Ours are on grass and yes weeds and snails abound. They are coming to the end of their life cycle though so we are in that sweet imagination phase of considering the next iteration of our garden.
A fabulous post Katie. Lazy girl gardening for life!
It is so fun making plans! The gravel was not actually planned (we just put our beds in a spot the previous owners happened to have put gravel) but it has worked SO well. 👌🏻
This is so helpful Katie! This was our first year growing veggies and it was pretty much all trial and error. (I learned the hard way that I should've done the herbs in pots. We did one raised bed full of them and they outgrew that space very quickly.) Do you have any kind of resource you use to know which plants you should pull out at the end of the season and which ones to let go to seed? My garden is still producing tomatoes and peppers right now so I haven't touched anything, especially since it's been a very warm autumn here on the east coast in the US. Not really sure how to tackle the plants that stopped producing a while ago and would love some insight!
There is no right or wrong! If you are still getting tomatoes and peppers there is no harm in leaving them until they are done. The stuff that has stopped producing or started dying off you can pull out and replace with something new for winter. You don’t have to pull out all the old crops and plant all your next season’s crops all at the same time. For example, over winter I had a big patch of kale. It all started flowering a few weeks ago so I pulled most of it out, added some fresh compost to that patch and sprinkled lettuce seeds there, but I left two kale plants to flower and seed. Next to the kale I had spinach, but at the time it was still going well, not yet flowering, so I left it. Now a few weeks later, the spinach is starting to flower, so this week I will pull out most of it (leaving one or two to seed), top up that patch with some compost, then plant corn there. Thats what I do anyway! Hope it makes sense…
Thank you for this wonderful post Katie! I am deep in research and planning mode for my new vege garden and the lazy guide method definitely sounds like it for me! Definitely going with the gravel around the beds-mowing the edges sounds tedious. Do you use wicking beds at all or just normal raised beds (with or without irrigation)?
We don’t use wicking beds or have any special irrigation. We just use a basic sprinkler for watering and move it about as required. I actually hand water with the hose a lot but that’s just because I enjoy it. It find it quite meditative. 🥰
Home grown corn is amazing! Just make sure he hand pollinates it, otherwise you’ll end up with funny bald corncobs barely sprinkled with kernels (been there!) 🤣
I want to start growing some vegetables as well, either inside (like coriander) or outside. I wonder though which vegetable would be an easy start for someone in the UK. It’s fairly cold here and rainy all the time. 🍅
My gardening knowledge is very Australian-centric but Huw Richards has an amazing Substack all about gardening in the UK. That might be a good place to start. 😊
How interesting you have had trouble with zucchinis! I have that issue with capsicums/bell peppers. All evidence suggest capsicums should absolutely thrive where we live, but I’ve never had much luck with them. We do get some, but they don’t really thrive.
I love this!! I am with you on all these tips!! I see perfect instagram gardens and they're beautiful but the work!! Who has time or energy for that?? I'm transitioning to raised beds but not on gravel. Perhaps one day! 🌻💐🌿
Our gravel was kind of accidental! The spot we wanted to put the veggie beds just happened to be where the previous owner had his washing line with gravel underneath, but it has turned out really well. And I totally, agree about Instagram gardens! I don’t have the time or interest to make things perfect. Our garden is a beautiful chaotic mess! 😂👌🏻
Oh for raised beds on gravel! 🙌
Ours are on grass and yes weeds and snails abound. They are coming to the end of their life cycle though so we are in that sweet imagination phase of considering the next iteration of our garden.
A fabulous post Katie. Lazy girl gardening for life!
It is so fun making plans! The gravel was not actually planned (we just put our beds in a spot the previous owners happened to have put gravel) but it has worked SO well. 👌🏻
I’m still inspired by your post on lazy girl seed sowing. Who knew you didn’t have to follow packet instructions!!?
Fling those bad boys freely!
100%! 🙌🏻
These are the posts that made me love Substack 👏❤️😍
Aw, thanks so much Kathryn! You’ve made my day. 🥰
This is so helpful Katie! This was our first year growing veggies and it was pretty much all trial and error. (I learned the hard way that I should've done the herbs in pots. We did one raised bed full of them and they outgrew that space very quickly.) Do you have any kind of resource you use to know which plants you should pull out at the end of the season and which ones to let go to seed? My garden is still producing tomatoes and peppers right now so I haven't touched anything, especially since it's been a very warm autumn here on the east coast in the US. Not really sure how to tackle the plants that stopped producing a while ago and would love some insight!
There is no right or wrong! If you are still getting tomatoes and peppers there is no harm in leaving them until they are done. The stuff that has stopped producing or started dying off you can pull out and replace with something new for winter. You don’t have to pull out all the old crops and plant all your next season’s crops all at the same time. For example, over winter I had a big patch of kale. It all started flowering a few weeks ago so I pulled most of it out, added some fresh compost to that patch and sprinkled lettuce seeds there, but I left two kale plants to flower and seed. Next to the kale I had spinach, but at the time it was still going well, not yet flowering, so I left it. Now a few weeks later, the spinach is starting to flower, so this week I will pull out most of it (leaving one or two to seed), top up that patch with some compost, then plant corn there. Thats what I do anyway! Hope it makes sense…
Thank you for this wonderful post Katie! I am deep in research and planning mode for my new vege garden and the lazy guide method definitely sounds like it for me! Definitely going with the gravel around the beds-mowing the edges sounds tedious. Do you use wicking beds at all or just normal raised beds (with or without irrigation)?
We don’t use wicking beds or have any special irrigation. We just use a basic sprinkler for watering and move it about as required. I actually hand water with the hose a lot but that’s just because I enjoy it. It find it quite meditative. 🥰
I'm not a gardener, so I rely on my husband to keep me in a good supply of tomatoes 🍅 (oh and he is having a go at growing corn!)
Home grown corn is amazing! Just make sure he hand pollinates it, otherwise you’ll end up with funny bald corncobs barely sprinkled with kernels (been there!) 🤣
Green beans are idiot-proof (me). Not pole beans, the regular green beans. I can't fail.
Oh yes, beans are great! Sugar snap peas and snow peas too. ❤️
I want to start growing some vegetables as well, either inside (like coriander) or outside. I wonder though which vegetable would be an easy start for someone in the UK. It’s fairly cold here and rainy all the time. 🍅
My gardening knowledge is very Australian-centric but Huw Richards has an amazing Substack all about gardening in the UK. That might be a good place to start. 😊
Thank you for the recommendation Katie! I'll check his Substack out!
Our zucchini have not done well at all here. Tomatoes, kale have though. I gave up on harder to grow veggies!
How interesting you have had trouble with zucchinis! I have that issue with capsicums/bell peppers. All evidence suggest capsicums should absolutely thrive where we live, but I’ve never had much luck with them. We do get some, but they don’t really thrive.
Same! I tried peppers for a few years. I grew maybe two when all was said and done lol!
Maybe peppers are just tricky!
I love this!! I am with you on all these tips!! I see perfect instagram gardens and they're beautiful but the work!! Who has time or energy for that?? I'm transitioning to raised beds but not on gravel. Perhaps one day! 🌻💐🌿
Our gravel was kind of accidental! The spot we wanted to put the veggie beds just happened to be where the previous owner had his washing line with gravel underneath, but it has turned out really well. And I totally, agree about Instagram gardens! I don’t have the time or interest to make things perfect. Our garden is a beautiful chaotic mess! 😂👌🏻
Here's to beautiful chaotic messes!
Love this Katie. Some great tips!