Nancy asks…
Where do I start to learn how to create a backyard vegetable garden?
I have a roughly 20’X3′ area in the backyard that would be perfect for a vegetable garden. Having grown up in the city I have very little clue about gardening.
Where do I start to gain knowledge about gardening and specifically about vegetable gardens. The vegetables/herbs/fruits I would like to grow would be tomatoes, parsely, lemons, etc. Suggestions on what is possible are also very welcome.
I am looking for recommendations on books, websites, etc.
I am in central California, USA.
Thanks very much in anticipation of your replies.
Regards!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Http://www.vegherb.com/
http://www.sunset.com/sunset/garden
http://www.essortment.com/in/Gardening.Growing.How.To/
http://www.heavenlychef.com/gardening.htm
Thomas asks…
How to start a home garden?
Hello. I’m interested in starting my own garden at home. I’m planning to plant strawberries, tomatoes, blueberries, watermelon, and grapes. I’ve chosen a plot of land, but I don’t know exactly how to start a garden. The plot of land is riddled with weeds, soil seems to be poor, a bit sandy. What can I do to make it suitable for gardening? I’m an absolute beginner.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Take the grapes off your list, for starters. If you’re a newbie, start small, with a few plants, and expand your garden as you gain experience. A common mistake for first-timers is that they put in too big a garden, with too much, and then are overwhelmed, and give up in frustration.
Strawberries I recommend growing in containers where you see them every day, and can keep an eye on them. A small vegetable garden with a couple tomatoes or peppers, or 1 or 2 other things is a good start. Pick your spot – a 3 foot by 10 or 12 foot is plenty big for your first year – in a sunny place, that isn’t too far from water or a hose. Till or just turn the soil with a shovel, and work in a lot of compost a couple weeks before your last frost date, and you’ll be ready to plant.
Grapes are a whole learning curve in themselves, and I recommend them NOT being the first thing your plant.
Blueberries, if your soil ph is below 6.5, are do-able, as they’re fairly simple to plant. If your soil ph is close to 7.0, though, they will never be very happy.
Tomatoes will want about 9 square feet of space per plant (I often see them planted about a foot apart – easy to do when they’re so small when you plant). Watermelon will sprawl – the vines traveling 10 to 20 feet…but if you have the space, you can kind of “direct” where the vine goes as it grows.
Michael asks…
How can I keep people from stealing from my garden?
I live in area where people are known to steal from peoples garden, unlike others who stopped gardening, I would like to plant this year.
I also have limited yard space to work with.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Plant something like squash that makes a lot and give it to your neighbors. Share what you have even if its not much at all. Talk to people who walk by while you are gardening. Give it a year or so. People don’t steal from their friends so be their friend.
Friendship and talk brings a sense of community instead of distrust and bickering.
I get more pleasure from sharing my produce with friends than actully eatting it all myself. Nobody in my area would steal becasue all they have to a do is ask.
Downtown in summer you must lock your car doors. If you don’t somebody will fill it with squash!
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