2 yr old Poodle-Yorkie mix and 9 mnth old Pomeranian. I love my fur babies and I'm planning on transitioning them both to a raw VEGAN diet (yes, I'm going to attempt this!) soon. :)


The soil at my house is very rocky

I don't trust the soil at my house because I know the Landlord sprayed chemicals here before I moved in... that's why I'm doing a Raised Bed Garden, so it's several inches off the ground and I can use compost/fertilizer for my plants!


Green Woman, don't forget to plant some wheatgrass between rows! I do small batches, then turn under and move to a diff't area.

What does wheatgrass do for the garden? I don't eat/drink it yet, myself.... a wee bit nervous about trying it, honestly. ;)

[skier2]

Well, some insects are beneficial but, I'm looking into a couple of books that will (hopefully) answer, that question.

What one person told me to do is to make our yard "bird-friendly" and that will stave off a lot of insects that eat plants. We did that and had no tomato thingies and I'd look in the garden and see lots of lil brown birds hanging out in it so, I'm guessing it worked some.

I use a spray that is just garlic, cayenne pepper, clove oil, rosemary oil, and water. It works like a charm, is non-toxic, and washes right off, and only needs to be used when there is already an insect invasion.

[Revvell]

Hmmm. I've had people tell me to just spray with diluted dishwashing liquid yet, they also reminded me that anything I spray will kill the beneficial as well as the not-so BUT, I guess birds will eat the beneficial as well.

Now, I have used a combination of eucalyptus and mint oils in my sunroom to get rid of fleas. That works.

I like your combo better than dishwashing liquid. Not real tasty if one eats straight from the garden as I do.


I use a spray that is just garlic, cayenne pepper, clove oil, rosemary oil, and water. It works like a charm, is non-toxic, and washes right off, and only needs to be used when there is already an insect invasion.

[DebB]

What kinds of plants will everyone be using to ward off insects?

I planted lots of marigolds (around 4-6 marigolds in each of the 8'x4' beds) last summer and that seemed to help too. *Ü*

[Revvell]

Hmmm. I planted some but not "lots". Pretty much what you did. I've read two different things about them: 1) that they help and 2) that you really need LOTS for them to help. All I know is, SOMEthing helped and the part that had marigolds had fewer problems than the part that didn't.

O.k., here's one for yas .... the leaves on my squash plant get VERY white. I'm told that's not a good thing BUT, it doesn't affect my squash.

What's your take on it?


I planted lots of marigolds (around 4-6 marigolds in each of the 8'x4' beds) last summer and that seemed to help too. *Ü*

[Green_Woman]

Man, I feel like such a little wimpy beginner. *giggles*

I think I should grab some bags of compost today (while my own new compost pile gets going) just to make myself feel like I'm getting somewhere on this garden. :D

I have to wait for Him to come up this weekend with the Range Rover so I can haul the lumber/materials to build the raised beds.


Soooooo impatient to get going!!!!!!!

[T-Bird]

O.k., here's one for yas .... the leaves on my squash plant get VERY white. I'm told that's not a good thing BUT, it doesn't affect my squash.


Powdery mildew - take those leaves off immediately you notice them, as long as there are enough leaves to keep the plant in business...

[T-Bird]

oh - and dispose of away from your garden, and wash you hands/tools as not to spread.

PM on squash can also affect all plants int he same family - cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, etc.

[Green_Woman]

I built a burm around my largest tree today. It's raining again and I want to cache that water for the trees... I have three trees in my front yard. They are Arizona trees, which means Easterners and Europeans would call them bushes.

:D


Tomorrow, we are fetching lumber (or bricks... sigh) and making the raised bed garden. I've been tilling the soil on the location all week, and now it's raining so I'll probably need to root around out there some more tomorrow before placing the frame down.

Would you all consider $8.99 for a 2 cubic sq ft bag of organic Compost to be a good price?

I don't have my own compost yet (working on it! it's the hectic season for performance...) so I have to buy it.

[Revvell]

I dunno. Sounds a bit 'spensive to me but I'm using free mulch here yet, as much time as it takes to create compost, it wouldn't surprise me if it was 4 times that price. :p

I wanna see the "burm" is it?


I built a burm around my largest tree today. It's raining again and I want to cache that water for the trees... I have three trees in my front yard. They are Arizona trees, which means Easterners and Europeans would call them bushes.

Would you all consider $8.99 for a 2 cubic sq ft bag of organic Compost to be a good price?

[Revvell]

Can't understand why, in this place we'd get mildew BUT, I just read:

For that powdery mildew, after you pick off the infected leaves, mix a spray of 1/4 cup baking soda to 2 gal water and spray them. It'll help control it from spreading.


Powdery mildew - take those leaves off immediately you notice them, as long as there are enough leaves to keep the plant in business...

[Green_Woman]

It's built!!!

I haven't made time yet to transplant the starter plants... it's REALLY cold and REALLY rainy here right now and I'm hiding inside by the space heater. :D

[Green_Woman]

My plants have REALLY perked up and begun to enjoy their new environment! I also re-potted my tiny Tree and my Crown-a-thorns cactus in compost, and they both seem to be happy to have healthy soil again!

I'm feeding my plants raw foods, now, too. ;)

[Green_Woman]

Photos of my new garden-in-progress!!! (http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-32486-Tucson-Raw-Food-Examiner~y2010m2d27-Raw-Gardening-Raised-Bed-Gardening-in-Tucson-part-1)

[Green_Woman]

I need to take more photos to show you guys what's been going on in my garden the last couple weeks... my greens are HUGE, and all the other plants EXCEPT the parsley seem REALLY happy, developed and content in their new home!

I water them regularly, but it doesn't take much water to soak through the compost so it's not adding much to my water bill. :D It's worth it... just having that GREENERY in my yard is soooo worth it!

I do have little gnats that fly around the plants alot, so I'll be figuring out what to do about those this weekend. :D

[Revvell]

I do have little gnats that fly around the plants alot, so I'll be figuring out what to do about those this weekend. :D

Make your yard bird friendly. Hummers and other feathered friends like lil gnatty guys and girls. :)

[Green_Woman]

Ah ha! Added motivation to find some hummingbird feeders at yard sales. :D

[Green_Woman]

I thought I had a rabbit problem... but turns out my Pomeranian and Poodle like eating kale...!

[Green_Woman]

My garden continues to thrive, and at present my roommate is enjoying the fruits of my labors... I really should ask her to take a few cellphone pics and upload for your pleasure! I am growing all types of greens, chives, onions, parsley, dandelion, catnip, catmint, and a few flowers... I ended up having to fence it in with a low fence to protect the greens from my ravenous fur babies (the Pommy LOVES kale and green leaf... *laughing*) but it's still a cheerful, open, airy garden space.

[Emilio]

I'm glad you all set with your garden. I think you can finally enjoy your big garden. It's good if you protect it with the fence.

[oceanluv]

I thought I had a rabbit problem... but turns out my Pomeranian and Poodle like eating kale...!
you did say you wanted them to be raw vegan, lol

[Katharina]

Hello,

I only have a "tiny garden" outside on my widowsill, 10 planters. Last year I grew herbs, mini tomatoes and even a bellpepper. But in summer some little white flies ate "my herbs".

Right now I have stinging nettle, fenugreek, mint, cress, savory, celery leaves, coriander, oregano, thyme and chives. All the plants look very healthy right now. Hope they will grow on like this.

What do you think, is it better to water the plants in the morning or in the evening.
What would you do against those little flies and other animals that eat "your Herbs" (completely).

Bye Bye from Cologne Germany
Katharina

[Green_Woman]

What do you think, is it better to water the plants in the morning or in the evening.

I generally water in the evening... but I live in the hot, dry desert and if you water in the morning, the water evaporates and doesn't saturate the soil properly.


What would you do against those little flies and other animals that eat "your Herbs" (completely).

I've sprayed my plants with a dishsoap + water combination and that seems to ward off some of the devouring insects... also, I planted companion plants that are supposed to ward off local desert prowlers... seems to be working. I haven't seen my garden in a week (out of state at the moment) but my roommate sent photos and it is FLOURISHING!

[big foot marty]

Need to build a new garden and the best sun on the lot is on the side of the house and driveway so we plan to build a few terraces to flatten the slope and fill with good soil, moss and compost.

Deciding what to build with.
- wood
-stone
- brick
- combo

Local farm delivers great soil and I will prep before dumping new clean soil.

[big foot marty]

I spray with dish soap, ammonia, pepper sauce and onion/garlic juice to control pests.

[Revvell]

I spray with dish soap, ammonia, pepper sauce and onion/garlic juice to control pests.

Doesn't that also "control" the good guys as well? Which means no lady bugs, praying mantis, spiders to eat the "pests"?