First "real" garden

[Treehog]

This year I built my first raised beds at our suburban home. There are two 4'x8'x18" boxes, set up as square foot gardens. These are pics from the build, and I'll be adding more as the garden fills up.

Getting started: http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/0408101940b.jpg

Nearly done with one: http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/0408102040b.jpg

First box is done (but upside down. I've added stakes to help anchor it in the ground):
http://s828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/?action=view&current=0408102103b.jpg

Another angle: http://s828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/?action=view&current=0408102104a.jpg

The dog gets involved: http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/0408102107a.jpg

The soil/compost mix has arrived: http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/0422101522a.jpg

The boxes are complete: http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/0423101619a.jpg

http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/0423101619b.jpg

[Treehog]

Anyone in central OH who is looking for a good place to get good soil/compost etc might try Price Farms Organics in Delaware (just north of Columbus). That's where I got the soil/compost for this project @ $28 a yard.

[AzLoneRider]

Those look great... You did a good job!!

[Grizzy]

YAY TREEHOG!!! Yur on yur way to some real goodies! Me like yur dog! haha (clap'n an whistle'n) GOOD JOB!

~Grizzy~

[jen_in_southtexas]

Treehog,

Those look very nice.

-jen

[Treehog]

Thanks for the kind words :)

We just planted seeds for most of what we're growing on thursday, and today I was pleased to see a few seedlings sprouting in almost every plot. We might not be growing dirt after all :D

[Junie]

Treehog, those are awesome! As tall as they are, they'd be perfect for someone in a wheelchair, too, especially if you put them about 4 or 5 feet apart. Very nice job! (and great price on the soil/compost!)

[Treehog]

Thanks Junie :)
Too bad the rest of our yard is not so wheelchair friendly. Next spring I need to get it rolled. :sarcastic:

I've got to give some credit to craigslist too. We ended up finding a couple in our town that were looking for odd jobs. They hauled it all for me for 100 bucks. It was 5 hours of work for 2 people. It would easily have taken me at least twice that long. I work 7 days a week, so finding time to haul the soil from my driveway to the beds (about 120 feet) would have otherwise been a daunting task.

[CapeCMom]

Excellent job on the boxes!!! You should be able to grow some fine produce in those! Thanks for the pics!

I love your dog also-I have a soft spot for Corgis. They are so darned cute!

[Treehog]

Excellent job on the boxes!!! You should be able to grow some fine produce in those! Thanks for the pics!

I love your dog also-I have a soft spot for Corgis. They are so darned cute!

We've got two of them, and only because my wife won't let me have more. They have more personality than any other breed I've ever seen. Just go to youtube and look up "how to speak corgi". Good times.

[CapeCMom]

I am going to look at that for sure- Once you find a breed you love-that's pretty much it huh? Corgi was my runner up when we decided what dog to get again. We settled on boxers, and now we have two. I would get more by my lap isn't big enough!, lol.

[daffodil]

Thanks for the kind words :)

We just planted seeds for most of what we're growing on thursday, and today I was pleased to see a few seedlings sprouting in almost every plot. We might not be growing dirt after all :D

You definitely should get some good plants out of those planters:). Lots of good dirt to grow in. You should check out the book Small Space, Big Harvest. You could fit alot into those beds.

[Treehog]

You definitely should get some good plants out of those planters:). Lots of good dirt to grow in. You should check out the book Small Space, Big Harvest. You could fit alot into those beds.

I'll have to look for that one. I guess my local library doesn't have it, but it shouldn't be difficult to track down a copy.

I actually got the idea from the $1 garden article. Although, I'm not sure where you can get seeds for that plot for $1 total ;) The one-time cost for ours, including hired help to move the soil, materials, soil, etc was about $325. My wife is already talking about adding a couple more boxes next year. If we do, I might cut back on the variety and setup at our local farmers market. I'll have to see what's "missing" this year. I imagine it would be tough to sell the same produce as everyone else, especially when they are established sellers.

[Treehog]

Here are a few pictures of my seedlings. I was really surprised to see them sprouting after just three days. This is a few days after they first appeared.
The brussels sprouts were not planted from seed (by me anyway) which I'm sure is obvious to everyone :)

The boxes with everything planted:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/boxes.jpg

Brussels sprouts: http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/brussels.jpg

Radishes:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/radishes.jpg

Carrot:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/carrots.jpg

Lettuce:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/lettuce.jpg

There are more seedlings, but these are the most populated so far.

[Grizzy]

ahhhh NOW me know why they call those plant places "nurseries"... Is where lil bebe plants come frum! :D I know ya did this with seeds but me jus had to cut up a lil heh heh heh...

It sure looks like you have much with which to feel satisfied! Tanks for the pics! (pet'n lil carrot top)

~Grizzy~

[Treehog]

I got my tomato plants in last night. I realized a couple of days before that I had 18 plants and only 13 spaces saved. I was able to get creative and stagger them in the plots and get all 18 in without crowding too badly.
These are updated pics of everything, 13 days after planting seeds. (except the tomatoes and brussels sprouts)

Bed 1:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/13daysbed.jpg

Bed 2:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/13weeksbed2.jpg

Fennel:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/week2fennel-1.jpg

Swiss Chard (smallest of the plots of chard):
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/week2chard.jpg

Spinach:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/week2spinach.jpg

Radishes:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/week2radish.jpg

Lettuce:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/week2lettuces.jpg

Carrots, Basil, & Marigolds:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/week2basilcarrotsmarigolds.jpg

Brussels Sprouts:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/week2brussels.jpg

Tomatoes:
http://i828.photobucket.com/albums/zz205/Treehog/Garden%202010/tomatoesplanted.jpg

[Blithe55]

So, do you have any pics of them in their glory?