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Garden Gate:  New to Gardening  |
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FreckledNiki
True Blue Farmgirl
69 Posts
Niki
Baldwinsville
NY
USA
69 Posts |
 Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 09:57:18 AM
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Hi,
I am attempting my very first garden. I plotted out a 14x22 space in full sun and plan to fence it in (my lil bit of earth and a white picket fence). I want to grow (from Seeds), Sunflowers, Tomatoes (heirloom, roma, beefsteak) Peppers (bell carnival colors) and (hot, assorted)Cucumbers and Pickles (I will attempt canning), Lettuce, Zuchinni and Yellow Squash, and Snap Peas and Beans and Carrots.
I started the tomatoes and Peppers inside and they are starting to sprout. I also bought a Blueberry bush (it is not much of a bush yet though), and 6 Rhubarb plants. I want to have strawberries as well, not sure where to get plants already started.
Am I being way too abitious??? My grandparents always had a glorious garden and I feel this need to carry that on now. I don't know why, but I feel a need to grow my own food. Prices are outrageous and I want to know what my kids are eating! My youngest and I are vegetarians (she has been since age 4 when big sis told her where meat comes from, and I cheat, according to my little one, since I still eat fish and seafood) Any advice? |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 12:00:17 PM
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I never think you can be too ambitious when planting a garden. Every year you can be sure you will have an abundance of something and another thing will be a bust. Extra produce always makes great barter material for a neighbor's eggs or ?.
For strawberries, I would recommend Tristar. I have "trialed" a few varieties and while Tristar isn't a huge berry, the flavor is unsurpassed. Most garden centers (and even Walmart here) carry them. They make jam to die for. Last year I had a fellow from Utah phone me (I'm in Canada!) and ask what my secret was for my strawberry jam. Just good fruit is all.
My only comment is on your blueberry bush Niki. You will have to have a minimum of two for proper pollination. Someone at a nursery should be able to recommend a variety compatible with yours.
Happy gardening...if the weather here doesn't dry up soon I will be planting rice!
Di
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mima
True Blue Farmgirl
1573 Posts
1573 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 12:07:46 PM
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| I think that's great that you are going for it and just jumping in! Sometimes thats the best way to learn! Best of luck and lots of FUN! |
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lisamarie508
True Blue Farmgirl
2648 Posts
Lisa
Idaho City
ID
USA
2648 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 12:32:03 PM
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Your garden plans sound great. Diane is right about the strawberries. I also grow Tristar and they are sooooo sweet. I'm a little concerned that it might be getting on the late side to start tomatoes and peppers from seed. Especially beefsteak since they are long season. You can find the plants at Walmart, Home Depot or Lowe's. I had to do that this year because I waited too long to order the seeds. Your lettuce and peas can be sown as soon as the soil is workable in the spring (they like it cooler). You'll want to make sure you plant your taller stuff on the the north side of your garden and the shortest ones on the south side. That way they won't shade each other out. Don't be surprised if you find you want a bigger garden next year. Gardening is addictive especially after you taste what comes out of it!
We come from Nature, we go back to Nature; health & happiness in between requires intimacy with Nature. |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 6:47:56 PM
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Niki-
Welcome to the forum and the addiction of gardening! I started gardening when I was about middle school/high school age. I am still addicted today and I love my addiction! My first year of gardening I planted all sorts of things and just ended up with a garden full of zucchini! :) Each year I get better at it and having good seeds is a must! I think my first year of gardening, I just used old seeds that had been sitting around for ages and the only thing that was still viable was the zucchini!
Let us know how planting goes! It is so fun to see your plants growing each day once they sprout.
Alee
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ddmashayekhi
True Blue Farmgirl
4738 Posts
Dawn
Naperville
Illinois
USA
4738 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 7:52:04 PM
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About all I can add is to make sure your soil is well prepared for the new plants. I'd advise getting a soil test kit to see if you need to amend it any. I think it's too late to start tomatoes from seed too. Mine are about 6"s high now. Don't worry about being too ambitious. That's how you learn. By trial & error. Have fun gardening. I'm sure you'll reap the benefits for it all year long!
Dawn in IL |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Apr 27 2007 : 10:41:48 PM
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I had another thought. Something that really helps me is a gardening journal. Each year I write when I started certain things, the weather and frost dates, what varieties turned out well and what didn't, etc. etc. It is a valuable resource. I always think I'll remember that one kind of green bean is better than the other variety in July...but come January seed ordering time I can never remember which was which. Once a week during the summer I try to write what is growing and what is producing. It's pleasant to sit in a lawn chair looking out over my little farm and writing about how things are doing.
Di |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 3:06:38 PM
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Diane-
You are making me feel guilty... I had promised myself that I would do that this year, but I forgot. Already I don't remember what type of lettuce I planted. I wonder if it is too late to start a garden journal? What would my entry be this year? "I don't remember what variety anything is- but it's growing nicely!" *blush* Maybe I should wait till I my next set of plantings :)
Alee
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AliShuShu
True Blue Farmgirl
150 Posts
Alison
Charlotte
NC
USA
150 Posts |
Posted - Apr 28 2007 : 6:18:32 PM
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we returned from the farmers market today with many starter plants... we finally got our garden area plowed up 2 weeks ago and tomorrow we will be putting in what we brought home... 4 or 5 different kinds of tomatoes, purple, red, yellow, orange... all kinds of peppers... habanero, anaheim chili, bell, tennessee cheese, jalepeno, thai and more... butternut squash, yellow squash, zuchinni, pattypan, spaghetti... all heirloom & organic.. also several herbs plant... we have plans for more.. but thats whats going in tomorrow...
Alison
I think that if ever a mortal heard the voice of God it would be in a garden at the cool of the day. ~F. Frankfort Moore, A Garden of Peace
Namaste'
www.shumusings.com |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Apr 29 2007 : 09:02:07 AM
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Yummy Alison! Your garden sounds like a cook's fantasy!
Alee |
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FreckledNiki
True Blue Farmgirl
69 Posts
Niki
Baldwinsville
NY
USA
69 Posts |
Posted - Apr 30 2007 : 10:41:17 AM
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Thank you for all of your comments!! My tomato plants (started from seed) are about 3 in. high. maybe I will need to go to the farmers market and buy some plants, instead.
As for the blueberry bush, I bought it at K-mart, I did not think to ask if I needed two. I will go to the nursery tonight and see what type I would need to pollinate it. I know with apple trees you don't get the same type, is it the same with blueberry bushes?
You are all so nice, I am thrilled to recieve your advice!!!
Niki |
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Garden Gate: New to Gardening |
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New to Gardening
