Raised beds
If you just want to grow a few herbs and vegetables I would like to suggest building a simple raised bed. These are really cool cedar kits. You can set them up as you wish. I like the 4 x 4 size. I have mine for 5 years now and they are still in great shape.
You can purchase wood and make your own - cedar is one of the best options.
You can purchase wood and make your own - cedar is one of the best options.
Composting cage
Every gardener knows the benefits of composting. This is very simple composting cage. I used leftover fencing (about 5 feet long), one anchor (any piece of limber or pipe will do the job - make sure it is at least 6" taller then the fencing - bury it in the ground) and wire to make small hooks to hold the bottom down (I used old coat hanger).
Composting cage - large
Once you start composting it becomes an obsession and you end up with bunch of different heaps, cages and bins. You just want to try out what works the best and you create spots for different materials. This cage is large 4 by 6 feet. I used small ties to hold the wires together and hooks to anchor it to the ground.
Composting bin - recycled trash bin
This is one of the best composting bins for food scraps. I love the dark color that keep thing nice and warm (composting process is faster) and the lid that keep little rats with embellishments (read squirrels) away from the food.
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Small green house
This is easy way to protect young plants in the Spring - form cold night and from bunnies!
I chopped off the bottom of the water jug and put over the plant.
When it gets really hot and sunny make sure you remove it, otherwise your plants will burn.
I chopped off the bottom of the water jug and put over the plant.
When it gets really hot and sunny make sure you remove it, otherwise your plants will burn.
Raspberry patch
Finally my dream happened and we have raspberry patch (and I finally learned how to spell raspberry - there is "P" in the word, interesting).
It is was an area full of weird bushes and mess and slightly sloping. I hired help to build basically huge raised bed from 6 x 6 timber (purchased on the end of season for 1/4 or original price), I filled it with leaves, mulch soil in spots where I later planted the bushes.
Will build trellis later. I am very excited about these easy to care bushes and the berries.
These raspberries are growing from June to October and it s one of the produce kids can just pick up and eat.
It is was an area full of weird bushes and mess and slightly sloping. I hired help to build basically huge raised bed from 6 x 6 timber (purchased on the end of season for 1/4 or original price), I filled it with leaves, mulch soil in spots where I later planted the bushes.
Will build trellis later. I am very excited about these easy to care bushes and the berries.
These raspberries are growing from June to October and it s one of the produce kids can just pick up and eat.
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Produce
This is weekly produce in the summer. Tomatoes and cucumbers are very easy to grow. if you are not sure what to start with go for these vegetables. Peppers do ok, but I am not thrilled.
Watermelons
One year we grew watermelons. Easy to grow but they take up lots of space and need water.
They were good but not great. But the kids were so excited to see how much they are growing.
If you have room go for it!
They were good but not great. But the kids were so excited to see how much they are growing.
If you have room go for it!
Garlic
Fall is the best time to plant garlic. Prepare the bed. I added new compost as I grew onions year before, which are the same family. To avoid bugs you should rotate crops or add compost.
Make hole about 2" deep and 4" apart. I put one piece of garlic in each hole (with the thin end up) and put soil over. That's it. Put a label somewhere so you remember where you planted it ha ha.
The second photo is WRONG way to plant garlic (between us it still grew ;O).
Make hole about 2" deep and 4" apart. I put one piece of garlic in each hole (with the thin end up) and put soil over. That's it. Put a label somewhere so you remember where you planted it ha ha.
The second photo is WRONG way to plant garlic (between us it still grew ;O).
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