Two different friends installed raised garden beds this year -- I could become quite envious as I picture myself weeding while standing up. Besides, look at that tomato jungle at the right hand end (above). The jungle below is likely just one watermelon vine quite at home in a different raised bed, this one next door.
Here's the situation as of August 12: two wee fellows, more the size of large gooseberries than what you expect to eat at a picnic. FYI, that's a hand in the lower right of the picture below, just to give an idea of the size.
Time passed; I took pictures again on Sept. 15; the melons are beginning to grow up.
September 29, my neighbor held up one of the watermelons to show the bald spot, which he has been told is one indication that picking time is almost at hand. My crop this year: the four small cherry tomatoes that were not eaten (along with the foliage) by the javelina. But then I don't have a raised garden, which might discourage the little porkers. I don't even know where I'd put one on my hillside!Linkage: After I published this post about mini-agriculture, I chanced to visit artistic, mild-mannered Lucy, who lives a quiet life in Brittany (France). Lo and behold, a rant. About French agricultural policies, factory farming and how the seacoasts in her locale are ruined by the heavy fertilizer/nitrogen runoff. And so she demonstrated against seaweed.
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6 comments:
Why on the hillside, Mom? Seems you have one too many parking spaces out front as it is.
Wow - I have gardened in 'raised beds' but mine were not nearly this tall. One could get spoiled not having to bend over! hmmm... now where could I put one of those....
od -- Hah! Of course, I could chop down that pyracantha & nestle a stone raised garden in front of the stairs.
kathleen -- exactly my sentiments
Oh thanks for the link! And I am very happy to be generally perceived as artistic and mild mannered!
Those raised beds look good. We've used them for several years, but now find the wood is collapsing, and keeping the soil fertile is not quite so easy. They are easier for bending though, and somewhat easier for weed control.
I'm going whole hog on raised beds next summer. It's such a great way to grow veggies in the mountains!
lucy -- French ag policy is not discussed in the USA at all as a rule and I was qquite fascinated to learn more about it; your farmers and their methods are more like ours than I had realized.
kate -- good for you (and your back), not to mention how much those veggies will love the soft, easy special soil (as compared to the challenges one finds in the mountains.)
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