Yesterday, after pulling all the dirt away from the fence, like you suggested I started another project.
One of the things I would like to concentrate on next year, is making my backyard more appealing, more put together, like I had a master plan from the get go {which I clearly did not have}. I’m thinking this will achieve 2 things.
1. Make the Handsome Husband happy. If the garden looks well put together maybe he’ll stop talking about wanting to sell the house and move to a condo {like he’s been saying ever since we’ve had a yard of our own}.
2. If I can give the garden a complete overhaul this winter, I’ll have all my ducks in a row when it’s time to start planting in the Spring again. Then all I’ll have to worry about is planting, harvesting, and maintaining the garden. No major projects to tackle, just major fun.
I think the best way to go about this is a series of {20 million} little projects.
So now that I have decided to grow squash along the fence {to the right in the picture, what do you think I should plant under the pear trees? We are talking about {2} 6 foot circles of planting space.
Do you like the idea of planting more squash around the perimeter of the circles and flowers in the center? Or do you think something else would look better.
Help!
~Mavis
Sarah says
Flowers would be pretty, but so would herbs! I’ve heard Borage is sooo good for you (you can make tea and stuff with it). It also has pretty little blue flowers.
Mavis says
Thanks Sarah, I’ll think about it. 🙂 Good idea.
Jess says
I’m soooo excited to see how you plant your garden this year! Have you read “carrots love tomatoes”? It might give you some things that would be a great companion for pears.
Mavis says
Yes, I will have to track it down, I love that book! 🙂
Random Person Named Melissa says
I don’t know if you do this already or not but get a day planner and write a list. List down everything you want to do later as your looking over your garden (make sure the notepad or whatever can fit in a pocket so you can have it with you all the time, write in pensil so you can edit easily.) Estimate exactly when you have to do one thing or another and put it in your planner. When you plant something write it down on another list for when you need to harvest. Add the dates to the daily planner when you have a rough idea when they’ll be done growing.
Example- Onions in Raspberry patch (date planted)… (check on this date and add new date to planner if not done growing)
I know the Onions were a pleasent surprise but you were wigging out from the lack of weight before you found them and until you spotted them you forgot they even existed. There was also the ornamental cabbage from your planters that you could have put a date down to check them.
There was also a couple of things that you forgot about that you mentioned like one of the potato towers not getting enough straw added to it. A list could help with keeping everything alittle more organized.
I love lists when it comes to chores. It feels like I really accomplished something when I see a entire list of little things marked off almost like a fancy award.
Anyways thought I throw the suggestion out there. Good luck!
Huey says
Have you considered hiring a landscape designer to give you a master plan for the crops & garden to give you the pulled together look you want? They are worth the money.
Mavis says
No. I don’t think I would want someone telling what and where to plant. Part of the fun for me is doing it myself. 🙂
Huey says
Too bad.
Jessie M says
Strawberries! 🙂
Roo says
What about edible flowers? I love nasturtiums in my salad! I was actually buying a spring mix with edible flowers from the farmer’s market this spring and it made me so happy!
Mavis says
I like your idea about the edible flowers. Thanks.
Dalyn says
Love your blog! I’m in Olalla visiting my beat friend right now. I moved to Yakima 9 years ago. I can’t garden to save my life but I keep dairy goats and make cheese and soap, keep heritage breed chickens and turkeys, etc
Great job! Inspiring!
Tanya says
Don’t forget to rotate where things grow next year. The soil will get depleted fast if you always plant the same thing in the same spot.
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
What about sweet potatoes? I think the vines look so pretty around a tree.
KK
Mavis says
I planted 50 sweet potato vines last spring and was not even able to grow 1 stinkin’ sweet potato. So I’m not sure I want to try those again. 🙁
Preppy Pink Crocodile says
Oh gosh- that totally stinks! I don’t blame you for not wanting a repeat.
KK