Suggestions of plants for small spaces

BSue54 · February 20, 2011

Today, we scavanged around our little acre, and came up with enough cinderblock to use as a border for the in-ground part of the garden. While looking at all those 4" or so holes in the blocks, I was wondering.... What can I plant in those holes??? I know I need some marigold, because we do have rabbits around here... But there are a LOT of holes - surely I don't need that many marigolds. Anybody got any ideas?

I guess I could do herbs but didn't know if there's anything else that would work in them little holes

kath · February 21, 2011

Are you doing raised beds or are the blocks defining the outer perimeter of the garden?

BSue54 · February 21, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath

Are you doing raised beds or are the blocks defining the outer perimeter of the garden?

Outer perimeter of the garden, so that I can add some decent soil on top of what "grew" here. It's not the worst soil I have ever seen but it's not great either - and I figure 6-7" of a decent mix on top would be a good thing. It also gets the garden level up where it's easier for these old knees to get to.

Right now, we've got the 10'x12' deck (for my grow buckets) and another 10'x12' area defined with the cinderblocks on 3 sides, up next to the deck.
I decided that if this is not enough, I will do smaller auxillary gardens because, even tho' we have an acre, it's surrounded on the west, and south sides by forest. So... it's hard to find a really LARGE area with good sunshine. (Please, Lord, I am NOT complaining - those trees keep our house cooler in the summer, and I am immensely grateful for that!)

RayR · February 21, 2011

Plant some herbs in those holes, thyme, basil, oregano ect...

kath · February 21, 2011

Ok, the reason I asked is that I have some cinderblock raised beds and decided to plant the holes the first year, too. Then I realized that it would have been a lot easier to work in the bed if I could SIT along the edge! LOL! I find I can't kneel at all to garden any more. So anyway, I filled the holes with gritty gravel stuff that we had access to so that critters wouldn't find a cozy spot in them and surprise me when I sat down!:O
Marigolds are good in that they stay small and don't require a lot of water...do the rabbits not like them? Our deer love them. Not sure what else repels the rabbits-we have to have a fence around the garden to keep deer, groundhogs, rabbits, etc. from clear cutting everything here, as we've got forest and open fields nearby.
Ooo...the herbs are a good idea if they will repel the rabbits. Maybe you could plant some holes and keep some areas open for sitting. I keep those foam kneelers handy as a seat.

BSue54 · February 21, 2011

Quote:

Originally Posted by kath

Ok, the reason I asked is that I have some cinderblock raised beds and decided to plant the holes the first year, too. Then I realized that it would have been a lot easier to work in the bed if I could SIT along the edge! LOL! I find I can't kneel at all to garden any more. So anyway, I filled the holes with gritty gravel stuff that we had access to so that critters wouldn't find a cozy spot in them and surprise me when I sat down!:O
Marigolds are good in that they stay small and don't require a lot of water...do the rabbits not like them? Our deer love them. Not sure what else repels the rabbits-we have to have a fence around the garden to keep deer, groundhogs, rabbits, etc. from clear cutting everything here, as we've got forest and open fields nearby.
Ooo...the herbs are a good idea if they will repel the rabbits. Maybe you could plant some holes and keep some areas open for sitting. I keep those foam kneelers handy as a seat.

Kath,
Thanx for the input - I never thought about that aspect, but I don't kneel well, either. Guess I should only plant in every other block, or something.
Yes - the marigolds are suppose to help keep rabbits away. Just like the chives and rosemary I have in pots on my front porch were suppose to keep the squirrels away.

My DH was talking about capping the blocks with a board and drilling pipes through into the ground to hold them in place. I just couldn't stand the idea of wasting all those little cubbies of plant space LOL

habitat_gardener · February 21, 2011

You could grow mints in the holes -- assuming it's several blocks high. The mint roots may still find their way to the rest of the garden, though. And if you sit on them, you get fragrance.

Last year there was a long thread on the dreaded chocolate mint. I grow it in containers, because if it's planted in the ground, it will expand to fill the space.

If you have a bunch of holes to fill, all you need is one mint plant. You will be able to take cuttings and fill the rest of the holes.

Thymes cascade nicely over the edges of containers or raised beds and don't need much water, and you can get lots of interesting varieties. Oregano also comes in several varieties. Both are also easy to propagate from cuttings.

The other plants I like at the edges of raised beds and in containers, scattered around the garden, are native wildflowers that attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. I let them reseed in the garden, and it's interesting to see how they travel around the garden each year. If they're in the "wrong" spot, I pot them up and either move them elsewhere or give them away.

laspasturas · February 21, 2011

When we had a small apartment garden, I had good luck with spinach and lettuce in the cinder block holes. That may not work for you if you have a real rabbit problem, though. And I had the same problem as kath and couldn't reach half of the herbs in the back of the bed without squashing the lettuce! I ended up ripping out half of them and leaving every other hole empty.

I would also recommend leaving a half inch or so at the top without soil. I wasn't thinking and filled mine all of the way to the top. When I tried to water, the water and some of the soil poured out over the sides of the blocks and made a big mess.

BSue54 · February 21, 2011

Thanx for all the super ideas. I have seed for spinach and something called spinach-mustard (Wally World 20 cent seeds) and am thinking that they would be good, along with the marigolds and some herbs.

Now I've been thinking (always dangerous)... that I should get more cinderblocks and divide the 12' up into 3 separate 4' wide beds. Ohhhhh the decisions... the decisions... maybe I'll just leave it as is, and spend that money on more yummy soil.

kath · February 21, 2011

The only drawback I've found to the cinderblock beds is the amount of space they add to the width of the bed. I'd like to have wider beds, but wouldn't be able to comfortably reach to the center. Keep that in mind if you decide to divide your section into 4" wide beds.

creister · February 21, 2011

Try some alyssum. Supposed to attract beneficial insects and does not grow too large. I have done that before in cinder blocks. Maybe skip a few holes every so often and leave yourself a seat surrounded by flowers.

danwigz · February 22, 2011

I'd also add nasturtiums if you have the space, they do well to keep away aphids according to some family members.

February 20, 2011	#1
BSue54 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Cut-N-Shoot, TX Posts: 73	Suggestions of plants for small spaces Today, we scavanged around our little acre, and came up with enough cinderblock to use as a border for the in-ground part of the garden. While looking at all those 4" or so holes in the blocks, I was wondering.... What can I plant in those holes??? I know I need some marigold, because we do have rabbits around here... But there are a LOT of holes - surely I don't need that many marigolds. Anybody got any ideas? I guess I could do herbs but didn't know if there's anything else that would work in them little holes __________________ Bobbie in Cut-N-Shoot, TX Zone 8b

February 21, 2011	#9
BSue54 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Cut-N-Shoot, TX Posts: 73	Thanx for all the super ideas. I have seed for spinach and something called spinach-mustard (Wally World 20 cent seeds) and am thinking that they would be good, along with the marigolds and some herbs. Now I've been thinking (always dangerous)... that I should get more cinderblocks and divide the 12' up into 3 separate 4' wide beds. Ohhhhh the decisions... the decisions... maybe I'll just leave it as is, and spend that money on more yummy soil. __________________ Bobbie in Cut-N-Shoot, TX Zone 8b

February 21, 2011	#2
kath Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: zone 6b, PA Posts: 5,664	Are you doing raised beds or are the blocks defining the outer perimeter of the garden?

February 21, 2011	#4
RayR Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Cheektowaga, NY Posts: 2,466	Plant some herbs in those holes, thyme, basil, oregano ect...

February 21, 2011	#7
habitat_gardener Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: California Central Valley Posts: 2,543	You could grow mints in the holes -- assuming it's several blocks high. The mint roots may still find their way to the rest of the garden, though. And if you sit on them, you get fragrance. Last year there was a long thread on the dreaded chocolate mint. I grow it in containers, because if it's planted in the ground, it will expand to fill the space. If you have a bunch of holes to fill, all you need is one mint plant. You will be able to take cuttings and fill the rest of the holes. Thymes cascade nicely over the edges of containers or raised beds and don't need much water, and you can get lots of interesting varieties. Oregano also comes in several varieties. Both are also easy to propagate from cuttings. The other plants I like at the edges of raised beds and in containers, scattered around the garden, are native wildflowers that attract pollinators and other beneficial insects. I let them reseed in the garden, and it's interesting to see how they travel around the garden each year. If they're in the "wrong" spot, I pot them up and either move them elsewhere or give them away.

February 21, 2011	#8
laspasturas Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 57	When we had a small apartment garden, I had good luck with spinach and lettuce in the cinder block holes. That may not work for you if you have a real rabbit problem, though. And I had the same problem as kath and couldn't reach half of the herbs in the back of the bed without squashing the lettuce! I ended up ripping out half of them and leaving every other hole empty. I would also recommend leaving a half inch or so at the top without soil. I wasn't thinking and filled mine all of the way to the top. When I tried to water, the water and some of the soil poured out over the sides of the blocks and made a big mess.

February 21, 2011	#11
creister Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Abilene, TX zone 7 Posts: 1,478	Try some alyssum. Supposed to attract beneficial insects and does not grow too large. I have done that before in cinder blocks. Maybe skip a few holes every so often and leave yourself a seat surrounded by flowers.

February 22, 2011	#12
danwigz Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 150	I'd also add nasturtiums if you have the space, they do well to keep away aphids according to some family members.