Design Plan for Small Bed Against a Wall

I have a small problem, or maybe I should say "SMALL problem." The only suitable (not visible from the street, adequate sun, etc...) place I have for SFGs is along narrow, southern-exposed side of my house. So, here's my solution. See attached. The beds (I will have 2 side-by-side with a 3rd on the shady side of the fence in teh back yard that I hope will work for summer) are constructed of 2'x8' boards (which I have already assembled and lined the bottoms with weed cloth and hardware cloth.) The removable covers will be framed with 2x2's and covered with chicken wire. Any thoughts or suggestions? I made the backs tall to allow for climbing vines which I will trellis using nylon net secured to the side of the house. I saw a post from someone about removing the chicken wire to allow for adequate pollenation.

Sorry....finally figured out how to post the picture. I are smart that way

Very nice illustration Daryl and sounds like a great plan as well. I have a couple of questions.

The first one is; Bee’s (assuming any are left this year) are able to pass through chicken wire, so why would you need to remove it for pollination?

And second (reference your illustration) What do you think of leaving the back off and only going with the front and two sides? My thought is, trying to lift it over your trellis (if you add the back) will become a drag in no time, and/or what ever you plant on the wall mounted trellis, could potentially grow into the chicken wire you have on the back, damaging the plant when its removed or crushing it as it leans against the house/trellis.

I would suggest leaving at least 2' of space between the wall and your bed. You will need access the that area if you are growing high climbing things such as pole beans. My Kentuckey Wonders grew over 14'

The removable covers mentioned are usually small enough mesh to keep most egg laying insect out, usually made from a non woven material or or a netting material like tulle (pronounced tool)... when the plant blooms is when you will need to remove the cover to allow the pollinators to the blooms.
Often used in bridal dresses, this is tulle:

EatYourVeggies wrote:What do you think of leaving the back off and only going with the front and two sides?

Brilliant! I can actually make the cover a few inches deeper than the bed so it overhangs the back a few inches, and I can also enclose my net trellis as well. I'll have to design it such that the wire attaches to the house to keep varmints from entering from the back, but that should be easy. Thanks.

camprn wrote:I would suggest leaving at least 2' of space between the wall and your bed. You will need access the that area if you are growing high climbing things such as pole beans. My Kentuckey Wonders grew over 14'

The removable covers mentioned are usually small enough mesh to keep most egg laying insect out, usually made from a non woven material or or a netting material like tulle (pronounced tool)... when the plant blooms is when you will need to remove the cover to allow the pollinators to the blooms.
Often used in bridal dresses, this is tulle:

Interesting. In Mel's book he shows a chicken wire cage to keep out rabbits, etc. Later he discusses bird netting. First I've seen of insect netting, but an excellent idea. I'm thinking I can redesign to use chicken wire on the bottom foot then use bird netting on the top. As for insects, it's probably hopeless here in the south without some form of pesticide, but I could overlay the whole apparatus with fine mesh fabric to give it a try at least. (I'm not opposed to 7 Dust, as my grand parents used it and none of us grew a 3rd arm.) As for the distance from the house, no can do. That's my whole problem. This a pretty narrow walkway. Thus the limit of 2' depth on the beds. The whole area in only about 7' wide and I still have to get my mower through there to the back yard. Thanks for the suggestions.

daryl.weaver wrote:I'm thinking I can redesign to use chicken wire on the bottom foot then use bird netting on the top. Thanks for the suggestions.

That makes more sense also because the bird netting can be easily lifted and will be much less hassle than the chicken wire.

I may have missed it, but what are your issues? Just rabbits? I had a backyard full of birds including crown and had no real issues with the garden being hurt by them.

Chopper wrote:what are your issues? Just rabbits? I had a backyard full of birds including crown and had no real issues with the garden being hurt by them.

I'm new so just planning ahead. We do have lots of squirrels and rabbits...even a few deer. I may be over thinking it.

daryl.weaver,

It sounds like the chicken wire lower section and bird/deer netting for the top area will keep the squirrels and deer out.

I used the tulle over my Table Top because we have a severe problem with cabbage worms. This particular table top was filled with crops that did not need pollination, such as broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, carrots and beets. You can see where I left the tulle off of the sugar snap peas so they could be pollinated.

However, at the community garden we just covered the garden with tulle until plants needed to be pollinated, then removed the cover. It did give our plants a good start growing when they were not attacked by any insects.

We also have lots of deer and they did not damage any veggies in my tulle covered bed, even though these crops were right in their faces. On other table tops I used deer/bird netting and again had no loss to deer.

I do not have to deal with squirrels here.

Furbal, what a lovely little garden!

Peas are self-pollinated. I have to keep mine covered from the deer.

janezee wrote:Peas are self-pollinated. I have to keep mine covered from the deer.

I did not know that.

For some reason the deer never bothered them.



Camprn, thanks for the compliment.

Sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass you!

I didn't know until last summer, either.
They can be pollinated better by bees, like tomatoes, which are also self-pollinating. (They just need wind or aggravation)

I've been busy learning about the birds and the bees this year.........

You didn't really embarrass me. I guess I never really looked at the cultural information.

I should start " learning about the birds and the bees this year".........

If they just need wind for pollination, then I am set. Wind is what we get all the time.



We are expecting 45-60 MPH winds tomorrow with hurricane strength gusts of 75 to 100mph. I think I will stay inside.

I think that would be a good rookie topic. What needs bees, what does better with bees and what doesn't need bees. If I had a list it would certainly help me plan which beds can be kept wrapped up in bug netting and which ones will have to be left open.



Kay