very local food

[chhotii]

Here's a list of stuff to work on growing in our yard. It's sorted, roughly, according to how much output I expect, per unit of effort, based on my limited prior gardening efforts, and what I hear about other people growing around here. Topping the list, with least effort/most output is rhubarb; nothing needs to be done and we get more rhubarb than we know what to do with.

Rhubarb
Mint
Basil
Concord grapes
Blueberries
Raspberries
strawberries
Peaches
Cherries
pears
zucchini
Butternut squash
Cherry tomatoes
Other tomatoes
peas
Cucumbers
Brussel sprouts
Spinach

Feedback, or other suggestions, fellow gardeners?

Comments

[quietann.livejournal.com]

Blueberries are actually more tricky than raspberries. They need *very* acidic soil, which means lots of preparation and then acidifying ingredients (I use HollyTone fertilizer in the spring and mid-summer, peat moss, sulfur, and pine needles) at least twice a year. I also have found they are much happier with fairly regular watering once they are flowering and until the berries are ripe. Mine are in part-sun/part shade, but I think they'd be happier in full sun as long as they did not get cooked. Once they start bearing (one to two years after planting), bird netting is essential.

That said, there is nothing like fresh picked blueberries. I consider them to be well worth the effort.

Raspberries... easy. Like sun, fertilize with manure fall and spring, watering is good but not required so long as it's not a drought (and this year my best patch is the one that almost never got watered...). Pruning the canes after they fruit is essential. I'd recommend fall-bearers just because ... OMG fresh "summer" fruit in September and October. Also much easier with regard to pruning; you just chop them down in the fall when they're done bearing.

[chhotii.livejournal.com]

Chop them down how short? I think I've been too wimpy about pruning mine properly.