Let's Talk BBQ
Tips, Tricks & Just Good Advice! => Good to Know! - A collection of How-To's & Sage Advice => Garden to Table - Growing Your Own! => Topic started by: Lynne S on May 01, 2013, 09:29:27 PM
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I've been using this method of gardening for many years now. Switched from the regular row gardening. This method takes up less space, less water, less work, less expense and almost no weeding. What more could one ask ;) Here in Nova Scotia we are just starting to get the garden ready. I've turned the soil and added a few inches of compost. Tomorrow I hope to put the first seeds in the ground, peas and spinach will go first, followed by onion sets. Here is what the garden looks like right now. The garlic chives and regular chives are up from last year and the rhubarb is poking through.
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o50/Cheers_2007/GardenEntrance.jpg) (http://s117.photobucket.com/user/Cheers_2007/media/GardenEntrance.jpg.html)
These are my 2 largest beds, never make the bed more than 4 feet wide because you want to be able to reach the middle from both sides.
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o50/Cheers_2007/4X8Beds.jpg) (http://s117.photobucket.com/user/Cheers_2007/media/4X8Beds.jpg.html)
It is so easy to turn the soil because it is loose no one ever walks on it so it doesn't get packed down.
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o50/Cheers_2007/TurningSoil.jpg) (http://s117.photobucket.com/user/Cheers_2007/media/TurningSoil.jpg.html)
Garlic and onion chives
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o50/Cheers_2007/Chives.jpg) (http://s117.photobucket.com/user/Cheers_2007/media/Chives.jpg.html)
I use these beds for things that climb like peas and squash.
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o50/Cheers_2007/ClimbingBeds.jpg) (http://s117.photobucket.com/user/Cheers_2007/media/ClimbingBeds.jpg.html)
I took another pix showing the steel bands that are used to hold plastic in case there is a risk or frost and during the summer garden netting can be placed on these bands to keep birds from raiding my garden:)
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o50/Cheers_2007/GardenBands.jpg) (http://s117.photobucket.com/user/Cheers_2007/media/GardenBands.jpg.html)
Here is the rhubarb poking it's way through-
(http://i117.photobucket.com/albums/o50/Cheers_2007/Rhubarb.jpg) (http://s117.photobucket.com/user/Cheers_2007/media/Rhubarb.jpg.html)
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Super nice garden boxes Lynn!!
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Very cool. We have something similar......when the rabbits leave us alone. Want to grow chives this year. Like the garlic idea.
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Nice garden Lynn, I like your arbor at the entrance too. I have chives planted in two 12 inch round tiles and they are up nice now. Don
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very nice garden area. those are really raised beds. :)
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Lynn..very nice..I have the same things growing..how high are your beds? Mine are only 2 landscape timbers deep. My gahhlick looks the same as yours. I have chives in several places and sage, thyme, parsley, rosemary and lemon balm is going nuts. Oh and mint too..gonna need that this weekend. Will be planting tarragon, oregano and basil. I think my rhubarb finally died so I will replace that and I want to do asparagus too. Welcome to the forum..we need more women. Pam .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥
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Looks like really nice land.
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raised beds are the only way to go.
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Lynn..very nice..I have the same things growing..how high are your beds? Mine are only 2 landscape timbers deep. Pam .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥
The first beds I did were only made with 2X10 lumber but when they had to be replaced I decided it would be so nice to have the beds pretty much at working level so these were made with a combination of 2X10 and 2X12. The low beds are about 20 inches high and the centre two are 25 inches high. Sounds like you have lots of herbs to use in your cooking:) Do you dry them for storage and if so do you use a dehydrator?
I love to garden :D
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Sparky 1, you are drinking my beer :D
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Great thread. I bought some raised bed kits from SAMs club. They're made out of recycled plastic and will last a while. Hoping to set them up this weekend.
I grow mostly tomatoes, beans, eggplant and zucchini. I have to have a fence around my garden or it becomes deer food very quickly.
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Nice looking garden Lynne.
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Sam 3, I know what you mean about the critters >:( I had to stop growing corn because the raccoons would come and clean me out in one night :( :(
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This board is a great idea.
An excellent resource for home gardening using the "raised" beds method is by Peter Chan. His method is preferred in wood-scarce Asia and is simple enough: mound the soil without the use of boxes. I practiced this method for years whilst living in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and with good success. It is also easier to plant cover crops and turn the soil in between crops. In this often damp growing zone borders of wood harbor slugs and snails, so dispensing with it helped reduce that problem. I also used raised beds made of wood but primarily to grow flowers...as the wood was pressure treated and not recommended for use in situations where plants might absorb some of the chemicals used in treating the wood that leach into the soil. 8)
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Sparky 1, you are drinking my beer :D
our beer buddy. ;)
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Lynn..very nice..I have the same things growing..how high are your beds? Mine are only 2 landscape timbers deep. Pam .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥
The first beds I did were only made with 2X10 lumber but when they had to be replaced I decided it would be so nice to have the beds pretty much at working level so these were made with a combination of 2X10 and 2X12. The low beds are about 20 inches high and the centre two are 25 inches high. Sounds like you have lots of herbs to use in your cooking:) Do you dry them for storage and if so do you use a dehydrator?
I love to garden :D
I dehydrate some, share a bunch because the more you pick them..the more they grow. I also freeze them with water in ice cube trays and then put them in Ziploc bags and take out just what I need. I have herbs at home and the campground, because I always forget to bring some somewhere. pre-altzimers. LOL Pam .☆´¯`•.¸¸. ི♥ྀ
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My little set up :)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/askabutcher/AAB11-1/garden051111.jpg)
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Nice garden Lynne. Here's my raised beds ...
(http://i854.photobucket.com/albums/ab105/papa_peter/Garden/garden1_zps1c486087.jpg)
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This board is a great idea.
An excellent resource for home gardening using the "raised" beds method is by Peter Chan. His method is preferred in wood-scarce Asia and is simple enough: mound the soil without the use of boxes. I practiced this method for years whilst living in the Willamette Valley of Oregon and with good success. It is also easier to plant cover crops and turn the soil in between crops. In this often damp growing zone borders of wood harbor slugs and snails, so dispensing with it helped reduce that problem. I also used raised beds made of wood but primarily to grow flowers...as the wood was pressure treated and not recommended for use in situations where plants might absorb some of the chemicals used in treating the wood that leach into the soil. 8)
Many years ago I used the raised mound method very successfully. Some of my best tomato crops and other veg came from those "humps of dirt". I don't remember who I read back then (70's) but I do remember reading about that method. Now I use untreated wood to corral my dirt, but the concept is the same - a lot of good earth piled up to make a bed for the garden. Snow is finally gone and it's getting close to planting time!
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Do you have a photo or a link to the raised mound method?
Thanks
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Smoker Pete and AAB seeing those green beds of yours is making me very envious :) Mine are still brown and I won't be planting until next if the weather permits. I have peas and spinach in but that's it. Even next week will be too soon for the tender things :(
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Smoker Pete and AAB seeing those green beds of yours is making me very envious :) Mine are still brown and I won't be planting until next if the weather permits. I have peas and spinach in but that's it. Even next week will be too soon for the tender things :(
Living in California does has some advantages Lynne ... I won't go into all the disadvantages!! :( >:( ...
It's going to be 88ºF today 8) 8)
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I live in Zone 9
our problem is bugs and weeds ;)
I'm in zone 9b Captain ... bugs and weeds are always a problem :(
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Do you have a photo or a link to the raised mound method?
Thanks
Looking for more information....http://www.amazon.com/Better-Vegetable-Gardens-Chinese-Way/dp/0882663887 (http://www.amazon.com/Better-Vegetable-Gardens-Chinese-Way/dp/0882663887)
found this blog post and it looks like the gardens we toured and I set up too...essentially it's the practice many farmers use for intense farming in open fields. Strawberry and tomato farmers in So. Cal for example. rows or sections of mounded dirt rather than raised beds holding in the dirt. all depends upon your back and the room you have - I s'pose
(http://backyardnotes.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/1993vegarden.jpg?w=529)
http://backyardnotes.wordpress.com/category/west-seattle-garden/page/2/ (http://backyardnotes.wordpress.com/category/west-seattle-garden/page/2/)