Here's a peek at the vegetable garden plan for the new farmhouse. I'm still wrestling with it, so take a look and let me know what you think!
You can probably guess that I started sketching out some garden plans for our new farmhouse fixer even before we took possession of the property, right? Yep - and there are lots of balled-up pieces of graph paper to show for it! (Good thing I included a page of plain graph paper in the Garden Success Plan Notebook that I can print as many times as I want, huh?)
Specifically, I'm having a much harder time deciding on a vegetable garden plan than I did with either our Portland bungalow or our last property (you can take a garden tour of that property here). Those just came to me and it all made sense. But both those properties had few trees and loads of sun and this one is full of issues:
- A hillside and woods that blocks western sun from about 3 pm on.
- A perfect spot for a garden (leveled already and close to the house), but with shade from hillside and tall single car garage.
- We wanted a smaller garden, but the leveled spot we have to deal with is big.
- There is evidence of frequent deer visits.
I think I have something finally that we can move forward with. But like all initial plans, I'm sure this one will change. I'm going to share a few photos of the area with you first and then what I've sketched out so far with the questions I still have. And if you have any ideas to add, feel free to share - I know some of you are amazing gardeners!
Farmhouse Vegetable Garden Plan
This is the space that we have to deal with. It is a leveled graveled area left over after a hardship manufactured home was removed before the property went up for sale. It's approximately 45' deep and 39' wide and is bordered by large rocks used as a wall for the sloping land to the right.
The single-wide garage to the left had been attached so it looks a bit cut off, but it will be a great place to house the riding mower and other large garden tools. It has really high windows and I'm hoping to set up a seed-starting station there.
Note: The only other part of the property that has sun for longer is a far corner by the road (our wooded hillside shades most of the property from the western sun - which will be great in the summer). It would not be convenient (or have water) and I don't really want to garden by a sort-of busy road. Especially when I have this nice place already ready for a garden!
Here you can see how it slopes to the west towards the "1-acre wood" and the rock bolder wall.
And here's the view of the back of the garden and garage looking east. Side note: Won't this be a great place to garden? L.O.V.E.
This part of the gravel area gets the most sun for the longest amount of time, from early morning until about 3 pm. It may be a little later in the summer, but not much, since the hillside and trees are what block the sun after that.
Note: Garden how-tos will tell you that 6 hours of sun a day is considered 'full sun.' And for most things I'm sure this is true. Also depending on where you live. But my experience in Oregon is vegetables that like sun grow best in all-day sun, period. My last garden had sun from about 7 am to 5 pm - that's 10 hours. And when the dwarf fruit trees I planted on the western edge for a wind-break grew to their full height, the beds that were shaded earlier grew smaller, less healthy plants. I'm basing my plans on this experience.
To the right above you can see the pond and palm tree we are left with. The palm casts a shadow so has to go (and it's not my thing in this area anyway…) and we do not want the maintenance of a pond, so that's going to be dismantled. There is water there, though, so we can make a garden spigot using the lines. Since that area gets the most sun, I'm thinking of incorporating that into the plan, too - it all depends on if we can build the deer fence there or not.
So here is the plan I've come up with so far, taking all into consideration:
This is my hand drawn plan from my garden success notebook. It's a little hard to read, but I wanted to include it to show that all you need is a basic sketch when you're starting a new garden. But it's a step that shouldn't be overlooked in planning for easy care gardens. I didn't bother with a ruler or making everything perfect - this is just for my reference.
But in order for you to see things more clearly, I created this on the computer:
This shows a lot more detail because I created it for you guys. Here are some of my thoughts and why this plan:
- I've moved the deer fence behind the shed so that in future if I want to make it a "She Shed" or something, I don't have to walk through the vegetable garden to do it.
- The planters in front of the shed, then, have to hold deer-resistant plants and I read that rhubarb is poison to them and they don't usually eat asparagus.
- There is a lot of area here that is empty, but it also gets the least amount of sun and will need to be deer resistant, so I'm not sure what to do with it.
- The plum tree has a ? because I have to do a bit more research on sun needs. I may not be able to have the tree in the deer fence if not. Then we'll plant elsewhere and protect with fencing until it's big enough.
- The 4x8 beds are to the back for maximum sun (and building raised beds with a N-S orientation is the best for even sun distribution) and will be the main garden beds that I rotate.
- I'd like to have a bed of cutting flowers away from the deer, so the circle bed is for those.
- Ever since visiting Agritopia I have wanted to use metal water troughs in a vegetable garden. And after giving up on growing potatoes in the ground because of the voles at our last house, I think the troughs would be perfect for them and other root veggies. One will hold strawberries and the other three root vegetables.
- Not shown is the fact that I want to plan a watering system that can be more automated utilizing drip irrigation, soaker hoses, and timers. More on that as we create it for sure.
So this isn't set in stone, obviously and some things are unknown now, though I added them to the plan. A big question mark is that I want to move a 16x10 shed from another spot on the property to this area. Not only does it make more sense (it's kinda just stuck on a hillside now), but it will take up more room in this already established area. Brian is not so sure it can be moved without falling apart. So there's that.
So there you have it - the new vegetable garden plan so far. What do you think? What would you keep or change? Have you dealt with low-sun issues like this?
Oh, and if you're looking for gardening supplies recommendations, check out my Amazon Shop where I'm keeping all the things I've mentioned for gardening and more.
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Shannon Berridge says
How fun/challenging to be starting from scratch on your garden plot! I'm looking to plant a raised bed of early, mid & late blooming raspberries for 1st time this spring. How many plants (1 year old) do you plant in your 4 X 8 bed? Just want to hear from true life experience!
Jami says
Well, actually, I should have made those beds smaller in my plan - I do narrower beds for berries since you have to get on both sides of the plants to harvest. So the beds will be about 2.5 x 8 and will hold 4 plants each. They don't like to be crowded and they grow long canes that we need room to harvest, so that's all I fit in 8 ft. Hope that helps you!
Clifford Duvall says
I like your garden Plot. If you are thinking of a plum tree, consider a Damson plum. We seed the plums, then juice them and finally either freeze the pulp for cobblers or make jam.
Jami says
Yes, I grew a Damson in our last garden -they made great dried plums!
Beth M Negrey says
I'm really interested to see how you will deal with the afternoon shade issue, Jami. I don't have much space to garden where I live but the beds I planted last year didn't do all that well--even though they got pretty much that 6 hours of sun amount. I've got a very short backyard bounded on the west by a tall arbor vitae hedge that I can't do anything about. Plus the next door neighbor to the south is in the process of building a shed that's nearly equal to the backyard depth. And about 8 feet high. I know that will affect the amount of sun I counted on last year (despite the fact that he says it won't; better builder than gardener, apparently....). So I'm trying to wait as long as I can before planting to get an idea of how much/little sun I'll get now. Seriously thinking of planting some of my veggies in the front, which gets morning-to-at-least-noon sun. Not that much room there either but maybe just sticking some plants here and there? Love the photos of the farmhouse in the snow!
Jami says
I am just going to do what it sounds like you do - try to put sun and heat loving plants in the areas that get the most sun. We'll be in this together. 🙂
Beth M Negrey says
I've been wanting to plant some Swiss chard and I always try to do lettuces even though I get some in my CSA box. I'd like to do green beans again this summer -- didn't grow them last year. What kind of strawberries do you think you'll grow this year?
Jami says
Oh yes, there's just something about home-grown lettuce and clipping it when it's tender, Beth. I love having Swiss Chard - a couple plants last almost through the season for me if I just take the outside leaves and leave the inside to grow.
I will plant everbearing strawberries here (I grew both June and everbearing at our cottage). The popular Quinalt has done well for me, but I may try another I read about in a catalog that promised the biggest everbearing berries. 🙂
Beth says
I unintentionally didn't do right by my strawberries last year. I planted them in a raised bed that had held tomatoes (rather, 1 Sun Sugar tomato) the previous year and now I read that this is the really wrong thing to do. So I'm not quite sure how I'm going to deal with this -- most likely move the strawberries. Just not to the bed that had the tomatoes last summer.... Can't wait to grow my own Swiss Chard. My favorite pizza is to spread the pizza crust with some olive oil, then add the sauce. And then, julienne a good-sized bunch of chard and heap it up on the crust. Top with a few handfuls of mozarella and then bake. The cheese and chard melt down to something indescribably delicious!
Jami says
Ooo, wow, I will have to try that pizza! Though I'll need to put some sort of meat on it or Brian will complain. 🙂 I bet a prosciutto would be good with that combo.
Ivory says
Wow, what big beautiful space, with so many possibilities. To keep deer out, sorry I don't recall the names, but there are trees and plants/flowers you can plant. Deer hate tge smell and taste. I will ask my sister what's the name of the trees her landscape designer used. I know you will make it fab
Jami says
I'd love to know those trees/plants, Ivory! I've tried to search, but haven't come up with anything like that.
Beth M Negrey says
Up here (from Jami, anyway -- I'm in Silverton OR) I know of at least a couple of people who've used a product called Liquid Fence, I believe. The only thing is that one of them said it kept the deer away, but the skunks absolutely loved it! Yikes!
Amy says
Hi Jami! I've been following you for many years now and just love your blog. I was wondering if you're still planting Jolly Elf grape tomatoes? I grew them after reading your recommendation for them, and we absolutely LOVED them! Best grape tomatoes we've ever had. Sadly, I can't find the seeds anymore. I'd like to plant them again. I don't know if they're heirloom or not. I tried to save the seeds. I had some volunteers over the years, but not a lot of harvest. Anyway, I'd love to hear if you're still planting them and if so, where you've found the seed. Thank you so much for all you do! I've learned so much from you over the years. I'm also enjoying the podcast. And of course the new farmhouse remodel! It's inspiring me! My husband and I bought a 1910 farmhouse in WA county near the coast range on half an acre three years ago. Our remodel will take us quite some time since we do everything ourselves and my husband works full time outside the home. I homeschool three children and we have our oldest in college. So, we take one small project at a time, as frugally as we can. 🙂
Jami says
Yes, Jolly Elf grape tomatoes are hybrids, which is why they didn't save well. I found some of the seeds on Amazon - they are hard to find!
It's fun that we're both remodeling farmhouses at the same time. 🙂
Juls Owings says
Check out the blog of Old World Garden Farm here in OH. They have a great way to grow potatoes with very little work.They have a great garden. The Prudent Homemaker has a lot of ideas also even though she is in Los Vegas.
You need a sitting area in the garden for mini breaks and a place to put baskets/pans/ etc of the harvest or plants you are putting in.
Shaded areas can be salad items...lettuce, spinach etc. I plant petunias with my onions, marigolds with tomatoes.
It would depend on if you are doing a Fresh eat during season garden, put up for the year garden or I just want some fresh produce but not a lot of it (Example my single son) garden.
Jami says
Good ideas, Juls - thanks! I have followed The Prudent Homemaker for years - she has a lovely garden - and will check out Old World Garden Farm.
I do a serious rotation of my beds to help deter pests and disease and so it's hard to contemplate having beds that only grow certain things (like shade-tolerant crops). But it is what it is, so I'll have to get used to it. 🙂
I do half and half - I want to eat fresh, but I also have some key things I want to preserve like beans, tomatoes, berries, etc. So that will be the challenge for me!
Jeanne says
What do you use for the deer fence? We struggle with deer issues in IL and I"m curious how you plan to prevent them from a summer-long buffet.
Jami says
We are going to build one like we see around our area, Jeanne. They are 8-9 ft. wood frames with wire fencing. Our last fence was just over 6' with a 7' wire strung on top and it didn't really do it.
Juls Owings says
think prison fencing... angle out top so they jump into it instead of over it.
Jami says
Will do - prison fencing. 🙂