[gardeners] Downsizing Garden
Marguerite Ruch (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Mon, 23 Nov 1998 08:59:53 -0600
I am new to the Internet, new to the list, and new to our present
home. We moved from a 30 acre wooded home with a large garden where we
raised the usual tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, and other vegetables, but
we also raised sweet corn, broom corn, watermelon, muskmelons, luffa
sponges, asparagus, rhubarb, and other garden crops that take more
space. We have retired on a two and a half lot residence in the woods
on the shoreline of Truman Lake in Missouri. I now have a garden that
is forty feet, by thirty feet, and is surrounded by railroad ties to
keep the soil in the garden area.
This space is very precious to me, now, and after having topsoil
delivered for it, I got it tested and have added the recommended humus,
and nutrients. I brought my roto tiller from the country home, and will
get it in this tiny garden this week, to do what I can to till all the
humus, and the added nutrients into the soil. (It was especially
deficient of phosphorus.) I will have to avoid the one corner that is
planted already with elephant garlic (48 cloves). I planted them close,
and there will be only room to grow, so that means weeding by hand, if
any weeds dare try to grow.
I want to get some asparagus and rhubarb, to grow on the outside of
the framed garden area, and I am making my list and drawing a plan for
which plants get to grow in the small area. With all the gardening I
have done through the years, while working full time as a school
counselor, and working on a doctorate degree, I had never heard of
heirloom tomatoes. I guess my eyes never saw them on the pages of the
seed catalogs. I see them listed now, and I am sure they must have been
listed all those years. I plan to try three varieties this next spring,
along with the usual starter plants I get. I first heard of "heirloom
seeds" in the tomato digest list. I will plan five to seven tomato
cages, and will grow Kentucky wonder beans on a short, 8 foot section of
the "tomato cage" type wire fence.
If anyone has suggestions for my down sized garden, please post
ideas for me.
Thank you.
Marguerite