(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
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.
Well hello back, Margret.
Hey, Mike I’m so excited about all the new plantings! Thanks for all your planning and hard work.
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.
Thanks Elaine. Yes, could definitely use some extra mint if you wouldn’t mind setting some aside.
Hello
I think is a wonderful idea. We need to add jalapeños to make things spice in the kitchen.
Patricia Marroquin
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!
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…