Is it Lent again already?

[barbarienne]

Now that I have a yard, I need to start thinking about a garden. I've found a raised garden bed made of recycled plastic online. It's not as cheap as getting lumber and going to, but I really wanted the plastic. It's also 16" high, which is a bit higher than most I've seen available. I want the height because it might help foil the bunnies. (There'

Comments

[dr_phil_physics]

Chives. Just a clump. Go out with kitchen scissors and clip off some bits. As a kid we'd go get some chives and cut them into cottage cheese. Loved that. (grin)

Dr. Phil

[barbarienne]

Oh, yes, for the herb section! I love chives, but I wouldn't have thought to add them. Excellent suggestion!

[horace_hamster]

Ask around at your workplace if anyone has a herb garden. If they do, they'll likely be happy to give you a clump of chives from their patch. Ditto for mint (but, as others have said, grow mint in a closed patch. Preferably with a cement border. Mint spreads EVERYWHERE).

If you have cats, you can grow catnip (which self-seeds wildly, so beware). Dill and fennel also self-seed with profusion.

And if you've got a sunny corner of the garden that needs something big to fill it, consider rhubarb (that is, if you like eating it). They die back in winter, but they are perennials that only need to be split once every five years or so, and they make big handsome plants in summer. And you can easily freeze down the diced rhubarb stems to make crumbles in winter.

[barbarienne]

My previous experience with mint was a neighbor who planted it. Within a year it had taken over the entire block. We all sort of cursed him. I spent time every month or so pulling up enormous runners and trashing them (NOT putting them in the compost!).

Mint for me will never go in the ground. Cement planters above the ground only.

I was thinking catnip, but I don't want to attract other people's outdoor cats to my yard.

My grandmother grew rhubarb, but alas, none of us eat it. They are lovely, but I think I will have no problems filling the place.

[barbarienne]

Oh, good to know. I have always really hated peas, so I don't know much about them. The one time I actively liked them was when a friend's mom served them as baby peas she had picked in her garden not three hours before we ate them. They were a revelation, and I swore that if I had a vegetable garden, I would grow peas.

[rosefiend]

1) Start small or you will go nuts.
2) Bakers Creek Heirloom Seed catalog is dandy eye candy. Also, heirlooms!
3) Mulch the hell out of everything once it's growing or you will also be growing a crop of weeds. Lay a thick layer of newspapers down under your mulch for the best weed suppressant.
4) Always check and double-check that you have enough space before planting trees.
5) Seeds are cheap, so experiment. If you don't like something, there's always next year -- or even plant something new in early fall. Because, why not.

[quarkwiz]

How does that work with the newspaper? I have horrible luck with weeds and would love advice!!

[barbarienne]

Excellent advice!

Definitely starting small. I like to think that I'll garden like a mad farmer, but the reality is that it's been years since I had a garden. Thus the 3' x 6' bed, which is about as small as you can get and still be able to call it a vegetable garden.

[quarkwiz]

Ooh, forgot to mention this yesterday. I am a fan of Earth Boxes. I won't link to the company page because their direct prices are ridiculous, and if you're interested you could probably find a nice deal closer to home. We bought two boxes a couple of years ago and have planted tomatoes, peppers, and basil in them. The peppers didn't work so well--got a TON of leaves and almost no fruit--but the tomatoes and the basil were ridiculously prolific. In fact, the basil was so insane I think I may only plant four plants in the one box instead of six. Didn't know what to do with the extra leaves. ::shamed:: (I can only make so much pesto!) For mega results, use Dr. Earth's POTting soil. Spelled that way on the package on purpose. We spoke to a company rep who said it's the preferred soil for major grow-ops on the west coast. :D

[barbarienne]

FYI, basil freezes well. The leaves go all wilty when they thaw, but they're still good for pesto or for adding to sauces and other cooked dishes.

[ddrpolaris]

Garlic and marigolds. They're natural pest deterrents and couple well with some of the other plants you've mentioned. Most people's major complaint about Marigolds is the smell, but I'm guessing that's less of an issue for you?

Try avoiding planting beans with your tomatoes. Use separate beds if possible.

Take a look at this:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companion_plants

Also, your local library may have some books on companion planting, which I find helpful.

[barbarienne]

So...tomatoes and onions/garlic in one box, and pole plants (string beans, cucumbers) and herbs in the other. Very useful!