Expanding the garden this year... yikes!

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-07-2010, 11:01 PM

So since we're going to be here for a while, DH made the suggestion to finally utilize the space in the backyard for the garden.

The trouble is that the backyard is filled with lots of goodies to get rid of before I can do that.

So here's the initial plan of what needs to happen:

- Remove the lilac and maple bushes.
- Create a new planting space.
- Dig up the grass along the side fence.

I know I want raspberry bushes somewheres... the trouble is finding the space. We have the side of the house, but there are fresh air intake vents and dryer vents in that area. There's a 4 ft x 12 ft plot on the side of the house where I grew the lettuce, green onions and tomatoes last year.

The side fence in the backyard is being utilized for berries of some sort. I definitely want berries in the yard this year. The back fence and the area where the maple and lilac bushes currently are is being completely dug up and used for a garden. It has the best drainage and will get plenty of runoff from the top of the yard. I have to wait for the snow to melt and the ground to thaw before getting rid of the bushes.

Now the trouble is trying to figure out what I want. I know I wanted onions, raspberries, broccoli and beans but I'm not certain as to what else I want. The backyard is north-facing and the side yard faces east. The side yard gets lots of sun and the backyard gets partial sun.

We did lettuce and tomatoes and green onions, but we barely put an indent into the lettuce and the tomatoes just got underused. The green onions got a lot of use, though. I'll have to keep perusing the seed selection and figure out what I want the most.

**Libby** · 01-07-2010, 11:15 PM

Im envious. I was told that no more garden this year. Now that I'm home and off work and able to do more, its been kiboshed.

I'll have to see closer to the summer. Have fun with the planning!

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-08-2010, 12:18 AM

I figure that with the larger garden, I'll have more time outside and get lots of needed fresh air. It's time to ditch the wasteful plants that I did have and make sure my carbon footprint has more beneficial end results.

I do know that I want plants that are going to be fully utilized. I didn't want to plant something I'd only eat once a week or so. I'd rather eat garden vegetables until we can't eat anymore, thus saving us money.

I really wish I could get out now and measure the gardening area. There's about 2 feet of snow on top of it though.

**frugalfranny** · 01-08-2010, 12:28 AM

But part of the fun is in the planning.....and dreaming....have fun and enjoy!!

The HARD WORK will start soon!

**Siebrie** · 01-08-2010, 04:25 AM

Time to start reading up on preserving your harvest!

@ Libby: can you 'hide' your veg gardening? Grow attractive herbs between the normal plants, etc.? Then you can still garden....

**Russ** · 01-08-2010, 07:04 AM

I'm expanding this year too! I'm ready to go rototill but like you..too much snow.

Come on spring.

**frugalwarrior2** · 01-08-2010, 07:52 AM

Libby-sweet millions are a tomato that is grape shaped. Get a trellis and plant 2. Each one of ours grew at least 10' tall and i was out there for hours harvesting. I blended them w/ water and froze for sauce and chili.

**frugalwarrior2** · 01-08-2010, 07:55 AM

Russ really?? We plant around memorial day. May. Do you live in a diff. MICHIGAN. You know Alaska and Minnesotas lttle brother. Go pack my yarn silly man. lol.

**missyali** · 01-08-2010, 07:59 AM

I'm expanding as well. I drew my plans on graph paper for my husband to see and so far, so good. He does most of the work as far as prepping the new space. We're planning on having: a vegetable garden ~ soybean, potatoes, beets, green beans, garbonzo beans, onions, asparagus, corn, peas and carrots. I'll be planting soybeans in the new beds as well as a few rows in the old beds realizing that the new beds won't be in as great shape as the old ones ~ but the soybeans will help them get there! An herb garden ~ sage, parsley, rosemary, thyme, chives, basil, oregano, lemon verbena, lavender, chamomile, tomatoes, peppers, garlic, horseradish and strawberries. The herbs keep the deer and other critters out without using fencing and the strawberries just look so perfect around the rocks that hold the garden back (it's a garden in the side of a hill). And a pumpkin patch ~ squash, pumpkins, zucchini, cukes, cauliflower, broccoli, eggplant, and brussel's sprouts.

I am hoping to fill my freezer with veggies and such from the garden this year. I'll can what I can't freeze. I should hang my sketches somewhere that I can see them often, they just make me smile! Most importantly, I need a plan for harvest time ~ right when I go back to work.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-08-2010, 11:08 AM

I'm just a bit envious of everyone who lives more South than I do. Our growing season is only about 170 days long.

But we do get some crazy amounts of sun. It's daylight here from 5am to 11pm at the height of summer.

I asked DH what his opinions of the garden are and he kept telling me, "I dunno". I think I'm the only person having input in it this year, which is fine by me.

I think I know what vegetables I definitely want this year:

Beets
Beans
Broccoli
Onions

My trouble is that I also want raspberry bushes. If I put the bushes against the back fence, the people walking down the alley will get the urge to stop and eat out of them. That's what I don't want to happen, so I think they'll go in the side fence in the backyard that joins with the neighbors on the other side of the house. I know they won't pick them.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 01-10-2010, 01:37 PM

So I did some thinking and I think we're going to have to level off the part of the backyard to do the garden...

unless someone has awesome tips on gardening on a slope.

The slope isn't horrible, but it's also not level enough to constitute leaving it as is. Would I have to dig out and level the section that I want, then put in a retaining wall?

**Grainlady** · 01-10-2010, 03:13 PM

I'm going to be raising potatoes in black plastic lawn bags. I'll be able to place these in areas of the yard where I can't work the soil, and save my small garden area for other things.

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how...bag/index.html

I'll plant Yukon Gold potatoes in mid-March and harvest them by late-May through mid-July. Because I don't have proper storage for potatoes, I'll dehydrate them. Yukon Gold because they mature a little faster to avoid the heat of late spring when they mature. The fall crop will be planted the end of June and harvested by the end of October. So be sure to get appropriate varieties for your area.

I'll also be adding more upside down "bag" gardening (aka Topsy Turvy Planters, or Revolution Upside Down Tomato Planter from Gardener's Supply). Not just tomatoes this year (which were very successful last year), but peppers, zucchini and cucumbers in these hanging planters.

You can also make "Growbags" using bags of potting soil laid-out. You just cut them open and plant shallow-growing plants like leaf lettuce, radishes, etc. You could surround these bags with bricks, to help contain them. There are other kinds of growbags used. It's another form of container gardening - where the plastic bag is the container.

A great idea my BIL shared was "Gutter Gardens" http://lifehacker.com/5229896/gutter...aking-up-space. The example shows placing the gutters on siding of a building (NOT going to happen here...the moisture from the gutters would damage siding), but hubby is building racks for short lengths of gutter, to keep them free-standing and easy to dismantle and store. They could also be placed on wood privacy fences, in a sunny area. We will place some racks of gutters near our rain barrels for easy watering.

The end of February (unless this extremely unseasonably cold weather continues) I'll seed some small planters with spinach, leaf lettuce, and turnip greens. It's amazing how much food you can harvest from all kinds of pots and planters - small and large. When the greens are finished in mid-May, I'll pull them out and plant some 1/2-price annuals in the pots for color in the garden. Then after the hot summer gets to them, I'll pull them out, renew the soil with compost, and plant fall crops in them in August.

You can also make yourself an inexpensive cold frame to get a jump on spring planting, or extend fall into winter. I use two plastic basement window well covers (available at home improvement stores) clamped together with a couple spring clamps (aka pony clamps) to form a 2-piece dome. I hold them in place with L-shaped tent pegs in the ground. Hook the small portion of the L over the lip of the plastic dome. The wind doesn't blow these around because of the dome-shape. I can prop the "dome" open to water the plants, or leave open during nice days. I have bricks we've sprayed with black paint we place in the dome to absorb heat during the day, especially useful if we have a late spring snowstorm.

I've picked lettuce and spinach in April from under my cold frame dome after sweeping the snow off of it. I grow early herbs, lettuce and spinach in one. Just place it to the edge of your garden, somewhere it is somewhat protected and easy to access.

You can also give the dome additional protection and heat by making a 3-foot high wind-break "wall" on the north side of the dome, built of stakes/lathe/rebar in the ground, and wrap black landscape fabric around the stakes. This will protect the dome from wind, and the black fabric will provide additional heat. Leave the south side uncovered for the sunlight.

If Mother Nature is kind and we have a mild winter, I can grow greens in them all the way through a mild winter.

You can also use "Square Foot Gardening" methods in pots and raised beds.

So consider extending your garden beyond a patch of ground.

**MandaRenee** · 01-10-2010, 03:28 PM

Oh I love a gardening thread. My garden last year did tremendously well but I learned a lot of what not to do.

I was planning on expanding this year but now it will depend on how much dh wants to get out there and help do. lol With the baby due in May I'm really having to plan ahead this year.

**Russ** · 01-10-2010, 07:52 PM

Originally Posted by frugalwarrior2

Russ really?? We plant around memorial day. May. Do you live in a diff. MICHIGAN. You know Alaska and Minnesotas lttle brother. Go pack my yarn silly man. lol.

I'll plant cold weather crops around the 1st -15th of May and others, such as maters, after Memorial day. Yarn is in the hands of the postal service.

**alotofgooddeals** · 01-10-2010, 07:59 PM

I love the idea of growing potatoes in a trash bag.....I read the article and it really looks easy...I will keep watching this thread... I plan on having a huge garden this year....we inherited a rototiller and I have a son who is 20 so in perfect shape to do the rototillering. I plan on making an herb garden also...look forward to reading this thread...