Project veggie garden...the planning stage

Why a Veggie garden? For years now we have wanted to try our hand at veggie growing!
We love our veg and more recently we love knowing where it comes from too, there are just so many nasties being used to grow produce these days. Also, it will be fun for the family to do together, save some mulla, a great way to teach the kids about food & gardening, not to mention doing more for sustainable living. I am excited to learn all about Heirloom and organic veg growing and man do I have lots to learn. I will post all my findings and adventures along the way...Hope you follow my latest garden venture! 

The Planning stage....Last year we gave Veggie growing a small go, kind of test the waters before I jump right in. I planted herbs and a cherry tomato. Yep, that is the extent of my veggie gardening experience, mind blowing isn't it...lol! But even though small and pretty pathetic, there was something so rewarding about growing and eating something straight out of our own garden...we loved it! The cherry T's we grew were without a doubt the best we had ever had. Gosh they made a lovely snack, blink and they were gone! The thing grew like a weed too, loved it!
Oh its making me giddy just thinking about all the possibilities this year, what else will we try? I love Broccoli and maybe some beans, but cherry T's will be first on our list!

Last years "first" attempt of growing tomatoes and some herbs.

So this year we are going to kick it up a notch! Goodbye random collection of pots, hello veggie beds!

The beds... simple construction 6X12 boards with 4x4 corner posts, top capped by a rail. Wood will be salvaged cedar and the bed size will be 2 6x3x12in high, with a 1-2 ft path down the middle. (I will post a how-to when we build our beds) We plan to cover the underside with chicken wire to keep the moles out and fill with 12 in of yummy, soil goodness. Still learning about the soil needs and what is best, organic or what we have? If there is one thing I have come to find, it's like many things new, you are always learning. There is so much to learn when it comes to veggie gardening, the information out there is endless, but do the research now and it will work better in the long run! (well that's the plan anyway...fingers crossed!)

Basing my ideas on these beds...love them, wish this was my yard!

Photo from http://www.raisedbedvegetablegarden.org/

The location... has been chosen, which is probably the most important part of the planning process. We decided on a North/west spot in the backyard as it gets the most direct full sun.

 This is the location (photo a few years old) it will fill the area from the Lilac on the left to the blue birdhouse towards the right, everything in between will find new homes else where.

While the beds will be defined spaces, they will be nestled in amongst my existing flower gardens and will be surrounded by Lilacs, Hydrangeas, Roses, Lavender and an array of other random blooms. I've designed them so that they'll come out from the fence, which we will be used to string the berries and peas to. I am planning a trellis for the top of the fence also, wishful thinking for my berries to be that tall, but we'll see.

Great article, How to grow your own veggies and the best recipes for each.

So much yumminess here...Read More http://www.epicurious.com/

The Vegetables...We are planning on growing from purchased Heirloom starts this year from our local Nursery. They grow all their own veg, over 160 varieties of tomato alone! We may give some seeding ago too, I know the kids will get a kick out of it, but honestly I'm a little scared.
Here is our ever-changing list of yummy possibilities....
Cherry Tomatoes (of cause)
Roma Tomatoes - thinking green from Maggie's friend again
Earlington Greenhouse signature Tomatoes, can't remember the name.
Celery
Carrots - rainbow
Broccoli
String Beans (the long variety)
Rhubarb
Strawberries...yum, now I'm craving strawberry & Rhubarb pie!
Raspberries
Shallots
Leeks???
Romain lettuce

Herbs
Cilantro
Thyme
Basil - Thai and Italian
Chives
Oregano
Mint...summertime Mojito's =)
Parsley
Rosemary
Ginger (wasn't sure if its a herb or root veg?)

As we have limited space this list will keep changing until it comes time to plant, new things are introduced. Oh see, I just thought of another one, Zucchini's. I'll add that to the list too! We will go through the list together and decide what we want. Hubby love's his cooking and wants everything needed for basic French cooking, yes I am married to a wana-be Julia Childs!

One tip that we will grow by is...Plant what you eat!
Would love to hear what you are planning with your veggie beds this year, do you have a favorite Fruit/Veg that you look forward to planting every year? Maybe you'll inspire me to add more to my list =)