My Veggie Garden is Done!!! - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Chad300tdt · #1 05-21-2009, 09:59 AM

I wanted to post pics of what has been keeping me from posting lately.

This year I got around to starting a vegetable garden. As usual the project ended up becoming more than I originally planned for so it took longer to complete.

After careful consideration for the best spot to allow proper sunlight and easy access to the water supply we chose the corner of our house. I needed to cut down 3 very large evergreens, repair the concrete well house and build a wall around one of the basement window wells so soil could be built up higher. Then paint the concrete work, clear the area and build a fence to contain the garden.

For the fence I used the wood from the fence that used to be across the front of our property. An SUV lost control one day and smashed though it. I kept the wood figuring I'd use it one day.

The holes for the fence posts took about 40 minutes each to dig since we have very rocky soil. Normally I can dig a post hole in about 15 minutes.

After I finished the fence, I painted it and stapled chicken wire along the inside leaving about 1 foot to lay on the ground under the raised beds. Then I built the bed walls from landscape timbers stacked 3 high to allow 8" of soil. I also had to run pipes from the downspout and our sump pump discharge to run under the garden beds, join at a "Y" connection and discharge out the side of the fence.

Yesterday we filled the beds with 60 cu. ft. of topsoil and filled the path with 10 cu. ft. of gravel. We also planted the veggies that go in the beds. We still have to set up the containers that will go on top of the well house. The containers will be filled with various herbs and a few other veggies.

I also have to set up the irrigation hoses, spray heads and timer.

Here's the area I used for the garden before I started.

Here's the fence I used:

Here are the finished garden pics:

Here's the window well which is next to the garden fence. I used 3 courses of brick and capped it with concrete pavers that I broke and shaped to look more like natural stone. Once the area is filled with mulch, the window well won't get splattered with dirt anymore when it rains.

Squabble · #2 05-21-2009, 10:10 AM

looking good!

i love those landscape timbers, we use them for everything.

SwampYankee · #3 05-21-2009, 10:12 AM

Dude, nice!

And with your usual attention to detail and craftsmanship. Damn you.

The Clk Man · #4 05-21-2009, 10:17 AM

Got any maters?

raymr · #5 05-21-2009, 10:19 AM

It looks nice and rabbit-proof. A rabbit just ate all of the snap peas my wife planted.

KarTek · #6 05-21-2009, 10:22 AM

Ha, cheater! You bought those plants already grown!

Nice job though...

About the only gardening I'll be doing is a topsy/turvy planter...

I see you have an outdoor well house. I remember those from my former life in Ohio.

Does yours have the old recripocating pump with a windmill well head?

Chad300tdt · #7 05-21-2009, 10:36 AM

Thanks guys!

The well has a newer electric submersible pump. A windmill head would be pretty cool though.

I would like to start from seed next year, but I had to cheat this year.

I planted Beefeater tomatoes, Grape tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, leaf lettuce, green and yellow squash, bell peppers and jalapeños. I still have to figure out which herbs and other veggies I'll be planting in the containers that will go on top of the well house.

I'm new to all this, so I'm sure there will be much to learn this year. I planted my jalapeños next to the bell peppers hoping that they would only cause a few of the bell peppers to turn hot, but maybe I should replant the jalapeños in containers on the well house.

Will the hot peppers turn anything next to them hot or only what shares the soil?

cmbdiesel · #8 05-21-2009, 11:33 AM

Nice work. Mine has been done for a week. The Home depot had those landscape timbers on sale when I went, so I turned that into an opportunity to spend more money and time on another project....

backyard two years ago, garden will be on the high spot

garden right after completion, and right before seeing the two huge rabbits frolicking in the grass next to it.

garden as it looks today, from above

different angle showing in the background, the result of clearing some dead limbs from the edge of the yard. new retaining wall, upper lawn level, sled run and about 2000 extra sq ft to mow.

and the rock flower bed I used some of the stone for...in my spare time

toomany MBZ · #9 05-21-2009, 11:47 AM

Both you guys did a very good job.

Fitz · #10 05-21-2009, 11:58 AM

Always good to see other people's gardens. Nice work by both of you. My garden this year will be about 30X50ft., and I have my seedlings hardening and ready to plant.

cmbdiesel · #11 05-21-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fitz

Always good to see other people's gardens. Nice work by both of you. My garden this year will be about 30X50ft., and I have my seedlings hardening and ready to plant.

30X50!!!! You sound like my old man......He stopped at a 1/4 acre, thank god. I determined that my kids will never be subjected to the treatment my brothers and I had growing up. That being the sound of doors slamming and locks being driven home as we approached the neighbors houses with yet another bag of cucumbers/zucchini/summer squash.....

Where did you start the seedlings? Must have walked around them plenty of times.

SwampYankee · #12 05-21-2009, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

Nice work. Mine has been done for a week. The Home depot had those landscape timbers on sale when I went, so I turned that into an opportunity to spend more money and time on another project....

backyard two years ago, garden will be on the high spot

garden right after completion, and right before seeing the two huge rabbits frolicking in the grass next to it.

garden as it looks today, from above

different angle showing in the background, the result of clearing some dead limbs from the edge of the yard. new retaining wall, upper lawn level, sled run and about 2000 extra sq ft to mow.

and the rock flower bed I used some of the stone for...in my spare time

You suck, too.

Put some railings on that "dock" already! What are you, a slacker?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

I would like to start from seed next year, but I had to cheat this year.

Rumor has it that you're not alone. (I pilfered my father's greenhouse and bought plants from a grower that buys stuff from us.

)

cmbdiesel · #13 05-21-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad300tdt

This year I got around to starting a vegetable garden. As usual the project ended up becoming more than I originally planned for so it took longer to complete.

Just a word to the wise....watch out for that SwampYankee character, he's an enabler.

Almost as bad as a drug dealer, only his bags are nothing BUT seeds...

Mike D · #14 05-21-2009, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

Just a word to the wise....watch out for that SwampYankee character, he's an enabler.

Almost as bad as a drug dealer, only his bags are nothing BUT seeds...

"No plants, no leaves, that you don't need,
Swamp's bags aint nothing but seeds!"

The Clk Man · #15 05-21-2009, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cmbdiesel

Nice work. Mine has been done for a week. The Home depot had those landscape timbers on sale when I went, so I turned that into an opportunity to spend more money and time on another project....

backyard two years ago, garden will be on the high spot

garden right after completion, and right before seeing the two huge rabbits frolicking in the grass next to it.

garden as it looks today, from above

different angle showing in the background, the result of clearing some dead limbs from the edge of the yard. new retaining wall, upper lawn level, sled run and about 2000 extra sq ft to mow.

and the rock flower bed I used some of the stone for...in my spare time

Dude

you've got some mad landscaping skills. I wish I had your talent, or at least your back yard.