have nice size western facing backyard in westside vancouver. converted a kids sandbox to garden using good soil and tied in irrigation. only 30sf or so. what would be good crop(s) to start with. thought herb garden but will do that in window box planters.
veggies. went to david hunter today and planted lettuce, broccoli, carrots, beets, green onions, bok choi and some strawberries. think i may have too much for size of planter. herbs will go in window boxes but they dont have irrigation and am away for few weeks this summer. have 200 sf that am returning to grass but was awfully tempted to plant there as well.
Sounds as if you've made a great start. I agree with lorax re grass. Add rhubarb and asparagus and perennials. Come to the Dunbar Garden Club meetings! Next one is on photography, but there's much to be learned and shared there: May 27, Dunbar Community Centre, 7:30.
The small space Bible as far as I am concerned is either Square Foot Gardening or All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew.
The rest of your backyard should definitely be planted with a variety of shrubs and perennials, not just grass -- a small area of grass though might be nice. I have always thought a grouping of shrubs, flowering and evergreen, and some perennial flowers, either in a regular square or rectangular interior border or irregular, with a wider curved area to one corner, with a small either regular central area of grass or a winding swath of grass, not too big, plus a stone or brick patio of course, to be the nicest kind of backyard... one can have one small area of perfect grass to set it off... and your boxed veggie garden can be incorporated into the design. Try drawing some plans...
