Sunday 5 May 2013

Some hard graft!

We're almost back to normal here after our few days away and it was time to take stock of our garden and see if we could use any more space for growing vegetables.

After a couple of nights thinking about it (when I can't sleep), the answer came to me, the side of the house down the driveway. We have only used this for ornamental things due to needing to get into the car once it is out of the garage. We do have quite a long drive so realised if the passenger got out before this part of the driveway, all would be well.

Here is the space (14' of it) with plants (some now dead after the long, hard winter) still in place.
Then with the plants removed.
After that we had a drink and a rest. A plastic cover was laid on the gravel and we started to dig out the roots, stones etc. down to a depth of 1 1/2 spades. We tossed in loads of compost and blood fish and bone and put some of the soil back in. The we forked it well making sure to dig and lift up any compacted soil. DB then trod it lightly into place and we did that all over again. Unfortunately, we came across this and had to get chip away as much of the concrete as possible.
Nearly two hours later (plus lunch and more cups of tea), we finished doing that and backfilled this part the same as before. DB temporarily put in some wood to stop the gravel ending up in the bed.


We then measured 1 1/2 foot spaces along the top of the wall and he drilled and screwed in some hooks (managed to get 10 into this space). I hope to grow one half with tomatoes, the other half with climbing beans, then change them over each year.

I know, I know, you are not supposed to grow this close to the wall (west facing by the way) but I have a cunning plan to stop it getting too dry. Along the back on top of the soil, will run a long piece of guttering with small holes drilled into it facing the plants plus two end stops. I will fill that up with water and it can slowly drain and water them - hopefully. Time will tell.



13 comments:

  1. What a useful growing space you've created! We've been busy outside this weekend. We spent 4 hours at the allotment yesterday and about the same in the garden today - we now have broad beans in the front garden, lots more plants in the back and more stuff sown in the greenhouse!

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    1. Hopefully it will be useful, time will tell. I bet it won't be too long before more veg is in your front garden!

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  2. that's a great days work x

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    1. Well, we can certainly feel it now, just hope things grow in there okay.

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  3. Blimey you have been busy! I do a lot of creative thinking in the wee small hours if I can't sleep. (Though this happens less since I retired, shows you ow stressful work is!) You've gain a good bit of growing space there, good lateral thinking!

    I spent some time outside today potting up plants, working out the details of a workshop I'm giving shortly, and baking; a lovely sunny, productive day for us both, it seems - though I'll wager your back will be complaining louder than mine!

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    1. At least my back has stopped aching so that is something. Today I will be pottering some more plus baking bread.

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  4. have you any plans for what you will grow there?

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    1. Climbing french and runner beans plus tomatoes - hopefully.

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  5. What a good idea, and great work! I hope your vegetable plants will do well there :) Will be looking forward to hearing how it goes.

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    1. So do I and will post pictures as and when things are growing.

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  6. That looks like a great area, beans on a trellis up the wall, Jerusalem artichokes? Xxx

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    1. Last year I grew beans up a pole (on strings). They climbed well but were hard to pick in a raised bed, needed a step ladder!! So I know my beans will grow up strings and hope the tomatoes will follow suit as I know that is how some people grow them. Time will tell.

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  7. Your hard work will be rewarded I'm sure when you're eating those beans and tomatoes! Love the idea with the guttering :o) Well done!
    Rose H
    x

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