Hoping to expand just a bit in the spring. Need to replace the rusty fence ... it's disappearing picket by picket ... and all the cast aluminum panels are 6 feet long, so I'll be adding about 54 sq. ft. total to the 6 existing beds.

Took advantage of last week's cooler temps to start working in some of the other beds ... getting ready for fall planting. Now it's back to summer temps and the waiting game.

Lavendar, have you taken any pics of the potager in full "bloom"?
I've only seen the same pics, but nothing new recently.
Would love to see it! Nancy

LL, me too!

We finally had all the main beds lined with rock and double dug and as DH was about to put up the fence, we added an 18 x 24 area. This will allow me to grow berry vines in a fenced area and give a little additional room for crop rotation.

The potager has been put to sleep for the winter. My antique climbing roses seem to be OK, so far; but you never can tell, until next May, what killing frosts may have done to the long canes. Eventually the veggie beds in front of the roses will be usurped by the rose canes, as they grow into their 3rd (or "leap") year.

So there's less room, and I'm already walking around outside the fence with a tape measure, trying to figure out which way to open up. Probably to the south, since the north is too close to the street. And while I'm at it, that would be a good time to add a flagstone patio (for a table & chairs) and extend the potager a little further south, to include the 2 dwarf fruit trees. Ahh... nothing like those winter dreams of landscaping, when one's back has lost the memory of the previous summer's aches.

Carol

We have about a 20x50ft space we can expand into, but aren't sure how big we want to go.
We have 4 4x8, 2 3x6 and 2 3x3 beds, plus an herb garden for the 2 of us (plus I give a bunch to the neighbors)
I'm thinking of some fruit trees, but don't want to get overwhelmed with fruit! I love it fresh, but don't do much canning.Also, the neighbors all share their fruit. One has pears, another has grapes, another blackberries and apples.
I bought a baby dwarf white peach tree this summer, but it'll be another year at least before it fruits.
Maybe some berries? I found a volunteer blueberry plant in the yard that I need to get the weeds gone.
I don't want to get too big that DH and I get overwhelmed and don't enjoy working in the garden. I don't want it to be a "chore".
Going out to put everything to bed tomorrow if it isn't raining. More thinking to do! Nancy

nancyjane, get a dwarf apricot tree. The most delicious apricots I've ever had, have been grown in northern Cal. And to be able to go out in the yard and pick them dead-ripe! Yum!

Carol

I do so envy you west coasters for all the luscious fruit you can grow! I have to say that an apricot would be high on my list too. Years ago my in-laws lived in southern California and their place had apricots. She made the most heavenly apricot jam and gave it to us each Christmas. We went into mourning when they moved away....

Unfortunately, apricots aren't on my wish list. I'm thinking of a satsuma tangerine, though. LOVE LOVE LOVE those! Nancy

Nancy, I planted a satsuma and meyer lemon last fall. Both are still small, but have fruit this year. We've eaten 6 satsumas ... 6 more on the tree. The lemon has/had 8. Used one last night in chicken picatta and on the steamed asparagus. What a treat!

Natal- Meyer lemon is also on my list! I have a dwarf lime tree in a big wooden planter, but I use lemons more often.
Looks like I'm going to have a mini orchard after all!
Lemon, lime, satsuma, peach. Maybe a dwarf apple of some sort. One that self pollinates.
I'd like a cherry tree, but apparently the bugs like them a LOT! Nancy

A meyer lemon sounds like a great idea. I love lemons. I planted some outside the edge of my potager this yr. I put a big row of bush beans along one edge. I didnt use the pillars for the pole beans this time and I regret it. Seemed like even tho I planted more beans I got quite a bit less by not planting the poles. I also tried Tenderettes this yr. So i dont know id it was the different bean or what. They were good eating, but no better than I planted last yr.
My strawberries are going gangbusters and filling the one whole 2'x15' bed I have them in. The raspberry plant is also doing well. i think i want to plant potatoes next yr too. I got some fennel planted this yr, but was real dissapointed when I found out it wasnt the bulb type. I was anxious to give this a taste for the first time. I also want to get garlic put in and more onions. I have been planting onions by seed, and they just dont seem to do anything.
Tammy

Sorry, I just re-read my comment and I mistyped. I hadnt planted lemons, wish I did. I just meant I planted more outside the edge. It was actually bush beans
Tammy