Help me start my garden

[Deltanugz]

So I've been growing for years, but I have little experience with organics, outdoors, or veggies. I have a (very) small plot in my back yard that I want to grow food crops in. The space is about 7' by 3' and is squeezed between a fence and the house. Basically I get full sun between about 10 am and 2pm. The rest of the time it's indirect light only. I was planning on installing a box made out of (2) 2" x 12" redwood boards making for a planter box 24" high.

A quick description of the environment: Coastal weather, figure about 38 degrees latitude. Drip/mister system installed.

So first question is, what can I grow in this environment? I already have a space for an herb garden in my front yard. I also have a Meyer lemon tree in the back corner of the yard. I'm looking first for veggies that will produce OK with the limited light, and second for a good mix of plants that won't leave the space barren in winter-time.

Second question is, what's the best way to prepare the ground, and what sort of mix should I use to fill the planter?

Third question is, can I grow tomatoes in a pot? I have another space which has light from 10-4 in the summer but the ground there is concrete. Can I grow them up the side of a pole if I provide proper support? How big of a pot should I use?

[hydrorascal]

1. 4 hours of sun wont do much for veggies.
2. ground ?? as in soil ?? booo.. soil is.. well.. its dirty ~!~
3. Tomatoes love to grow in pots, preferably 5 gallon type. A rototiller will take care of your 'concrete' ground. Add sand and sawdust....

[vapor]

lancifer is on vaction he will be back soon or stop in on the road peace and patients

[ntstephenson]

Hello Deltanugz, I'm glad to see you are doing well. If I may take a shot at your questions:

1) You probably won't have enough light at that location for tomatoes, and corn is a waste of space in a very small plot. I suggest staying with lettuce and other greens, root crops, and squash and cucumbers. Peppers, depending on breed, may do well also. Remember, no dill near carrots, no hot peppers near sweet peppers, and plant marigolds and other beneficial plants too.

2) If moles are a concern, use hardware cloth tacked to the inside of your frame at the bottom to prevent critters. As far as ground prep, if your bed is going to be 23 inches tall, I don't think you really need to worry about it. (I grow in 15" deep beds - two 2x8's. I think this is sufficient unless you plan on growing very deep rooting vegetables. You might consider using some drain tile (with the sock) run down the center of the bed lengthwise or a few inches of non-limestone gravel at the bottom for drainage. As for medium, I love mushroom compost. Cut with perlite as needed, but the soil doesn't have to be as light as soil for mj.

3) Yes a tomato plant can be grown in a pot. There are small determinate varieties that are made for a three gallon pot. I prefer indeterminate varieties trained to trellises, this would require 5 gallon at least, depending on desired plant size. You can use a pole, but it would be more effective if you used a tomato cage or even one of those decorative wooden trellises for smaller potted ivies. A pole alone isn't really enough area to train and support a tomato plant. Remember also that squash and cucumbers can be grown on trellises as well, freeing up valuable garden space. Just be sure that they're on the north side so they don't shade everything else.

Hopefully ceterus paribus will be by so you can pick his brain for organic ferts. Good luck and nice to see you again.

[Deltanugz]

1. 4 hours of sun wont do much for veggies.
2. ground ?? as in soil ?? booo.. soil is.. well.. its dirty ~!~
3. Tomatoes love to grow in pots, preferably 5 gallon type. A rototiller will take care of your 'concrete' ground. Add sand and sawdust....

I know 4 hours isn't much, but it is high noon sun... I gotta work with what I've got =(

And the concrete is actually concrete... A 5 gallon bucket or two for a couple of tomato plants seems like a winner though.