In the Garden with Pat Rubin

Bee garden writer Pat Rubin writes about everything that grows, from flowers and trees to vegetables and lawns. Pat volunteered for several years as a Placer County Master Gardener and has written about gardening for many national and regional publications. In addition to gardening, she spends time raising and showing miniature horses and miniature donkeys.

In the Garden will include news, events, advice and other gardening tidbits. Pat will also answer reader questions.

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June 5, 2007

Not enough room

A reader called today to say I’ve already made the same mistake he made years ago when he first started gardening with raised beds: not enough room. You need more beds, he told me.

He's right: The tomatoes are about to hit the tops of the eight-foot tomato cages. They’re so big and lush I’m going to have to move the eggplant over a bit so it gets some sun. The beans have also reached the top of their cage. The arugula is so lush it’s falling over the side. The parsley and basil are way ahead of me. I don’t have a place to put cucumbers, squash or peppers.

But I have to admit it’s amazing what you can grow in one small four-by-eight foot bed. It looks like we’ll have plenty of tomatoes for salads and for sandwiches. I’m already anticipating green beans every evening, and as much eggplant as I can eat. I’ve been cutting arugula and parsley for over a month, and the chives are ready to harvest, too. I have enough basil for a batch of pesto. The garden is small, but bountiful and beautiful.

The lessons I’ve learned so far: you can’t grow everything, but you can grow a lot in a small space, and grow what you love. And I'm already eyeing a bare spot where I can put another raised bed.

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