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Garden Gate:  Baby Steps Intro to Gardening  |
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
 Posted - Mar 09 2012 : 1:21:08 PM
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Maybe you've never gardened a day in your life and would like to learn more before you jump in... Maybe you tried gardening before but didn't have much luck with it...
I'm starting a Garden Party tomorrow on my blog, to help those who need it get started/go back to it. Tomorrow and Sunday, we'll look at some books that really helped me, and also the seed companies I use to get my seeds from so you can order in time to get things going.
If you're interested, I'd love for you to join me!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Mar 12 2012 : 12:28:46 PM
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Just finished taking photos of two simple seed starters you can make from materials you can find around your house. Going live on the blog this afternoon. Hope you'll come by and check them out!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2012 : 10:25:01 AM
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I just checked out your Garden Party. Nicely written. And the links were helpful.
Right now I feel as though I am in a holding pattern--it snowed last night! I am eager to get started because Ron just got my beds done and filled but I don't think the weather is amenable to growing. And I don't want to waste time/seeds/plants because I am in a hurry!
Plus, I am still trying to decide what I want in the garden. We have two 4x16 beds available. I only wanted to do one to start, but Ron got ambitious. And, when I decide, now how do I organize the plants? Oh, this is so much work.
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Mar 13 2012 : 11:16:01 AM
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Loyce, read Square Foot Gardening and All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. This will help you get yourself organized. Also, read Carrots Love Tomatoes and Roses Love Garlic by Louise Riotte. These will help you find companion plants that will help keep your plants healthy and creepy crawlies out of your beds. These two folks will take a lot of the guess work out of your gardening, and
The first year that we had 2 4x16 beds, we did one bed all potatoes and geraniums (the geraniums keep Japanese beetles out). The other bed we started with the cold weather stuff - beets, snap peas, lettuces, etc. We used tomato cages in with our peas to keep their vines contained, and used the tops of the milk jugs from our seed starters around the other plants if we got a cold snap. You can also use 2 liter soda bottles filled with water. Then we covered everything over with old blankets and towels.
I agree - snow is not a good time to plant. BUT you can start sprinkling composted manure over your bedding areas. As the snow melts, the water will work the nutrients down into the soil.
Anyway, my whole point of this is, yes there's still stuff you can be doing, and ALL of us feel like we're in a holding pattern this time of year so you are not alone. Read those books because they will make things sooooooo much easier for you.
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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traildancer
True Blue Farmgirl
485 Posts
Loyce
Glide
OR
USA
485 Posts |
Posted - Mar 14 2012 : 10:19:58 AM
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I went to our library and the only one available was "Roses Love Garlic". I'll try to request the others. But I did get a garden journal!
The trail is the thing.... Louis L'Amour |
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Mar 15 2012 : 09:45:00 AM
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Sunny and upper 70's in March, great weather. Which it is. And I'm not complaining. In fact, Lord, if you're listening, I'll take 100 more just like today (we even had a bit of a rain shower overnight). Soil depravation is reaching its peak! Will be helping Princess get her flower bed ready today, so that should help some. Also, need to get some seeds started - I'm behind!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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kdionne1986
Farmgirl at Heart
1 Posts
kayla
deer park
Washington
USA
1 Posts |
Posted - Mar 16 2012 : 08:57:42 AM
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| The weather is wet, there is still snow on the ground in some places...we live in the inland northwest of Washington...but I have started me seeds in egg crates(I think that's what there called, the ones that break down:) ) but anyway, I started them because every single year it seems like we plant too late and everything doesn't put out enough food as it should. But I have been a stay at home mom and this year I have the time and means to get a jump on it! I'm looking forward to seeing if I'm right:-) |
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Mar 16 2012 : 4:13:39 PM
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Tomorrow, we take a look at some simple garden plans. I even made up some diagrams, and they are in COLOR! Ooooooooh! Hope you'll join me to see how things all fit together.
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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lindagwynn
True Blue Farmgirl
246 Posts
Linda
Deming
Wa.
USA
246 Posts |
Posted - Mar 16 2012 : 7:32:12 PM
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Thank you Ann, I got a lot of good info from your sight. Shall stick with this post to keep learning.
Thank you
With lots of hugs and smiles, have a great day.
Farmgirl#3864
Linda
www.gwynnsgifts.com |
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Mar 17 2012 : 07:04:51 AM
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Thank you - glad to be of help! Today we are looking at some really simple garden plans - putting the square foot method with companion planting. These are just some examples to help you get started. If you read the books, I'm sure you can come up with more ideas.
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2012 : 12:51:51 PM
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Make sure you are still watering your seedlings as they emerge. Start with a spray bottle, the use gentle flow from either a handheld watering can or drinking water bottle. When they grow to the point that they have two full sets of true leaves (leaves that look like leaves on a grown-up plant), it's time to move them to their transplanting pots. I start mine in the milk jug, then move them to the newspaper pots.
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Mar 30 2012 : 07:24:14 AM
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Double digging video up on blog today. This is what I did when I put my beds in. I double dug the base soil, then built the raised beds up on top. Hope you come by to check it out!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Apr 01 2012 : 5:36:04 PM
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Raised beds on a slope tomorrow on blog!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Apr 02 2012 : 07:08:19 AM
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Raised beds on a slope today!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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cheryl keyes
True Blue Farmgirl
468 Posts
cheryl
millinocket
maine
USA
468 Posts |
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Mar 28 2013 : 1:32:20 PM
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BUMP
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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mscountrygirl
True Blue Farmgirl
552 Posts
Michelle
Lucedale
Mississippi
USA
552 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2013 : 08:11:31 AM
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I love using raised beds. It just makes everything easier. The double digging is a key to getting the best outcome.
It all comes back to the ground!
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Mar 29 2013 : 08:17:55 AM
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What I like about double digging: it keeps a majority of the micro-organisms' ecosystem in tact, while still adding nutrients to the soil at a deep level and loosening the soil.
In my own beds, I double dug what I could (1" of top soil over all clay), then I used Mel's Mix from All New Square Foot Gardening. It's a good base to start with, but it's expensive to start (if you have big beds like I do) and it's expensive to maintain if you don't have a lot of compost. To compensate, I've been doing lasagna gardening over the top, and have had amazing results.
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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theatresmiles
Farmgirl at Heart
5 Posts
Heather
Carrollton
Oh
USA
5 Posts |
Posted - Apr 15 2013 : 2:13:45 PM
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| I'm pretty new to gardening and am planning for my first veggie garden this year. I thinking of buying The Complete Guide to Companion Planting by Dale Mayer. Has anyone used it? I am also making raised beds, so what is this "double digging"? |
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soapmommy60543
True Blue Farmgirl
2197 Posts
Ann
Oswego
IL
USA
2197 Posts |
Posted - Apr 17 2013 : 1:09:50 PM
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Here's a video:
http://youtu.be/W85QmZgDxFk
The BEST books I've ever seen about companion planting are by Louise Riotte - Carrots Love Tomatoes and Roses Love Garlic. You can read more about what I do in my garden on my blog (address below my signature)
Good luck!
Wife of terrific hubby and mom to 2 teenagers, 2 bunnies, 2 geriatric goldfish, and the best dog in the world!
Check out my blog: http://www.suburbanprairiehomemaker.com
and follow me on Facebook (Suburban Prairie Homemaker), Twitter (@sphomemaker), and Pinterest (Suburban Prairie Homemaker)
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Garden Gate: Baby Steps Intro to Gardening |
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Baby Steps Intro to Gardening
