My first attempt at a rock veggie garden.

Discussion in 'Fruit and Veg Gardening' started by Calomaar, May 19, 2009.

  1. Calomaar

    Calomaar Deputy's Friend

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2007
    Messages:
    985
    Likes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Land O' Lakes, Wisc. Z - 3b/4a
    It is my intention to make this into a vegetable garden. I will continue trying until either I get some results, or it becomes apparent that trying to make the rock hill into a vegetable garden was a bad idea. This is the sunniest part of the yard, and it can't look any worse than a bunch of weeds growing wild. And, If it works, we'll enjoy the fresh vegetables and the rock hill will look better than it has ever. I'll try to take photos every now and then to show the progress, or lack there of.
    Tom


    [​IMG]
    ( photo / image / picture from Calomaar's Garden )
     
  2. Loading...


  3. Netty

    Netty Chaotic Gardener Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2006
    Messages:
    18,447
    Likes Received:
    5,513
    Location:
    Southern Ontario zone 5b
    That sounds like a great plan Tom. I can't wait to see the results :)
     
  4. gardengater

    gardengater Young Pine

    Joined:
    May 30, 2008
    Messages:
    1,544
    Likes Received:
    6
    Location:
    NC
    THis will be an interesting experiment. After all plants grow out of rock crevices in the mountains. Why not a rock garden?
     
  5. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2005
    Messages:
    29,088
    Likes Received:
    6,280
    Location:
    Scotland
    You're going to have a tough job ahead of you Tom but I think the results will be worth all the effort. Will you be removing all the rocks or will you be planting in between them? I look forward to photographs of your progress and wish you luck in your efforts.
     



    Advertisement
  6. dooley

    dooley Super Garden Turtle

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2005
    Messages:
    7,163
    Likes Received:
    1,293
    Location:
    Wisconain
    You have to work with what you have so it's a good idea. The hard part will be digging out the grass. Will you add amended soil or compost? I like the rocks themselves and they'll be stepping stones between the vegetables. I'll be watching for the pictures. dooley
     
  7. glendann

    glendann Official Garden Angel

    Joined:
    May 19, 2006
    Messages:
    9,512
    Likes Received:
    135
    Location:
    Texas
    Interesting project .I will be waiting for your reports.
     
  8. Droopy

    Droopy Slug Slaughterer Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2007
    Messages:
    12,067
    Likes Received:
    3,502
    Location:
    Western Norway
    Good luck with it! I almost fainted when I saw all those lovely rocks, and now I'm drooling with anticipation.
     
  9. EJ

    EJ Allotmenteer Extraordinaire

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2006
    Messages:
    3,176
    Likes Received:
    659
    Location:
    Essex
    I reakon things like squash which can ramble amongst the rocks will do okay, as will some of the sun loving herbs as they will like the free drainage and heat the rocks give off. I don't reakons your chances on getting long straight carrots, but then uniform crops are very overrated! :) Good luck, I look forward to seeing the pics.
     
  10. wilsonmian

    wilsonmian Seedling

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2008
    Messages:
    107
    Likes Received:
    1
    Hi,
    its an amazing idea, wish you best of luck.
     
  11. whistler

    whistler Seedling

    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2007
    Messages:
    175
    Likes Received:
    21
    Location:
    British Columbia
    I had watermelon and pumpkin do quite well in a similar tiered rock garden.
     
  12. Tina

    Tina Young Pine

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2007
    Messages:
    1,081
    Likes Received:
    415
    Location:
    Seattle,WA
    Good Luck. Please keep us posted.
     
  13. filaluvr

    filaluvr New Seed

    Joined:
    May 24, 2009
    Messages:
    7
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    texas
    Cool idea! I think Cucumbers would love the rocks. Even my strawberries that seem to go everywhere might like something like that. Good luck, Fila
     
  14. toni

    toni Mistress of Garden Junque Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

    Joined:
    Jan 7, 2006
    Messages:
    19,634
    Likes Received:
    5,062
    Location:
    North Central Texas, Zone 8a
    Sounds like a great idea. Hope we get to see some pictures in a few weeks of vegies among the rocks.

    Root crops, carrots, potatoes and such are probably not a good idea but there are lots of vine or bushy vegies that should love it there.
    The reflective heat from those rocks will add to the heat a lot of vegies need for good production. Lavender should do well there too.
     
  15. riragirl

    riragirl New Seed

    Joined:
    Sep 30, 2008
    Messages:
    28
    Likes Received:
    1
    Location:
    Greenville, NC
    You might want to incorporate some containers into your garden, maybe some wooden barrels filled with herbs and other edible plants. Look for ones that are invasive like mint or chives, those will do better in containers, because they can completely take over your garden if you aren't careful. Good Luck! I can't wait to see pictures.
     
  16. Calomaar

    Calomaar Deputy's Friend

    Joined:
    Mar 2, 2007
    Messages:
    985
    Likes Received:
    41
    Location:
    Land O' Lakes, Wisc. Z - 3b/4a
    Thanks for the encouragement and good ideas, Mimi had an accident Saturday, she fell in the kitchen, and has a badly broken elbow, and a broken bone at her hip. She has had both surgically repaired, and will be occupying a good deal of my time. However, I still plan to do the rock garden, possibly on a smaller scale.
    Squash was one of my thoughts, and Green Beans and Radishes for a root crop I think will work OK, I love fresh Radishes. The wild Strawberries and Raspberries are currently there and thriving, so I'll bet the domesticated verities will work well. Also we have quite alot of the wild blueberry plants around the house, I may transplant some into a small patch among the rocks.
    Tom
     

Share This Page