Pics - Raised Bed Garden update

10 years ago

Hi everyone! I posted awhile back asking for advice on the layout of our raised bed garden...thank you so much for everyone's help! Well, we ended up finding a completely different area for the garden, and we got to work building our raised beds. Wanted to show you all the progress - we're pretty proud and excited! The rectangular beds are 8x3' (i have small arms) and the square boxes are 3x3' - a bit on the small side but i wanted a couple to use for possibly things like garlic, maybe carrots, or maybe even a small cutting flower bed. All the paths are 3 feet wide so that we can easily move the wheelbarrow through. I know, I know - all the paths leave so much room where we could be planting veggies - but I'm a sucker for symmetry, and I wanted the garden to be visually pleasing and have a bit of a "potager" vibe to it... anyway here are some pics. After we assembled each box we then cut away the landscaping fabric from beneath the bottom of each one so that the roots of all the plants can grow into the soil. We're currently in the process of putting up a fence to keep away critters (all those stakes you see in the last pic are just temporarily holding up some netting to protect the plants until the fence is finished this week), and we're finishing up spreading out the pea gravel for the pathways. I might get a few square slate stepping stones or something for the center pathway, too. It's definitely a work in progress - I'm sure we've made a bunch of mistakes - but we're learning.

So far we've planted zucchini, straight neck squash, a few varieties of bell peppers and hot peppers, tomatoes and cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, eggplant, and snap peas. I have some pole bean seeds that I'm thinking about trying out...I think it's rather late to try them from seed (Zone 6A), but maybe I should give it a shot anyway..would you attempt to plant them?

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katemartha (z5/6 nj)
Original Author

10 years ago

Thanks Chris! We will definitely be adding flowers once the fence goes in - thinking of doing a bed around the perimeter of the fence with some perennials for a bit of a potager feel :) Might also do some kind of climbing floral over the fence gate on an arbor - maybe clematis or morning glory?

Thank you bunnydefluff! Hoping the site works out well.

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Comments (8)

Chris (6a NY)
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Nice setup!

You're right on schedule for pole beans. It's the snap peas that it's kinda late for. Snap peas are one of the first seeds to go into the ground in early spring, when the soil is workable. They thrive in cooler temps. If you're going to do pole beans, you will need a good sized trellis(or something similar). You could always do bush beans if you want a low-level alternative.
katemartha (z5/6 nj)
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks Chris! Perfect. I'm going to get those seeds in the ground then and come up with a trellis option - maybe i'll plant them in the two square boxes closest to the center aisle and do a tall wire trellis archway connecting the two, and see if i can get the pole beans to climb the arch.

I've also been thinking about adding some kind of trellis for the cucumbers - I've never tried to trellis them before!
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Chris (6a NY)
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
You shouldn't have any problems training the pole beans to trellis, as they can get upwards of 10ft in length. Cucumbers climb very easily too, and it's best to trellis them as well - keeps the cukes off the ground. Just make sure your trellises are positioned properly, so they don't end up shading other veggies.

Don't forget to add some flowers in or around your vegetable garden :-) Doesn't hurt to draw in some pollinators for those cukes and it adds character...IMO

Good luck!
User
10 years ago
Looks like a great site for a vegetable garden.
Chris (6a NY)
10 years ago
Sounds great!

For perennials, I have Catmint and Anise Hyssop, and love them both. They draw in so many insects and pollinators.

Looking forward to seeing it all progress. Keep us updated with pictures!
nancyjane_gardener
10 years ago
Where I am, you don't want Morning Glories any where near your vege garden! They are weeds! Same with nasturtiums! I do have them in the garden area for prettiness, but far from the raised beds!

Good on you for thinking of the wide paths! It makes it so much easier to bring in soil/compost etc and dump without messing up your back!

Now a little picket fence (lined with wire in case you have bunnies), some pots of herbs and flowers, a bench or chairs, an umbrella, fountain and you're set!
Chris (6a NY)
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Great ideas!
I'll second the morning glories...I've been pulling them out for years. "Reseeding annuals" doesn't even capture their relentlessness.
They are beautiful though.