This week I want to share our progress on the raised beds for the Brooks Student Center patio near the greenhouse. We had the idea to utilize a great source of sun along the outside fence to grow things that need deeper soil or more space than our shallower greenhouse beds can provide. The outside beds also increase our growing space over the summer by about 100%!
This photo shows the two largest beds placed along the fence. They measure 3'x12' and will be permanent fixtures on the patio, year round. Constructed from untreated cedar planks that are naturally rot-resistant, they are lined with black landscaping cloth to help hold in the soil. The raised beds are filled with a combination of O'Donal's potting soil and composted soil produced on campus.
We also will be constructing three 2'x4' beds (one of which is shown in between the large beds in the above photo) which will be given floors and casters. Over the summer months they will live out on the patio, soaking up the rays. During the shoulder seasons (just fall this year, but spring and fall of next year) they can be rolled into the greenhouse to keep them warm and extend the life of the plants.
Along the front of the large beds I have planted nasturiums and impatiens, both flowering plants whose blossoms are edible. I'm also about to transplant dwarf acorn squash seedlings and have plans to start carrots and perhaps garlic. The smaller, rolling beds will be home to the heirloom tomato plants.
Above: Orange mint, peppermint, and imaptiens.
As you can see from the above photo there are also large black pots in the four corners of the large raised beds. These are perennial herbs that will benefit greatly from being outdoors all summer long. We will harvest and use them in the dining hall until fall at which point they can be removed from the beds in their pots and brought into the greenhouse for the fall and winter. We have French tarragon, rosemary, peppermint, orange mint, sage, thyme, oregano, and chives. These will flourish in the warmth of summer, go dormant over the winter, and come back again in the spring. Dormancy is a natural phase of the perennial's life, so we will drop the temperatures in the greenhouse during the coldest months to replicate deep winter in nature.
Check back next week for more photos and updates. Something you want to see in particular? Just let me know!
Grow on,
Your favorite Green Blogger
P.S. The chives are blooming! Chive blossoms are beautiful and tasty - add them as a colorful, onion-y topping to any salad or raw veggie dish.
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