Journey Through the Backyard Vegetable Patch
In the heart of Vancouver, BC, a suburban lot with good southern exposure and established gardens is about to undergo a transformation. The authors, who have been gardening for five years, have set their sights on a more productive and sustainable garden this year.
Having faced challenges with coddling moths on their apple trees, the authors' attempts to control the population with traps last year proved unsuccessful. This year, they plan to experiment with different organic treatments to combat this issue.
The authors' garden is a mix of cool-weather greens, root vegetables, hearty summer squash, and strawberries, all chosen for their suitability to the Pacific Northwest coastal climate. Leafy greens such as lettuce, spinach, and chard grow well in the cooler, moist climate, while root vegetables like carrots, beets, and asparagus perform well in the soil and weather patterns. Summer squash varieties adapt well to the climate and southern exposure, producing abundant yields. Strawberries, with several cultivars developed or trialled in British Columbia, are recommended for the area.
To kickstart their crops, the authors will be using grow lights to start their seeds this year. They also plan to put up their greenhouse that has been in pieces for two years. As for the north-facing window, the authors have not specified if they will be using it for the grow lights this year.
The authors will be repurposing some of their front yard to make a large raised garden bed. A new, large bed will be created for winter vegetables, with brussels sprouts, kale, arugula, and carrots to be planted. The authors aim for a year-round harvest and increased production on their suburban lot.
The property they chose for gardening has good south exposure, large square footage, recreation space, a shed, greenhouse, compost bins, and garden beds, and some established gardens. The authors were inspired to garden for reasons such as saving money, knowing what treatments their produce was exposed to, sustainability, and self-reliance.
The most successful crops they have grown so far include zucchini, tomatoes, blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, peas, field cucumbers, beans, and lettuce. Incorporating elements of permaculture into their garden planning, the authors strive to create a garden that is not only productive but also harmonious with nature.
Regular updates will be shared about the progress towards the goal of year-round harvest. Stay tuned for more updates from this vibrant and growing garden in Vancouver!
- In an effort to align their gardening lifestyle with sustainability and organic practices, the authors will experiment with various treatments to combat the issue of coddling moths on their apple trees.
- To increase productivity and promote a year-round harvest, the authors plan to repurpose part of their front yard to create a large raised garden bed, filled with winter vegetables like brussels sprouts, kale, arugula, and carrots.
- Embracing the home-and-garden approach, the authors' garden in Vancouver will not only be a source of organic, sustainably grown produce but also a harmonious space that reflects their values of self-reliance and connection to nature.
