Living in a subdivision with a HOA can often present challenges for those who like to grow fresh veggies in the summer months. Flowers and shrubs are expected in the yard, but why not tomatoes, peppers or okra?
When we moved here two and a half years ago we couldn’t decide what to do about my gardening bug, and finally just took a chance and went for it. Instead of digging up the entire yard we went with uniformed raised beds that we placed in an area only noticed from one direction. This is our third summer here and there hasn’t been an issue with the HOA, so I am assuming that we are good!
Looking a little sparse, but full of promise for the summer.
6 weeks ago when we first planted for the season.
It’s been fairly dry and warming up quickly this summer around here (98 today!), which means my little garden area needs a little extra TLC. We keep it weeded, watered and fertilized, but we’ve also added mulch between trellises to help keep the grass down and planted a few marigolds to help deter mosquitos. I need a day off work to spend a little extra time out there, but right now it is filling out and I hope to have our first veggies in just a few days!
Pickling cucumbers starting to grow and show more that a bloom
I’m thinking fried green tomatoes may be on the menu soon. Not a lot of size to these yet, but I can taste them now!
Instead of traditional squash I planted sunburst squash this year … the blooms are gorgeous and the squash are pretty as well.
My sweet peppers are up first, but the jalapeno and chilis are right behind them.
After six weeks our little garden is looking fuller and starting to produce it fresh goodness
I still have a few cosmetic things to do around our garden such as mulch between the beds and create a little walkway, but for now I’m looking forward to making salsa with our fresh grown tomatoes and peppers as well as dine on fresh okra, squash and zucchini.
And not only do we have a variety of veggies growing, I see a blackberry pie in the very near future!
Hoping I can keep the birds away from these
I had hoped for a bumper blueberry crop …..
My ONE blueberry
BUT, the birds and squirrels beat me to them (before they were even ripe). This is the only berry I managed to get on four shrubs.
It was delicious!
Raised beds are perfect for gardening in areas where you can’t have a traditional garden, if your soil is bad, or you just want a kitchen garden for quick herbs and spices. I love the versatility of these little beds. We filled ours with a combination of plain topsoil, a large bag of Miracle grow and Kow fertilizer. You don’t have to empty them at the end of the season except to remove dead plants and all you need to do late in the winter is add more Kow and possibly another bag of Miracle Grow dirt for added nutrients in the soil.
Here are the plans we followed for building our raised beds. I found these in BH&G about six years ago and have used them both in our little home in Alabama and now here in South Carolina.
Raised Garden Bed Plans
You can plant them however you see fit, but here are a few suggestions for a lush garden bed.
Hopefully you found a little inspiration for you own Urban Garden. Let me know if you try the plans and how your beds turn out!
Fiddle Dee Dee by Jennifer Jones 
Found you! Have the new url linked. Good to go. Curious about your move…
You made me laugh with your big crop of blueberry. That’s about all that I’m getting each year, too.
Your garden looks terrific and those fresh veggies are going to be worth the efforts. Sadly, our one raised bed is in shade for all but two hours. We need to fell a tree! (The Neighbor’s. ha! )
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Hi Jennifer!
The garden looks great! Love the raised beds, looks like you will have a good harvest! Looking forward to see what you do with everything you grow!
E+J
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This garden looks amazing. I love the triangle things that is breaking up the flower beds. This looks so dreamy. Everything a little urban garden should be!
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