tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post4785335773376732107..comments2024-03-29T06:13:48.766-07:00Comments on The Forty-Five: So How Does Your Garden Grow? - 28 June 2015 EditionToirdhealbheach Beucailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-58904167963033829172015-06-29T16:38:43.332-07:002015-06-29T16:38:43.332-07:00So I tried that once upon a time. Something to re...So I tried that once upon a time. Something to reconsider, although unfortunately much to the chagrin of The Ravishing Mrs. TB, I am not much of a "crisply cut hedges" sort of guy - more of a "what is minimum amount of work I can do" sort of guy...Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-11081241827908480592015-06-29T14:59:41.211-07:002015-06-29T14:59:41.211-07:00Now that sounds like a plan....mmmm how about a &#...Now that sounds like a plan....mmmm how about a 'knot garden' using lavender as the filling between low interlocking and crisply cut hedges?Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13845113520987402425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-22137005813306311912015-06-29T04:45:29.155-07:002015-06-29T04:45:29.155-07:00I have not yet, Songbird. Just looked up Keyhold ...I have not yet, Songbird. Just looked up Keyhold bed - what an interesting concept! At the moment am probably already way ahead of myself in terms of using what I have more effectively.<br /><br />As to gray water, no, not yet. I think that would take a little more doing (we're on a slab so it would have to be a manual recapture process out of the drain) and the unresolved issue for me is the amount of residual detergent in the water. For the moment (I think) the higher value activity is heavier mulching activities (something I have not really done effectively here) and rain water recapture.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-22563059367144405032015-06-28T22:22:02.102-07:002015-06-28T22:22:02.102-07:00Have you investigated a keyhole bed (a form of rai...Have you investigated a keyhole bed (a form of raised bed)? seems to me to be an efficient use of garden space. Also, can you capture the gray water from your washing machine to use to irrigate your garden?songbirdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12033116857868041012noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-47698081981773561322015-06-28T14:11:42.749-07:002015-06-28T14:11:42.749-07:00Thanks John! The idea suddenly popped into my hea...Thanks John! The idea suddenly popped into my head this morning about using this space for something like flowering plants - I like lavender, for example, and can use a whole lot more of it in my life. There are lavender farms with 90 minutes of here so the climate works. A micro lavender farm? Never thought of it before today...Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-42122929785643193362015-06-28T13:59:24.924-07:002015-06-28T13:59:24.924-07:00Looking good TB and you can be certain that there ...Looking good TB and you can be certain that there is always something new to learn about gardening. You know I'd be looking at that expanse of grass and thinking about what could be done there ;-)Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13845113520987402425noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-77520842836703425012015-06-28T13:13:01.546-07:002015-06-28T13:13:01.546-07:00Thank you Kymber! My first two gardening experien...Thank you Kymber! My first two gardening experiences were just like yours: excellent existing soil or purchased topsoil, perfect sun exposure, etc. I tried my previous ways here and completely bottomed out the first year. Part of my problem was trying to resolve my own thick-headedness to consider the fact that it might not work that way in a totally different climate. Still learning, which is a good thing both because it is valuable to learn and because it still means my mind is pliable.<br /><br />Lhiats, TBToirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-82315824466226390602015-06-28T11:11:08.026-07:002015-06-28T11:11:08.026-07:00TB - we originally started gardening back in ottaw...TB - we originally started gardening back in ottawa. the first thing we did was order 6 cubic feet of triple-mulched-mushroom dirt. jam put the dirt in all of the tires and i just chucked seeds willy-nilly. well, for the next 6 years we were vegetable growing kings! then we came to our island - totally different weather, lots of salt air and horrible dirt!!! we were able to get some crappy top-soil for our first year garden and ammended it with comfrey and seaweed. it was kind of ok. but man - the things we learned!<br /><br />we were gardening kings in the city because we started with such good dirt! i could grow anything back in ottawa - it was pretty impressive! but here - we have learned more and more each year and gardening here is completely different! always a challenge but so much fun to learn!<br /><br />i am glad that you are trying different things to see what works and what doesn't...and glad to hear that you are thinking of adding more beds! congrats on all that you have grown and all that you will grow in the future!<br /><br />your friend,<br />kymberkymberhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02607117635648274823noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-68678086126509432702015-06-28T10:38:37.111-07:002015-06-28T10:38:37.111-07:00Thanks Preppy. I am a little pleased. The weathe...Thanks Preppy. I am a little pleased. The weather plays a larger role than I anticipated - for example, without the rains we received I doubt the pumpking would have done so well. For me, water is always going to be a concern so I need to figure out better ways to conserve the water I have and use it effectively. I am reading Gene Logsdon's "The Contrary Farmer's Invitation to Gardening" and he is talking a great deal about mulch. Much to glean and keep trying on.Toirdhealbheach Beucailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872794169534403463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14404262.post-55332348611090421162015-06-28T09:18:20.271-07:002015-06-28T09:18:20.271-07:00Looking good and keep trying. Finding what grows b...Looking good and keep trying. Finding what grows best in your place is half the battle I think. Of course as soon as you think you have it figured out the weather goes extreme on ya and all.<br />PioneerPreppyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09269878017447335944noreply@blogger.com