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Spring TX raised bed gardening - Thanks Randy Lemmon!

Shortly after moving to Spring TX we were introduced to the book Gulf Coast Gardening by Randy Lemmon. We have lived in 4 different states and one of the things we have learned along the way is to plant according to what plants are native to the area. We started listening to Randy Lemmon's garden-line Gardenline with Randy Lemmon Saturday mornings on 740AM and ended up purchasing his book Gulf Coast Gardening. His book is now tattered and dog eared but has helped us to find plants that are native to our area.

We have heard Randy Lemmon talk about raised bed gardening for years but kept putting it off. For our fall garden we finally started our raised beds. We intend to make 5 raised beds but to start off we made two. (We probably would have done all 5 but I wasn't ready to give up my okra). I figured two beds were enough for my winter garden.

We decided on a very simple process. We bought untreated wood and my husband put them together. On Randy Lemmon's advice we put layers of newspaper before we put our soil in the beds. I can attest to this helping with the weed problem. Randy recommended using two parts Rose soil and one part organic compost but we found that to be a bit expensive so we decided to use a garden mix.

Spring TX Gulf Coast Gardening, Thanks Randy Lemmon

I am AMAZED at the difference I am seeing between the plants in the raised beds and the plants that are not in raised beds. I found that I had more plants than I had room in the raised beds so I planted the same plants in the beds that were not raised. You can look and see the difference for yourself. We are already eating bib lettuce from the raised bed gardens but the bib lettuce in the regular garden isn't ready yet. I thinks sometimes a picture speaks louder than a thousand words and I'm now a big proponent of raised bed gardening.

Randy Lemmon was recently at our local Ace Hardware to answer questions and sign books. I wrote a post about it at The Woodlands Ace Hardware - Customer appreciation Day!! I had thought about thanking him for his raised bed gardening advice but the line to talk to him was long so this post will have to suffice as my thank you.

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Posted by Marchel Peterson Spring TX Real Estate E-Pro ABR on 10/20/2009 10:42 PM

Comments (20)

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Originally posted at: Results Realty Buzz: Spring TX raised bed gardening - Thanks Randy Lemmon!

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20 Comments on Spring TX raised bed gardening - Thanks Randy Lemmon!

OCT

Hi Marchel,

Had it been me, I would have just got my PRESS hat on and marched right up and said "smile, your going to be featured on the ActiveRain network. :-) But this post was fun and though I don't personally care for Okra, glad you saved it. :-)

Marchel It is wonderful to have such a great resource. By following the advice regarding planting native plants and how best to setup your raised bed you should have success.

Hi Marchel, what a great topic for a localism post. We started a raised garden this past summer but put it on hold for bugetary reasons. I had no idea that it would make this much difference. Sounds like something we need to finish up! Thanks for sharing.

Howdy there Marchel

Where you have moved to a new area, it sure is good to be able to findfolks that share what they know about what works and does not. Raised gardening is a very fine way to garden, and a real benefit for folks that don't have alot of room for gardening in their yard.

Baker Home Commercial Properties Inspections and Consulting AR Signature

OCT

Raised bed gardening is the best. It is one of the many methods I use in my high altitude gardening here in the mountains of Colorado.

A green house is the next best method.

Marchel, I have been using this modified intensive gardening method for years and I am always amazed how much produce I can get out of a small plot of land.

Helping you live your American dream...

Marchel, I have never heard of this method but would love to try it. I'm guessing I'll have to wait until spring here which is a shame. I'd love some fresh lettuce.

I wish I had a good place for a garden! Oh well, during the summer on Saturday mornings there is a place nearby where I can buy fresh produce........still I'd love to grow my own.

WILLIAM, Had it not been for the long line I would have told him. Not only was the line long but everyone had their sick plants in their hand. I think you either love or hate okra. I love fried okra. I split it down the middle lengthwise and then dip it in egg mixed with milk, coat it with flour and fry it. That's the way my Mother made it and I guess it is something of a childhood memory that I have brought back to life.

JENNIFER, We took so many plants out of a home in Colorado that were not doing good. The previous owner had planted them but they planted what they were use to on the east coast which did not grow well in the high desert.

KATE, We kept putting this off because of the money but finally decided we would do it the economic way. I had NO IDEA it would make such a difference in what we grew.

DALE, We have a big yard which is I guess why we didn't do the raised garden before. I now see the benefits of raised gardening.

SABRINA, I always tried to garden in Colorado without much success. I wish I had known about this back then. All I did was get myself frustrated.

MICHAEL, This is my first raised garden. We did two and plan to add three more this spring. I'm pleased with my fall garden!!

CAROLE, You can use the winter to plan your raised garden. There's also something called square foot gardening that looks interesting. Do a Google search and you will find all kinds of information.

ANN, We have a community garden not far from us. You might check in to that.

I had not heard of raised bed gardening. The difference is amazing. I am going to have to look into this for planting next spring!

Well Marchel, i'm proud of you... Now that we know how your garden grows, may we place our order for the next crop? (smile) Seriously, thanks for the education.... the pictures do say it loudly!

OCT

Sounds like a great introduction to gardening. I know I definitely do not have a green thumb. This would come in handy for me!

Marchel,

I am going to do rasied beds next year for the spring. I cannot wait to try it out.

Thanks for the incentive,

Ann Hayden in Wildwood, MO

Marchel I think this type gardening is really becoming popular. Thanks for sharing.

Marchel, we surely would do well with raised bed gardening here in Florida. When I moved here, I had to learn gardening all over again. It was so different from Atlanta. We have percolation issues in our clay soil here in our county, so the raised beds would make sense. You're inspiring me to try my green thumg again!

JOAN, I have been hearing about raised beds for years but I had no idea the difference it would make.

DIANE, I have been amazed at the difference in the plants. The pictures do tell the story.

BILL, With this type of gardening your thumb doesn't have to be green.

ANN, You will have the winter to plan them out. You may want to check square foot gardening out also. You can just do a Google search.

CARL & CEIL, It is becoming popular. I can now see why!!

SHARON, Every state we have lived in has been totally different than the prior state. Here we have a very long growing season. Being able to plant a spring/summer garden and a fall/winter garden is very cool.

OCT

Hi, Marchel:

My husband built a couple of raised beds for vegetable gardening. The plants seem to love them. The critters seem to love the plants, so he ended up putting chickenwire around the beds.

Cheers,

Robin