neighbor's and my garden planning session this morning

[rafiwinters]

We looked at all of her seedlings, brainstormed those and other things we want to grow, made a shopping list, started talking about where to plant what (in terms of light and so on), and came up with a to-do list. She's thinking square-foot gardening and companion planting, so I'm reading up on those a bit. We've got stakes and twine to separate out the plots. With 96 square feet we could plant a LOT of different things. No way we're going to get everything that we want into the bed... but we could still do quite a few things. And she has access to two other gardens she's going to use, and could do some things there.

Obviously we will need access to the various plantings so can't use up all the bed in actual plants--will need footpaths or something--maybe some boards laid across the soil? Any suggestions?

We are also thinking of several things we can put in pots and/or stacking planters so they don't take over the whole bed. One stacking planter for herbs of various kinds, one for strawberries.

We are going to get our hands on some compost from various sources, including the local co-op grocery store, and spread that in the bed, then add the raised-bed-specific garden soil we got. We have our next gardening date this Friday, by which time it is supposed to be decently warm, so maybe we start working the compost and soil in and/or start laying out the square-foot plots with the stakes and string.

I'm going to take some graph paper and start a chart. We are going to build a trellis between two tall metal poles that are at one end of the garden. They probably used to hold laundry lines. I can't think what else they would have been. Anyway they can hold beans and other climbing things.

Comments

[ysabetwordsmith]

>>We looked at all of her seedlings, brainstormed those and other things we want to grow, made a shopping list, started talking about where to plant what (in terms of light and so on), and came up with a to-do list.<<

Good idea.

>> She's thinking square-foot gardening and companion planting, so I'm reading up on those a bit. <<

Excellent choices for a small, raised-bed garden or containers.

Bear in mind that some things will cross-pollinate in ways that can be pesky: dill/fennel, bell peppers/hot peppers, popcorn/sweet corn, etc.

>> We've got stakes and twine to separate out the plots. With 96 square feet we could plant a LOT of different things.<<

Woohoo!

>> No way we're going to get everything that we want into the bed... but we could still do quite a few things.<<

That huge prairie garden I have? Used to be a vegetable garden when I was little. It never fit everything we wanted either. Expectations scale to plot size. I'm sure there are folks with 25 acres of tomatoes sweating over which 25 of the several hundred options to plant this season. LOL gardeners LOL

>> And she has access to two other gardens she's going to use, and could do some things there. <<

Awesome! Then you can compare which varieties grow better in different plots.

>> Obviously we will need access to the various plantings so can't use up all the bed in actual plants--will need footpaths or something--maybe some boards laid across the soil? Any suggestions? <<

Floating boards are great because you can move them as needed, they keep your feet out of the mud, and they prevent you from crushing the soil underfoot by spreading out the force. However, the good ones are kind of heavy, because they have to be thick enough to support you without breaking. Sometimes you can salvage wood, but ideally, talk to a lumberyard and see if you can get things that will hold your weight, preferably not doused in toxic chemicals.

Some people like to place stepping stones, but those are more like a permanent path: they will compact the soil underneath. However, they're sturdy and last a long time.

Another option is mulch, like straw or wood chips. It's organic, it'll break down, so it does contribute to the bed. But it's messier and has to be replaced more often than boards.

>> We are also thinking of several things we can put in pots and/or stacking planters so they don't take over the whole bed. One stacking planter for herbs of various kinds, one for strawberries. <<

Yeah, strawberries will run for the hills if they like their home. So will some herbs like mint (whole mint family, not just spearmint) or mother-of-thyme.

>> We are going to get our hands on some compost from various sources, including the local co-op grocery store, and spread that in the bed, then add the raised-bed-specific garden soil we got.<<

Good plan.

>> We have our next gardening date this Friday, by which time it is supposed to be decently warm, so maybe we start working the compost and soil in and/or start laying out the square-foot plots with the stakes and string. <<

Yay!

>> I'm going to take some graph paper and start a chart. <<

Planning is good.

>> We are going to build a trellis between two tall metal poles that are at one end of the garden. They probably used to hold laundry lines. I can't think what else they would have been. Anyway they can hold beans and other climbing things. <<

If they were laundry poles, then they will stand up to some serious weight. Push on them to see if they wiggle at all, or look to see if they have a concrete footing. If they're immovable, you have hit the jackpot.

Think about what you want to grow. Garden vines include beans, peas, tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and squash along with flowers such as sweet peas that attract pollinators. (Pay your bees in nectar and pollen, and they will make more fruits so you don't have to go around with a damn paintbrush.) Peas, beans, and most flowers can be supported with cheap plastic bean netting. Tomatoes, melons, and anything heavy should have either a wooden lattice panel, metal panel, or heavy-duty wire fence (the big square kind for cows or horses, not chicken wire). Here are some different supports.

Ask about options at a farm store, or possibly a home improvement or garden store, but only the farm store is likely to have the heavy livestock fence. Also ask how it's sold. Some places have netting or fencing on a reel like rope that you buy as much as you want, others only sell it in whole reels which is more than you need. Panels are usually sold one at a time.

You'll need fasteners. Twisted wire is an option, but the ends are usually sharp and it's prone to rusting, unless you can find the coated kind. Tape won't last. Plastic zip-ties vary in durability, but the heavy-duty ones can be good. String is good for about one season for lighter-weight supports, and has the advantage that you can use it to make many types of support. An excellent option for attaching things to poles, if you can find the right size, are round hose clamps from the plumbing aisle. They cinch down around a pipe and whatever small thing is beside it, and they're built to last whether plastic or metal. For panels or fencing, there are often special fasteners, but some of those can be closed with pliers while others need a special tool. Do not skimp on fasteners, because not only do some crops get heavy, they all turn into sails that catch the wind. Make sure whatever you put up stays PUT.

This sounds like such a great gardening project. Thanks for sharing.

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My concern about boards would be harboring a happy slug population under them. I have a sloping lot with good soil drainage, so I don't have to worry about mud problems. What I use is leaves, the ones I mulch the flower beds with over the winter. They keep down incidental weeds and keep my feet clean enough, and when deep, are plenty stable. And they break down into the soil, returning nutrients to help keep ahead of those consumed by the garden plants. I also use them as a heavy mulch around the base of berries and rhubarb, often with some grass clippings thrown on as well. If you've got good clean grass clippings (no chemicals), that can make a good alternative to leaves that won't blow around, if wind is a problem.

[rafiwinters]

My dad, who has been an enthusiastic gardener for my whole life up till recently, taught me a gross but effective way to kill slugs. Wanna know?

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Is that the beer lure? Supposedly the ground eggshells doesn't actually work. Here we mainly throw them in the street and the birds (or cars) take care of them. Honestly there isn't much to do with slugs that isn't gross.

[rafiwinters]

Yes, it's the thing about beer. I hadn't heard about the one with eggshells, but if it doesn't work, that's fine. And yes, slugs are intrinsically gross.

[rafiwinters]

p.s. Also, can I snab your lovely cat-and-yarn icon?

[recently_folded]

Of course. I have no idea where it's from any longer since I've been using it for years—alas but I can no longer credit the artist.

[rafiwinters]

Thanks! :-)