GardenersCardiff answers:

While you are tilling up the soil, remove any rocks and break up the clumps. Add some organic compost to the soil…this will provide nutrients that you veggie garden will need. Work it in to the soil.

You’re aware of the health benefits of eating fresh vegetables, you have the space for a small garden, but just don’t know where to start? Look no further. Here’s all you need to know to put fresh, crisp vegetables on your dinner table.

First, think small. Don’t bite off more than you can chew, or hoe. It’s like starting out an exercise program by running five miles the first day. You get tired, sore and you quit. Likewise, if you plant a huge garden the first year, you’ll curse, cuss and turn your sore back on gardening for good. So, if you’re new to gardening, start off with a garden no larger than 8′ X 10.’ You can always expand later if you can’t get enough of those fresh, crispy vegetables.

Choose a location that receives as much sun as possible throughout the day. Northern gardeners should insist on full sun. Now you’re ready to work up the soil. You can rent a rear tine tiller or borrow one from a friend or neighbor for this task. Work the soil up sod and all–in other words don’t remove the sod. Removing the sod creates a recess in the soil, resulting in poor drainage.

Next, examine the soil. Is it predominantly clay, sand or a sandy loam? The latter is the best. You can distinguish a sandy loam from the other two by giving it the squeeze test. If you can take a handful of dirt and squeeze it in a ball then watch it crumble when you let go, you’ve got a sandy loam soil type. If you’re not sure, take a sample down to your local extension office. While you’re there ask them about having your soil tested for proper pH levels and major nutrients like nitrogen, potassium and potash.

If you’re stuck with a predominantly sandy or clay soil it will be worth bringing in some topsoil to get you off on the right foot. If you can’t afford topsoil, you can amend the soil with compost. Compost includes any biodegradable material which can be broken down into a fine, dark humus. Well rotted livestock manure is the best choice for getting a clay or sandy soil into shape. Whatever you use for compost apply it often, like once in the spring and once in the fall. It will take a few seasons to improve a poor soil type.

Another thing you can do is use topsoil to make a raised bed. Landscape timbers or treated 2 X 12’s work best for this. You can stack these about five high. Besides enclosing your garden and making a good growing medium, the raised bed will make it easy to plant and weed your garden, particularly if you’ve got back trouble or have difficulty bending over.

Hey, I think we’re ready to plant! Here’s the fun part. You can purchase seeds from the store or order them through the many catalogs on the market (see below). Whatever you do, buy quality seeds. I hate to see people spend hours preparing a garden and then go out and purchase 10/$1.00 seeds. It would be like buying a new car and replacing the engine oil with a cheap brand of oil. Look for brand name seeds just like you would anything else. What we’re trying to do is maximize our chances of success at this endeavor, not pinch pennies.

In a small garden you may want to avoid some of the space hogs, like corn, squash and pumpkin. However, there are bush type varieties of pumpkin, such as Hybrid Spirit Bush and Autumn Gold that don’t take up much room. Also, summer squashes take up less room then do the winter squash. If you do plant corn, remember to grow this one along the north side of your garden so it doesn’t shade the rest of your crops.

Easy to grow crops include onions, peas, beets, rutabaga and zucchini squash. These can also be planted early.Tomatoes and peppers need to be started from seed indoors about 8 weeks prior to planting time or purchased as transplants. Be sure to space things in your small garden according to the instructions on the packets. And make sure you plant your tender crops (tomatoes, squash, beans and watermelon) after all danger of frost has passed. Ask the old timers in the area when this date is. One common mistake people make, especially in the northern climates, is to plant everything when the weather turns nice only to succumb to a frost a week or two later, thus wiping out all their hard work. Plant by the expected last frost dates, not the weather.

Unfortunately, critters (and children) may take a shine to your new garden. Rabbits, geese and deer can be a problem. For the small garden, a wire mesh surround works well. This will discourage most critters and some people. I’ve seen people take chicken wire and staple it to the top of their landscaping timbers on a raised bed to keep out geese and the like.

Vandals can also attack gardens, especially in conspicuous areas of a city, such as in a community garden. Since things like watermelon and squash are the vandal’s favorite, some folks pl

GardenersCardiff answers:

Http://www.beginner-gardening.com/

I find that Doug Green’s site is my first stop “go-to” place for gardening information. Have a look around by clicking on the above link. He has even made some “how-to” videos.

I find that during the winter months, as the gardening catalogs arrive, I go to web sites to gather further information about specific plants. During those gloomy months, it’s a delight to research, look at photos and dream up plans for the upcoming spring and summer garden.

Hope this is what you are looking for.

GardenersCardiff answers:

You can grow them either inside or outside depending on where you live. If you live in a hot climate you may want to consider keeping then indoors because the plants may fade or dry out. In a warm climate you can keep the herbs inside or outside although you should take them inside during foul weather. If you live in a cold climate keep them indoors so frost doesn’t kill them. If you decide to grow the herbs indoors, make sure that they are well watered and sit by a sunny window. If you decide to grow them outdoors be on the lookout for pests. Never under estimate the squirrels, they will eat anything in their path. Happy planting! Oh and you will get a longer and larger harvest (steady temperature and no pests to compete with) if you plant them inside.

GardenersCardiff answers:

I love to grow my own herbs and have learned a few things through trial and error. For example– Basil does really well in a pot, but if kept indoors, it does not seem to grow as big as its cousins outside. If you grow it inside I have found that buying plants gets me the yield I need. I have not grown parsley as often, but I found the same things to be true. Also at this late date, for immediate consumption whether indoors or out, a plant is better than seeds as I started my seeds back in February and they are just starting to be really harvestable. Another nice easy herb to grow is Rosemary and depending on where you live it can be a perenial or an annual. I have had one growing in my kitchen for 2 years now and it even thrives on neglect! In California, they use the stuff as landscape plantings so you know its got to be hardy.

Hope this helps.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Sloped ground will not hinder drainage, but clay soil will. You’ll need to level the rows, at least, if you don’t use raised beds. What’s left from the dogs won’t hurt soil quality, but be sure to thoroughly wash produce that will be eaten raw.

Impossible to tell about chemical residue, but most should be gone by now, or nearly so.

Square foot gardening works, but to get large yield, you have plant large amounts. Seed catalogs sometimes give yield information.

I know many people that swear by raised beds, and they do have many advantages. I don’t use them because I plant so much of so many large plants such as tomatoes (c. 100 plants), corn (4 plantings of 5-6 rows each), and squashes, and because I rotate them every year. Some people use raised beds for perennial crops such as asparagus or berries, and in-ground gardens for everything else.

If you contact your county cooperative extension office, they can put you in touch with Master Gardeners that can answer your questions with answers tailored to your exact location. Good luck!

VCE Master Gardener

GardenersCardiff answers:

I’m not sure where to start since I’m not sure how much you’ve discovered on your own. My apologies if I’m giving instructions you already know.

First, your Sim needs seeds or fruit/vegetables in his/her inventory. You can get seeds by having your Sim pick them up around town. You can usually find some in parks. You can also buy some fruit and vegetables at the grocery store. Although your Sim can only plant certain seeds and fruit/vegetables at the outset. Apples, lettuce, and grapes are your best bet, as are “common” seeds.

Once you have plantable items in your Sim’s inventory, send him/her home. Once you’re there, go into build/buy mode. Go into your Sim’s personal inventory, the symbol looks like a backpack. Scroll down until you find the seeds/produce and then select them. Drag the seed or produce onto the ground outside. Go back into Live mode and, while controlling your gardening Sim, click on the seed or apple/lettuce/grapes. The option “Plant” should come up. (If that option doesn’t come up, either the Sim isn’t skilled enough to plant that particular item or you’ve placed the seed/produce too close to the edge of the lot or to another object.)

You should then have your Sim tend the garden and fertilize plants regularly to increase his/her skill and to make sure the garden doesn’t die. Although, once a plant has been harvested a certain number of times, it will die on its own. At that point, either have your Sim “dispose” of the dead plant or go into Build/Buy and delete the plant yourself. That’s my preferred option since I can then place a new seed at the same time.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Square Foot Gardening…get the book at the library. Makes gardening simple.

While you are there, ask the librarian for any resources they may have for gardening in your area. I just left my library with a few brochures.

GardenersCardiff answers:

I have basil, oregano, sage, thyme and rosemary growing in inside window boxes. And frankly don't pay much attention to them. They might get watered twice a week or not. Point is once you get them going, mine were started from greenhouse sprouts, the damn things grow like weeds.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Hello,

and congratulations it is an excellent idea to start a square foot garden. Depending how big you want to make your garden I strongly suggest you put some solid boundaries between your squares in place.

Loose bricks or planks for example. This will help you to walk in between the growing plants without compacting the soil.

Dig up the soil at least a week before you want to start planting to aerate the ground. Clear out weeds, stones etc. And mix in a nice organic soil conditioner like worm castings or compost for example.
Make a plan which plants you want to use and research how large the mature plants might grow.

This way you can make sure that you don’t place plants next to each other that don’t suit each other.

Some Tomato plants for example grow quite big and once fully established might deplete a low growing herb plant next to it completely of sun light.

Find out which way the sun travels during the day. So you can make sure that the low growing plants get a spot where they can get enough sun.

Water your small plants regularly because they can dry out quickly when the sun is strong.
Water either in the morning or the evening, but not during the heat of the day. This way you avoid a lot of evaporation and the leaves of plants won’t get sun burnt

But the most important tip I guess is just to enjoy your garden. And don’t worry if you make a mistake we all learn from them.

“An Expert in any field is someone who has made all possible mistakes there are to learn from!”

Kind regards

Stephan

GardenersCardiff answers:

Sunset Western Garden books are the basic and are the best for identifying your growing zone. Older books contain information that the newer ones eliminate, so it’s a good idea to pick up old editions at used book stores as well as the new version. Also get the Sunset book on pest identification and go green to eliminate the nasties. Then add specialty books on topics of interest to you. John Greenley’s book on grasses is one. Botanica by R.G.Turner Jr., a plant encyclopedia, has good photographs…if you see something you like, look it up in Sunset to see if it will grow in your area. Plant catalogues such as David Austin roses and San Marcos Growers( California) are fantastic design resources for wish lists and contain handy tips on growth requirements. They’re free, always a good thing. Check local botanical garden bookstores for a book on native plants in your area and plant those for ease of growing and for helping the planet!! It’s a Pandora’s Box, love. AND, don’t forget to browse the library. Happy growing.

GardenersCardiff answers:

All New Square Foot Gardening is a great book for outdoor gardening including seed starting. I also second the suggestion for Rodale’s Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening. As far as houseplants it depends what you want to grow. I think Taylor’s Guide to Houseplants is good but if you are like me and prefer growing more unusual stuff like lemons and herbs it won’t be very helpful.

It is a good idea to find some at the library so you can look through them thoroughly and see what you think.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Agave, cactus, ephedra, nolina=bear grass, many types of yucca, our Lord’s candle, chamise, manzanita, desert holly, red barberry, ceanothos, Texas ranger, hollyleaf cherry, catalina cherry, lemonade berry, California buckwheat, needlegrass, sage, coffeebery, columbine, dudleya, fescue, iris, snowberry, desert marigold, chocolate daisy, pink fairyduster, and many, many more!
Try the Arizona Native Plant Society, P. O. Box 41206, Sun Station, Tucson, AZ 85704

GardenersCardiff answers:

Here is a complete home 96 sq feet. Forget the tent. Eco friendly and cheapo too

http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/256293

Now answer mine about peanut butter sandwiches

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AgOJJTOEvjxEkeQQVRLxVdnty6IX;_ylv=3?qid=20100819132104AALv8oh

You are going to get hungry you know, gotta eat.

GardenersCardiff answers:

I would grow tomatoes, carrots, lettuce. Just get some pots, put about an inch or so of rocks in bottom for drainage, place on pot plates, add proper soil (ask when you buy your seeds or “starter tomato”, say, and when the soil feels dry (stick finger about first join down in soil), water but do not overwater. Done deal! Just grow what you like to eat. I would put them on the balcony to get the sunlight but do check every day for dryness. Water in morning or early evening is best.
There is also a great book which you can probably get at the library called “Square Foot Gardening”. Excellent for small area.

GardenersCardiff answers:

Http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/neweng/

GardenersCardiff answers:

Its called companion planting.

It can be used for various purposes. Some plants help to deter pests from other plants, such as garlic. Some help by attracting pests away from other plants, like planting aphid attracting Calendula next to roses. Some enrich the soil, like Dandelion that draws up nutrients from deep in the soil. Some contribute to the health of sickly plants, like chamomile (which also protects seedlings against damping off disease). Some attract beneficial insects that feed on insect that are infesting your garden, like Queen Anne’s Lace that attracts parasitic wasps.

There are a number of excellent books out there that cover companion planting in depth, such as Carrots Love Tomatoes, Roses Love Garlic by Louise Riotte

Here are a few sites that might interest you
http://www.sheridannurseries.com/gardensite/subGARDENTIP25mainframe.htm
http://www.mi.ca/compendium/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_companion_plants

GardenersCardiff answers:

Yes, there is a difference.

Gardening has to do with growing living plants (flowering or not) – and the venue doesn’t much matter. Traditional (outside in the ground), in containers, terrace, indoor…it can all be called “gardening”.

Flower arrangement has to do with assembling cut flowers into pleasing displays. They are not growing – they’ve been cut.

GardenersCardiff answers:

If Square Foot Gardening is still available, it’s a great book for beginners! Not overwhelming at all. There was also a book called something like lasagna gardening……fun but if you don’t have access to the stuff, probably not practical. Gardening for Dummies………?? No offense, just they usually break it down into simple sections.

If you are in the US you can contact your Cooperative Extension Service in your county. They have gardening brochures that may be helpful. Also they have the Master Gardeners, trained volunteers to answer your (many) questions. That’s their job.