March 26, 2008How does your garden grow?
I can't believe it's taken me so long. As tempted as I am to go whole hog, planting row after row of tomatoes, green beans, squash and peppers, I think I had better start small this year. So I plan to spend this weekend tilling up a small square in the corner of my yard -- a patch just big enough for a beginner. After my family relocated to Virginia from Colorado in the early 1980s, my parents always had a garden in the back yard. It was barely half the size of my grandparents' garden, but it still turned out all of the veggies I mentioned above, along with spring onions, asparagus, corn, lettuce greens and much more. My father has a green thumb. When he ran out of space in his own backyard garden, he borrowed a big plot on a friend's farm and planted enough green beans to feed five families for a year. I doubt if I'll ever get to that point of infatuation, but I know I have it in my blood to at least grow a few Better Boys. In light of the tanking economy and the burgeoning slow food movement, I figure it'll save money and help the environment if I can do at least a portion of my produce shopping in my own backyard. How many of my faithful blog readers out there are gardeners as well as foodies? What are your favorite vegetables to grow? If you've got any tips to share with a beginner, bring them on. |
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Comments
[March 26, 2008 2:46 PM]
Tami : →http://tamiI have a thing for tomatoes. Don't plant too early - resist the urge. We will still have cold weather in April and everything will freeze (or have to be covered)! Every so often water your veggies with used dishwater -- they love the food bits and dishwashing suds!
[March 26, 2008 3:04 PM]
Amy Hanek (brown thumb extraordinaire) : →http://www.houseonthegladehill.blogspot.comI have tried... and tried... and tried. I cannot grow much. I can grow sunflowers, bulbs (well - who couldn't?) and I planted about 15 pumpkin seeds last year to find only one pumpkin growing.
My mother is a vegetarian and wonderful gardner. I have enlisted her help enough to know that I just won't be growing much of anything (unless someone else keeps the plants watered, weeded and bug free).
Good luck getting green in the thumb!
[March 26, 2008 4:43 PM]
MichelleI have been gardening for years and I still feel like an amateur! I live in a townhouse with a big patio and have a collection of vegetables in giant pots.
My best tip for beginners: DON'T OVERWATER!
When I first started I got excited and checked my plants everday and eventually overwatered, which will rot out the roots or cause them not to grow out enough. It is ok to let the dirt dry out a little between waterings.
[March 26, 2008 5:05 PM]
DennisHey Lindsey, good idea, and I wish you luck! I have no real "garden" but I plant about 8 Better Boy plants along the back of our house. I also plant 4-6 jalapeno pepper plants in a concrete planter that is the length of, and against, my patio. You said Better Boys, too; I think they are the best variety you can get! The true VA home grown tomato. My tips would be very basic; make sure you dig the soil up extra well at and around where you will be placing your plants. If the soil isn't dark and rich looking mix in some top soil and/or some manure. And water your plants every day that it doesn't rain! That's the most important thing, in my opinion. Most any peppers are fairly easy to grow, and the yield is great. My few jalapeno plants yield so many peppers that I can barely GIVE away all the ones that I can't eat! I usually slice about a qt jar full of them into a mixture of water, vinegar, and salt. I keep them in the fridge and eat on them all year!
[March 26, 2008 5:18 PM]
LoriPlease share your gardening adventures on the blog! My husband and I have been in our house 2 years and from the start my husband wanted to grow a garden. We have yet to till up anything. We are expecting our first child this summer and it has me thinking more about what I am going to feed him and how I'd like to know where it comes from. If it could come from our backyard that would be great. I've been doing some research on gardening, and check out the Virginia Cooperative Extension website. It's got some good info on what to plant and when, even what type of apple trees to plant!
[March 26, 2008 6:57 PM]
JulieHi, Lindsey; My advice is to grow what you like and what's expensive at the grocery store. I have a medium-sized garden, I can what I can (pun intended) each season, but I don't bother with things like carrots or cabbage that are $1. per pound. last year I grew enough fresh veggies like spinach, lettuce, and broccoli to pick and cook daily, and also had enough extras to can or freeze pickles, veggie soup stock, spaghetti sauce, tomatoes, salsa, squash, green beans, snow peas, and fruit. It makes a huge difference in the grocery budget. We had home-grown potatoes, butternut squash, onions, and canned goods all this winter. All on about a 1/4 ac. garden. This year I'm adding asparagus, artichokes, and more herbs, pumpkins, and garlic. My secret is good soil (amended with composted manure) and regular watering when it;s dry. Nonetheless, even a few tomatoes and peppers in pots can make a difference. Lettuce and spinach also grow well in small spaces; imagine going out and picking your salad fresh every few days. Can't beat it even with a BIG stick!!
[March 27, 2008 8:00 AM]
KathyIf you have deer around your house, I would recommend getting some Liquid Fence concentrate and spray according to the directions or you will find big bites out of those pretty tomatoes. I had some tomatoes planted one year and was sitting on my deck one evening, noticed one of those critters looking at me munching away on nice big green tomatoes!
[March 27, 2008 8:47 AM]
HenryThe first year should be spent preparing the garden. Otherwise, you will be fighting weeds all summer. If you have a garden, you need a compost pile.
I would love to have a garden but the deer just won't allow it.