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You are here: Home / My garden / Top deck veggie patch

Top deck veggie patch

August 2, 2007 by Andrea Bellamy 9 Comments

fig%20bliss.jpg

Seems like this is the week of Before and Afters (ie. I am finally getting my act together in my own garden). Last year, our third-floor deck was a complete embarrassment due to a lack of access to water. This year, after installing a drip-irrigation system and some raised beds, we’re in business.

top%20deck%20build.jpg

You can’t see it all in the photo, but I’ve got six heritage tomato plants, zucchini, basil, shiso, cilantro, edamame, purple bush beans, mixed lettuces and some ornamental perennials — and let’s not forget the fig tree. Now it’s such a lovely place to come and sit in the evening; breathing in the heady mix of tomato leaves, basil and fresh soil.

top%20deck%20after.jpg

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Filed Under: My garden, Veggies & Edibles

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Comments

  1. Craig says

    August 2, 2007 at 12:46 pm

    What do you do with your fig over winter? I just got a fig this spring from my wife’s Italian grandmother…it was the offspring of her two gorgeous 20 year old 8′ figs from Italy that she has growing in her Indiana backyard. I know she buries her trees in her vegetable garden every autumn and digs them up every spring. I believe the tree she gave me is 2 years old. I currently live in Tennessee, and I don’t trust it outside over winter. Can I just bring it indoors, or does it need some sort of overwinter cycle?

  2. Andrea says

    August 2, 2007 at 6:33 pm

    Hi Craig,

    I’m lucky enough to not have to do anything with it. Vancouver is a balmy zone 8, and figs do quite nicely here.

    I do know, however, that “back east” (ie. Ontario) they bury their fig trees as well. I think Tennessee is around zone 6? You’d best bury it. I doubt it’d be happy indoors because it’s so dry. But I’m just guessing.

    Anyone have experience in overwintering fig trees?

  3. John says

    August 3, 2007 at 2:57 pm

    I love your shiny, twirly stakes you have in those planters. The silver really goes well against a lush green backdrop.

    And that fig fruit… mmmmmm my son would love to have that. We use to have a mature fig tree at the corner of our house and every year we would have enough figs to go around the neighbourhood and then some.

    But every since we sold our house I realize how much my family misses them… the tree rippened fig fruits, my son especially.

    What size of planter do you have the fig tree in?

    How old is it and how many figs did it produce this season?

    I was also contemplating getting a fig tree for my son who loves the fig fruits. I was down at Figaro’s Garden on Victoria Dr last weekend and saw some that are fruit bearing in a plastic bucket. I am really tempted to buy it but just wasn’t sure if it will do well in a large planter.

    Can you share your experience you’ve got so far with your fig plant?

    Thanks.

  4. Andrea says

    August 6, 2007 at 10:09 am

    Hi John,

    The twirly stakes are from Lee Valley. The fig isn’t so easy to pin down. I “created” it by using an air-layering propagation kit, also sold at Lee Valley, and a fig tree (variety unknown) from a friend’s house. It it is now about 2 years old, and lives in a 5 gallon plastic pot. It stays out all winter. It’s got just four large figs on it right now, and several smaller ones that I don’t think will ripen in time. Hope this helps!

  5. Patrick says

    August 30, 2007 at 4:10 am

    It’s nice to see you guys growing veggies. I’ll be watching with interest.

  6. Jaspenelle says

    August 27, 2008 at 8:11 pm

    I have a small patio that I want to turn into a garden next year (I got here from your recent renting homestead post btw.) The problem is I only get about 3 hours (4 tops) of direct sunlight a day in it because of the next row of townhouses. I didn’t think that was enough light for any vegetables…

    I was wondering how much light this area gets for you? After looking at it, maybe not all is lost for my space!

  7. Andrea Bellamy says

    August 28, 2008 at 7:17 pm

    Jaspenelle – My balcony is east facing, but since it’s on the top floor, it gets sun for probably eight hours a day during the summer. Three to four hours isn’t a lot of sun, but you can still grow all kinds of lettuces, kale, chard, and maybe even peas and beans. Anything that’s more leaf than fruit. So tomatoes, zucchini and peppers are out, but you can have killer salads!

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