Alright green thumbs, I need your help!

**MomToTwoBoys** · 05-16-2010, 09:59 PM

I have a 4x14 portion of front garden. We've already planted items on the right side of the garden, so we have roughly a 4x6 plot to work with. The maximum height of the left side must not exceed 4 1/2 feet, as we have an opening window that swings open to the right (if you're standing in the kitchen when you open it).

We had a plan to put in gooseberries, but seeing as we already have blueberries and raspberries, I'm not certain if it's overkill or not. Last year, I had tomatoes and perennial bulbs for gladiolus and freesias (not many of them even bloomed and the tomato plant overtook a lot of the left side of the garden).

So we have 24 square feet of garden heaven to fill out. I would love to have something that grows tall and wide that'll bloom from early spring to fall. I saw some wonderful flowers when I was out yesterday, but I can't remember the names of them to save my life.

I want something that's fruitful and fragrant and will last for years to come.

So besides gooseberries, what would be good for that area? The area is full sun and is a south-facing side of the house. We're in zone 3.

**mndtrp** · 05-16-2010, 10:38 PM

I'm not sure about Zone 3, but in Zone 5 I've got the following that roughly meet your criteria:

day lilies
tulips
mums
iris'
Japanese bloodgrass

and some sort of red bush that I chop to the ground every fall. Every spring, it comes back and grows to about 4 feet high.

I have several other plants, but they don't grow very tall.

**Libby** · 05-16-2010, 11:14 PM

What about a lilac bush or a maple bush?

**frugalfranny** · 05-17-2010, 02:41 AM

Can you really have too much fruit???

There is a miniature lilac that might work.......since you have the 4 1/2 feet height limit on the one side.

It is called Miss Kim............I have one and a little late now, but I could have gotten you a start off it.......though you probably want a bigger plant. Doesn't bloom through the summer though.

Fragrant and blooms all summer long could be a tough one.......they have some large dephinium.......make sure you get the big one if you want showy......don't think they are fragrant.

Are you going for flowers or edible plants?

**MomToTwoBoys** · 05-17-2010, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Libby

What about a lilac bush or a maple bush?

You're gonna make me cry, Libby.

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

Can you really have too much fruit???

There is a miniature lilac that might work.......since you have the 4 1/2 feet height limit on the one side.

It is called Miss Kim............I have one and a little late now, but I could have gotten you a start off it.......though you probably want a bigger plant. Doesn't bloom through the summer though.

Fragrant and blooms all summer long could be a tough one.......they have some large dephinium.......make sure you get the big one if you want showy......don't think they are fragrant.

Are you going for flowers or edible plants?

I would absolutely love flowers. However, I'm highly allergic to bees. While I know I'll have bees with the marigolds on the border and the berry bushes, having more flowers than that wouldn't be good for my health. I had issues with too many bees last year.

I'd love to have something edible, but can you really get enough fruit off of two gooseberry bushes to make jam and pies out of?

I'm going back next weekend. My FIL is in town. I wish I'd taken pictures of some of the flowers while I was there on Saturday because now that'll bug me all week.

I'd love something hardy. I have Boyne raspberries on the side garden now, plus the blueberry bushes are pretty hardy.

**mek42** · 05-19-2010, 09:30 PM

How about a bonsai tree? You have plenty of free time to tend to it.

Seriously, it is next to the house, so you probably don't want peonies with their ants. You like watering things too much to put in a cactus. I started reading about dwarf cherry trees, but they still get to be 8 - 10' tall. Maybe put some in if you have to move and let someone else pick between pretty cherry blossoms and opening the kitchen window. Other dwarf fruit trees stay short though.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 05-19-2010, 10:45 PM

Wouldn't you have root issues in the foundation with a dwarf fruit tree?

I saw that the greenhouse had some fruit trees but I wasn't sure if they were dwarf or not. We have the Top Hat Blueberry bushes, but they're shrubs and aren't expected to grow more than 18 inches wide anyways.

I do agree with you on the watering issue... I'm a little OCD to be watering anything. The root system of whatever I stick in that spot has to have great drainage (but I have peat moss anyways to help with that) and tolerate my watering habits. Sadly, I think gooseberries might be suitable. They have a high watering need.

**ladytoysdream** · 05-20-2010, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by MomToTwoBoys

I'd love to have something edible, but can you really get enough fruit off of two gooseberry bushes to make jam and pies out of?
I'd love something hardy. I have Boyne raspberries on the side garden now, plus the blueberry bushes are pretty hardy.

I'd go with fruit.
What I have done in the past when picking fruit for jam or a pie, and not having enough for a batch, is to start a plastic container, and then keeping adding to it. I keep it in the freezer. When you only have few plants and harvest is spread out over days/week, it helps just to let it add up to a quanity that can be worked with.
Has worked for me more than once

**mek42** · 05-20-2010, 07:47 AM

Originally Posted by MomToTwoBoys

Wouldn't you have root issues in the foundation with a dwarf fruit tree?

...

I don't know anything about foundations, just make sure your lateral sewer drain is on the other side of the house.

How about roses? Then you can make your own fresh rosewater for Indian dishes.

**MomToTwoBoys** · 05-20-2010, 10:16 AM

Mmm, I would absolutely love to have roses.

I was watching a video on how to harvest red raspberry leaf and turn it into tea last night. It was pretty interesting. The rosewater thing would be good if I made more Indian dishes.

The last time I had anything with rosewater in it, I think I bit into a dried rose.

.

**mek42** · 05-20-2010, 10:30 AM

Nothing wrong with eating the rose petals - you could make chocolate covered rose petals and charge $50 / lb (lets see, call it $100 / kg?) as a delicacy and have next years garden paid for.

I looked into buying some organic rose petals once in order to make a rhodamel (mead variant - brewed honey and rose petals).

**frugalfranny** · 05-20-2010, 03:04 PM

Originally Posted by MomToTwoBoys

I would absolutely love flowers. However, I'm highly allergic to bees. While I know I'll have bees with the marigolds on the border and the berry bushes, having more flowers than that wouldn't be good for my health. I had issues with too many bees last year.

You will need the bees with almost anything edible.

In time, gooseberry will produce enough, but anything planted now will take time to become a good producer.

I never plant marigolds very close to a walking path or the house.........THEY STINK! Isn't something I want to smell while cruising my garden. They are something to be admired for their beauty from AFAR!!

**MomToTwoBoys** · 05-20-2010, 04:00 PM

Yeah the marigolds are keeping the rabbits away, which is what I wanted.

I saw some more beautiful flowers when I was at the greenhouse and I think that if I want something fragrant, I might pick up some pots. DH mentioned maybe getting some Clematis (which are MIL's favorite flowers) and see if they'd grow there. I just want something that's gonna help the bees pollinate the berry bushes and will give the front of the house more permanent color than the marigolds.

I just remembered that DH doesn't want roses. He says he doesn't like them at all. I can scratch them off of the list then, I guess.