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ORIGINAL: FluidFlame


Depending on you plants both beer traps and caffee mulch should help with slugs. cut the tops off water or pop bottles and burry until only about a cm is above ground, fill 1/4 - 1/3 with cheap beer. The slugs and a few other harmful insects will be attracted to the beer and drown in a drunken stupor.
Spread used coffee grounds over the soil or even a fine sand. the sharp grinds of coffee or shards of sand will tear the slugs soft underside and probably kill it if it has to cross enough.
or circle you beds with copper wire (about 1/2 inch diameter), slugs hate copper wire, they have enough liquid and static in their bodies that when they cross the wire they get a shock. No battery needed because they are their own battery.

Use all, some or one and there'll be a reductio in slugs but those crafty things always find a way to get some through.

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ORIGINAL: WinsomeDefiance

My backyard has almost no sunlight, and my neighbors would flip if I planted a vegetable garden in my front yard., especially considering my neighbor across the steet has their house for sale

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ORIGINAL: WinsomeDefiance

My backyard has almost no sunlight, and my neighbors would flip if I planted a vegetable garden in my front yard., especially considering my neighbor across the steet has their house for sale

I already have the wire fencing so I was seriously considering making the 'flower tower' but using it for herbs and vegetables. Has anyone had any success with this? Any ideas which plants grow best in a tiered vertical structure? Tips?

I'm going to research if there are any vegetable, herb or fruits that do ok in shade but if anyone has tips on that it would be greatly appreciated.

ETA: I'd really like to be able to grow all of the fruits and vegetables I want to use for juicing this year. I will have to see how practical that is but it is my goal.

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ORIGINAL: SylvereApLeanan

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ORIGINAL: WinsomeDefiance

My backyard has almost no sunlight, and my neighbors would flip if I planted a vegetable garden in my front yard., especially considering my neighbor across the steet has their house for sale

Before you decide not to try to grow veggies in your front yard, you might want to research the homesteading ordinances for your city and the declarations for your HOA. As long as you stay within the rules of both of those, your neighbors shouldn't have much cause for complaint.

For example, my city ordinances state that I can't grow any row crops (defined as crops grown in rows that reach more than 24 inches in height) in my front yard, but what I grow in my back yard is up to me. My HOA says no shrubs over three feet in front and nothing more than six feet in back. That leaves a lot of leeway for things like potatoes, carrots, lettuce, zucchini and other squash, herbs, and more. You can also grow almost anything in a container, if you get one large enough, at which point the city and HOA seem to consider it a "house plant" and it doesn't have to follow the same rules. My gardening catalogs sell a lot of dwarf plants, from banana trees to blueberry bushes, which can be grown in containers. With a little digging (see what I did there!) you might be able to find a way to have a garden in your front yard.

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ORIGINAL: humptiedumptie

Rhubarb leaves can be boiled up to make a natural pesticide but I am not sure if it is safe to use it on anything you are going to eat as the leaves contain oxalic acid

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ORIGINAL: ShaharThorne

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...

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ORIGINAL: LookieNoNookie

How do you deal with all the weeds that come in to play?

I've planted (everything....well....I didn't actually do shit personally) in the last few years....I have sprinklers that come on timed....2 acres, guys that come in and there's weeds everywhere....all over my shit.

Is there a secret to all this?

(I have potatoes that grow no matter what but....what's the secret to making food?)

************

(I'd prefer the answer doesn't require actual physical effort).

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ORIGINAL: MAINEiacMISTRESS

Yes, the secret to NO WEEDS is putting dannydoo (or any good, helpful subby) to work pulling them out

It also helps to AGE your manure in a big pile so it can ferment, generate enough heat to cook out the weed seeds. Also, get a handle on your lawn mowing/trimming to make sure weeds/grass on your lawn don't invade the garden. Again, a good, helpful subby to the rescue!

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ORIGINAL: Blonderfluff

Planting marigolds and lavender is a great way to help keep the nasty bugs away, and bring the good bugs in. Plus. The yellow and purple look fab together.
I'm doing tomatoes, peppers, eggplant,green beans and lettuce.
Jersey dirt DOES grow the best 'maters!!

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ORIGINAL: jlf1961

Alright, I have seen people talk about what to plant to keep bad bugs away. (already knew that but thanks for the reminder)

Now I have a question for all you green thumb aficionados.

What the hell do you plant to attract nice looking ginger haired single Irish girls between the ages of 25 and 45 all the way from Ireland?

Betcha cant answer that one!