Who's gardening this year? (Full Version)

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ShaharThorne -> Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 5:23:01 AM)

I am switching from my flowers to vegetables this year. I am ordering some herbs, some squash, green beans and tomatoes (Burpee has this giant tomato that I want to try out). I have no idea what my brother is doing (except watermelons and onions). After August, I will build me a greenhouse so I can raise different lettuces for my diet during the fall and winter (maybe it won't get so cold this next year).

Now...to get a cattle panel and a couple of t-post so the green beans can be pole beans...



humptiedumptie -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 5:45:23 AM)

If you have the room it helps if you have a mix of flowers, herbs and veggies as it brings in pollinators, same goes for the greenhouse.



Blklhumiliatrix -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 5:51:26 AM)

I plan to plant a variety of greens this season. Spinach, kale, turnip greens, chard. I also want a variety of herbs and some onions. I eat a lot of these and this year I, now have enough land to plant on. I am so excited!



ShaharThorne -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 5:58:19 AM)

The flowers are up front...irises, daffodils, roses, hyacinths. The wood we used to raise that spot has rotted out (ants, I suspect). I have been wanting to get some Siberian irises from a neighbor's ditch and plant them around where the gray water from the house comes out (bathroom and laundry since the toilet and kitchen sink is hooked up to the septic system.).

The garden will be on the South/southwestern side. I got a climbing rose on the western side, next to that back porch. I am watching for bulbs this year. Mom wants to get some tulips but I fear it is too late for them.



Blklhumiliatrix -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 6:05:42 AM)

Hi. When you say "it helps" does that mean it helps the veggies I am planting in some way; or that it is helpful to the environment in general? My father plants each year but he uses lots of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. I would like to avoid that as much as possible.


quote:

ORIGINAL: humptiedumptie

If you have the room it helps if you have a mix of flowers, herbs and veggies as it brings in pollinators, same goes for the greenhouse.




ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 6:19:41 AM)

I learned gardening in TX is very different from gardening in the Midwest. You have to shade those cool loving plants, like broccoli, spinach, carrots, lettuces, radishes, scallions, sweet peas, etc.

Your southern exposure is going to be too much for those plants, no matter how much you water. I used green beans, peppers and tomatoes to shade them.

Are you doing organic gardening? I highly recommend it. Since you live out in the country you should be able to find some cow shit for the compost.

Also, marigolds are great around the garden, they keep pests away, as do many of the herbs. For instance always grow your basil and tomato plants close together, the basil protects the tomato plants.

I will do my usual container gardening herbs and perhaps another cherry tomato plant. That worked out great last year.








ShaharThorne -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 6:21:41 AM)

I got a neighbor who raises chickens for Pilgrims...I have Mom give him a call and see if we can sneak a 5 gallon bucket from his place. The only thing I want to stray is bloom stick for the tomatoes so they can develop. Oh, got to have radishes for the squash...natural way to keep the bugs away from the squash (I can trade the radishes at the market for some peach ice cream).



ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 6:28:55 AM)

Chicken shit is great, but you have to make sure it's well composted before you use it. It also smells much worse (to me).



punisher440 -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 6:41:57 AM)

Be very careful using chicken litter as fertilizer,do not over use it as it is extremely potent. If you put out too much it will kill your veggies. My granddad once had a 10,000 chicken laying house and I have seen what happens if you over fertilize using chicken waste...it burns almost everything to the ground.A little goes a long way.



windchymes -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 7:33:01 AM)

I finally just moved to a house that has good gardening space, fenced in backyard with high hedges that will get sun for a lot of the day from the right angle, yay! I'd like to build some raised boxes, we'll see how ambitious I really am when it's down to the nitty-gritty, lol. Either way, there will be tomatoes and lots of peppers and basic herbs. I have a pack of mixed seeds for peppers of all colors, can't wait to try that out. Maybe some beans. And lots of flowers, in containers for the big front porch and patio out back, and also in the beds that previous occupants have made from nice stones. There are several mature ornamental trees and boxwoods out there, too. I'm looking forward to spiffing all that up this year.

I've got seeds for marigolds, which I love, some morning glories, the herbs, zinnias, impatiens for the patio. I'll probably get some hyacynth bulbs and bleeding heart plants for the front, too.

Melt, snow, melt! [:)]



FluidFlame -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 8:07:50 AM)

I've been growing vegetables indoor and out for a few years now, my best advice would be marigolds, they both bring in pollinators and repel many insects that would ruin your crops.
Other than that, it's easy to grow lettuce in the kitchen as well.

I'm saving up for a good sized greenhouse kit. I'm not that handy plus I like in a gated community witch is picky on how things look.

~Flame



SylvereApLeanan -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 9:16:52 AM)

My long-term goal is to turn every available inch of yard, both front and back, into edible or otherwise useful landscaping. I'm defining "otherwise useful" as plants that have no food value, but will attract pollinators and natural pest controllers.

I've got an ugly, 3-foot high chain link fence around the back yard and even uglier, rotting wood fences some of the neighbors have put up that I want to cover with honeysuckle and wisteria. I started last year with a single honeysuckle plant (which I hope survived) and my goal is to put in at least one more every year until I have the whole yard done. This year, I plan to tear out the old, ugly wooden patio/deck thing in front of our house and replace it with an herb garden.

I also have tons of herb and veggie seeds my girlfriend's mother gave her. I'm not even sure what all is there, but I know I have heirloom tomatoes, dry beans, lettuce, bread seed poppies, and wildflowers. The previous owners of this house had a large dog they let destroy the back yard, so now it's a giant weed patch. I'm going to try to plant things that will choke out the weeds and repair the soil. I've also been worm composting for a couple of years so that will help too. I started a hot compost bin last summer, but I neglected it. I'm going to make an effort to pay more attention this year.



ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 9:39:09 AM)

Chicken shit should be thoroughly composted. So that means 3-6 months depending.



AthenaSurrenders -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 10:09:13 AM)

I'm just doing some early crop potatoes and carrots plus a couple of nice low maintenance pumpkin plants this year. Daren't do anything too ambitious because I'm having a baby in August so anything still in the ground will be fending for itself. Luckily we still already have a pretty mature garden of perennial flowers which attract bees and butterflies like crazy.



OsideGirl -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 10:12:41 AM)

We're doing a garden:

Three types of tomatoes, spaghetti squash, jalapenos, anaheims, bell peppers, green beans, sugar snap peas, pumpkins, rosemary, parsley, thyme, sage and lavender.

We have had absolutely no winter, it's been pretty much around 80 degrees, so I think we'll start in the next few days.



OsideGirl -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 10:16:14 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: AthenaSurrenders
Daren't do anything too ambitious because I'm having a baby in August
Congratulations!



kalikshama -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 10:29:28 AM)

quote:

I think we'll start in the next few days.


I'd be hating on you, but my gardening in Florida was a miserable failure, so I'll just not be jealous and stick to what I know - start peas and radishes around St. Patrick's Day, other cool annuals shortly thereafter, etc.

We have perennial sage, chives, thyme, peppermint, and hopefully my spearmint will come back.

For herbs, I'll also do basil, parsley, and cilantro, and whatever else strikes my fancy at the garden center.

Last year, I split a jalapeno six pack between the front and the back yards, and the ones in the front did fine but the ones in the back were misshapen and worm eaten, so I going to see about soil testing and getting more soil for at least that bed.

I need to get some trees trimmed to get more sun - mom gets more sun (and her soil is no doubt better) - her kale and swiss chard was much bigger than mine last year.

I'm going to try my new favorite cabbage family veggie, bok choy, this year.

In general, I like crops that are ready over time rather than all at once, like kale instead of broccoli, lettuce you harvest in leafs rather than heads, etc.

I had moderate success with yams last year, and might try them again, following the planting directions more closely - mounding, black plastic, etc.



DarkSteven -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 11:03:14 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: SylvereApLeanan

My long-term goal is to turn every available inch of yard, both front and back, into edible or otherwise useful landscaping. I'm defining "otherwise useful" as plants that have no food value, but will attract pollinators and natural pest controllers.



Helpful hint - I've seen that the best plants for pollinators tend to be members of the mint and pea family, and of course fruiting plants.



OsideGirl -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 11:07:28 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: DarkSteven


quote:

ORIGINAL: SylvereApLeanan

My long-term goal is to turn every available inch of yard, both front and back, into edible or otherwise useful landscaping. I'm defining "otherwise useful" as plants that have no food value, but will attract pollinators and natural pest controllers.



Helpful hint - I've seen that the best plants for pollinators tend to be members of the mint and pea family, and of course fruiting plants.


Lavender works really well to attract pollinators too.



LadyPact -> RE: Who's gardening this year? (2/22/2014 11:13:42 AM)

Nope. No gardening.

This planting season, I'll be free as a bird. It will be all about planning and packing and having a new home. Perhaps next year.



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