IN THE YEARS before I became a backyard gardener, I would always get the itch to grow vegetables in July. The sun was out, I was warm and bursting with energy, and family friends would serve me homegrown zucchinis, beans, and early tomatoes so delicious they weakened my knees on the first bite. At my exclamations of delight, these backyard farmers would always say the same thing, “They’re not that hard to grow, you know. You can do it yourself.”
Yeah, right. Even then, I knew about life cycles. My friends had carefully laid soil and compost over seeds the prior April to get their harvest. “But I want a garden now,” I’d whine. As it happens, I could have one. It’s a little known fact that almost everything you plant in April can also be planted as late as July. With a few quick preparations, you can be on your way to backyard bounty by early fall.
Get off grass. The first step is finding a place to plant with as much sun exposure as possible. I hate to break it to you, but this might mean digging up your grass. “Grass lawns take up space in the middle of a yard, where the sun is typically unobstructed. For decades (centuries?), the manicured lawn has been a source of pride and a measure of property values, but that is all changing. “The new generation of home-owners doesn’t want to waste water and energy on grass. “Grass doesn’t give back.” A relationship with a vegetable bed will prove far more reciprocal.
Go to bed. Once you’ve picked your spot, you can install a simple four-foot by eight-foot rectangular raised bed using a rot-resistant wood such as cedar or black cherry. With a shovel, cut out the grass in the shape of the bed. “Most lawn grass is a rhizome, which grows underground sideways. Make sure you’re digging wide enough to pull out the roots, or the grass blades will keep popping up between your plants like weeds. If you don’t have the time, or you’re up against a steep slope or rock-laden soil, hire a landscaper or a personal gardener to help.
Grow it. Once your bed is full of dirt and compost, you can start planting right away. The best Puget Sound weather is still to come. Popular plants such as heirloom tomatoes and pumpkins won’t have time to mature before the short days return, but carrots, peas, greens, beets, onions, herbs, and broccoli, to name a few, will offer a rich harvest through September or October. Just water, weed, repeat, and you’re on your way.
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