Wednesday, June 9, 2010

My New Fruit Garden



Hi everyone! Hope you are all having a good week so far. I thought I’d show you my new fruit garden today. I don’t know how interesting most of you find the subject of growing your own fruit and veg. But it’s something I’m really passionate about since we like to eat organic and growing our own makes it more affordable. Plus, I’m a big believer in self-sufficiency but that’s another post (or blog) LOL!

This is my new plot in my backyard!


I got the arbor w/gate last year at the end of clearance sale at Big Lots. I just painted it white (ran out of paint so only the front and some of the sides are painted so far)!

I had some extra old picket fencing which I just lashed to the front of the wire fencing. I didn’t want to do anything too permanent. I’ve also planted some sunflower seeds etc in front of the fencing.


As you can see this new area is fairly close to my vegetable garden. I’m not sure I’m keeping it two separate areas. I may combine the two and make one large garden.


In this area we have raspberries!


I haven’t finished the trellis for the raspberry bushes yet. This raised bed is made with concrete cinderblocks as we have a ton of them from dismantling our pond.

A potted lemon tree.



Which has two lemons so far!


My two potted columnar apple trees which I showed you before when they were basically just sticks.


Aunt Molly Ground Cherries!


Do you all know about Ground Cherries? The flavor is supposed to be similar to strawberries.

catalog photo not my plant yet


This is my first time growing them and I’m really looking forward to harvesting them. Supposedly they make really good pies and jams.


I have grapes growing along the fence line.


Here’s my one Honeydew melon plant. We’ll see how it does. I don’t really have good luck with melons. I did successfully grow "a" cantaloupe a few years ago, so I have some hope for this melon plant!



There are big and little pumpkin/decorative squash plants growing in here too. Some I’ve tucked into the openings of the cinderblocks but they seem to dry out quickly so I don’t think that was a good idea!!



I’m thinking that if I keep a separate area for fruit, I might net the whole thing like I do my blueberry bushes above.

I’ve see a few photos of people’s dwarf fruit orchard where they erected a netting system over the whole thing instead of individual nets for each tree. I also think I may move my strawberry bed in here and turn my strawberry bed into an asparagus bed!


If you’re interested in urban/suburban farming there’s a really good new magazine out. Check my categories under "In The Garden" on my sidebar for similar posts.


This is published by the people that put out Hobby Farms (another really good mag).



As always, thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today!

As you know, I’m up to my neck with projects around the house due to the termite damage etc and then there’s the garden and just yard and house maintenance. I’m sorry I haven’t been by to see you all (I usually try to, although it’s getting more and more difficult). So bear with me – it’s just an incredibly busy time for me right now (plus I’m trying to teach my daughter how to parallel park etc. so she can get her driver’s license this month)!

58 comments:

Julie said...

I just bought two composters like the one I can see in your pictures. Do you like yours?

Your garden looks great I'm so looking forward to having mine done. It should be ready to show at the end of next week.

Have a wonderful day back!

Ally's Corner said...

Love your yard, you have such a green thumb. Good luck with parallel parking, I hated that part of the test.

Stephanie @ La Dolce Vita said...

Love your yard and your garden! I wish I had enough space for a garden here, but I don't! :( But your post reminds me of a book I wish listed: Product Image
"The Backyard Homestead: Produce all the food you need on just a quarter acre!" Have you seen that one?

Unknown said...

It looks like you have lots of room to garden. Does your hubby help or is it all your domaine? I use to have raspberries when I lived in the old farmhouse. It was wonderful to have our own berries. You have a great selection of fruit. Linda

Connie said...

Honey, we left our lemon trees back in California and I KNOW they wouldn't survive in this desert. I love your back yard though. We're still trying to get ours "up and running" since we built 5 years ago and it's a struggle, chick, really a struggle. But we will!
xoxo,
Connie

Mary Ellen said...

Love to see the happenings in your garden! Good luck with the parallel parking. I still don't know how to do it!

Mary Ellen

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Look at those raspberries! I just have my veggies and herbs planted - no fruit. In fact today I went to a local organic farmers market to buy some raspberries! I might have to plant some now...:-)
Hugs,
Penny

Julie Harward said...

LOL...good luck with the parking lessons! I love your garden plots, very cute indeed! I love raspberries right off the bush...YUM! Come say hi :D

homespundiva said...

AWESOME!!! Those potted lemon trees look great!

GlorV1 said...

When it comes to gardening and veggies, fruits, etc...we are two of a kind. Our grapes are doing great, my tomato plants, squash, chili and other are flourishing, and there is lots more in the garden. I love your fence and how you made do with what you had. It all looks so you Manuela. Take care.

Erin | Bygone Living said...

Wow... so beautiful! I love it!

Unknown said...

You should try watermelons. Our plants have about ten on there. I can't wait for them to be ready to eat. Watermelons are my favorite.

vintage girl at heart said...

Love seeing all of your veges and fruits and your techniques and will use you as a reference when I try to grow stuff in the Fall.
Blessings~

Julie said...

LOVE LOVE Your fenced off garden areas. Little rooms full of nature's beauty and bounty. Raspberries and cherries and blueberries...Oh I feel jealousy coming...no. I'm excited for you!!
Colors in your house, Colors in your yard, and Colors that are edible!! woot. LEMONS too! I would have believed you lived in Fla, or Cal. if I didn't know better. You are awesome girl...You are inspiration for me. If GA can handle it, then NC probably can too. I will come back to these garden posts one day when I am telling my hubby...oh YES we can...I know a bloggy sis who does... lol! Thanks for the fun post and delicious!!! Hugs.

Becky K. said...

I love red raspberries!! My Grandma, who is very ill right now, used to make the very best frozen red raspberry jam. I am sure she rationed it when we visited but we never noticed.

Your garden area is wonderful.

Becky K.

Decorchick! said...

You have such a beautiful garden and yard!! Some of your green thumb needs to rub off on me. :)

Charlene said...

Love your fruit garden! I thought I was going to be home long enough to garden this year, but that didn't happen. It's my goal to have a fruit and veggie garden for next year, though. We're trying some container gardening on our screened-in patio off of our second story apartment--unfortunately, the only time of the day that we get direct light is in the heat of the afternoon and evening/. So far the plants are growing, but no blooms or fruit yet.

Good luck with your garden!

Sharlotte said...

Manuela,
Wow, what a great garden area! I love the gate and white picket fence. I have always wanted to start a garden...maybe this will be the year! Thanks for the inspiration!
Sharlotte

The Old Parsonage said...

Hi Manuela

I love how neat and tidy everything looks. An it must be heaven to harvest your bounty!

Leann

Brenda@CoffeeTeaBooks said...

I love the way your gardens look.

We're thinking of planting blueberry bushes. We don't have a lot of property that gets full sun (since we do live at the edge of a forest). :)

However, there is enough room to expand the garden next year and I'd love to grow blueberries. They grow well in our part of the country.

Beginning to feel human again. Hoping to completely recover and get out in the garden.

Glenda/MidSouth said...

Thanks for the tour of your garden. Looks like everything is off to a great start. The raspberries look good.
Thanks for visiting. I am bad about leaving my camera at home. You would think I would know the drill by now.:D

mizdarlin said...

As long as your daughter isn't paralell parking in the raspberres, you'll be fine..and I've never heard of ground cheeries before..they sound wonderful, so I'll have to look for them..your garden and fence look beautiful!

Brenda Pruitt said...

Heavens, the old parallel park demon. I remember from my days of getting a license. I HATED to parallel park! Anyway, Manuela, you're well on your way to being self sufficient in the fruit category!
Brenda

Jen said...

Thanks for sharing your garden. Your arbor is awesome!
Parallel parking...yuk...I will drive around a block 5 times to avoid doing it! LOL

Jeannette

Vee said...

Nothing going on in my world...same old, same old...let me just visit you for a while. ;D

You're pretty darned amazing with all the gardens you have going. How much time do they take to maintain a day?

Free Art Printables said...

It looks great Manuela! I've grown ground cherries every year. They are ripe after they are a dark golden yellow. before that they can be mild;y toxic so make sure they are ripe then they are perfectly safe. Lots of times they fall before they are ripe, just leave them in their husks until they ripen. They keep a very long time too. You can make jelly, preserves, etc and are super yummy!

Kristi said...

I LOVE this subject!!! I have had my own garden for a few years but have always wanted to grow fruit as well. I have BIG garden plans for the new house so I'm taking notes from yours!!! you live in a nice warm climate so I'm sure your season of growing is a lot longer. But there is NOTHING like fresh ORGANIC produce from your OWN garden! Thanks for sharing and I love the fence around it! :)
Kristi

Simple Home said...

My garden is pretty sad looking compared to yours, but I have a feeling you get most of your water from nature, and we have to water constantly. I love eating what we grow too though, so I try to grow some every year. I love that trellis. Your garden reminds me of the one in Susan Branch's Summer book.
Blessings,
Marcia

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

What a pretty garden! Summer time is busy for everyone! I love being outside! ♥

Bargain Decorating with Laurie said...

Oh Manuela, your garden looks so pretty. I love your arbor and fence in front of it, and everything is looking so healthy. It's a good thing I don't live close by - I'd be coming over to get some of your produce. laurie

Maura @ Kisiwa Creek Photography said...

Hi Manuela, your garden is looking wonderful! Love the arbor and picket fence too...very nice. Looks like your garden is doing well...my melons didn't make it but I do have pumpkins and watermelons. Well we'll see if they amount to anything. Enjoy your garden and your fruit...take care...Maura :)

Darlene said...

You absolutely have some wonderful gardens. LOVE all the fruits you are showing. It all looks so pretty in the setting you have made too.

Melissa Miller said...

Nice job Manuela! It all looks tasty and wonderful. :)

Betty said...

What a wonderful job you did with your yard space. You put down staw because? It might be something I am interesting in doing hope you don't mind me asking. Thank you and have a great day, Betty

Kay said...

Great idea on the sunflowers by your fence! I am going to plant some in front of my ugly pallet enclosed compost pile.

Your garden is beautiful! Good job!

Marianne said...

What an amazing space you have out there. I would so make it a fruit garden! Nothing better than fresh fruit from your own garden, and keeping the birdies and other critters out is so much easier in a contained space.
Good luck with all of your projects, and with the parallel parking.

Susan said...

Oh, dear, I'm suffering from severe garden envy. Your gardens are great. I am still trying to figure out what to do here at our new place. It's so small compared to the 2 and a half acres we came from... You gardens are giving me ideas, though.

Happy Summer,
Susan

Tonya Gunn said...

Growing your own fruits is wonderful.
On our little homestead (new to us last summer) we have added six small blueberry bushes and an apple tree (there were two here which we have pruned.) Your place looks great.
Warm wishes, Tonya

Anna said...

You have a beautiful garden area!I love your fence and gruit you are growing.Take care,Anna

Donna said...

I think it's wonderful to have all that fruit growing in your back yard! Those raspberries look delicious! We just planted a peach tree this year and have blueberries and strawberries. You have inspired me to plant more!

Hugs,
Donna

Deanna Rabe - Creekside Cottage Blog said...

Love your new garden area! The arch is perfect for that spot!

Laura said...

How wonderful!!! I love it! I am so envious and wish I had a yard large enough to plant a garden of that size. :)
Have a great day!

Catherine (Alecat Music) said...

I just love looking at how others have their gardens. Your arbour and gate look so cute with the white picket fence. :)

Sharon said...

How lovely Manuela! Your garden is just beautiful :) Your Raspberries are making my mouth water :) May your harvest be bountiful!

Sharon

Jenni said...

Hi Manuela~

Your garden is so lovely! I love the arbor and picket fence, too! I love seeing your garden, and what you do in it! The up close picture of your raspberry plant is amazing, by the way! :)

I can't wait to do more with the outside of our home. We have been so busy on the inside, trying to make it nice. The yard is mowed and "weed-wacked" on a regular basis, but it needs some more attention! :) Your posts on your yard and garden always inspire me!

Have a beautiful day!

Anonymous said...

Thankyou so much for publishing your garden again. It is inspiring to me and gets me out there doing more in ours! :) Please tell us how you g et into the blue berry bushes that have the netting over them...Do you just roll it up? Please show us when you do the "fruit room" later. My berries and fruit trees are on fences and in the middle of the yard so I cannot do a room but it sure is a very good idea!! Some others will read this and do it this way...good thinking Manuela!! Sarah

Heather Anne said...

I really like your new header and format - very simple and pretty! I love to see pictures of your garden - but I do have a bit of garden envy now and again! Maybe someday I'll be able to plant on a larger scale, but for now, we are enjoying our few strawberries and raspberries!

Debbie said...

Raising my hand to vote "Yes" for moving the strawberry beds and replacing them with asparagus.

I love your fruit garden and wish that I had more sunshine around this joint.

Good luck with all you are trying to do. I'm pretty sure...and don't ask how I know... that your daughter might possibly live the next 32 years without parallel parking again...

However, it's a must for the license so I wish you both good luck with the lessons!

Susan Freeman said...

What a charming garden Manuela! You are an inspiration to me!!

Love,
Susan and Bentley
xxoo

Donna (Timeless Settings) said...

What an adorable garden!

Donna

Betsy Brock said...

Very nice! I grow raspberries and enjoy them so much! I always say that warm weather more than doubles our work as we not only have the inside of the house, but the whole yard to work on, too! LOL!

Have fun driving with your daughter! I have such fun memories of that with my Taylor!

Angie said...

I think it is great you are growing your own fruits and veges. Good luck with all you have going on!

Wsprsweetly Of Cottages said...

what a wonderful little garden plot you have made for yourself. It looks so much withthe arbor and gate.

Melissa Miller said...

Manuela thank you so much for your kind kind about my weight loss!!! You really made my day. You're the best!

Have a wonderful weekend. ~Melissa :)

Donna, The Decorated House said...

Hello Manuela~
This was so much fun!
Soon we won't have much room left for veggies, but Hubby wants to garden again soon. I loved see your garden!
Have a wonderful weekend,
Donna

PattieJ said...

Awesome!! What a huge huge yard! Very nice!

Terri Steffes said...

Wow, that is one great garden. I don't grow much fruit but you have really inspired me. I'll have to talk to bob about it and see what he thinks!

Melanie {The Tiny Tudor} said...

I'm looking forward to checking out Urban Farm- sounds like a great resource!