January 16 -2011

I’m moving in six months. When I do that, I will have something I want very much. Actually, I’ll have a lot of things that I want very much. In some ways I am truly blessed, although it doesn’t always feel like it. But what I’m here to talk about is the garden I’m getting. I like to grow things. In fact, I love to and more accurately, I think I need to. It keeps me sane. Sort of. What I am getting is more than just another garden to take over and make my own. I’m getting something much better than that. I’m getting an open yard.

That’s right. My new backyard-to-be has virtually nothing in it. The current owners have two large dogs who I guess needed somewhere to hang around outside. I could learn to love those dogs.

The front has been well taken care of. There is at least one decent sized tree – I don’t remember what. There are some perennial beds and a rose – a floribunda, I think. It’s seriously overgrown and close to a path and I can’t wait to get up close and personal with my trusty Fiskars in my hand. Unfortunately, by June it might be a little late to do a lot to it and I’m not certain what kind of rose it is and without knowing that – Thou Shalt Not Cut. But I’ll check into it.

My new backyard isn’t huge, but it’s a good enough size for me – fairly wide – maybe 65 feet across the back, which I’ll guess is about 25 feet deep . Both side yards are opened to the backyard but closed off from the front of the house. The back of the house faces west. There are a few trees in the neighboring yards, but I get a seriously good shot of western light. One side yard is a south and a west exposure. The vegetable garden will have to go there. It is a perfect spot and I’m pretty sure there is enough room.

It might be six months before I can even get a good look at it again, but I love to think about my plan for that back garden. I’m getting a greenhouse, which in itself is a 30 year old wish. Can you imagine getting something you’ve wanted for thirty years? Maybe something good about getting older is that you can understand what that actually means. But, I know it will mean a few headaches, a nasty surprise or two, extra work and more than a touch of fear that I’ll make a mess of it. But I know I can do this. It will probably sit empty in the summer, but in the winter I will grow vegetables and indoor bonsai trees and I’ll have a small lemon and key lime tree. I’ll keep a chair and a very small desk area in there and it will be my bolt hole. One of them.

Before I sign off for the night, here’s a real quick overview of what I will have in this garden of mine.
I’ll have a vegetable garden and perennial herbs and rhubarb.
I’ll add herbs and blueberries into the perennial and foundation gardens that I think will be stretched out along an interlock or possibly flagstone path and around the patio.
I’ll have some growing beds for outdoor pre-bonsai and bonsai in training.
I will have a greenhouse> It won’t be huge and could easily be as small as 8×12, but I’m a little more excited when I think about 8 or 10 by fourteen.
I’ll probably need some cold frames. Normally, I picture them around a greenhouse, but I’m not sure that giving up the extra insulation from the ground is a good idea.
I am making what I call a Yoga garden . It will be a peaceful, secluded spot – probably close to the greenhouse and the vegetable garden. It will be a warm and sunny place to lie on the ground and breathe.
My patio will get sun – I’m thinking- up to about 2 in the afternoon and then it will get some shade from a very impressive wall of cedar hedge.
The north side will be a shade garden- but I’m really fuzzy about this area so far because I also need a good spot for the barbeque and it sure would be nice to have it close to the door and in some kind of shelter. And I need a good light. That one needs to percolate for a while yet.
I’ll need some outdoor benches in a spot that has shade in the hottest part of the afternoon for my potted bonsai.
So, I think that pretty much covers it – vegetables, herbs, shrubs, perennials, a shade garden, a bonsai nursery and yoga garden, patio and barbeque area. And I’ll need a spot to hide the compost bin.( I think I know where that will be – around the side near the vegetables.)

So, we covered sunlight already – the only thing you can’t do too much about, unless you’re going to cut down a few trees or demolish the neighbours garage, which is probably not a great idea.

The next thing to think about is the question “Why?” as in’ Why do you want to grow your own vegetables?”

If you want access to favoured or hard to find treats like oriental eggplants or thai basil or snow peas that don’t have the texture of cardboard,  or heritage tomatoes- thats one possible reason.

Another is that you’d simply like to grow a few vegetables that you and your family like and ýou want to know beyond a shadow of a doubt that they are organic,  chemical free and as fresh as possible.  Another perfectly valid reason.

Another reason is that, even though you don’t have much room you want a vegetable garden that will make a solid contribution to your families consumption by  improving the quality of what you get and at the same time saving some money.  Value is good.

Or just maybe you’ve simply  been bitten by a desire to grow something, because it will make your soul happy.  Welcome.

Every reason is a good one.  Heck I don’t think there can possibly be a bad reason for growing a vegetable garden.  But if you’re going to be growing on a patio, balcony or deck , space will be at a premium.  If you want to be happy with the result, it won’t hurt to give a little thought to what result you’ll be happy with.

Every reason I’ve outlined will take you down a slightly different path when you plan your own garden- and anything is possible.

Acorn Squash

I guess that, in a way, gardens are like your children.  They grow a little bit every day, but you’re so close you don’t realize it, until something makes you stand up and take notice.  The garden that I’ve referred to as my summer project is absolutely taking off.  The hydroponic versions have pretty much outstripped the regular soil- in-container versions, with the exception of the Thai hot peppers and I realize that the soil versions are getting about 1 1/2 more hours of sun each day and it’s making a real difference.

If I start thinking now about all the new ways to use acorn squash I might be able to manage what is looking to be the start of a bumper crop.  The snow peas are starting to produce very tender and very tasy pods and I’ve recently added some beefstake and heritage “Brandywine” tomatoes in a newly configured garden that I’m hoping will create “The Tomato Solution” because I cannot possibly bring this to market without a tomato configuration.

But what has truly blown me away beyond my wildest expectations is the cut-and-come-again salad garden.  I’m a big salad eater and so far, from a 4 foot planting of mixed greens I’ve taken at least 6 salads for 3 people in a two week period and it just keeps getting fuller.  And the taste and texture of these greens is like nothing else I’ve ever had- which is I guess what happens when you’re not eating a commercially grown crop that must be a variety that travels well.

Here are some more shots!

Salad Greens

Snow Peas