Any Gardeners?

Tomhusker

I have decided to do a garden this year, for the first time in a LOOONG time. I would like to get an idea what others on here plant, or do not plant. I have a lot of room and will be canning the excess this fall.

JulieBoBoo

I'm starting a square foot garden this year but will only probably have 6-8 squares. I will do basil in one, carrots in two, peppers in two and nasturtium in one. If I have more (not sure yet as I haven't really measured things out) I will add either radishes or lettuce in one. I also plan on having individual herb pots and a cherry tomato pot.

When I get the other small plot done - probably next year - I will plant climbing cucumbers, tomatoes and green beans.

We have very very limited space. I wish we had more room.

jenbusick

It depends on where you live, but we have enjoyed growing strawberries and blackberries, potatoes, carrots, bell peppers, tomatoes, cantaloupe (Oh! My! Word! You think a home grown tomato is summer juice? Home grown cantaloupe is like growing Creamsicles in your back yard!) and peanuts, which are actually a great deal of fun if your growing season is long enough.

Flora_Delirus

I only have a small back yard, but I utilize my space by going up. Square foot gardening (Yes, there is a book and I HIGHLY recommend it) is the way to go. You don't even have to do raised beds to do it. You make 4' x 4' squares of ground or raised beds and the book helps you learn how to rotate, when to plant, how to tend, etc. You'll get a lot more for your buck than you would if you did gardening the old fashioned way (in rows).

As for having lots of space, this is where the 'rows' come in handy. Put up snow fencing with secured posts in rows. Each row should be a different vegetable or fruit that likes to creep, climb, etc. Anything that spreads out on the ground (cucumbers, squash of summer and fall variety, pumpkins, watermelon, cantalope, honey dew, etc,) can all be trained to go up and around the fences, keeping the fruit off the ground and allowing you to walk between the rows without stepping on things. Just put down hay underneath the fences where the 'fruit' is growing when it gets close to time for them to be picked. Melon aren't ready to pick until you can give a slight tug and they come right off. That way if they come off before you get to them, they will be cushioned on the ground from breaking or becoming damaged by the thick layer of straw at the base.

But when doing raised beds or even just square plots of land, I would divide up the beds by kitchen herbs, root vegetables, perennial veggies (like Rhubarb and asparagus). Have one bed just be lettuce, another just for tomatoes, etc. If you have the room, go for it!!

BryanAir

I had a pretty good garden going last year before the R.O.U.S.'s came in and destroyed it. I'm going to try again this year and I'll have more energy since I am carrying less weight around with me.

soze

Oh Lord yes! I froze tomatoes, corn, green beans, cucumbers, and bell peppers. Be careful on cucumbers. I had those all over the place. Had vats of them. Great little treat though if you freeze them. You can find recipes on-line.

Some hints: Make sure soil is well drained. If you corn does well make sure you have enough dirt around the stalk. You can add some sand to it as well.

Pole beans take longer to grow and are a bit more work but their texture and taste are better than bush beans. They are also easier to pick since they are on a pole or fence.

Best of luck!

Flora_Delirus

Have to ask... What's R.O.U.S.'s? Are you speaking of Rodents of Unusual Size?

"What, Rodents of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist...."

I had a pretty good garden going last year before the R.O.U.S.'s came in and destroyed it. I'm going to try again this year and I'll have more energy since I am carrying less weight around with me.

ShannonWinger

We are going to do a garden for the first time this year and we are so excited! Kind of scary because I'm afraid of doing it wrong. I've actually got two beds. One long skinny one in front of the house and a freshly plowed area that still needs some work. We are hoping to grow bell peppers, jalapenos, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, and a bunch of other stuff. I just have to be careful I don't do too much and get overwhelmed.

I've already started some kale, spinach and radishes outside and have some other seedlings started in the house.

We have a big problem with raccons, possums and armadillos here so we will have to put up some fences.

Myschelle

I'm starting a patio/container garden for the first time. I plan on growing what I need to make fresh salsa; tomatoes, peppers, onions, herbs, and strawberries because I love them and they're expensive. Good luck and please wish me luck...I hope I haven't inheritted my mom's black thumb! :happy:

Myschelle

We are going to do a garden for the first time this year and we are so excited! Kind of scary because I'm afraid of doing it wrong. I've actually got two beds. One long skinny one in front of the house and a freshly plowed area that still needs some work. We are hoping to grow bell peppers, jalapenos, tomatoes, cucumbers, corn, and a bunch of other stuff. I just have to be careful I don't do too much and get overwhelmed.

I've already started some kale, spinach and radishes outside and have some other seedlings started in the house.

We have a big problem with raccons, possums and armadillos here so we will have to put up some fences.

Just idea, if you find yourself with too much of something, you could always donate it to a local food bank, church pantry, or soup kitchen.

LadyPersia

We garden every year. This year we are planning a 40x40 fenced plot. Since we have a large animal community on our land I have found a secret to having very little destruction. I plant another plot just for them. I plant the same items just scatter seeds in the turned soil and let it run wild. We have done it for several years and it works well. If the food is plentiful they leave your garden alone. For bugs I use coffee and soapy water. Beer for slugs. We live in rural NEPA so our seasons are small...

Gardening is awesome!!!!

cnance

I've been doing a garden for a number of years. Its not big but its enough to keep my family and I happy. I do tomatoes, peppers, squash (yellow, zucchini, and butternut) , green beans, strawberries, cucumbers, and radishes.

I've done onions, carrots, melons and other items but I've found that if I get too much growing then they all suffer because I don't have the time to keep up with it all. So I've cut down to our family favorites.

My advice to first timers is simple. Start small. Do tomatoes, they are so much better when grown at home and very easy. I recommend cherry or grape tomatoes even to people with a big pot in their backyard. Most peppers are easy too. Green beans are good if you like fresh green beans, however some varieties produce a ton. Be prepared to can some or just pull them up when you get tired of them. Cucumbers can be another that produce a ton. Luckily I have a delicious 'Icebox pickle' recipe that's simple.

ShannonWinger

I just love a homegrown tomato/cucumber sandwich!!! You just can't beat it.

Just found my swiss chard sprouting in the house and they are so adorable! I get attached to my plants.

12by311

I love having a garden!

I freeze corn, can beans, freeze beans, can tomatoes, make my own lime pickles...
Grow cantalope, watermelons, yellow squash, onions, zucchini, and I know there's more....just can't think of it all

BryanAir

Yep, it was Rodents of unusual size. I never actually saw one, but there were odd tooth marks in my produce.

Have to ask... What's R.O.U.S.'s? Are you speaking of Rodents of Unusual Size?

"What, Rodents of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist...."

I had a pretty good garden going last year before the R.O.U.S.'s came in and destroyed it. I'm going to try again this year and I'll have more energy since I am carrying less weight around with me.

edryer123

I started gardening last year and failed epically with my tomatoes, so I am trying those again. i am also growing the herbs I use most in my kitchen. I live in an apartment right now and we are buying a house next winter and I can't wait to grow my own veggies. I live in Ohio and I found a book specifically for gardening in Ohio. Very helpful on what will grow well in my area. When I lived in Florida they had a book for there too. I'd check amazon for books on your area.

htimpaired

I get attached to my plants too! My hubby always laughs at me because I will go in the backyard and talk to them..."You guys are looking soooo big and healthy!"

I have had problems lately with fruit production on my plants the last couple years. I am going to do some research about what plants I can try in my region. I probably can't actually plant anything until after memorial day. I HATE waiting!

htimpaired

Yep, it was Rodents of unusual size. I never actually saw one, but there were odd tooth marks in my produce.

Have to ask... What's R.O.U.S.'s? Are you speaking of Rodents of Unusual Size?

"What, Rodents of Unusual Size? I don't think they exist...."

I had a pretty good garden going last year before the R.O.U.S.'s came in and destroyed it. I'm going to try again this year and I'll have more energy since I am carrying less weight around with me.

Oh lord da*M groundhogs in my backyard! We bought our house three years ago, and the first year my garden was beautiful, really big and lots of fruits. I saw this massive groundhog but he never bothered my garden so I just left him alone. I thought he was cute. We even named him "Marty" after the old italian dude who owned the house before us.

The second summer was a different story. Marty ate all my veggies! And he had little "Marteenies" who also infiltrated. I went out one day to find the tops eaten off of my habeneros, green beans and tomatoes. I hope he got heartburn.

The third year we bought a tiny fence to surround the garden. We also planted lots of hosta around the edges hoping the roots would be thick enough to discourage Marty from digging. It worked-he did not eat my veggies! So Marty, the Mart-eenies and I can comfortably co-habitate again.

LadyPersia

I love to garden and we have had some successful gardens. Please never feel overwhelmrd if you plant too much. Find a local food pantry they are always looking for fresh veggies. Beer in a flat plates lures and kills slugs, coffee and water make great barriers around perreniels from other bugs,

DoReMiFaSoLaTiDo

Im doing a HUGE veggie garden this year...if it ever stops snowing long enough for my ground to defrost...I normally like to direct plant seeds into the soil but I may start a few things indoors this weekend.

broccoli, spinach, cabbage, lettuce, green beans, collards, kale, only a little corn, brussel sprouts.tomatoes... going to door a pear and apple tree for the first time as well....

I suck at flower gardening