My raised vegetable and herb garden
Wed, 27 Jul 2016
Last summer my husband decided to build a garden in our backyard. It was not planned out and in the end I was really not happy with the quick and dirty execution of it. Basically it looked like crap. (No offense husband dearest!) This summer I insisted he destroy the existing garden and WE come up with a plan for something much more aesthetically pleasing. We did a quick google image search one day for raised garden beds and came across a photo very quickly that we both loved. It was essentially a big rectangle with an area cut out in the middle to walk around in. Simple yet a great layout. And let me say right off the bat that if you're thinking of building a garden GO WITH A RAISED GARDEN. Weeding is actually FUN when it's not back-breaking!
We found a super resource of cedar so we went with unplaned cedar to keep the cost down (in the end it cost about $380, and the garden is about 6' wide and 18' long). The wet spot above may or may not be me having just hosed down cat pee.
We placed it against the side of our garage (that one day in the not so distant future needs replacing). We have grand plans of building a screened in gazebo type shed thingy next to it so we can hang out with the cats and not have to tie them up with leashes/harnesses.
This garden is fairly large but aside from the gazebo and a larger back porch we don't really need anything else back here. Note the random ferns. They are all over our property. I had no idea they grow like weeds. Best looking weeds out there I'd say!
The wood on this side of the garage was rotting so husband found something called plytanium. It's an outdoor wood with grooves to look like planks. I decided to hell with it, we would leave it unpainted and I don't care that it doesn't match the rest of the white garage because at least it blends in with the garden. I thought that would make a prettier, more organic backdrop although the plants have grown so big in the few weeks since they were planted that it doesn't show much anyway.
We left some space between the garage and garden in case we need to do any maintenance to the garage and filled in the area with mulch. I could not bring myself to remove the ferns so they can stay until they get too big and then I'll transplant them.
The garden was constructed several weeks ago but only this past weekend was the gate finally built to keep out any critters....
...like cats. :) Luckily they have no interest in veggies.
So this is the space inside the garden that allows us easy access to all sides. Mulched all in there too. Yet another stray fern lives within.
NO BENDING!!!
We planted a ton of herbs - thyme, sage, dill, oregano, lime basil, red basil, thai basil, lemon basil, lettuce leaf basil (yes, we like basil), cilantro, parsley, rosemary and mint.
For vegetables we planted ghost peppers, 10 types of tomatoes (WUT?!?! I just found this out when getting husband to list it all off - he's the one that went to the garden centre), green beans, cucumbers, jalapeno peppers, red and green peppers and lettuce.
We have a ton of work to do on the rest of the property (don't even get me started on how terrible the front yard is), but I am soooo happy this is finally done, and done right.
Reader Comments (16)
I can'r get over how gorgeous it is! Nothing like home grown tomatoes! I love the picture of Felix. Is he doing better?
OH my gosh - I LOVE this!!!! Now I want one. Next spring - this is on my to do list!!
This is the most beautiful vegetable garden EVER! I love that you can just walk in and tend to it instead of squatting and killing your back & knees. Great job!
Looks FANTASTIC Kim!!!!!!! and makes me very envious.
what a great looking garden! i loooove ferns, too.
b
KiM,
This is a great design! Kudos to both of you.
LOVE this garden Kim! Such an inspiration! We've got lots of space and have been wanting to build a garden, and this is such wonderful inspiration! My back thanks you!
Thanks everyone!!! XOXO
Great design. Thinking of putting a smaller version up close to the house for lettuce and herbs. Love that you don't have to do all that bending.
Beautiful! but you'll eventually regret planting mint- it's essentially a weed and will spread everywhere. Best to grow it in a pot that is not in contact with the soil.
The mint in my garden is pretty timid, which proves how terrible my soil is, I suppose. Your garden looks fantastic, Kim - what garden centre did your husband patronize?
The mint came from our existing stash - hubby thinks he'll move it out of there because it's already gotten too big. It really is like a weed. Sad though because it's spearmint not regular mint.
@Cussot - he went to Ritchie's. And because he went late in the season they were all 50% off for a total of about $65. CRAZY!
Thanks for sharing. Beautifully done and photographed!
I love these photos – so beautiful! I always wanted to have my own vegetable and herb garden :)
Love this - wow amazing bounty you will have!
We're in Ottawa also and want to build a raised bed this fall - great inspiration to get ours done!
Any tips on finding discount cedar would be really appreciated!
Such a great project and yes fern weeds are much better than some others. : )
Kat, we got the cedar at ottawacedar.com :)