Back in September or October of last year I got it into my head that I wanted to try and grow all of our own produce. Problem is I kill everything except weeds, I'm excellent weed grower. Our soil is particularly deficient of nutrients, or so I think, also its crappy clay. For example our mature trees are the last to get leaves (a month or two later) and first to lose them in the neighborhood, even though they are the same. So I knew I need raised beds. For Christmas I asked for Lowes gift cards and gardening books because I'm a planner. I built my beds in the middle of winter, it was relatively warm, ordered seeds and dwarf fruit trees. I was prepared, spring rolled around and I got started. I planted my 3 apples trees, one cherry and orange tree and prepped to espalier them then I killed most of my seedlings so I bought and planted starter plants from lowes. 3 of my 5 fruit trees were dug up and eaten by the dogs, that was awesome (there is a possibility the roots of one of the apple trees is still in the ground so we will see). I also bought some dying blueberry and blackberry plants this summer b/c they were half off, blue berries lived and the black berry died. Bugs kept eating my kale and cabbage, birds kept stealing my strawberries but my tomatoes are a success. This fall the brussell sprouts and pumpkins should be in, and my tomatoes keep putting out. Pretty much this season was a lot of failures but I'm pleased that I grew anything at all and I'm looking forward to next years crops. Because of gift cards my total out of pocket costs were low so that helps. Hopefully next year brings many apples.
Main beds with tomatoes, strawberries, brussel sprouts, cabbage, kale, cauliflower, blueberries.
Tomato plant that is now over 8 feet tall! Has 20-30 tomatoes on it at once.
Dwarf orange tree, Its too cold here in winter to plant outside so its potted.
Dwarf Ginger Gold apple tree
This bed no longer has dogs in it, but pumpkins plants.
MONSTER TOMATO PLANT - August
For size reference the trellis is about 10 feet tall. There are about 30 green tomatoes growing on the top portion. When they ripen I'll need a ladder to get them.
From the deck view
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