This is a hybrid. I took the regular (at least my understanding of them) Keyhole Garden concept and adapted the Mayan Floating Garden concept into it. In the center is a Blood orange Tree. There are sweet peas growing up around the trunk, on the middle section I planted cow peas, potatoes and sweet potato. Rather than one entrance (as a typical keyhole) I have 3. Due to the natural landscape causing water to flow toward the garden on 3 different sides. Now the water runs into the garden trench rather than running out of the yard and into the pond. I'd like a little feedback on the design please. Also, looking for recommendations for what to plant on the outer ring. The garden is in the marsh part of the yard. I live in a sub-tropic area. the garden gets a good 6-8 hours of mid-afternoon sun. https://s1103.photobucket.com/album...ar Raised Bed Garden Project/#!cpZZ1QQtppZZ24
Are you meaning an edge guild to keep the grass out of your new bed? Comfrey, and a mix of grasses like lemon grass and vetiver planted close. Watch the cow pea to make sure it doesn't engulf the little orange tree. What will you replace it with once it is dug in (Presuming you are using it as a green manure crop...)?
I'm hoping the weed barrier underneath the middle circle and the trench around will be enough to keep the grass from reclaiming the bed. About every 6 months or so I plan to get the hoe out and rake the trench out and over the outer ring. It is how I treat the swale mounds in the back and seems to work well by generating new dirt. As I have a pretty abundant supply of brown matter (oak leaves and pine needles) I'm wanting to increase the green matter. Yard clippings just aren't enough. As I've never grown cow pea before, I'm unable to answer your question on it's replacement. I was planning on growing the lemongrass elsewhere due to it's height. Since there is still a large area in the marsh part of the yard still available I thought I might try the Fukuoka method in it. I'm wanting to add more edible shrubbery like pineapple guava and nut trees and support species for chop and drop. I'm told Pecan and black Walnut are the only 2 nut producing trees that grow well down here (except for acorn but not very tasty), but I need to be careful of said trees blocking to much sunlight out. I'm also told you can't grow anything under them. Currently tall trees are on the outside parameter of the property so placement is crucial. I have a Moringa stenopetala planted in the SE corner of the yard, with 7 more in pots waiting along with 2 Moringa oleifera. Don't know if all will go into the yard tho. Waiting to see how the 1 fairs
