Earlier this spring I had decided that instead of planting flowers outside I'd try to grow some vegetables instead. I already had a couple of semi-live blueberry bushes and a small strawberry patch and felt that they needed some company.
The biggest issue I face is that the soil in my yard is clay, and the back yard does not get much sunlight due to an abundance of trees, so I have very limited ground space to plant. What I do have, however, is fence space, a couple corners, and a plot where plants could grow if not for the soil. So I've engaged in 'vertical' gardening.
I had previously posted about repurposing cat-litter buckets for growing (@wwwiebe/when-life-gives-you-cat-litter) and they appear to be working rather well! I'm happy with those and am hopeful that they will bear vegetables (sugar snap peas and cucumbers) before the season is out (side note and word to the wise: if you do decide to try something like this, be sure to drill holes in the buckets for drainage).
So, my current state is that in the backyard I have strategically placed a blackberry bush and two grape vines. The grape vines get the morning sun and the bush gets the afternoon sun. The vines are doing well and currently climbing a lattice that I've placed.
The far back of the yard I've composted some leaves in a ground-based greenhouse and planted pumpkins and watermelon seeds. The vines are growing! I think it will be a blast if I can host a Halloween party with a 'pick your own pumpkin' party.
In the front yard I am hanging vegetables: three planters that hang off the fence that would normally house flowers are currently growing lettuce, kale, and spinach, and are almost overflowing.
I've had so many cuke and pea vines that I've put them in hanging planters and am hanging them off the tree. And they're growing!
And of course, various herbs and mints in pots. They'll grow anywhere.
Now the best part of growing your own food is harvesting it. Behold, the first salad:
It was even better once I added this into it!
Mmmmmm. (disclaimer: I did not personally grow the beef)
I'm currently looking for ways to increase this make-shift garden. Lettuce's and greens are easy. I'm thinking I might try some radishes, too. I'd plant carrots, but I don't think they'd grow well in a pot.
