Posted on 02/22/2009 12:44:31 PM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
Quite true. My dad has a green thumb and his backyard garden is great, a six-foot strip all around the perimeter of a large backyard, which is bounded by a six-foot solid cinderblock wall. He grows carrots, raspberries, tomatoes, corn, peas, etc. We could convert our backyard but at this point I get better deals from the local farmers and at the farmer’s market which sells from April through November. They taste great also, especially the tomatoes. I just question whether one can sell the idea of yard gardens with the promise of less hassle than grass. The veggies are worth it but it is generally quite a hassle.
I went ahead and put in my order tonight. :)
I couldn’t resist! I had to get a 3 year old blueberry bush, too!
Oh, I doubt they're OCD enough to do that. Besides, in my neighborhood the resolution of the satellite photos isn't good enough to zoom in and see what someone has in her back yard.
Well they certainly know we’ve built a pool in our backyard in the past year.
Why is America so in love with pristine, empty front lawns that isolate neighbor from neighbor......trick question?
If this guy met my neighbors, he would know.
A pool is def easy to see from the air. Besides, the neighbors just might have noticed the bulldozer, dump trucks, grader, cement mixer, etc. Rows of vegetables might be a little less noticeable.
What I’d actually like to do is transform my front yard so that there is a brick walkway down the middle of the yard with a cutting garden type border on either side. I love fresh flowers but the standard perennial garden doesn’t yield enough to fill the house consistently all summer; a cutting garden does. This isn’t practical but it would make me happy.
What I really can’t figure out how to sneak past the local Waffen Schutzstaffel is a few chickens. The community guidelines specifically forbid livestock and poultry. Considering the national and ethnic background of some of my neighbors, this might not ordinarily be a bad thing.
A three year old blueberry bush sounds wonderful. I’m hoping you get fruit this year from a plant that size. Blueberry muffins - yum!
My raspberries were little bareroot twigs when we first put them in. By the third year they were big producers.
A word of advice from old timers that I’ve found to be so true:
First year, sleep (putting roots down), Second year, creep (slow top growth), third year, leap, when plants take off.
I’ve gardened enough to find sleep, creep, leap is pretty much true in my zone 4 climate. Raspberries are an exception, though. You’ll get a few the first year, then watch out! LOL
Fellow who lives near me has these “everbearing raspberries”.
Really. I didn’t believe it either till I saw them with my own eyes.
They start fruiting in May and go till the first frost, I’m getting my hands on some this year if I have to buy his place right out underneath him!
I also ordered 2 two year old blackberry bushes and a two year old raspberry bush. I’m not expecting anything from anything the first year (don’t want to get my hopes up!), but the year after that should be fun!
I just learned how to can this year and I’m very much looking forward to putting up my preserves. :)
Nice job. Are those Delphiniums?
Your dog looks ready to eat everything on that table.
Thank you! Yes, those are Delphiniums, one of my absolute favorites. :)
My favorites too. Are yours the full size or one of the smaller no stake needed smaller ones?
I moved from an apartment 2.5 years ago so this will be my third season with my perennial garden. I haven’t planted a vegetable garden because I worry about runoff from my neighbors lawn chemicals.
They’re of the New Millennium and Pacific Giant varieties. I ordered them from here: http://gracefulgardens.com/delphin.htm
Staking them is kind of a pain but worth it. They rebloom all season long too. I love their colors.
Beautiful colors. Thanks for the link. I can’t wait for Spring.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.