Wednesday, July 2, 2014

Veggies In The Driveway

I've fought for the 13 years I've lived in this house to find a good place to grow veggies.  I'm too attached to my ornamentals to make a place in my flower beds.  I've mixed them in over the years, but things like tomatoes just take up too much dang room. They're bed hogs, those tomatoes.


So this year, I set up shop in the driveway.  Our next door neighbor has a plot of dirt between our driveway and his house, that has just been a big giant weed patch forever.  So with permission, I cleaned out all the weeds and stuck some edibles in.  I also had a big container that I was originally gonna use as a compost bin, but we set it up at the edge of the driveway, filled that bad boy up with dirt, and planted it.

It's not the prettiest part of the yard, but hey, I'm growin' food!  And you wouldn't believe how much everything has grown since I took these pictures!  I have green tomatoes already!!!  So stinkin' exciting.

In the neighbor's little section, I have five tomatoes, corn, and one eggplant.
The ginormous oregano plant was already there - planted by another neighbor years ago.








In our driveway, I have three big black grower's pots with a tomato in each one.
So 8 tomatoes total and they're all REALLY fun ones.
I bought them through a fundraiser at the kids' school.


Don't make fun of my ghetto caging.

In the big container (I can't remember what these are originally used for, but they're holding containers of some sort and mine is one that has been cut in half), I have 4 regular cucumbers, 4 lemon cucumbers, 2 Japanese eggplant, 1 regular eggplant, and two different kinds of basil, 3 plants total.










We also have a strip lower in the driveway, that divides the properties, that's planted with arborvitae.
I stuck some tomato starts that came up in the backyard in between those, as well as a watermelon.
I didn't get any pictures yet, though.
I'm anxious to see how everything does.
I started a new Pinterest board called Edible Garden.
In addition to tips, raised bed ideas, and pretty support structures, I've been pinning dream gardens.
Ya know, for someday when I have my farmhouse on a big piece of property.
Are you eating anything out of your garden yet?
Do you have a designated space, or just poke 'em in where they'll fit like I've always done?



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8 comments:

  1. Oh I can't to hear about all your yummy successes. Sounds like you really packed a lot in there. We have two raised beds for the edibles. Lots of goodies in there this year: cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, kohlrabi, zucchini, yellow squash, kale, chard and lettuces. We've already eaten the greens.....melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Mmmmmm.

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  2. You're exactly like me, Mindy. I can't bring myself to make room for edibles among my beloved ornamentals. No way. Well, except for raspberries. Fortunately there is a side yard and I also use it to grow veggies in containers. I'll have to post photos one of these days. We've been eating strawberries, raspberries and honeyberries and blueberries. A few ripe cherry tomatoes. Don't you just love this time of year? So fun.

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  3. It was fun to see the way you are growing some edibles. I, am growing plants in containers in our driveway. It is the only place in our yard that gets the necessary sun and has easy access to the hose for watering. Every day when I am out watering my flower beds, I can stand up on the hill next to the driveway and give my containers of potatoes, tomatoes, and patty pan squash a good watering. This year there are only three containers. Styrofoam coolers to be exact. It all started when I decided to see if I could grow two potatoes that had sprouted before I had a chance to cook them. Next year, I think I will put more containers there. My containers look especially festive caged with chicken wire to keep the squirrels out. Have harvested two tomatoes so far, and two Pixie Potatoes. I have really had fun seeing how the plants would do in their containers.

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  4. Yes!!! Love this!! Welcome to the food side!!! Looks good so far! Remember tomatoes are heavy feeders. (Like me they like to eat!). Cantwait to see more!!

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  5. Hey, use all the space you've got! Enjoy your vittles!

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  6. A job well done friend!!!! Look at all of that veggie goodness you have growing there! And how creative are you! Using the space you have to grow veggies and the containers are brilliant! Bring on the food lady! And yep...I could use that farm as well! Happy weekend! Nicole xo

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  7. Super idea Mindy! Take an ugly unused space and the veggies all look really happy too.

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  8. As always, you are so dang creative :) What a great use of unused space. I am anxious to see how you do with watermelon. My 4 plants are LOVING this heat. The 10 day forecast doesn't show it getting much cooler than 90 down here. This could be one hot summer in the making. At least we will be rolling in Melon and tomatoes!

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