I have squares left...

Aub 5/9/2011, 5:50 pm

I have a few squares left but I don't know what to plant. They are in the middles of my 4x8 boxes, so no climby-viney things. What do you think?

Old Hippie 5/9/2011, 6:27 pm

What about another couple of squares of things you like? Bush beans? Parsnips that can be harvested way later in the season. Perhaps some herbs....cilantro or dill. Or possible just some flowers that attract bees for pollination.

Gwynn

quiltbea 5/9/2011, 7:31 pm

I think I'd go with something that won't need harvesting until very late in the season so you don't have to harvest over things.
Parsnips can be left to grow right up to a couple of frosty nites or even left in the ground til spring.
Or possibly carrots which take weeks to attain growth but I'd sow them thinly so you don't have to worry about thinning them out later.

**camprn** 5/9/2011, 8:13 pm

Chard and beets Very Happy

boffer 5/9/2011, 8:58 pm

I guess it mostly depends on what you like to eat or grow. I have 'go to' seeds that stay within feet of my boxes. If I get an 'urge' to plant something, then I have beets, radishes, lettuce, spinach, and carrot seeds within an arm's reach, along with plant markers, and a Sharpie.

It takes some getting used to the idea that it's OK to have empty squares amongst flourishing squares, just to satisfy a whim to plant occasionally. But that's just me. I know that it's important to some folks to plan out their gardens to the µ second, and that's OK too.

HPartin 5/9/2011, 9:32 pm

I purposely have empty squares waiting for whatever i might find. I have a habit of always checking out the seeds when I go to nurseries or big box stores. That way I have space for something new or different.

In a couple of boxes, my something new is a new (for me) nasturtium. For you it could be a "different' carrot, beet, or bush bean. Smile

Heidi

ModernDayBetty 5/9/2011, 10:15 pm

Kiwi fruit!! It's a climber but you could put a spiral in the middle and let it climb it's way up!

I just found out you can grow kiwi at home, it's in my wish list basket for next summer.

More realistically I'd grow something like herbs or flowers that keep pests at bay.

Blackrose 5/9/2011, 10:17 pm

krazikandiland wrote:Kiwi fruit!! It's a climber but you could put a spiral in the middle and let it climb it's way up!

I just found out you can grow kiwi at home, it's in my wish list basket for next summer.

More realistically I'd grow something like herbs or flowers that keep pests at bay.

Kiwi!!! I love kiwi. Off do some research.. I wonder if it would grow in 5a.... study

Blackrose 5/9/2011, 10:22 pm

http://usagardener.com/how_to_grow_fruits/how_to_grow_hardy_kiwi.php

Sorry for the little hijack... I just got a little excited. Laughing

Aub 5/9/2011, 10:42 pm

I'm not sure what to do with Chard but, Beets I could do! And I do have Nasturtium but it's the viney kind... I could let it spill down on the ground and run around the bed.
Great ideas everyone!

Old Hippie 5/9/2011, 11:29 pm

Make a tripod with three sticks for your nasturtium to climb on. It would add a lovely vertical touch to the garden.

Gwynn

BackyardBirdGardner 5/10/2011, 12:29 am

We are serious salad freaks. When in doubt, jam more lettuce in there.

ilvalleygal 5/10/2011, 10:08 am

Blackrose wrote:Kiwi!!! I love kiwi. Off do some research.. I wonder if it would grow in 5a....

I planted kiwi along a trellis two years ago. I bought a hardy variety from a local nursery. Last year the established vines didn't come back and I was about to try something else when it started growing from the base. This spring my son helped clear the yard and started yanking on the kiwi vines. I still have one that is showing buds so maybe I'll get some fruit this year? I also have strong growth at the base so I should get new vines for next year.

For those empty squares, what about soup beans? I haven't grown them in years but plan to put some in now that I have "discovered" SFG. Mine would grow up a makeshift trellis. In the past I just left them alone until they dried up. Then pulled the plants, separated the pods, split them and stuck the beans in jars for winter soups.

I'm also in Zone 5, 5a I think (I always forget but northern/north-central Illinois is probably 5a)

Aub 5/10/2011, 11:44 pm

I put in 2 kinds of beets, Bok Choy, Wax Beans and more Lettuce.

How many Bush Beans per square do you plant?

Blackrose 5/10/2011, 11:47 pm

Aub wrote:How many Bush Beans per square do you plant?

9

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