Designing the PerfectVegetable Garden

Cynthia Sandberg Love Apple Farms

www.LoveAppleFarms.com

The original Love Apple Farm, Ben Lomond, CA

What this class will not cover

● Growing tips● Cultivation techniques

Workshops that cover these topics: ● Early Spring Vegetable Gardening ● Summer Vegetable Gardening● Tomato Masters● Container Vegetable Gardening● Winter Vegetable Gardening

See our website for more details on classes: www.LoveAppleFarms.com

Class Guidelines

Please keep cross-talk to a minimum.

This presentation will be emailed to you, so you need not write everything down. If you don't get it, check your spam folder first, then email us to ask for it again.

Links List - Get on it!

It’ll be passed around.

Put your name and email address

Write legibly

Probably will go into your spam folder

Will have links to everything we talk about in class

Any troubles, email me at loveapplefarms@gmail.com

What are the essentialGARDEN ELEMENTS?

● Growing beds● Tool storage (including barrows)● Compost pile

● Worm bin● Supply storage (amendments, pots, trays, potting soil)● Bee hive

● Chicken coop● Small greenhouse● Potting area

Example of How One of Our Students Fit a Chicken Coop in her Backyard

Hobby Greenhouses

What are you starting with?Base Ground

● Bare soil● Lawn● Gravel● Other hardscape (concrete, asphalt)● Balcony

Tree Considerations

● Deciduous● Evergreen● Maturity over time● Pine/Fir/Redwood

Sun Positioning in Summer vs Winter

Potential Sun Blockers● Buildings (permanent and seasonal)● Trellises (existing and future)● Fences (existing and future)

Potential Sun Blockers

● Fog ● Slopes (north vs. south

facing)

What if the Best Sun is in Your Front Yard?This front yard was a former design student's

She turned it into a beautiful edible front yard

Best Position of Garden Beds

North to South or East to West?

How it affects growth:● Yield● Disease● Types of plants

In a Perfect Garden● Veg beds run north to south● If you can squeak one in that runs east to west, then do it,

but plan your plant positions accordingly.

Consider Irrigation

● Hand watering● Drip irrigation installation● Beds that are too long are

irrigated incorrectly ● Water source location● Easy to install - come to our

Drip class on April 9●

Let's Talk about Paths

● Walking ease● Barrow access● Shading of other beds● Plant growth onto paths

Too Narrow of Paths

● Folks can't walk side by side

● Plants take up path space as they grow

● Plants grown vertically shade their neighbors too much

Path Materials: Nothing

Grass Paths

● Mowing● Watering issues● Weed infiltration

Gravel Paths

Concrete Paths

Brick Paths

Fabric and Mulch (Bark) Paths

● Fabric sources● Mulch sources

○ Dump○ Tree companies○ Craigslist

Landscape Fabric for Weed Control in Paths

Great deal at Costco in spring

Otherwise, pricey.

Pin down with landscape staples.

Ready for a Quick Break?

Let's talk about BedsConsider the gardener's physical limitations:● Tall vs short● Children● Disabled access● Pets● Maturing Adults

DIMENSIONAL OPTIONSfor growing beds

We like: 4 feet wide, 12 feet long and one foot high

CONSTRUCTION MATERIAL OPTIONS

What will you make your beds out of?

Is this a temporary space or permanent space?● Renters● Borrowers● Owners - How long will you

own?● Money considerations

Bed Materials: Nothing

"Raised" Beds

Sun Warming Raised Rows

Stake and Twine

Straw Bales

New!Straw BaleGardening

Class Apr 24

Straw Wattles

Wine Bottles - Get Creative With Recyclables!

Recycled Concrete

Dry Stack Blocks

Poured Concrete Forms

Cinder Blocks

Logs & Trunks - Natural Wood

Railroad Ties● Beware of toxicity in some● Really old ties are better● Research new non-toxic

types● Great website on tie designs

(will send in Links List)

GeoPlanters - Durable Fabric Beds

Let’s take another quick break brefore we discuss Lumber-sided beds

Lumber

● Cedar● Pine/Fir● Recycled Plastic (Trex Decking)● Pressure Treated Lumber

A no-no

RedwoodNew ● Rough cut vs. Smooth Sides smooth ● Lumber yard vs. private mill● Cost per lineal foot:

4"x4" redwood post: $2.89 per foot

8 foot RW post = $23.12

Pro-Build Felton Big Creek Santa Cruz

2 x 6 $1.66 $1.59 (S) or $1.87 (RC)

2 x 8 $2.90 $2.60 (S) or $2.49 (RC)

2 x 10 3.69 $3.25 (S) - no RC2 x 12 $4.55 $3.87 (S) or $3.74 (RC)

Cost for 4 foot x 12 foot Redwood Beds

Made out of 2"x6" Redwood: Cheapest lineal foot = $1.59Doublestack, so bed is 12" high: 4 boards that are 12 feet long (2 boards each side). Then need 4 boards that are 4 feet long (2 boards each end). Need 64 lf = $101.76Then need 4 lf of corner 4"x4" posts = $11.56Total lumber price: $113.32

Made out of 2"x12" Redwood: Cheapest lineal foot = $3.74.Don't need doublestack. Don't need corner post. Simpler construction. Need 2 boards that are 12 feet long (1 board each side) and 2 boards that are 4 feet long (1 board each end). Need 32 lf = $119.68 (total lumber price)

Craigslist Special

This Ad from Today’s Craigslist:

2x6 Redwood Con Common Decking - New Lumber $1.25 per foot from private miller in Aptos. Full dimension (rough cut)

2x6 8 footer $10 ea2x6 12 footers $15 ea

CALL (831) 334-2169

Trex Deckaka Composite Decking - made from plastics

Durable, will last longer than redwood

Can be cheap if purchased used.

Ad on CL for overstock: $1.99 lf (NEW).

Used ad: $1.25 cents per lf

Design Student Beds after Class

Attaching hoops to Lumber

Craig and Jaryl Lore of Lore Family Farm in San Martin

Purchased Kits

● Pre-cut● Variety of shapes and

sizes ● www.raised-garden-beds.

com

Installing Beds on a Slope

Installing Beds on a Slope

Another Bed Formation on a Slope

Terracing a Slope

● Use bricks or blocks under the down-slope edges of raised beds

● Soil will not run out of the gaps

on the ends ● Or terrace the foundation soil for

the raised beds

FILL MATERIALS AND CONSIDERATIONS

Gopher Wire

Now that you've got your Beds, What to Fill them With?

NATIVE SOIL CONSIDERATIONS:

1. Amend and screen2. Soil test3. Know your source!

Purchased Top Soil

● Buy by the yard● Sun-Land in bulk● Beware of local

rockeries● Check out soil before

buying● Beware of “off” smells

and too sandy or too “mulchy”

Top Soil in Bags

We recommend Gardner & Bloome45% Planting Mix

45% Raised Bed Mix10% Harvest Supreme

Formula for Yards Needed

L' x W' x H' 27 = number of yards needed

Example: To fill a 4' x 12' x 8" bed First, convert the 8" to feet 8/12 = .67

Second, multiply 4 x 12 x .67 = 32.16

Third, divide 32.16/27 = 1.2 yards to fill bed

Yards of Soil Needed

Online calculator: www.mycalculators.com/ca/landmatm.html

One yard of soil (or mulch) will cover:

324 sq ft 1" depth

162 sq ft 2" depth

108 sq ft 3" depth

81 sq ft 4" depth

65 sq ft 5" depth

54 sq ft 6" depth

To control weeds inside the bed

If you're not double-digging,lay down cardboard andthen fill with soil.

Cardboard will erode slowerthan weeds can regrow.

Works effectively on lawnsas well.

Don't sell yourself short

Add soil all the way to the tip top of your garden beds.

You want the full depth of soil for great root formation.

Be mindful of soil compressing over time. May need to top off between plantings.

Building a Lumber-Sided Bed like OursSimple construction 2” x 12” or stacked 2” x 6”

End pieces placed on inside of long side pieces for stability and extra width

Screw in with 3.5" deck screws

Add an inside corner post when stacking

Laying out Your Design

Software - possible but can be impractical and tricky

Recommend: garden hose lay out or stake and twine

First: measure available space and see how many beds at desired width (4 feet) you can get with a 2 to 3 foot path.Lengths of your bed will vary depending on availability.

Try to fit in more beds rather than losing space. Example:

Your available length is 23 feet. Put in two beds each 10 feet in length with a path 3 feet between. This is preferable to one 20 foot bed or one 12 foot bed and one 8 foot bed.

Garden Hose Method

Lay out shapes and rectangles and then walk around to get a feel for movement and utility.

Stake and Twine

Not enough garden hose?

Stake and twine.

You can reposition if you don’t like it!

Note this is how you start if you do not want to have “hardscape” sides to your beds.

Last Tips and Tricks

● All beds don't have to be symmetrical● All beds don't have to run north to south. Fit in what fits, even

if some are east west.● Don't be afraid to have narrower beds than 4 feet wide.● The best soil equals the best results.● If you have a large space, do a section at a time.● Don't procrastinate.

Annual Spring Tomato Plant Sale with Peppers & Eggplants

March 26 to May 30

Location: Ivy's Porch 5311 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley

Available for Sale Today

● Jams & Pickles

● G&B Amendments & Fertilizers

● Knee pads (our favorite!)

● Saboten clippers

Upcoming Classes

● Growing Tomatoes from Seed - Feb 20

● Summer Vegetable Garden - Feb 28

● Backyard Chicken Keeping - March 6

● Growing Root Crops - March 12

● Fruit Trees - March 13

● Bee Keeping - March 20