Comments | wickedrad79: gardening

wickedrad79

gardening

Feb 22, 2010 12:38

So, since I have a little bit of a private backyard now, I am considering trying to do a little bit of gardening. I'm thinking of doing a small raised bed, or maybe even attempting a vertical garden. I want something that is relatively easy to take care of, low-impact/environmentally friendly, and does not take up a lot of room. Anyone have any ( Read more... )

Comments 6

rolypolypony February 22 2010, 18:02:20 UTC

I'd definitely try a raised bed! Ok, I haven't done it myself (this summer will be my first try!), but I know a ton of people who swear by them - you really can grow a lot in a small space! I have a 3'x3' one, and I'm planning on growing 4 tomato plants, 2 pepper plants, 2 eggplant plants, and 2 cuke plants (supposedly 2 can go in one "square") - that's more than I had in my 4'x10" regular garden the past few years.

I also like using hanging baskets to grow things like cherry tomatoes or little cucumbers.

docmanhattan February 22 2010, 18:48:46 UTC

I agree with the above--nightshades do very well in small plots, provided the climate cooperates. Crawling vine plants like cukes and squashes might spill over the sides, but that sounds okay to me... charming, even.

rolypolypony February 22 2010, 18:55:07 UTC

I like the idea of the spilling over look too :) But there are types of these that are more bush-like than viney - they're not _quite_ as upright as other plants, but I've found if you stake them like tomato plants, you can contain the fairly well.

I can't wait for gardening weather!!

wickedrad79 February 23 2010, 18:15:43 UTC

I tried growing tomatoes in a hanging basket last year, but I ended up with a very tall regular tomato plant instead. I was told it was a plant for a bushy cherry tomato plant! I got a couple tomatoes out of it, but not a lot.
We have privacy walls on either side of our little back yards of our units, so I was thinking of doing a small wall garden and a small raised bed. But just thinking about it is a lot of work!

sillyliss February 22 2010, 20:07:00 UTC

Ooh, I think you should grow some sort of spices. I say that because I always thought it would be fun, but I have a big backyard (11 acres), and I've never grown anything. Zeb, on the other hand, grows flowers, pumpkins, and other stuff. Fun!

wickedrad79 February 23 2010, 18:16:33 UTC

I definitely want to try some herbs and/or spices. I'm not sure what to do yet, though. There is much more work involved in this than I'd like! I have to figure out what can grow in my space and when it needs to be planted and THEN take care of it! NOOO!!! :)