Great garden ideas for small spaces, budgets

Tag : Lucky Bamboo Grow


I visited a fantastic garden with tons of vegetables, herbs andfruit -- all growing on a city lot in North Everett. The gardencontained lots of great ideas anybody could try, including raisedbeds with homemade coldframes for growing vegetables year-round andeven a green roof on top of a tool shed.

The gardeners, Mary Ann Pliml and Andy Sudkamp, shared some oftheir thoughts on putting the garden together. The complete storyis planned for Thursday's Herald. My questions and their answers:
Q. Soil -- Tell me what you do to prepare planting beds. What kindof soil do you use in raised beds? What kind of amendments do youadd and when do you add them?

A. We were lucky to have good loam to start with, on top of a sandyriver loam.Most of our perennials require little but occasionalcomposting. For the vegetable garden raised beds - we have addedhorse and cow manures, our own compost and Cedar Grove ompost.Anytime we start a new plant, we add compost. To the beds as awhole, we amend with compost two to three times a year.


Q. Cold frames -- You purchased the top of the cold frame from thegreenhouse supply place. Do you remember the proper name of whatit's called and how much it cost?

A. We made our own cold frames, which can come apart whenever weneed them to. They are built in sections. We used twin wallpolycarbonate, purchased as sheets from Charlie's Greenhouse inMount Vernon. Cost is approximately $15 per sheet. Our two coldframes cost us $50 (poycarbonate plus wood)

Q. Repurposing/deals -- I saw a trellis made from an old chair andboulders you picked up free on Craig's List. What are some otherexamples of ways you've used items for a new purpose or scoredfreebies?

A. We use bowling balls, pots, glass ware, old lamps and garden artfrom Good Will and all the thrift stores. Don't be afraid to lookaround with new eyes at old objects. Be creative. Do what works. Dowhat feels good to you. If it doesn't work, donate it back. Itdidn't cost you much, and you are contributing to your communityany time you shop at a thrift store. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Q. Buying small -- You told me you usually buy plants in the gallonor 4-inch size. Other tips for finding plants on the cheap?(Certainly, making a few gardener friends helps...)

A. We don't look for plants on the cheap, we are just patientgardeners. This zone allows for many plants to grow quickly, and ifyou're patient, they will reward you in time. Part of our gardeningethos is that we just take time to sit, watch and consider whatwill work, what won't work as well as what can be in the future. Wecultivate as opposed to instant gratification. Our garden has beenbuilt with many small 4" pots, which we have bought from all of thelocal nurseries and Forestfarm (my old alma mater). We feel thatgetting plants from local nurseries gives you a stronger plant,coupled with great advice from learned people. Box stores can havecheap plants, but take a look at the quality, selection and help.You'll be way better off going to the nurseries.

Q. Mix in the edibles -- Loved the way you worked herbs and otheredibles into mixed beds. Guidelines on how a novice could do thissuccessfully? Are there herbs or other edibles you think workexceptionally well as ornamentals?

A. All herbs and vegetables are ornamental. Just be creative. Agarden that you can browse and admire the colors and textures of isone that we think rocks. Almost all edibles love full sun. Manyherbs are perennials and many of them are drought tolerantMediterranean plants. Others, such as parsley, lovage, tarragon anddill, prefer moist rich soils. Many of the edibles not only giveyou something to eat, but also provide great structure, texture andbeauty. Consider the blueberry - Great spring and fall colors,wonderful spring flowers, attractive to pollinators, and can't bebeat to eat. Don't hestitate to use some of these edibles in potstoo. (Strawberries anyone?) Parsley adds great texture to patiopots.

Q. Vertical -- Best way to make a trellis to utilize vertical spacein the yard?

A. Get three sticks and make a tee pee. Go from there. Cedar orbamboo work very well. But use your creative side and use foundobjects at thrift stores, garage sales, ect...(Bed frames workwell. Why not an exercise machine, an old ladder?...Twine alwayshelps.)

Q. Green roof -- Tell me specifically how you put this together,including materials.

A. 3/4 " Plywood base. 1"x2" cedar rim. A piece of pond liner toline it. SOIL MIX: Bottom 1" of the base is coarse grit. On top ofthat we have a soil mix of equal parts sand, pumice, peat. We usedfibreglass screen on the front edge to allow for drainage and tokeep the soil from washing out. It's angled about 60 degrees tokeep the water from pooling. This roof is planted with sedums andsempervivums which are drought tolerant. We chose these plants forthe roof because they will thrive.

Q. And a big picture question: Why do you both feel it might beimportant for people to grow some of their own food? Can novices dothis?

A. It feels good to grow your own food and harvest it and sharewith your neighbors.

It keeps you in contact with the earth. You become more aware ofthe weather, the moon, the sun, as well as what all farmers have toknow and deal with.

It tastes better because it's fresh. Harvest and eat! What could bebetter? Example: If you have ever tasted asparagus grilled momentsafter picking, you'll know what we mean. Oh my God.

You know what is in/on it. You control the chemicals. (fertilizers,pesticides)

You learn patience, and observation. You slow yourself down to payattention to small things that really are huge.

It is relaxing and meditative.

Hell yes. Novices can do this - they only have to begin. Once theydo, they won't be novices for long. It only takes a spark to get itgoing.

Here in the Pacific Northwest you can grow vegetables year round!

It's a great feeling to walk out into your yard any day of the yearand eat something!

It saves you money. Think about it. One packet of seeds costs lessthan two dollars. For that, and a bit of patience and work, you getmore veg than you can eat.