We did it - built a 10 x 10 foot raised garden bed in the backyard. Now we just have to fill it with soil. Mark's plan is to put in a bottom layer of leaves and wood that can gradually decompose. But we're still going to have to acquire more landfill somehow.
The eggplants are still getting bigger, and the decorative kale is becoming more brilliantly coloured (and less assaulted by pests).
Here's a rundown on what worked and what didn't in the garden this year:
Perennials:
• rhubarb - excellent (new transplant in the front got to a decent size; might harvest from it next year)
• gooseberries - get lost behind the raspberry bushes - maybe I should move it?
• raspberries - great, although some canes mysteriously died off without the fruit ever ripening
• sage - more than we can eat
• purple sage - beautiful, but not really for eating
• chives - tasty, and lovely purple flowers; the transplant in the front did well
• silver thyme - not as big as last year's - might be a bit shaded out by the sage
• lemon thyme - spread nicely; after it flowered it never lay as flat as the woolly thyme, but still makes a nice groundcover, especially since it smells like lemon after you walk on it
• blueberries - many more berries than last year
• daylillies - flowered consistently, but didn't try eating any
• hollyhocks - got ragged pretty quickly; might uproot next year - not much point
• sorrel - new regular sorrel was very tasty to eat, didn't get very big - might need more sun
• golden oregano - spread nicely and got surprisingly tall - should transplant to other areas as groundover
• mint - still grows like a weed, but hasn't spread any further at least
• lemon mint - doesn't grow like a weed, which is a relief
• chamomile - nice flowers, although I've never harvested them to make tea
• stevia (new) - fascinatingly sweet leaves; I'll have to figure out if I can really substitute them for sugar
• winter savory (new) - seedling never took - better luck next year
• greek oregano (new) - seedling never took - better luck next year
• alpine strawberries (new) - seedling never took - better luck next year
• corn salad (new) - seedling never took - better luck next year
• tarragon (new) - seedling never took - better luck next year
• garlic chives (new) - didn't end up planting (will it really be any different from the chives I already have?)
• rosemary - stayed a bit small - was a bit shaded by the sage
• bee balm - pretty flowers this year - I'll transplant some to the front bed to battle it out with the mint
Annuals:
• scarlet runner beans - grew well under challenging conditions along side fence; next year I'll plant more there, and earlier
• nasturtiums - didn't end up planting, but want to put in some pots next year
• mesclun salad mix (new) - didn't end up planting, as had alot of other greens already
• purple pole bean - not as great a harvest as last year - maybe do better in ground than in pots?
• snow pea - very tasty, but vulnerable to drying out
• Indian spinach - grew much larger than last year, and very attractive; not my favourite green to eat though
• cucumber (new) - they were a revelation - so much better than store bought cucumber; will plant more next year!
• basil mix (new) - only one basil seedling made it; might have done better in pot - tough hillside spot to grow in wasn't ideal
• ground cherry (new) - grew well in challenging conditions, fruit quite tasty, and plants very attractive - will definitely grow again
• chocolate cherry tomato (new) - plant in hanging pot didn't do well, but the few tomatoes we've had are great - will plant again
• ildi yellow grape tomato (new) - very prolific and juicy tomatoes, although not intensely flavourful
• window box Roma tomato (new) - grew decently in ground; should do better in pot next year
• early butternut squash (new) - not sure if it was this variety or seeds saved from store bought variety that were planted, but it did pretty well
• sunburst patty pan squash (new) - seedling never took - better luck next year
• Easter egg radish (new) - uneven performance - will have to experiment next year with why
• small sugar pumpkin (new) - seedling never took - better luck next year
• explosive ember pepper (new) - got a late start, but have still enjoyed cooking with a few early peppers
• tall telephone peas (new) - seedling never took - better luck next year
• new queen watermelon (new) - got one very tasty tiny watermelon - must do whatever possible to encourage more next year!
• spicy mix salad greens (new) - very tasty, but didn't hold up well to repeat harvesting
• blue curled Scotch kale (new) - not sure if it was this or winterbor, but did nicely in ground
• winterbor kale (new) - not sure if it was this or Scotch kale, but did nicely in ground
• ornamental kale (new) - sadly attacked by pests, so only get a fair chance at growing starting in September
• fairy tale eggplant (new) - got a late start in pot, but is doing well - must get it started earlier next year
• chioggia beets (new) - too crowded in pot - give more space (and maybe plant in ground) next year
• asparagus peas (new) - grew well in challenging conditions, but taste/texture of pods wasn't too exciting
• buttercup squash - seedling never took - better luck next year
• rainbow chard - haven't been able to find the seed packet - regular chard has done alright, but is maybe too crowded in pot
• Huazontle red Aztec spinach (new) - grew really well in pots; sweet/mild taste quite different from other garden greens; great red colour when matured; will definitely grow again
• arugula - had a whole pot that stood up well to repeat harvesting - this is definitely the way to grow it
• radish baby leaf Sai Sai - didn't end up planting
• spinach (new) - suffered a bit in summer heat; hopefully will hang on and improve with cooler weather
• dinosaur lacinato blue kale (new) - has done well in both pots and in ground, although some plants attacked by more pests than others; tougher texture - definitely needs to be eaten cooked
• broccoli raab (new) - didn't do too well - maybe needed to be in pot in more sun
• komatsuna (new) - doing better now that weather is cooler
• chicory mix (new) - the only one from the mix that has come up has been too bitter to eat
• zucchini - pests kept eating before I did - should stake vines up next year
• winter squash (new) - has done fairly well
• Chinese green lance kale (new) - didn't do too well - maybe needed to be in pot in more sun
• Choi-san (new) - didn't do too well - maybe needed to be in pot in more sun
• mustard red giant (new) - quite attractive and strong-tasting; need to cut down when bolts; will plant again, but maybe only as part of mixed pot to be harvested when young
