POPYC garden

(Note: This is the initial post about the 2012 Point of Pines Yacht Club garden. To see all posts about this year’s POPYC  garden click here.)

Kinda cool, this spring I suggested to the officers at my yacht club (Point of Pines, or POPYC) that we plant an herb garden out front…herbs that chef Jay and his minions can use in the club’s  kitchen. They liked the idea. George, the Rear Commodore, asked if I could also plant flowers in the four large planters out front of the club. Inspecting the planters led to the discovery of several other, larger raised beds I never noticed much by the parking lot entrance that can also be planted. Raised beds in full sun…a gardener’s rare earth (at least here in coastal New England).

So laying it out, here’s what we have to work with (I created IDs for the beds/planters to make it easier to refer to them) :

Location Bed/Planter ID Size/Area Sun Use Plan
Bed on the left side of building front (B for building) BA 15×1 (15 sqf) Full Herbs
Bed on the right side of building front BB 15×1 (15 sqf) Full Herbs
Small bed on the left side of gate to deck GA  5×1 (5 sqf) Full Sunflowers
Bed on the left side of lot entrance looking out (L for lot) LA 9×9 triangle (40 sqf) Full Vegetables and flowers
Bed on the right side of lot entrance looking out LB 6×8 (48 sqf) Full Vegetables and herbs with flower border
Planters (2) on either side of club doors under the canopy PA 24″ circle (4 sqf) Partial to mostly shade Mixed flowers
Planters (2) on either side of front walkway entrance PB 24″ circle (4 sqf) Full Mixed flowers and hostas

Already wishing we had a little more space so we could really go to town with the tomatoes and peppers. What’s probably realistic though is maybe a half dozen of each. There’s some unused space at the east end of the parking lot near the blockhouse. Maybe if this year’s garden goes well we could add some beds there for next season.

 

Individual Bed Plans

Here’s what I’m thinking of planting in the different beds:

Bed/Planter Plants
BA and BB parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, chives, dill, scallions
GA giant sunflowers
LA slicing tomatoes, cukes, day lilies, irises, marigolds
LB slicing and cherry tomatoes, frying and hot peppers, basil, marigolds
PA hostas with primroses and impatiens
PB rudbekia (black eyed susan), echinacea (purple coneflower), mums

Also (per Debbie’s request) will try to add a planter  to grow mint in. Don’t want to plant it directly into the beds since it’s so invasive.

 

Plant Sources

And here’s where the plants will come from. My aim is to keep costs low, in the $50-100 range or even less if possible.

  • Transplants from my garden: primroses, day lilies, black-eyed susan, irises, sage, oregano, chives, maybe mint
  • From seed: tomatoes, peppers, scallions, sunflowers, thyme, dill
  • To Buy: impatiens, planter for mint, coneflowers, mums, fertilizer, top soil

 

Other Necessaries

  • Cages or stakes for the tomatoes.
  • Landscapers cloth
  • Salt marsh hay for mulch
8 Responses to POPYC garden
  1. Just wanted to say HI. I found your blog a few days ago on Technorati and have been reading it over the past few days.

  2. Mike says:

    Well hello back, Margret.

  3. Joan Glancy says:

    Hey, Mike I’m so excited about all the new plantings! Thanks for all your planning and hard work.

  4. Elaine Mitrano says:

    Mike,
    Great plan. I have mint if you need some. I’m actually digging mine up this year as, yes, it is extremely invasive. Good idea putting it in a planter.

  5. Patricia Marroquin says:

    Hello
    I think is a wonderful idea. We need to add jalapeños to make things spice in the kitchen.
    Patricia Marroquin

    • Mike says:

      Hi Patricia. You’ll be happy to hear we’ve got three different varieties of hot peppers in the beds: cayenne, hot cherry, and serrano. And if I can find some space I have some Thai Dragons I can add as well. Viva picante!

  6. Janine Marra says:

    Hi Mike – We met a while back. I am the one who teaches yoga at the club. I have a perennial garden at my house which is proliferating so I’m happy to divide some plants if you need any more perennials for the club. Just keep me posted…

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