Texas Dream garden 2017

kamigh 3/8/2017, 1:36 pm

This year I moved my garden to a new location and in the process was able to create my dream garden. It's big but not too big (I hope!), it's got beautiful cedar wood boxes and wide paths of crushed granite. In the interest of actually getting it done this year, and done right (I work full time and have 2 kids with a lot of activities), I contracted a landscaper to come out and level the ground (which involved adding a short retaining wall), dig out the grass, put down the crushed granite and build the boxes for me as well as tap into the sprinkler system for irrigation for each bed. I took a much-needed day off work yesterday to get out there and fill the beds with my Mel's mix. Pictures will be forthcoming as soon as I figure out how to do it, because I need to share with people who will 'get it' much more than any of my family or friends do. There's just something so satisfying when you can get your hands dirty and create something magical each year.

kamigh 3/8/2017, 1:41 pm

Picture of my back yard "Before"

kamigh 3/8/2017, 1:47 pm

Ready to get started filling in my beds.

Part of my "Mel's mix" compost. I have Nature's Care really good compost, Black Kow, Cotton Burr compost, another organic compost, and chicken compost in the middle (not as much so it doesn't burn). I'm planning to top dress with another compost that I've used in the past with good results. My landscaper is going to bring me a couple yards of it in bulk so I don't have to haul a million bags.

I got 7 of 9 beds mostly filled yesterday and I'm exhausted but happy! The two long skinny beds in the middle are going to be my cutting garden for flowers. For my veggies I have 6 beds that are 4 x 8 and one 4 x 4.

**sanderson** 3/8/2017, 3:11 pm

I am really, really impressed! It is beautiful as well as bountiful. Don't worry about bagged composted chicken manure burning. The key word being composted. Is the fluffed peat moss under the perlite?

ralitaco 3/8/2017, 10:50 pm

kamigh,
That looks really, really nice. I'm sure you will have great success.
I like the arbors you have that span the back 2 boxes.

I did notice one thing that may give you agita...the back 3 boxes look like they are right against the fence. That may present an issue with reaching 4' back to plant, harvest, etc.

ralitaco 3/8/2017, 10:52 pm

sanderson wrote:Don't worry about bagged composted chicken manure burning. The key word being composted.

If it is Black Hen, I don't think it is composted...at least what I get at my big blue box store is not.

kamigh 3/9/2017, 8:50 am

Thanks all!!! The chicken compost I bought says that one bag will cover 200 square feet of garden, so I did a little calculating and added just a bit to each bed.
As far as the back fence goes, it's hard to tell in the picture but I do have about 18 inches between the beds and the fence. Not quite as much as I had wanted, but enough to squeeze in there :-) They couldn't go too much further out because of the natural slope in my yard that they had to work with.
I'm working on my PVC watering grids and once they are done the landscaper will come back, hook them up, and test the irrigation system for me.

RC3291 3/9/2017, 10:38 am

Very nice. Wish I could have one that nice. How deep are your beds?

ralitaco 3/9/2017, 10:57 am

kamigh wrote:As far as the back fence goes, it's hard to tell in the picture but I do have about 18 inches between the beds and the fence. Not quite as much as I had wanted, but enough to squeeze in there

Glad to hear there is some room. Depending on what you plant that gap may disappear quickly. When those beds are in full bloom, you may need to get to know your neighbor really well. Razz

They couldn't go too much further out because of the natural slope in my yard that they had to work with.

I'm sure you already thought of this, but in case you didn't, you could've put plywood bottoms in the boxes and raised the front of the boxes on legs. I remember seeing a thread here where a fellow had a really steep slope and he built beds on it. I will try to find a link.

I'm working on my PVC watering grids and once they are done the landscaper will come back, hook them up, and test the irrigation system for me.

Good luck with that. I want to add one, but haven't tried yet. I know there are threads dedicated to them and some folks have better results than others.

**sanderson** 3/9/2017, 10:56 pm

ralitaco wrote:
sanderson wrote:Don't worry about bagged composted chicken manure burning. The key word being composted.
If it is Black Hen, I don't think it is composted...at least what I get at my big blue box store is not.

I looked up the company and they stated composted. It does look rich, though.

kamigh 5/25/2017, 2:31 pm

Here are some pictures of my garden as of today, May 25. We had some really high winds this spring (well, every spring) and my poor babies got a bit ragged, but most seem to have recovered. Something had been nibbling on a lot of leaves, from my greens to eggplants to beans, but some diligent spraying with Neem seems to have calmed that down, at least for now.
So, here's what we've got. First, an overview of the garden.

A couple random tomatoes, some dill, and two pumpkins that I'm giving a lot of space to grow.

My greens. Mostly eaten by critters, they are just now starting to come back. I've got more inside to plant once they have a bit of head start.

Tomatoes and cucumbers. These don't seem to be doing as well as the others, but there is still some fruit set on them.

kamigh 5/25/2017, 2:34 pm

Sungolds with fruit set already - I ate one so far!

My new Texas tomato cages - loving them!!!!

kamigh 5/25/2017, 2:37 pm

One more with the last bed with some squash (spaghetti and acorn) that I'm probably not giving enough room for, but we'll find out. Cherry tomatoes on the trellis - loaded with fruit! And my garden gnome who is supposed to watch out for the critters but hasn't done nearly as good a job as the Neem! I guess I'll let him stay . . .

**Turan** 5/25/2017, 11:50 pm

**sanderson** 5/27/2017, 1:04 am

countrynaturals 5/27/2017, 11:55 am

Omigosh! Somehow I missed this entire thread. Shocked

I just went back and read the whole thing. AWESOME! I got my dream garden last year, so I know that exciting feeling of watching it all come together. Texas Dream garden 2017 3170584802

Love your pics and following your progress. I love you

**trolleydriver** 5/27/2017, 12:56 pm

countrynaturals wrote:Omigosh! Somehow I missed this entire thread. I just went back and read the whole thing. AWESOME! I got my dream garden last year, so I know that exciting feeling of watching it all come together. Love your pics and following your progress.

Definitely a +1

**sanderson** 5/28/2017, 2:48 pm

Kamigh, Sun Gold tomato?

kamigh 5/29/2017, 10:48 am

sanderson wrote:Kamigh, Sun Gold tomato?

Yes! I had a near-disaster when I dumped my tray of seedlings, which were in soil blocks. Luckily none of my tomatoes were permanently damaged when that happened, but they got all out of order so I really have no idea which tomato is which until they start making fruit. I've figured out the Sungold, large red cherry, Big Beef, Green Zebra, and Juliet. I think I know about the Black Cherry and Golden Jubilee, but the rest I'm just watching and waiting on.

kamigh 5/29/2017, 10:50 am

RC3291 wrote:Very nice. Wish I could have one that nice. How deep are your beds?

Beds are 10" cedar and filled to about 8". I still have a couple bags of compost that I top dress with, using almost like a fine mulch, as I have time.

**sanderson** 5/30/2017, 12:58 pm

kamigh wrote:
sanderson wrote:Kamigh, Sun Gold tomato?
Yes! I had a near-disaster when I dumped my tray of seedlings, which were in soil blocks. Luckily none of my tomatoes were permanently damaged when that happened, but they got all out of order so I really have no idea which tomato is which until they start making fruit.

Oh, no! So now you have a mystery tomato garden. Cool

Ksweet 5/31/2017, 2:25 pm

I am new on here and love your garden! I live in North Richland Hillls. Your garden is basically about what I have been picturing in my head (design wise) for my yard. It provides great inspiration to me! Looking forward to seeing your postings as you progress.

Ksweet 5/31/2017, 2:28 pm

I meant to ask you...what is the length x width of your garden (the outside perimeter)? I am trying to visualize my space and duplicating something similar? Thanks!

kamigh 6/1/2017, 1:42 pm

Ksweet wrote:I am new on here and love your garden! I live in North Richland Hillls. Your garden is basically about what I have been picturing in my head (design wise) for my yard. It provides great inspiration to me! Looking forward to seeing your postings as you progress.

Thanks!!!

kamigh 6/1/2017, 2:00 pm

Ksweet wrote:I meant to ask you...what is the length x width of your garden (the outside perimeter)? I am trying to visualize my space and duplicating something similar? Thanks!

I forgot to bring my tape measure outside last night to get the exact dimensions, but here's my rough calculations.
Lengthwise I have 3 beds that are 4 x 8 each, with about 2 feet in between each bed, so that's about 28 feet long (8+8+8+2+2)
Width-wise the widest beds are 4 x 8, 4 x 4 and 4 x 8 . There's a little more space in between them, maybe three feet. Plus about 18 inches from the back fence. (I've got two 2 x 10 cutting flower beds but they don't add to the calculations) So 4+4+4+3+3+1.5 = 19.5.

So the short answer is roughly 20 x 30, factoring in the little areas around the beds with the retaining wall, etc.
I can say that for me, it's plenty big. I've got big wide spaces down the middle where I can easily bring a cart or wheelbarrow to bring in bags of compost or whatever that are accessible for all beds. The areas between the beds aren't huge, but big enough for me to get in there and do what I need to do like planting and harvesting and the inevitable (and while I'm not huge, no one would ever call me 'tiny' or 'dainty') Very Happy

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