The entire project started with this fun backyard design that I drew up in my Photoshop as my husband explained his vision of the project. I am a VERY visual-minded person, and I wanted to āseeā what it would be like. It was a very overwhelming project to start. Sometimes it seemed unreachable and that we would NEVER. BE. FINISHED. But, we have worked steadily on it for a very long time. Have you ever had a NEVER-ENDING project!?!? Ha ha. This meets that definition to a āTā. š It feels good to see progress!!!
Ā
The backyard started looking like a dirt pile and now it looks like this!!!
It all began with our backyard design that helped us to stay on task!
The other day, a good friend said to me {while at a BBQ in our backyard}, āHey, I LOVE your garden!!ā Ha ha. She was being sarcastic because she has heard me wishing and hoping for a garden for three years now!! This is what she was looking at: Donāt you love it!?!?
Ā
After Dan got home from a work trip, he proudly announced that he had already bought my Motherās Day gift. I was excited, but Iām the type that like to be surprised so I figured he would wait until the actual Motherās Day to reveal his gift. Well, he had something else in mind! He planned to get my garden planterās boxes installed for my Motherās Day gift. I was so excited!! I grew up having an amazing garden, and Iām sure I am going to need all the advice I can get because Iāve never grown much myself.
Ā
He brought home two of these kits that he bought at Sams Club, and they were SOOOO easy to put together.
We started clearing out the crap and got busy the next day!
Ā We laid out weed mat like the instructions said. Ā
We already had a ton of landscape rock left to make the area look finishes, so we started shoveling away {with a little help from our four year old Princess}. š
In no time it was already looking a MILLION times better! All we need now is a small shed in the back corner for the Hubsters.Then a few days later we were ready to make our garden soil. After seeking the advice of several professionals and lots of family and friends, we bought four ingredients: Peat Moss, Top Soil, Steer Manure, and Vermiculite. {Let me also let you know that our soil is not good where we live. It is FULL of rocks and lots of clay.} That is why we decided on the grow boxes instead of planting directly into the ground.
Ā Ā
We poured the peat moss into the grow boxes and the kids broke it up into small smooth pieces so that we could spread it evenly throughout the boxes. {Do you like my daughter Londynās āgarden gloves!?!ā} Ha!
The kids did a great job and then we took over with the other mixing. {It was GROSS and we didnāt want the kids putting the manure or vermiculite in their mouths.}We mixed up the soil by adding a bag of each ingredient at a time. Well, except the vermiculite. We only used one bag of that, and we spread it out between the four spaces in the boxes.
We spread out the soil and watered the boxes {per the instructions}, and then we are waiting to turn the soil one last time before planting!
Ā
Iām pretty darn STOKED! Dan did good this year on his Motherās Day gift!!!
Do you have a garden!?!? I canāt wait for mine. If you have one, what do you grow!?! I am planting: Tomatoes, strawberries, onions, cucumbers, zucchini, squash, green peppers, carrots and garlic. I canāt decide what else to plant! Iāll have to see what I have room for!
Published on May 10, 2012
20 thoughts on “Garden grow boxes {INSTALLED}”
Love it! We have a spot in front of a stone retaining wall that's right on the street that's paved in asphalt. I keep thinking that I'd like to just put some raised beds there. It doesn't seem so terribly hard, after seeing your post on it! š
We just started our first garden this year and I'm loving it! We also made garden boxes and we used Mel's mix like you did. You might be too late to plant some things like onions and carrots. I live in Salt Lake and planted mine over a month ago. Also, garlic is planted in the fall and harvested in spring so that will have to wait as well. Check out: mysquarefootgarden.net for tons of information! Good luck!
Your boxes look great and your soil composition should work wonderfully for you. I was not successful using the boxes. Apparently you have to keep them watered. (even more so than a regular garden in the ground-they dry out much quicker.) I would suggest you find another place for the strawberries-they are perennials and would limit your veggie production. Here is a suggestion for a type of strawberry planter that you could use. http://tinyurl.com/7pjx2po Oh-I plant pretty much what you have listed plus herbs (cilantro, basil, parsley, rosemary) eggplants and beets. Have fun!
I have been gardening for forever and have a veg garden in my front yard. Just keep in mind with your strawberries that they spread like crazy!! So make sure you have a place designated for just the strawberries!
I also like to grow my cucumbers and squashes on a tomato cage so that they are easier to harvest.
I'm trying to grow tomatillos this year. Definitely grow basil by your tomatoes. They are good to grow together and I've read it makes the tomatoes taste better. My stepmom told me last year that my tomatoes were the yummiest home grown tomatoes she has ever tasted. š
I love it! I saw these in the store. š How many bags in all did you end up using? Do you live in california also? The dirt here in the desert is terrible!!!
I just made a raised garden, as well! You need to research "square foot" garden. There is a book or you can just google it. But basically, you dived you garden into square feet and it tells you how many veggies you can plant in each section.
Hi, I'm not new to your blog but this may be my first comment. Ironically, my hubby built me a framed for my veggis as well. I'm starting with just one to see how that works, haha! Its been raining in NY for a couple of days now but I'm hoping to fill them with dirt after Wednesay when the rain is suppose to stop. Good luck with your veggis.
It'll take a few years for your strawberries to really produce anything f.y.i. They'll look nearly dead during the winter, but should come back each year getting bigger and bigger. Also, cucumbers do better if you plant them in about March here because it gets so flippin' hot. Sandia nursery in Washington fields is the best place to get transplants and have them do good I've found (or so it seems). I've never done garlic…so I'm interested to see how it turns out for you because I love garlic! Good luck! Gardening can be therapeutic š
The other day, a good friend said to me {while at a BBQ in our backyard}, āHey, I LOVE your garden!!ā Ha ha. She was being sarcastic because she has heard me wishing and hoping for a garden for three years now!! This is what she was looking at: Donāt you love it!?!?
Ā 
Ā We laid out weed mat like the instructions said. 
Ā 
Then a few days later we were ready to make our garden soil. After seeking the advice of several professionals and lots of family and friends, we bought four ingredients: Peat Moss, Top Soil, Steer Manure, and Vermiculite. {Let me also let you know that our soil is not good where we live. It is FULL of rocks and lots of clay.} That is why we decided on the grow boxes instead of planting directly into the ground.
Ā 
The kids did a great job and then we took over with the other mixing. {It was GROSS and we didnāt want the kids putting the manure or vermiculite in their mouths.}
We mixed up the soil by adding a bag of each ingredient at a time. Well, except the vermiculite. We only used one bag of that, and we spread it out between the four spaces in the boxes.
We spread out the soil and watered the boxes {per the instructions}, and then we are waiting to turn the soil one last time before planting!
Love it! We have a spot in front of a stone retaining wall that's right on the street that's paved in asphalt. I keep thinking that I'd like to just put some raised beds there. It doesn't seem so terribly hard, after seeing your post on it! š
One of my favorite things to grow is fresh basil!!! So fresh and yummy!
I wish I could grow something edible, but my 80 lb boxer eats everything! GRRR!
But I am happy for you:))
We just started our first garden this year and I'm loving it! We also made garden boxes and we used Mel's mix like you did. You might be too late to plant some things like onions and carrots. I live in Salt Lake and planted mine over a month ago. Also, garlic is planted in the fall and harvested in spring so that will have to wait as well. Check out: mysquarefootgarden.net for tons of information! Good luck!
Your boxes look great and your soil composition should work wonderfully for you. I was not successful using the boxes. Apparently you have to keep them watered. (even more so than a regular garden in the ground-they dry out much quicker.) I would suggest you find another place for the strawberries-they are perennials and would limit your veggie production. Here is a suggestion for a type of strawberry planter that you could use. http://tinyurl.com/7pjx2po
Oh-I plant pretty much what you have listed plus herbs (cilantro, basil, parsley, rosemary) eggplants and beets. Have fun!
What a great gift!!
I have been gardening for forever and have a veg garden in my front yard. Just keep in mind with your strawberries that they spread like crazy!! So make sure you have a place designated for just the strawberries!
I also like to grow my cucumbers and squashes on a tomato cage so that they are easier to harvest.
Good luck!
? Ashley
atparsons.blogspot.com
I'm trying to grow tomatillos this year. Definitely grow basil by your tomatoes. They are good to grow together and I've read it makes the tomatoes taste better. My stepmom told me last year that my tomatoes were the yummiest home grown tomatoes she has ever tasted. š
Love those boxes! Come on over and check out my garden progress!
I grow parsley (all year in st George) and cilantro and basil! Good luck.
I grow parsley (all year in st George) and cilantro and basil! Good luck.
I love it! I saw these in the store. š How many bags in all did you end up using? Do you live in california also? The dirt here in the desert is terrible!!!
http://munchtalk.blogspot.com/
I just made a raised garden, as well! You need to research "square foot" garden. There is a book or you can just google it. But basically, you dived you garden into square feet and it tells you how many veggies you can plant in each section.
in ground trampoline…how cool is that!
Love it! I love it when projects get done!!!
What a WONDERFUL Mothers Day gift!!Looks awesome already!
Like it! Wish my place has a garden like that too. Really like the grass area. š
real estate ph
Hi,
I'm not new to your blog but this may be my first comment. Ironically, my hubby built me a framed for my veggis as well. I'm starting with just one to see how that works, haha! Its been raining in NY for a couple of days now but I'm hoping to fill them with dirt after Wednesay when the rain is suppose to stop. Good luck with your veggis.
It'll take a few years for your strawberries to really produce anything f.y.i. They'll look nearly dead during the winter, but should come back each year getting bigger and bigger. Also, cucumbers do better if you plant them in about March here because it gets so flippin' hot. Sandia nursery in Washington fields is the best place to get transplants and have them do good I've found (or so it seems). I've never done garlic…so I'm interested to see how it turns out for you because I love garlic! Good luck! Gardening can be therapeutic š
Get a whisky barrel or two to place nearby and do herbs. Chives are my favorite!
We made our first garden bed this year for our first backyard. EVER. It's a huge deal. It's taken over my life. That's a great Mother's Day gift!