Tuesday, March 3, 2009

garden


So it's not much, but I'm glad to have it. Because we're renting here (due to being here temporarily for Mike's work), we can't make changes to the landscaping. I was so excited when I found this little raised bed in the yard. Last year I didn't take full advantage of the garden. Mainly I grew tomatoes. A few other things were tried but didn't pan out spectacularly.

Anyway, I improved it a little bit this year. I brought in 3 big bags of soil and put down landscaping/weed-stopper fabric. I changed out a few of the irrigation heads to see if I can get a better watering system down. Instead of using the green poles like tomato cages, I decided to see if a 'wall' might work. We'll see. I pruned the Lady Banks rose bush early this year and am using a little piece of decorative metal fencing that was back there to see if I can contain it a bit more this year. It definitely encroached last year.

I've got sweet 100 cherry tomatoes, yellow pear tomatoes & early girl tomatoes in the back row. Then 2 pepper bushes - serranos & bells. Then on the left up front is the flat-leaf parsley that wintered over. It died back some, but managed to make it. Then 4 basil plants. We use a lot of basil. Then in containers on the patio I have a few other things. Cilantro, which I vow to water the heck out of this year. It didn't make it in the bed last year, so I'm trying it in a container this time. Thyme, which may not make it because it likes shade. I have it up under the patio roof, but we'll see. Oregano, which I have hopes for since it likes full sun. I also have a small container I threw some summer crunch lettuce seeds in. I had the container & some soil left, so I figured I'd give it a shot. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

I think I might give some other things a try after these are through in the early fall. Any suggestions?