Vince’s main job for the weekend was to get the garden annex ready. I had left one little section of the garden for the asparagus but Vince was determined to make the asparagus its own quarters outside the main garden area. The original plan was to put asparagus and rhubarb in there but the more I think about it, the only rhubarb I really like are pies and muffins and since I don’t need either of those, I’m just not sure I want to take up that garden real estate with rhubarb. It isn’t a perennial here anyway.
He tilled and he tilled and he added sand and he tilled some more and he added peat and he tilled some more!
Then he used landscape timbers to make the raised beds. I believe they’re each about 8′ x 8′.
Then he fenced it off to keep the deer, rabbits, possums, raccoons, neighbors and other critters out.
The rest is up to me . . to get it planted. I have several ideas about what I want to do with this space. In one of the beds, I’ll go ahead and plant the asparagus but I don’t think I need the whole 8′ x 8′ patch filled with asparagus. The front part of both beds will probably be planted in strawberries. For this season, I think I’ll plant one in watermelons but the whole point in making these beds separate was to plant things in there that we don’t have to replant every year. I need to research but I’m thinking I might plant blueberries, grapes or raspberries.
Something to think about later . . I don’t have to make that decision today.
Doreen says
We are trying to figure out the best way to protect our gardens from critters but living on a ridge with the higher winds we seem to have constantly would render your beautiful solution flattened. The frost is thick here this morning and Thursday they actually have the nerve to be predicting a sleet/snow mix overnight! UGH! The battle of the seasons rages on!! Hugs, Doreen
CJ says
It’s looking terrific Judy! What’s the newly dug trench for, a water line?
Blueberries are wonderful, they are one of the easiest fruits to grow, being pretty much disease and bug resistant, and the rabbit eye varieties should do well down there. They do take a ton of water though.
For permanent beds, a comfrey patch would be great, it makes terrific compost, or what about perennial herbs or horseradish?
I wish we could start on our new garden, I envy you yours!
Mary says
I’d do asparagus because it freezes so well in the vacuum bags. Now if mine would ever produce more than 1 or 2 stalks…. Blueberries are great, rasperries seem to need more attention. And of course, I love my herb garden. Fresh thyme, rosemary, parsley is a wonderful addition to meals.
jen says
Blackberries do well in TX….I planted some last year and with watering they even survived the drought and extreme heat. They are prolific and with tending will stay manageable and productive.
I’m so envious of all that space! We did raised beds and they just seem sooooo small.
Karol says
Here in Oregon, the wild blackberries are everywhere, litteraly. Fence lines are covered, patches in the middle of fields etc.
Huge, very sweet berries. We have to kill them in the yard as they come up all over thanks to the birds. LOL We had a huge volunteer one in the back corner of the yard. After the fruit was off last year we cut it back to the ground and killed the root.
We have 3 cherry trees and the birds usually get them first. The biggest one is too big to net. Fuji and Gala apple trees. Rhubarb and asparagus. This is the first year so none to eat.
Maybe a few next year.
Mary Ann Harpe says
If it is simular to Georgia, Rabbit-eye blueberries would be good……
Pauline Fisher says
I love seeing and reading about your new gardens! My blueberries, red raspberries, strawberries and asparagus have been ordered from the Erie Conservation District Plant Sale and I’ll pick them up Saturday, April 28th. The new space has not been tilled yet but it is planned for and we will be ready. One of my favorite meals that my mother prepared is white sauce and hard-boiled eggs served over asparagus on toast with garnish of sprinkles of yellow yolk. She had a field of asparagus and always put plenty in the freezer. I have memories of cleaning each stalk, using a paring knife to remove most of the “scales” to eliminate the trapped sand. Pauline in Pennsylvania
Venessa says
Just had to post my two cents worth here…..please don’t plant raspberries in those beautiful gardens….raspberries get out of control, I consider them a weed… and they look so messy also, there, I said it!! And there’s so much wildlife (bugs) in them also!!
Of course you can plant what you like, but I just had to say it!!
Looks awesome!! Good job Vince!!
CindyM says
I wouldn’t give up my fresh raspberries for anything! We do keep our small little patch thinned out and trim them down in the fall… it helps a lot. And after living in Texas for 12 years, there are bugs EVERYWHERE, so why not in the raspberries?
vickie van dyken says
Vanessa…you have to trim the raspberries and wrap them up to keep them from going crazy. I live in the raspberry capitol of the US! Whatcom County (Bellingham) WA. We have raspberries all around us. The put in posts and then tie the stalks to the posts, rounding them at the top and tying to the next post. They look really neat. They have just started to get leaves on them. It is just fun to see Nature at work!! We have tons of blueberries here also. They are usually netted to keep the birds out. We have more and more grapes for vineyards also. I came here from Ontario, CA where grapevines were wild and everywhere. Now here blackberries grow everywhere you don’t mow!! Sooo Just tie those raspberries up and they will do great and look great to 🙂
Kathy Wilson says
Judy, we had rhubarb that came back every year. I was surprised to see that it’s not a perennial !
Doe in Mi says
Ya, me too Kathy. I’ve never heard of an annual rhubarb.
And asparagus means planting roots not seeds cause it will take you 3 or 4 years to get a decent crop. Just trying to help.
Denise ~ justquiltin says
Plant lots of asparagus, raspberries and rhubarb – I’ll send you yarn in exchang. LOL Those are the things I miss the most from the huge gardens my parents had.
MWU says
I’m working on my own garden and the “community garden” we created at the university where I work. Love hearing about your garden. So much fun. Are you going to need a crew when it is time to harvest?
Rosalie says
We have blackberries which we planted about 12 years ago…they are prolific and I would be glad to give you some plants this fall – that would be the best time to transplant them. I live outside of Johnson City….so let me know if you are interested and I will pot some up for you in October!
Doris - The Quilting Queen says
Oh, please re-consider the rubarb. Gregg LOVES rubarb. It is his favorite. I didn’t even know you could buy it here. We have looked before and have never been able to find it.
Karol says
regarding rhubarb……FWIW don’t plant potatoes near it or vice versa. Don’t remember where I read that but found out too late that it is true. They don’t like each other for some reason. DH didn’t believe me and planted potatoes near them in the garden. Those 2 rhubarb plants didn’t do well at all that year.