Gardening...better late than never!

[pamojamo]

Due to a family emergency in March that required a lot of my attention and lots of business travel in April, I only today started working in my garden. (Under normal circumstances I would have planted a spring garden of lettuce, spinache and carrots.) My neighbor loaned me his tiller. Then I went to a local greenhouse I frequent and bought many vaieties of tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash and watermellon plants. They are sitting outside overnight "hardening up" and weather permitting I'll plant tomorrow.

Those of you who are gardeners, what have you planted this year?

[Dragggon]

Good luck and know it is never too late to get things in you just need to look for the varitys that produce quicker check yer nursery.

I just finished planting another garden yesterday so I have staggered harvest

9 diffrent types of toms
bell and banna peppers
carrots
radish 2 types
turnips
red cabbage
squash 4 types
Giant pumpkins (for fun I tend to get things to grow big thought I would see lol)
strawberrys hold overs
4 types of onions
Basal lots of it
Peas
and I am sure I forgot others
spinich

[gatorgrrl]

I have planted:

Cucumbers
Canteloupes
watermelon
squash
zehucini
okra
kale
spinach
corn
strawberries
beans
tomatoes
leaks
onions
eggplant
cabbage
lettuce
beets
carrots
....I think thats it. yum yum! I had a death in the family so I also planted late this year, but my sprouts are growing fast. Only been a little over a week.

[rawpriestess]

we also have

hazelnut trees
almond trees
grapes
garlic
mustard
arugula
rosemary
sage
thyme
lemon thyme
kiwi
raspberries
pear
apple pear
apple
cherries
blackberries
greek oregano
sicilian oregano
italian oregano
wild mountain lettuce
camomile
yellow dock
stinging nettles
cat tail
skunk cabbage
dandelion

and then our medicinals
mullien
heal all
nightshade
fox glove
plantain
and many culinary foods are medicinal too

and who knows what else in the gardens.
these are all holdovers from years gone by, or planted themselves.

[tvillemom]

WOW....my Aggricultural Extension office told me not to plant until the first of May. I still have to get a tiller, but this week I plan to plant:
watermelon (is it time to plant them, I've never planted them because I didn't like them until I went RAW)
squash
zuchini
tomatoes- a few types
red peppers
cucumbers

I'll have to see if I have room for anything else....I have a small yard!
Wendi

[tvillemom]

OH yeah, I want to start some herbs in pots!
Wendi

[Vandy]

I wish I had a garden!!! Having to live in college dorms is terrible... When I get home this summer I wanted to plant a few things, but I think it's too late...is it??? I go home next week, and I really wanted to grow a pear tree, peach tree, nect, and even mango maybe... in addition to some tomatoes and cucumbers and herbs. It's sad though b/c even if I did plant them they would be growing food just before I left...then my family would get to eat it all.

By the way, when is the best time to grow a pear/peach/ or mango tree??

[PATH301]

RP and Draggon, how big is your garden?
Draggon how in the world did you get that cabbage to grow so large? What did you put in the soil and feed mixture?

My garden size is only 12' x 12', plus I still need to get some more dirt and some visqueen in order to make it a warm box above ground and I still need to order some organic seeds as well - I'm behind already this year.

I see your lake in the back ground, it looks nice.

[pamojamo]

Dragggon, you have reminded me that I forgot to plant pumpkins!

[Autumn]

Holy moly Dragggon, that cabbage is enormous!!!

This year we've planted:

5 varieties of tomato
4 varieties of peppers
3 of onion
3 of cucumber
8 of lettuce
collards
kale
spinach
zucchini
green beans
broad beans
lady peas
snap peas
yellow crookneck squash
cauliflower
cabbage
carrots
radish

We also have apple, peach, pear, nectarine and plum trees; strawberry, blackberry and grape vines.


<<By the way, when is the best time to grow a pear/peach/ or mango tree??>>

Hey Vandy, it depends on your location. Call your county extension office or see if they have info posted online. They can give you the best advice about your area, and tips on what variety of each kind will grow best. Plus, you most likely won't have fruit the first year, and probably only a little the second year, so you'll have plenty more years to enjoy the fruit without your family hogging it all up. :D We are very new to the fruit-growing and each week we go out and look at our trees and count the fruit and imagine how much we're going to enjoy it when it's ready. :D

[karenisraw]

That is a huuuuge cabbage.

Looks like RP found a few things in the garden that you forgot about.

I do not have a garden as I live in an apartment. If I did, I would plant;

tomatoes (as many varieties as possible)
watermelon
peppers
zuchini
onion
carrots
corn
cucumebers
and probably more stuff

[sigtau66]

We have the following planted:

habanero
jalapeno
"mixed" pepper (hot)
green pepper
tomato
cucumber
4 different lettuces (spinach, romaine, "summer" mix, and ice berg)
green onions
2x radishes
carrots
blueberry

Some of those crops will be on a staggered planting cycle so I don't get too much at one time. As of right now, though, above is what is planted in the ground. Carrots, radishes, and onions will be the main ones that are staggered.

[EastCoastie]

RP,

Would you please share a bit of your expertise on growing an almond tree? Does it require a certain climate? What kind of harvest do you get?

EC

[robertandenith]

we have a hot climate so I can't plant much. but I have

tomatoes
peppers
cilantro
basil
garlic
arugula
onions

I also have an avocado pit sprouting but obviously this will give me fruit when I get to move or something! lol!!!
recently got a coconut tree too, will plant it this week I can't wait!!!

Can't wait to get more money and plant more. I have all these plants in pots though. Easy to maintain. I do organic gardening so no pesticides nor herbicides.

Draggoon what did you use to make that cabbage so huge? omg! :eek:

[ChaiLife]

This is my first garden in a few years. Here is what we have planted:
tomatoes
bell peppers
basil
squash
eggplant
corn
jalapeno
cucumber
swiss chard
carrots
moon and stars watermelon
zucchini

We plan on expanding more this fall.
I've never grown onions. Need to try that.

[Dragggon]

The cabbage pictured was a bit over 16 lbs and made a wonderful coleslaw for a potluck over 40 ppl ate on it and it was not bitter

Path we have several garden from small 2 feet by 8 feet to the largest at about 20 by 40. They are all over the yard each with its own crops so it is easy to rember and rotate the next year.

[shadow]

and then our medicinals
mullien
heal all
nightshade
fox glove
plantain
and many culinary foods are medicinal too


Would you mind sharing what these plants are good for? I just planted some beautiful foxglove and my hubby told me he knew they were medicinal but couldn't remember what for!

[shadow]

Those of you who are gardeners, what have you planted this year?

I absolutely LOVE gardening!!! I could talk about it all day!

Here's the edible stuff I've planted/am still planting/back from last year (at least what I can remember anyways - I badly need to update my gardening journal!):

tomatoes
all colors of bell peppers
habanero peppers
sugar snap peas
spinach
romaine
herb salad blend
green onion
garlic
chives
strawberries
blueberries

herbs:
oregano
thyme (many varieties all over the place)
lavender
rosemary
lots of different mints
spearmint

I also planted some:
calendula
echinacea
I need to learn how I can use these.

I'm sure there's more I forgot. This is our first year in this house so things are still working themselves out in the garden obviously.

[rawpriestess]

As far as growing the almond trees, all I did was berm an area in my yard, and plant the three almond trees, we planted strawberries all around them


We don't fertilize, or do anything to them, they are in full sun, and we water the strawberries frequently, so they get water, but that is it,

the three trees were 2 years old bare root when I planted them, they said it would take another 2 years before we got any fruit, we had 65 almonds the first year,so aboout 20 per tree, now we get buckets of almonds, they are delicious, and we have hazelnuts too, but mostly the critters get them for some reason

[rawpriestess]

mullein is used for toothache, tonsilitis and coughs

heal all is used for scrapes and cramps

nightshade is used to helps calm the heart

fox glove is used for heart failure, it is digitoxin and digitalis which are extracted from fox glove

plantain is used for sore throats (gargle with it), and a poultice for bee stings and scrapes

[rawpriestess]

Path

Dragggon puts crystals under all of his plants, no fertilizer or pesticides, they grow like crazy, we have never fertilized our gardens,

we have 16 gardens, 2 10 by 40 food strawberry gardens,
1 15 by 40 foot squash garden
1 16 by 16 foot greens garden
1 3 by 5 foot garlic garden
1 5 by 50 foot onion garden
1 5 by 5 foot onion garden
1 3 by 5 foot pepper garden
1 5 by 20 foot herb garden
1 5 by 10 foot herb garden
1 5 by 20 foot herb garden
1 5 by 30 foot kiwi garden
1 5 by 30 foot raspberry garden
1 5 by 20 foot tomatoe garden
1 grape arbor
1 2 by 15 foot herb garden

PLUS all the flowers and trees and rhodies and dahlias and iris' and and and

[shadow]

mullein is used for toothache, tonsilitis and coughs

heal all is used for scrapes and cramps

nightshade is used to helps calm the heart

fox glove is used for heart failure, it is digitoxin and digitalis which are extracted from fox glove

plantain is used for sore throats (gargle with it), and a poultice for bee stings and scrapes

thank you kindly. I must learn more about how I can extract and use these wonderful plants I have around my little slice of land.

[sionkali]

What are some good things to grow if you're somewhat of a novice and don't have a large amount of space (I'll only have a second floor balcony, so containers will be my main method of gardening). I'd love to grow cherry tomatoes and cucumbers, because I eat them all the time!! And maybe some lettuces and herbs.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!!
Jen :)

[RawTruth]

I also have an avocado pit sprouting but obviously this will give me fruit when I get to move or something! lol!!! Sorry to tell you that this will not bear fruit without a graft. :(




What are some good things to grow if you're somewhat of a novice and don't have a large amount of space (I'll only have a second floor balcony, so containers will be my main method of gardening). A great way to garden in a small space is the Square Foot method. It will yield TONS of fruits/veggies in a teensy space. The guy has a book and had a PBS series and is now helping hungry communities around the world grow their own. It's ecologically minded as it doesn't use much water and you don't waste seeds/life by sowing a bunch, then thinning out the "extras". There's virtually no weeding and very little effort. You can read about it here --

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

Oh, and you can make the boxes yourself; you don't need to buy them from the site. I even got the book from the library, so you can keep it really low cost, if you wish.

Happy harvest -- down the road a bit!

[shadow]

What are some good things to grow if you're somewhat of a novice and don't have a large amount of space (I'll only have a second floor balcony, so containers will be my main method of gardening). I'd love to grow cherry tomatoes and cucumbers, because I eat them all the time!! And maybe some lettuces and herbs.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks!!
Jen :)

I suggest starting with just some herbs until you get the hang of it. Don't do too much all at once or it can become overwhelming. Slow and steady.

[sionkali]

A great way to garden in a small space is the Square Foot method. It will yield TONS of fruits/veggies in a teensy space. The guy has a book and had a PBS series and is now helping hungry communities around the world grow their own. It's ecologically minded as it doesn't use much water and you don't waste seeds/life by sowing a bunch, then thinning out the "extras". There's virtually no weeding and very little effort. You can read about it here --

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

Oh, and you can make the boxes yourself; you don't need to buy them from the site. I even got the book from the library, so you can keep it really low cost, if you wish.

Happy harvest -- down the road a bit!

This is such a great idea!! Thanks so much RawTruth - your suggestion helped so very much!! :)

I did have another question for everyone - I've been looking for good compost in the stores (I plan on starting to compost once I move and get settled), but I can't seem to find any. Are there specific brands I should be searching out? I definitely want to stay as organic as possible; should I be looking at a lawn and garden supply center? Could I ask at one of the Farmer's markets in my area?

Sorry for all the questions!! I just want my little plant babies to have the best chances possible this year!!

Thanks so much everyone!!

Jen :)

[CaptainSwab]

Sorry to tell you that this will not bear fruit without a graft. :(



A great way to garden in a small space is the Square Foot method. It will yield TONS of fruits/veggies in a teensy space. The guy has a book and had a PBS series and is now helping hungry communities around the world grow their own. It's ecologically minded as it doesn't use much water and you don't waste seeds/life by sowing a bunch, then thinning out the "extras". There's virtually no weeding and very little effort. You can read about it here --

http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

Oh, and you can make the boxes yourself; you don't need to buy them from the site. I even got the book from the library, so you can keep it really low cost, if you wish.

Happy harvest -- down the road a bit!

Do you use this method of gardening? I like the look and sound of it. We just moved onto a 1/2 acre with very clay like soil but feel overwhelmed because of all the space we have. Building a box like this will give me some purpose. What is the purpose behind the grid?