Veggie Gardening....

[kadee79]

So who is going to be planting some kind of veggie garden this coming spring?

How big?....even if it's just one mater plant!

What kinds of things are you planting?

Are you making any preparations yet?

I will be. I have around 400 onion plants in the ground already and just received my order of 2 more bunches...those will be over 100 more. Since we just had rain for the last 3 days, I'll have to let it dry out some before I can plant them.

I planted broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, radishes, spinach, English peas, snap peas & lettuce in either late Oct. or early Nov.....the results...radishes did ok but are toast now since we dropped into the teen for a couple of days. The lettuce never came up (romaine), the spinach came up & promptly died off, most of the carrots are growing S L O W L Y. The cauliflower looks like it is gone from the cold weather also. The cabbage & broccoli had some damage but may recover and the snap peas also had some damage.  The English peas are starting to bloom.

I have planted 3 kinds of tomato seeds & 2 kinds of celery seeds in my little garden house....kind of like winter sowing for me.  If these don't do well, I'll just buy plants.

I still need to go turn the soil in my longest raised bed...to get it ready for early spring planting down here.

We wired together pallets last fall to make 3 compost bins.  And I have some of the half pallets on the front of them so I'll be able to remove them easy to get at the composted materials on the bottom.  They are cooking good since we found a source for horse manure!

[Deleted]

My Fedco catalog came before Christmas, but I haven't looked at it yet! Very excited to...

I won't be planting till April. 

[Apple]

I can't grow things all that well, so we contribute labor to my parent's garden.  Last year we expanded it to cover my parents plus three families of siblings still in town (little brother moved out of town before anything was ready to be harvested, but they still got some benefit).

Last year, the garden was about 2/3 an acre.  Some plots were new, but they didn't do great because it was the first year for the soil (we have very sandy soil, takes a few years of stuff being plowed under in the fall/spring to get it good for growing).

This year, garden size will possibly be restricted by snow pack in the mountains.  If there isn't enough, water gets restricted in the summer.  So, waiting to see where that goes.

My mom will start seeds in February.  We are still able to dig up carrots and potatoes from last year!!

There will be...

Tomatoes (20+ plants, at least 10 varieties)
Onions (at least 2 varieties)
Radishes
Potatoes
Beans
Peas (several varieties, like sugar snap peas)
Corn
peppers (at least 10 varieties)
lettuce (at least 4 varieties)
turnips

and a ton more I can't remember

Last year, she gave away over 200 tomato plants she had started from seed.  Some were well over a foot tall when I delivered them to coworkers.

[Deleted]

I will only plant 6 tomatoes. I will only plant 6 tomatoes. I will only plant 6 tomatoes...

I have to keep telling myself...

[grits]

kadee66, in my past gardening experience, you didn't really plant leaf lettuce seeds under ground. I started them on top of loose dirt in a pot. Then, I transferred the seedlings to small clay pots. Finally, I transferred those seedlings to the ground. I used to grow Black Seeded Simpson, and a variety called Salad Bowl. The Salad Bowl had long frilly leaves. it was mild, and sweet.  I have seen some called Salad Bowl since then but they weren't the same.

[Deleted]

Hmm. I always just sprinkle leaf lettuce on the ground, smooth over the dirt and wait... 

[The Captain]

...for the bunnies and deer to come over for lunch.

[Deleted]

Oh, I'm lucky there, no bunnies or deer that close... Yet anyway. 

[busymom]

Me me me!

We've got 2 large garden areas in the backyard.  Not as big as Kadee's (500 onions).  But, we typically grow tomatoes (large & cherry), carrots, pea pods, broccoli, strawberries, pumpkins, radishes, potatoes & whatever else looks good.  We've also got a row of raspberry bushes.

We put in some new fencing last year that did a great job of keeping deer & bunnies out of the garden (as well as our dog). 

I would LOVE someday to have a small greenhouse on our property to start plants with.  Right now, because we tend to get frost late, it doesn't make sense to put most of the garden in until Memorial Weekend.

[The Captain]

busymom - What zone are you?  (I'm in 5a)

[Deleted]

I started planting out early under 2 liter soda bottles cut off... It worked ok last year. I'm still perfecting... And helped me get almost a month on our frost date, and start some peppers/tomatoes directly outside...

[NoNamePerson]

The hard freeze we had this week finished off what romain lettuce I had. But must say spinach is still hanging in there as well as mustard greens, kale and turnips. That is all I had in fall garden. I am going to wait till March before doing the spring garden. If I could find brocolli, cauliflower plants now I think I would try them since they are cool weather crops and really do not do well here but it is cold now and might make it.

I am in Zone 8B so normally have a real long growing period for lots of stuff.

[Apple]

Jan 12, 2014 15:20:18 GMT -5 busymom said:

I would LOVE someday to have a small greenhouse on our property to start plants with.  Right now, because we tend to get frost late, it doesn't make sense to put most of the garden in until Memorial Weekend.

I want to build one for my mom, but right now, she just uses one of those plastic ones that you put up with PVC pipe.  She can fit a TON in there.  She puts a blanket or a sheet over the door flap, and if it is supposed to get freezing cold, she'll put a little heater in it, but it works until she can get a big one.

[Deleted]

That is gorgeous, but those tomato plants are giving me hives just looking at them!

[grits]

I live right between zones 9 and 10. We have to grow lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, greens, and a few other things in winter. Hence the early start in pots, and then transplanting. Basically, you can garden here all year long. Just vary what you are planting.

[Blonde Granny]

We use pots as we're not into the back breaking job of a full blown garden.  Normally we have a pot for a jalapeno plant, a grape tomato, maybe a green pepper and some basil or parsley.

Our over 55 community has a garden plot for anyone who would like to use it.  Our builder is a former cattle rancher/farmer, so the plot is quite big.  Dh may do some potatoes, onions and garlic this upcoming summer, but that will be done after the builder tills the plot with his big green John Deere tractor.

[busymom]

Jan 12, 2014 15:23:47 GMT -5 The Captain said:

busymom - What zone are you?  (I'm in 5a)

Depending how you draw the lines on the map, I'm in zone 4a or 4b. So yes, we kind of get a late start around here. No worries though. I've put in plants as late as the 4th of July weekend, & still managed to get a harvest out of it.

[Deleted]

Jan 12, 2014 15:47:40 GMT -5 grits said:

I live right between zones 9 and 10. We have to grow lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, greens, and a few other things in winter. Hence the early start in pots, and then transplanting. Basically, you can garden here all year long. Just vary what you are planting.

Me too so my garden is upside down from when the rest of the country plants.  My lettuce, cilantro, turnips and other greens came through the hard freeze last week with no problems.  I'll try to get tomatoes in the ground in March so they can make before the summer heat hits which we know can be as early as May.  And the same with peppers, eggplant, squash and the other summer crops because nothing likes a Texas summer except jalapenos, chinch bugs and mosquitoes.  

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Gardening Granny: You might want to check out my thread in "Hobbies". You not only could make one of these, but for the few things you want to grow, (your jalapenos, grape tomatoes, grn pepper and herbs) it might be a nice idea for you to consider.

DIY Vertical Garden

We had a "box" garden at our first house. It was about 3' wide, and ran the length of the fence from house to back lane. We grew mostly a "salad" garden - lettuce, tomatoes, some celery, baby carrots, green onion, radishes, etc - and the front row of planting was just a border of small flowers to give it color.

[swamp]

Yes, we provided a very nice all you can eat buffet for the deer last year, including tomatoes, carrots, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and beans. We plan on doing so again this year. 

[grits]

Jan 12, 2014 18:15:23 GMT -5 @donethat said:

Jan 12, 2014 15:47:40 GMT -5 grits said:

I live right between zones 9 and 10. We have to grow lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, greens, and a few other things in winter. Hence the early start in pots, and then transplanting. Basically, you can garden here all year long. Just vary what you are planting.

Me too so my garden is upside down from when the rest of the country plants.  My lettuce, cilantro, turnips and other greens came through the hard freeze last week with no problems.  I'll try to get tomatoes in the ground in March so they can make before the summer heat hits which we know can be as early as May.  And the same with peppers, eggplant, squash and the other summer crops because nothing likes a Texas summer except jalapenos, chinch bugs and mosquitoes.  

I am where it is humid. Okra loves the damp heat of Texas summer.

[pepperdoo]

I lost my Greek Oregano to the cold, but my Rosemary and Thyme plants are doing ok, time to replant in bigger pots soon. 

[marvholly]

I have not done a garden in >20 years. However, I have a nicely dug up small area where a tree was removed last fall. I am thinking of doing mostly fresh herbs since they are SOOOO $$. Maybe a tomato plant or 2, maybe a bell pepper (red or yellow).

[Deleted]

That's how it starts marv! That's how it starts...

[whoisjohngalt]

Jan 12, 2014 18:43:52 GMT -5 swamp said:

Yes, we provided a very nice all you can eat buffet for the deer last year, including tomatoes, carrots, squash, cucumbers, peppers, and beans. We plan on doing so again this year. 

Well, that's better than having one worm eat one of your tomatoes, if you only had 5 tomatoes in total.

I've always liked the idea of having a garden, but last year was a disaster.  I think I had the most expensive tomatoes and one cucumber (that tasted awful) in the history of all produce.

I don't know if I am doing anything this year.  Last year I did it in pots bc we just couldn't decide where to put the garden.    And in case you are wondering, we have PLENTY of space.  Out of almost 6 acres, almost 2 are useful. 

Just to give you an idea of how much land we have - my kids can go sledding on our property, but I can't figure out where to put the garden

[Deleted]

Well, I've found it best to keep it close. I put in beds around the house. I'm not much for flowers anyway... But if they are right there, they get looked after better...

[NoNamePerson]

Jan 13, 2014 8:23:25 GMT -5 oped said:

Well, I've found it best to keep it close. I put in beds around the house. I'm not much for flowers anyway... But if they are right there, they get looked after better...

So true and keep it small and simple to start. Son came over in March and built me three raised beds after I got settled in new place. Had a small bumper crop all summer long. Just enough for me to handle and enjoy. I plant marigolds and a few other small flowers in and around the beds. Keeps away some bug and attracts bees. And I just love flowers too!!
Happy gardening and digging in the dirt folks  

[Pants]

We want to do a big plot this year! I'm going to have to have my mom help me figure it out, because I have never been much of a gardener. But I hate how wasteful grass is - good for dogs and kids to run around on, but sucks up water and time. We have boxes for herbs on the porch - died from the cold but we'll replant next year.

For veggies, I want to till up probably a 40x15 area and plant it. We did get a few bunnies last year, but no deer, so we will need a fence. Trying to decide what to plant... peppers definitely. Brocolli could be cool. Carrots would be great, as would onions. Definitely lettuce, spinach and kale. Green beans. Cucumbers and maybe some pickle-varieties as well we could try to make our own pickles. Butternut squash.

I don't know what else. Like I said, I'm new at this, so I have no idea what to put in when, how to prep the soil, how much to water, etc. I need my mommy....

[Deleted]

Jan 13, 2014 8:18:25 GMT -5 whoisjohngalt said:

Well, that's better than having one worm eat one of your tomatoes, if you only had 5 tomatoes in total.

I've always liked the idea of having a garden, but last year was a disaster.  I think I had the most expensive tomatoes and one cucumber (that tasted awful) in the history of all produce.

I don't know if I am doing anything this year.  Last year I did it in pots bc we just couldn't decide where to put the garden.    And in case you are wondering, we have PLENTY of space.  Out of almost 6 acres, almost 2 are useful. 

Just to give you an idea of how much land we have - my kids can go sledding on our property, but I can't figure out where to put the garden

Same here! I could have bought the veggies at the store for less than I spent on pots, dirt and plant food.

I am planning on turning over the dirt, planting PERRENIALS and fuhgetting about it. 


ETA: to fix annuals to perennials. I want it to be one and done! 

[marvholly]

Beer
I went the one & done for perinials a bunch of years ago. Then we had a HORRIBLY cold winter much like this year.
All Gone. Only my hostas survived & they were here when we bought the place winter of 1977.