2,000 Sq. Foot Garden Need Plant Ideas

Gotta hand it to you, SLake2000, you don't do anything half way! My! Your garden ROCKS! One question. Can I move in? (kidding, I'm kidding) Seriously though. Nicely done.

That is just breath taking! I'm very excited to watch everything start taking off for you. :tiphat:

Triciasgarden wrote:

CapeCoddess wrote:

I just came in from my 100 footer and compost pile, and I'm exhausted and soaked. How do you water that amazing garden?

CC

+1

There are three of us to split it up plus my 18 year old son also helps. Everybody just takes a day. God has even been lending a hand. The past two days we have had a fairly steady light rain. My son actually prefers to water because it is the easiest chore on mom's to do list.

I have hoses run through the garden and use a long wand. Since I designed the beds to only be 3' wide, it is easy to reach all the way across with the wand from either side of the beds. The wand also helps to keep the water off of the leaves and on the dirt and roots where I want it. The footprint is designed to make it easy and efficient to water. I never have to drag more than 30 ft of hose because the spool for the hoses are close to the two big center beds. Then it is just a matter of walking the maze in sections.

I know Mel says to use a bucket and cup but that just isn't possible with one this size. I am going to take warm water to the garden for the plants like okra, melons, etc. that are really temperature sensitive. The rest are varieties that are for this climate so they should be fine with the water from the hose.

Triciasgarden wrote:That is just wonderful that you thought to have your MM made and brought in! You have done everything correctly, right from the beginning! I totally agree with getting your plants into the beds so they can be growing! With all your fruit you have growing also, you are set! It sounds like you have a very nice shop!

I love how you have double deep beds all ready! Mel will just have to see what you created! You do know he recommends you start small.

This is the SMALL version. He said start small so I cut the design by a third. I have the layout done for another 50'x50' section.

You are so funny! You could probably grow enough for your whole neighborhood with that much more! I think it would take up your whole day just watering, lol! I think that lots and lots of flowers would be good to help fill up your beds, that way you can have a fresh bouquet in your house always and plenty to take to friends and family for special occasions! Just a suggestion!!!

boffer wrote:

SLake2000 wrote: I don't know how well it would do here but the only thing I have missing is a fig.

I'm south of you and next to the foothills. My fig tree is about 8 feet tall and has been producing a nice harvest for 6 years.

I say go for it, if you want some.

I want a fig tree too, lol! Fig trees are so beautiful and I love figs!

Apparently, figs are also very high in iron. I just found out a few weeks ago my iron levels are WAAAAY low, and the guy who owns the local health food store told me to eat dried figs. So now I'm thinking, I might have to get a tree as well. They apparently grow very well here.

boffer wrote:It's going to be absolutely stunning when it's full of veggies!

But inquiring minds want to know: what compost ingredients did you use, and where in the world did you find them in sufficient volume?

Lenz Earthworks in Stanwood, WA mixed the soil for me. I told them what I was doing and the mix ratios I needed. The compost is mix of Lenz Green Blenz and CowPow Compost. Green Blenz Compost is a dark, stable, garden trimmings-based compost product made with yard debris, food waste and ground wood. CowPow Compost is a dark, stable, cow manure based compost product that also includes yard debris, food waste, paper fiber, bedding, sawdust and ground wood.

I'm impressed with the size and the lay out. How are you going to preserve all that food?

SLake2000 wrote:

No_Such_Reality wrote:I don't see any in the photos, what about anchoring corners with fruit trees: apples, pears, plums, etc.

I have apples, pears, plums, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries on the other side of the property. I have two acres and am bound and determined to make use of every inch of it. The apple, pear and plum trees were already part of the landscaping around the house. I don't know how well it would do here but the only thing I have missing is a fig.

The benefits of land! Great use of it.

SLake2000, welcome to the forum and thank you for sharing your garden with us. I love the pictures and the engineer in me just adores your layout.

I think it's fantastic that you want to use your land this way. Good for you! I wish you an abundant harvest, with plenty to share, just as you are hoping for. Have you already looked into local soup kitchens, etc., that accept fresh produce? You'll want to know the locations and hours, so you can correspond deliveries with fresh harvests. Can't wait to see pictures of everything once it's grown in!

SLake2000 wrote:I have apples, pears, plums, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries on the other side of the property. I have two acres and am bound and determined to make use of every inch of it. The apple, pear and plum trees were already part of the landscaping around the house. I don't know how well it would do here but the only thing I have missing is a fig.

What about peaches? There are several orchards around here that grow them.

camprn wrote:I'm impressed with the size and the lay out. How are you going to preserve all that food?

We have planned tentative dates where we are going to set up an assembly line to can and/or freeze the vegetables. We are planting weekly so the vegetables mature in waves rather than massive amounts all at once. We have also planned for various groups of vegetables to mature together so we can make spaghetti sauce, stews, soups, etc. for canning.

It shouldn't be too bad because we just have to put up enough for our three families. The rest we are going to be giving away.

SLake2000; you mentioned that your beds are three-foot wide.
My two new beds are three-foot wide and I find them much easier to manage than the original 4-footers.

The short person that I am 5'2" agrees with the width of the 3' but I have the 4' x 6'. I think any more beds I make will be 3' or 2' wide.

Triciasgarden wrote:The short person that I am 5'2" agrees with the width of the 3' but I have the 4' x 6'. I think any more beds I make will be 3' or 2' wide.

+1

At 4'11" I really like my 4x3's. I have some 4x6's as well, but I have to be more careful about how I plant them! If I had 2000 sq ft, I would DEFINITELY make sure I did 3's!!!

GG

Tricia and goosegirl, I fit in between you at 5'.

I'm interested in seeing pictures of what the garden looks like now.

This year is my first SFG with a 4x16 and a 4x4 and I'm looking to expand to a fenced in 50x40 ft area for next year.

donnainzone10 wrote:Your SFG will probably qualify as World's Most Beautiful!  

...and worlds most ambitious  

 to you and your friends...and yes, keep us posted with some pics...pleeez.

http://localfoods.about.com/od/searchbyregion/a/washingtonseasons.htm
http://www.gardenguides.com/97101-vegetables-grow-western-washington-gardens.html
http://www.pickyourown.org/WAharvestcalendar.htm
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/nwest/msg022000182276.html

Slake, Yes, recent photos, Please!!

Here are the updated pictures that a couple people have asked about. I should have waited to take the pictures until after my son had mowed the rows and weed-eated the edges but you can get the idea.


This first picture is as much of the garden as I can get in one shot. Just realized that the picture makes it look like the garden is in the neighbors front yard. lol.
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The top right section that has mainly strawberries and melons with some flowers mixed in. The deep bed has potatoes.
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The top right section that wound up being the melting pot of any extra plants and a section for lilies. The deep bed is potatoes and oregano with the shallow box being brussels sprouts and some garlic.
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The lower left corner of the upper section.There is broccoli, cauliflower, beans, cabbage, gourds with various flowers and herbs mixed in.
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The lower right corner of the upper section. We call it the salad bowl. It has lettuce, carrots, radishes, peppers, celery, beans, parsley, herbs, etc.
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The center square of the lower section. It has tomatoes, chives, mint, sage, basil, fancy cucumbers, celery and lots of flowers for pollination.
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The right side of the lower section. Corn, beans, asparagus, squash, cucumbers, zucchini with sunflowers mixed in that are going to bloom any day now.
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The left side of the lower section. It is the same as the right but has a couple trellises for pumpkins.
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Slake,  Thank you for posting the pictures.  Absolutely amazing garden.

I'm speechless.  

Is everyone enjoying the experience & the food?

CC

holy toledo!! that's amazing! how do you water all that? How have your harvests been? would love more pics of your harvests if you have time !!

Beautiful! But I saw no grids....