PrintDo you garden?
I'm more than a little curious. With the rising cost of EVERYTHING, I am reminded that my grandmother used to garden to keep her family fed. While my parents visited two weeks ago, my mother planted two varieties of lettuce for ssam, some scallions, spinach, and jalepenos. I really have no idea what to do with this garden that has so blithely been left in my care. We have fortunately had rain every few days, so nothing is dead yet.
Do you garden? What do you grow? Any advice for a novice?
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33 Comments:
I like to grow heirloom tomatoes and peppers, corn, watermelon and just a few okra plants they'll take off, what I don't get is why people manicure they're front and back yards when they should be farming them, it's just as hard to maintain a well groomed yard, with the lawnmower than it is to take a hoe to a garden....here's a tip take the egg shells that you use for baking and cooking and put them into a jar of water for a week or two, use the water for your plants makes great fertilizer for your flowers and house plants
Markbb at 3:06PM on 04/25/08
First, get a leaflet or computer print-out from your state university agriculture school or what used to be called "the county agent". Ask someone with grey hair. They'll know.
Second, let it stay small. My father was a nurseryman who should have been wanting to sell lots of plants but he always told first time gardeners to keep the garden "the size of a double bed" to start. He wanted them to be successful. Be modest about getting tools and books too until you know what you want.
Third, and this should probably be first, go and look at the plants every day. They will tell you whether they are happy.
Walk around your neighborhood when the weather is nice and lots of folks are at home. You will find an experienced gardener who can help you. And one of the nicest things about gardening is that when you do it well you always have stuff to give away, either for others to eat or extra plants to get them started.
Enjoy!
Blue Iris at 3:11PM on 04/25/08
Avidly
fewteeth at 3:42PM on 04/25/08
@wookie: OMG. You are totally reading my mind. I have never posted a question, but I was going to-on this exact topic. The rising prices are crazy and now with items being rationed, it's blowing my mind.
I want to start an herb garden but I don't know where/how to start and wanted suggestions...
Butrflygirly at 3:49PM on 04/25/08
@blueiris--ok, someone with grey hair will give me a leaflet. got it. The garden is very small, not quite a "twin-sized bed." OK--I should probably go look at the plants, it's been a couple of days.
@fewteeth--that's good to know.
@butrflygirly--Yeah, I was thinking of a small herb garden, too. Then my mom sort of took it upon herself to start this little garden and I don't want it to fail. Are you thinking of herbs in pots or in the ground?
wookie at 5:00PM on 04/25/08
I do. When I did day care/preschool the kids named their tomato plants and I sent home the extras (especially zucchini : ) ). Now I'm down to just peas (they are coming up), tomatoes, green beans, summer squash.
We used to grow Brussels sprouts just because they look so weird! But nobody ate them. I also have a very nice herb garden.
NanaJoie at 5:24PM on 04/25/08
When I was younger, I used to, and miss it badly. Now, all I have is an herb garden, but still... it's something!
Brownie at 5:36PM on 04/25/08
Yes! Yes! I love gardening, it's just too bad I have such a short growing season here! I can't recommend GardenWeb enough as a wealth of resources.
www.gardenweb.com
ErikaWaz at 6:28PM on 04/25/08
Oh I love to garden! My back yard is a tropical paradise courtesy of my husband, and our ground is very very clay-ee. (Look mom I made a new word!) So I container and raised bed garden.
I have Heirloom and Lemon Boy Tomatoes, jalapeños, habanero's, Thai Dragon chilies, Anaheim chilies and red hot cherry chilies(notice a pattern?). I also have a spring lettuce mix and radish's. Lemon, Lime, Orange and Grapefruit trees and an herb garden.
I do so much with everything I harvest, and I'll probably plant more with the cost of produce sky-rocketing. I also go to farmers markers and local co-ops for produce. Also Trader Joe's has great prices compared to grocery chains.
Oh I also have watermelon.
Nothing beats eating what we grow.
bodaciousgirl at 7:08PM on 04/25/08
Ditto: avidly!
jdmcdonald at 7:22PM on 04/25/08
If you have even a little space (on a deck or front entrance that gets adequate sun) you can container garden. That's what I do, only because the soil in the ground here has way too high a PH to grow anything. Herbs, tomatoes, some peppers, maybe a few squash or cucumber plants. It's fun, and the expense (water mostly) is well worth the result. The stuff you grow yourself is always more delicious on your table than anything else.
philn at 7:40PM on 04/25/08
I'm slowly eliminating my grass in favor of edible plants. The only exception is my husband's cactus garden in the front yard (which also has no grass). The back yard has citrus trees (about 10 of them, standard and dwarf varieties), herbs, tomatoes, raspberries, pomegranates, mint, and mint. I check the nurseries weekly to find more. The only flowers present are those that were in place beforewe bought the house. Not only do I reduce my food bill, but my harvest is more flavorful than what produce I buy.
beth1 at 8:23PM on 04/25/08
Regretfully, not like I used to. After years of experimenting (and back and knee surgeries), I found raised beds with aisles in-between were my friend. I could control and improve the soil, plant and weed easily, and my favorite part.......harvest! Life has changed, but I'll always have herbs growing and at least a tomato plant or three. I'm so curious about the tomato planters that hang upside down. Has anyone tried them?
PerkyMac at 7:24AM on 04/26/08
@Wookie: This is all very helpful for me. Glad you asked this question. I'm a gardening novice, though I've maintained some "balcony garden" herb pots. Being a nomad since the age of eighteen, I will own land -- for the first time in my life -- as of next Friday. And there will be a garden on that land. Oh yes.
Like beth1, plan to put edible plants in my front yard. I'm considering plants like juniper, culinary herbs and edible flowers. And like PerkyMac, I may build raised beds for a backyard vegetable garden to allow me to control the soil better (and to save my back and knees . . . I've already got issues from my pavement-pounding running habit).
Today or tomorrow, I'll hit the local library to get some gardening books. Will check out that website that EricaWaz recommended and will try MarkBB's "egg-n-water-n-a-jar" fertilizing method, too.
Again, this was a good and very timely question you asked. Thanks, wookie.
Susquehanna at 8:56AM on 04/26/08
@Butrflygirly .......... Hey girl!
Some herbs winter well outdoors, depending on where you live. Others can be brought indoors and may make it through the winter. A south facing window is a huge help. If you have decent soil and space, you can buy small plants and put them in the ground. If not, containers are good. I'd be careful of plants that tend to take over, like mint and Russian tarragon. Contain them! Rosemary and bay can be house plants and bedding plants - you may get years from them. I always have those two and mint and tarragon (looking for French tarragon), basil, chives, thyme, parsley, oregano, dill, lavender, sage......and more, drawing a blank. Go to your local nursery, buy the ones you love to cook with and a few more you'd like to try. I use tons of basil, parsley and thyme, so I buy several plants of each. I have a beautiful book of herbs and it gives lots of ideas for recipes, teas, medicinal uses, etc. They are a great place to start, but get yourself a couple of tomato plants too. ;) Lots of luck!!!
PerkyMac at 9:16AM on 04/26/08
Before I got really sick, I had a decent sized container garden. I grew a lot of herbs, some medicinal plants, tomatoes, hot peppers, and several odds and ends. The yield from some of the plants (tomatoes and peppers especially) amazed me.
Gardening isn't nearly as hard as some folks would make it out to be. Plants want to grow! Proper watering, a little food - you'll be inundated before you know it. Plus, it's such a pleasure to watch your plants grow from little seedlings and transplants into full-grown mature plants.
jenilowrance at 9:42AM on 04/26/08
I am so excited to read a post like this! I, too, have expanded my garden this year, not only because produce is getting so expensive, but I have found that the things I grow myself taste immensely better. Also, I never have to run to the grocery because I forgot to buy parsley. I live in Tennessee, so while we have a nice long growing season, we are also faced with drought right now. This year, I'm doing mixed lettuces, iceberg, carrots, radishes, sugar snap peas, green beans, and 5 types of tomatoes. I have had an herb garden since I was a child and I honestly don't know how people who like to cook can get along without one. Also this year, instead of spending so much money on ornamental annuals for my yard, I'm going to go more culinary and line my fence with variegated lemon thyme and nasturtiums.
As far as taking care of it, I thought it would be much more daunting than it has been. BlueIris had the best advice: look at your plants once a day or at the very least every other day. Instead of feeling obligated to my garden, I think it has become the most anticipated part of my day. I absolutely loved the feeling of accomplishment that I got from hauling in a delicious armful of radishes yesterday. And enjoyed them even more after I slathered them in sweet butter and dipped them in sea salt.
I'm 25 and I have worked my little patch of land for several years now. My friends might think I'm strange for opting to hang out in my backyard rather than go to the clubs, but I guarantee that I eat better and probably get more out of it! Gotta run - I'm off to the co-op in search of more of that lemon thyme!
Emsev333 at 11:34AM on 04/26/08
@susquehanna--Congratulations on becoming a homeowner! This is our first home, too. And first garden. yikes. The library is really good idea, I do not use them enough...too many bad memories of researching in the stacks, I guess.
@Perky Mac--As usual, you have given some great and helpful advice. I am going to look into raised beds because our soil seems kinda clay-ee, too. Also, do all herbs want full sun or is it okay if there is some shade? Once the leaves open on our trees, our backyard is pretty shady.
I could be a little OCD, but I worry about soil contaminants from neighbors' ChemLawn or TruGreen treatments. Should I worry about their chemicals? My next door neighbor has one of those super manicured, weed free, it's-so-green-it-looks-fake-kinda lawns and it slopes to my backyard.
wookie at 12:39PM on 04/26/08
@wookie: I could do either one to be honest. But I was thinking (more preferably) of doing one that was on my deck, kind of like one you could hang off the side or something? Know what I am talking about? My deck is off the second level-not the ground level. Don't really want to plant anything in the ground as far as herbs-there's a groundhog that likes to hang around...Don't know if he would like to partake in some herbs...??
@PerkyMac: Hey there! You are just awesome! Always look for posts from you. Was happy when you finally posted on the "Introduce yourself" thread. Want to have a garden with the same items you have, just had no idea of going about it. But no tomatoes though-they are worst. BF and I can not stand them.
Butrflygirly at 2:07PM on 04/26/08
@wookie...........what a nice thing to say! Thanks for making my day.
Congrats to you and Susquehanna on your new homes. As someone who has sold thousands of homes over the years and bought a few myself, I know how exciting and frightening it is as the same time. I wish you both all the best!
Worrying about soil contaminants is far from being OCD. Some places have actually banned certain chemicals. I'd be super careful about making sure that runoff can't get to a well, and to any edible plants. I'd be concerned about pets and children if you have either. Keep them away. You might want to contact your neighbor or their contractor and find out exactly what is being used and any consequences to you. Knowledge is power.
Regarding sun and shade - read the labels on the plants and talk to your local nursery people. Most plants like a certain amount of sun, but I actually have the opposite problem. The rear of my house faces south and gets sun from morning until sundown. I have virtually no shade. I'm sure you'll be able to grow some bodacious herbs!
PerkyMac at 2:07PM on 04/26/08
Wow, this must be my day! I just commented, and there is another nice post from @Butrflygirly. I appreciated your kind words on the "introduce yourself" thread, but that didn't seem like the place to thank you - so many new people commenting - but this seems perfect, so.......thank you!!!!
If you plant herbs in boxes that hang from the deck, there won't be much soil to hold the moisture and you'll have to watch them very carefully, but it can be done. I want my herbs close to the kitchen or IN the kitchen, or they won't get used. If I have to interrupt my cooking for 10 minutes to go out and cut them, I'd probably just forget it. Slight exaggeration, but really, they should be convenient if at all possible.
My bro just fixed my tractor = time to go mow the lower 40! :)
Enjoy this beautiful weekend!!!
PerkyMac at 2:16PM on 04/26/08
I've been so busy with work & working on our new yard & garden...I haven't had time to get in here much...what a great thread....and great answers. I too enjoy reading your posts Perky...so I guess we have a love fest going on here! lol
My husband & I just moved into our first house last fall, so it's been an exciting spring to see what is coming up - not much of anything, the previous owner was a hosta gardener...and that's about it!
I brought some herbs in pots with me - thyme, sage & mint - which does winter over pretty good in upstate NY if I protect the thyme & sage.
I would suggest planting whatever herbs you cook with most to start, then branch off from there. I'm exciting because for the first time I have yard space for an actual herb garden right outside the door...I'm planting my container herbs permanently, and will add chives, basil, flat leaf parsley, dill, and oregano. My aunt is a master herb gardener, with lots of old heirloom plants I'm hoping to add as the years go by.
We also have a lot more room for a veggie garden. Usually we plant about 5 different kinds of tomatoes (we start our own seeds, and get plants from my father in law & aunt as well). This year in addition to the tomatoes & cukes, we're planting corn, hot peppers, beans, beets, onions, carrots, & parsnips. It's my first time planting some of those, so it ought to be a fun adventure!
Blueiris gave dead on advice....just like asking for advice here, seek out a neighbor who has a garden you admire, and talk to them. Gardeners are like cooks...they usually enjoy talking about gardening & sharing plants/advice. Just water & fertilize your garden, and you'll be amazed how much you enjoy it!
mepolo at 3:51PM on 04/26/08
I'm not allowed to plant a garden anymore. :( Not that anything edible ever came out of mine anyway, even the slugs went the other way :(
huney_bumper at 7:19PM on 04/26/08
Great post and thread!!
I am starting my first ever garden, but as I live in NYC, it's going to be a roofdeck version. We're emulating the square foot gardener and hoping for the best! We just built our little plot today...still not certain if we should start with seeds or little plants that've already been started...
jbeach at 8:52PM on 04/26/08
@Butrflygirly........just a thought. If you plant in plastic boxes that hang from your deck, make sure there are drain holes. Nothing kills a plant faster than drowning! If you find some you love without holes, easy enough to punch some with an awl. I prefer clay, but I'm not sure if they come in window box shapes.
Something I learned from Martha Stewart - if you have really big containers that would take a huge amount of soil, and that would be really heavy to move around when filled.........fill partially with packing peanuts. They are light, provide great drainage, and you really don't need soil that deep for most plants. If you plan to move it a lot, or move indoors, get wheels.
@huney......if I told you all the mistakes I made on my first humongous ridiculous weed garden, you'd laugh. Try just one or two things you really like and can eat. I warn you though, gardening becomes additive. Passion is a good thing.......hehe.
PerkyMac at 9:47PM on 04/26/08
Perky I would love to retry, however all the places that sell garden supplies in my area have my pic with a note to call the green police if I'm seen trying to purchase anything. :( Thank God for a good farmers market;)
huney_bumper at 9:52PM on 04/26/08
Too funny huney. LOL here, seriously.
I passed a small family farm today where I buy a lot of great veggies from their stand. They have a sign and today it said, "The corn is planted." HOORAY! That put a big smile on my face. Something to look forward to. I know you understand how important a little thing like that can be.
PerkyMac at 10:03PM on 04/26/08
Oh I LOVE my garden! I can my own tomato sauce for the winter and dry my herbs and eat out of my garden all summer long! Totally worth the time and effort and a great project for the kids.
Hunnyoil at 12:22AM on 04/27/08
buy jim crockett's "victory garden"
http://www.amazon.com/Crocketts-Victory-Garden-Underwood-Crockett/dp/0316161217/ref=pd_bbs_sr_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1209301517&sr=1-3
djzouke at 9:06AM on 04/27/08
I am supposed to be writing a paper for my masters class and yet, here I am. Did I ever mention how I love this site?
@PerkyMac: Thank you very much for your advice. I am going to definitely keep all of it in mind. I have no time yet to start what I want-my semester is over this week and I am swimming with work.
A week or two and I should be able to start the garden. Haven't told the bf yet, but he won't care. He'll probably just laugh at me.:)
Butrflygirly at 2:40PM on 04/27/08
I too love gardening. I have 5 flower gardens and am adding some pumkins and Black Pearl hybrid grape tomatos this year. There is nothing quite like having your own gardens. It is a fantastic feeling to watch them thrive and grow.
mnsteph at 3:21PM on 04/27/08
Yup. Gardening is a family tradition for me and I always feel better about what I'm eating when I've grown it myself.
I'm doing all containers this year, but have quite a variety of herbs, veggies, and fruits.
http://gumbeauxkitchen.blogspot.com/2008/03/time-for-kitchen-container-garden.html
GumbeauxGal at 12:36AM on 04/29/08
Certainly one benefit of living out here in flyover land (Indianapolis) is we have plenty of room for our garden. We moved to a new place last year with a little over 2 acres of ground and currently have approximately 1/2 acre(!) of garden space. Planted so far or will plant: tomatoes, 6 types of peppers, onions, cucumbers, 3 types of greens, sweet corn, broccoli, 6 different herbs, rhubarb and strawberries. We also have apple and pear trees as well as blackberry, raspberry and blueberry bushes.
My father grew up on a farm so the wife and I are learning a lot from him. It's a lot of work but our extended family and friends will eat well this year!
deeoh1 at 8:48AM on 04/29/08