Last summer's vegetable garden didn't turn out so well. My poor veggie plants were sad, spindly things thanks to not enough sun and sub-par dirt. This year I was determined to change that by building a new garden for my veggies. The best available sunny location was in my side yard, on the south side of my house.
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| The 'Before' Picture |
I didn't have much space for it (it is a side yard, after all!), so I decided to make a horseshoe or U-shaped bed, inspired by the
keyhole garden design. Since the rocky clay is so difficult to dig in, I also decided to make it into a low, raised bed.
First step - clearing away all that grass! That was supposed to be a mulched area. Isn't it amazing how grass grows so well wherever you don't want it to?
I used rocks as walls, lined the edges with landscaping fabric so the dirt wouldn't fall through the cracks, and then filled it with dirt - nice, composty-rich dirt.
I left room by the downspout for a rain barrel which is going in as soon as I get it painted.
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| The 'After' Picture - all done and planted |
Green beans and cucumbers are in the back on the trellis, then I have tomatoes, peppers, okra, basil, carrots, cilantro, and nasturtiums on the ends. I have high hopes - already the plants are looking better than last year's!
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| Nasturtiums 'Empress of India' - pretty and edible! |
