After waiting 2 years for an opening in a Portland community garden, I've been assigned a starter plot (approx 50 SF). Community members are typically required to complete x amount of service hours to the community garden, but my assigned plot definitely didn't get any TLC. The location is not ideal so I wouldn't be surprised if this plot has been vacant for awhile but I think I'm up for the challenge... I'm now exploring inexpensive options for restoring this plot and seeking any advice for its restoration. Attached is a photo:


It's located in Portland, Oregon. I think I need to break up the dirt as best as I can, pull the weeds, add a perimeter wall then pour soil. My plan is to loose lay bricks along the perimeter. Do you think I should stack bricks or a single layer will suffice? The stones on right-hand side are recessed into the soil and so my garden is not entirely contained on any sides. The more I look at it, the more it looks like a grave site. Anyways, my plot is surrounded by 3 sides so I don't have much access to whatever I grow in the back, but I'll have to make it work.

I plan on gardening greens (lettuce, pok choi, spinach, etc..) and in a month or so I'd like to plant peppers and tomatoes. I didn't expect the space to be so small and rough around the edges, so I'll plant less than expected. Any advice on restoring this plot is appreciated. Thank you.

@Blazersin7, I'm a little surprised that no one else has replied to your post, but I'll have a go at it for you...

So, it appears that the dimensions of your plot are about 5'x10', which isn't a lot to work with, but at least it's something! The very first thing I would do is dig out all of the clumps of grass and weeds, getting as much of the root systems as possible. Then dig in some compost and balanced fertilizer (I use 10-10-10, but of course an organic fertilizer would be fine too, depending on your preferences). Ideally, for the way I picture laying out your plants, the long side on the left of the photo would be the north side - but unless it's actually the south side, I would still do the following.

I would put 3 or 4 tomato plants along the middle of that long side, either caged (preferably) or staked. I would put the pepper plants along one or both of the short ends, depending on how many peppers you want to grow. I'd leave a path 18" wide in front of the tomatoes and in front of the peppers, and going from the center of the right-hand long side to the tomatoes, and I'd plant your greens in the patches left over. If you aren't familiar with "square-foot gardening," you might want to check that out for an idea about spacing for the greens.

I think you could comfortably put 4 tomatoes and 8-10 pepper plants in (4-5 along each end), plus the greens. If that left-hand side of the plot happens to be due south I think I would put the tomatoes on the other long side so they don't shade the other plants too much. I don't think I would try to use loose bricks, stacked or otherwise - it seems to me that they will just take up room that you could use otherwise, and will be more hassle than help. I might put a low "border fence" around it, though, to kind of separate it off from the other plots. I hope this will be of some help to you, and wish you the best of luck with your new garden!

Thanks for the detailed response! I wish I saw this earlier but I can still use most of your advice. Photo was taken from the South looking North.

I'll search for some balanced fertilizer and compost to add. I already planted butterhead lettuce and bok choi at short side because it was going to waste. Before planting, I dug out the weeds, soaked my plot with water and went to town on the dirt/soil.. Pleasantly surprised by the results and attached is a current photo of my plot. I haven't added any soil, compost, etc yet.

Weedwhacker said:@Blazersin7, I'm a little surprised that no one else has replied to your post, but I'll have a go at it for you...

So, it appears that the dimensions of your plot are about 5'x10', which isn't a lot to work with, but at least it's something! The very first thing I would do is dig out all of the clumps of grass and weeds, getting as much of the root systems as possible. Then dig in some compost and balanced fertilizer (I use 10-10-10, but of course an organic fertilizer would be fine too, depending on your preferences). Ideally, for the way I picture laying out your plants, the long side on the left of the photo would be the north side - but unless it's actually the south side, I would still do the following.

I would put 3 or 4 tomato plants along the middle of that long side, either caged (preferably) or staked. I would put the pepper plants along one or both of the short ends, depending on how many peppers you want to grow. I'd leave a path 18" wide in front of the tomatoes and in front of the peppers, and going from the center of the right-hand long side to the tomatoes, and I'd plant your greens in the patches left over. If you aren't familiar with "square-foot gardening," you might want to check that out for an idea about spacing for the greens.

I think you could comfortably put 4 tomatoes and 8-10 pepper plants in (4-5 along each end), plus the greens. If that left-hand side of the plot happens to be due south I think I would put the tomatoes on the other long side so they don't shade the other plants too much. I don't think I would try to use loose bricks, stacked or otherwise - it seems to me that they will just take up room that you could use otherwise, and will be more hassle than help. I might put a low "border fence" around it, though, to kind of separate it off from the other plots. I hope this will be of some help to you, and wish you the best of luck with your new garden!

Good going - it already looks about 1000% better!

Garden update: Have planted 3 tomatoes in the back (roma, champion and san marzano), along with some carrots, jalapenos and thai chili. I've also added romaine lettuce to the front, so the front 3 rows now has the butterhead lettuce, pok choi and romaine lettuce. Will be adding more.

looking Great!!!

!!

So fun to see how your plants have grown in the past month

Very nice job, @Blazersin7.

Thanks for the support. Here's further update:

Harvested 3 of 5 Bok Choy plats so that the adjacent plants get some sunlight. Leaves are huge. Doing more planting and work around the garden this Memorial Weekend.

You have really put that little plot of ground to good use - way to go!

Wow @Blazersin7

That looks great!!!

Another update:

You have done such a great job with that little spot - kudos!!

great Harvest

Harvested many tomatoes. I unfortunately wasn't very attentive the last few weeks bc of ppl visiting me, but I'm happy with the harvest. Forget type of tomatoes in red bucket but it's a local variety. Biggest lesson learned growing tomatoes this year is to always use a large tomato cage.

Can you even believe now that this was what you started with? Very well done!

Blazersin7 said:After waiting 2 years for an opening in a Portland community garden, I've been assigned a starter plot (approx 50 SF). Community members are typically required to complete x amount of service hours to the community garden, but my assigned plot definitely didn't get any TLC. The location is not ideal so I wouldn't be surprised if this plot has been vacant for awhile but I think I'm up for the challenge... I'm now exploring inexpensive options for restoring this plot and seeking any advice for its restoration. Attached is a photo:

Marvelous job, @Blazersin7

Great job
and every lesson learned makes for a better garden next year.

thank you for both the help and kind words. Thinkin about makin some tomato sauce tonight.

Looks like you are having another heat wave there
How often do you have to water your garden?