Lizzie asks…
my vegetable garden?
ok I have a little garden going, I have tomatoes, jalapeños, bell peppers, red chili peppers and cilantro that I bought and they had the vegetables growing on them and its been 3 weeks since I planted them and they are all dead, and I also have seeds growing sunflowers and onions, and there doing just fine. Now the weather here has been hot in the high 90’s and even topping 100, and I went out every night watering them and every other week giving them food, and there still dead except for one tomatoes plant my goliath tomatoes, any thing I can do to bring them back ok keep my others from dieing?
I do wait till the sun goes down, and if my plant dont sprout back up next year ill go seeds, cause i did plant sunflowers from seeds adn there dooing greate
GardenersCardiff answers:
Lots of things can go wrong in a garden, including overfertilizing and overwatering, as the previous answerer stated.
You need to get your soil tested, to find out the pH and the amount of essential nutrients available. Check at stores that sell gardening supplies and they should be able to tell you how to get a test run. Here in Tennessee, the Univ. Of Tennessee has regional labs that handle it for about $ 6. It’s a bit late to help you out this summer, of course.
Plants don’t need watering every night. A good soaking once or twice a week is actually better for the plants.
Keep trying — gardening is a fun activity and you’ll have success sooner or later.
Helen asks…
Where can I buy fish emulsion?
I need it for my garden
GardenersCardiff answers:
Any place that sells garden supplies. It is a very popular form of fertilizer, Home Depot has it, but I’m gonna have to recommend your local garden supplier.
Sandy asks…
Pilgrimage to Olive Garden?
Where should we go for pilgrimages? Olive Garden ? Noodles factories in China?
GardenersCardiff answers:
It is said that in Olive Garden we may find a never ending supply of bread sticks. Lead me there and I shall follow!
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
]]>
Mary asks…
Where can I get a catalogue of winter plants and shrubs? for texas?
online catalogues too!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Easy – go to Cyndi’s site (see url below). She has the biggest catalog of gardening catalogs in the US. If it is not there, there isn’t one
Jenny asks…
Green Garden Peas?
I want to grow peas – just plain old green ones like you get in the freezer section. What variety am I looking for (seeds)?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Just look in the catalogs but I grown Early June peas. Remember to get them in the ground early. Peas can go in the ground as soon as ground temperature is 40 degrees. We are often out in a layer of snow putting in the seeds/ They like cold weather and will soon die when early summer begins. We plant ours in March. Also, allow the peas to soak over night before planting. The seed coat needs to be softened in order for the seedling to break through. Any peas that float on the top are not good seeds. These peas are wonderful. We pick them right off the vine and eat the whole thing. You will need to grow a lot of peas to get even a few servings.
Donald asks…
Growing a vegetable garden?
I live in Oregon what vegetables should i start growing right now?
What vegetables are easy to grow?
What vegetables are good grown in the same garden?
Whats a good cheap soil i should buy?
This is my first vegetable garden lol.
Thank you! 
GardenersCardiff answers:
This will tell you everything you need to know. Http://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pdf/ec/ec871.pdf
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
]]>
Robert asks…
how do i go about growing my own food?
wat are the best plants to grow?
wat can i do to make them grow ripe and delicious?
how can i keep pests away without poisin?
should i get seeds or the actual plants?
thanx in advance^^
GardenersCardiff answers:
I have found that it depends on what you want to plant. For example lavender is a herb that is hard to start from seed. However lettuce starts pretty easy.
Some seeds need to reach an 80 degree temp before they will sprout. And they also need the right humidity, or they sprout only to dry up.
If you are a beginner you may want to start out buying actual plants. Do some research for what vegetable or fruit you want to grow. What grows best in full sun and what does better in part shade.
Keep in mind that mints are like a ground cover that spreads drowning out other plants. So if you grow them in a limited space, you may want to keep them in pot’s.
You also have to consider what type of dirt and Kliment you have. What growing zone you are in, and what time of year to plant what out side. Check with your local cooperative extension for further growing information for what grows best in your area and in what type of soil.
Donald asks…
Do you grow any of your own food?
GardenersCardiff answers:
I have a nice lemon tree, and a nice avocado tree, and i grow my own nana (kind of mint), and green onion leaves.
I used to grow mini-tomatoes as well and strawberries, but those plants require too much work.
My mother comes from an agricultural family, so it is in our genes.
Charles asks…
POLL: Is it illegal to grow your own food?
Or better yet… Could someone plant different kinds of vegetables on the sidewalk in front of the property they live in? How about apartment livings? Do you think it’s a smart idea to grow trees that do not provide edible fruits? Do you-yourself plant fruits or vegetables for you or your neighbors to eat?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Nope, as long as you do it on your own property it’s fine. I know many people that do it, even in apartment buildings they can grow small things like tomatoes, and yes you can give them to other people to eat as long as the’re safe (you know… Not poisoned or anything). However, you cannot sell them for money, that would be like having a business and you need FDA approval and other certain permits to do so. There might also be problems with raising animals for consumption or for producing some edible products such as eggs depending on where you live. For instance, it is obviously it is not legal for you to raise a cow in your back yard if you live in the city.
I personally do not grow any of my own food, but when I was growing up my mother would sometimes plant a vegetable garden and such.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
]]>
Donna asks…
Vegetables to Grow Indoors?
GardenersCardiff answers:
9 Vegetables to Grow Indoors
Mushrooms, carrots, tomatoes and other popular vegetables can be raised indoors.
From All-Season Guide to Gardening
1K+
→
1 / 6
Conservatories and windowsills are good sites for growing vegetables. Put heavy containers on the floor or a firm support. Some vegetable plants, including trailing species, are suitable for growing in hanging baskets fitted with integral drip trays. Mushrooms are straightforward if you have space in a dark cupboard. Some plants such as chicory and rhubarb can be forced to produce their crop earlier than normal.
Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant: These easily raised tender crops are favorites for a sunny windowsill and can be grown from seed or small plantlets. For window boxes or hanging baskets, choose pendent varieties such as Tumbler tomatoes. Train cordon varieties such as Sweet Million tomatoes up canes or string in a conservatory, where they will produce long trusses of tasty, decorative tomatoes for several months. Peppers and aubergines are less prolific.
Carrots and radishes: Most root crops need greater depth than you can provide indoors, but radishes, especially round or globe varieties that do not root very deeply, grow well in boxes, troughs and pans. Seeds can be sown from late winter until mid-autumn, often producing usable roots 21 to 25 days later. Round carrot varieties are also successful in pots and boxes
Potatoes: Seed tubers used for outdoor plantings are easily grown in large pots, buckets or even plastic sacks, and produce worthwhile yields of tasty new potatoes. When planting the tubers, leave space at the top of the container for adding more compost to earth up the plants as they develop. The top of the sack can be rolled down to start with, then rolled up, as required.
Mushrooms: Mushrooms are an ideal indoor crop for any time of year. Prepared bags of special compost with mushroom spawn only need watering before being left in a draft-free, dark place such as an attic or cupboard. Keep at 50 to 60ºF (10 to 15ºC) and mushrooms should be cropping a few weeks later. Alternatively make your own compost with straw and a purchased activator. Pack this mixture in a sterile container, such as a large plastic bucket. When the initial heat has died down and the mixture is turning into compost, add the spawn.
5 / 6
Beans and peas: Dwarf french beans can be sown in pots from late winter onwards for early pods. Dwarf broad beans and dwarf runner beans crop well indoors, too. Tall runner beans grown on cane wigwams or on string up the side of a sunny conservatory are decorative as well as productive, and both dwarf and tall mangetout peas will do well as houseplants. Pick the pods while they are young, tender and juicy.
Daniel asks…
I want to start a fruit and vegetable garden in Central Florida… What should I grow?
I am willing to devote my entire yard to this. Trees are A-OK. I already have a Coconut tree, an orange tree, a mango tree and a Sugar-apple tree. So far, I’m thinking I will grow more Citrus, Pomegranate, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, papaya, and banana. Any other suggestions? Any reason why I should not grow any of these? Please back up any comments or criticism with facts and references.
GardenersCardiff answers:
I grew up on a horse farm in west Central Florida–in Zephyrhills, FL. We had an entire acre of our 40 acre property devoted exclusively to a vegetable garden. In fact, about the only thing on your list we didn’t grow was pomegranates—but I’m sure they will grow here just fine because it is a tropical.
My father is a 4th generation farmer and rancher (who also happens to be educated as well–he is an electrical engineer who just recently retired from a 40 year career at Tampa Electric Company). Our vegetable garden was primarily for fun and for family use–we ate all our own organically grown garden produce and raised our own poultry and beef right on our own farm. I live in St. Petersburg, FL now, but I still have about 40% of my yard planted with edibles (right along with my flowers and landscape plants). Vegetable gardening in Florida is all about knowing what plants like the sun or shade and what the water usage is. You can plant most vegetables here if you provide the right microclimate for them–meaning cold-weather crops will need cool partial shade and probably a different soil ph than is found here. You’re probably not going to be able to grow good asparagus, broccoli, or rhubarb here unless you have a greenhouse–it is too hot and sunny for those plants. However, I have successfully grown corn, blueberries, apples, spinach, and various other cold zone plants just by making sure they get less sun and by adjusting the soil content. Make sure you add potatoes (regular and sweet) to your growing list–they are easy to grow and the plants are pretty, plus you can grow them in mixed rows with other plants that are taller (like beans). Lettuce is very difficult to grow in Florida without greenhouse conditions (too susceptible to FL pests and insects), but you can grow good cabbage, brussells sprouts, all kinds of beans and peas, onions (yum), carrotts, leeks, watermelons, pumpkins, squash, all varieties of peppers, …….I can go on and on.
Just read the seed package if you’re starting things from seed and follow the rules! Talk with a good local nurseryman or horticulturist (not to be found at Home Depot or Lowe’s, sorry to say–they’ll sell you anything just to sell it)–a local vegetable farmer is a much better resource! Use plenty of compose and start your own compost pile at home–you’re gonna need it. Horse manure is king–hook up with a good stable near you to ensure a plentiful supply of this gardener’s bounty. Make sure you have good irrigation available–a sprinkler system with a programmable timer and/or a drip system is best. Also, think about investing in keeping some small banty hens (yes, chickens)–we used these to control insects in our garden rather than use pesticides…it works well, plus you get the manure as a bonus.
Don’t start with a plot that is too big for you to work by yourself–vegetables need a lot of weeding, aerating, pinching, picking, and general tending. It took our entire family of four working more or less daily during the growing season to stay on top of a one acre garden. However…more than worth it, because that one acre provided our family with almost our entire produce needs year round.
Fruit trees don’t need a lot of work if they are planted well and watered in…so go to town there. Grow a nectarine tree–they are delightful fruit trees to grow in Florida…the flowers smell heavenly and the fruit is to die for. You should also consider grapes…there are several varieties that grow well in tropical conditions–we had three varieties on trellises in our garden to shade some of our more delicate vegetables. Passion fruit is another FL fave–gorgeous flowers and the fruits are very pretty and unusual tasting.
Email me if you have any other questions. I am an avid gardener and, although I do not do it for a living, I have set up gardens for almost every friend I have, plus I am on the Botanical Society for Sunken Gardens, FL. Enjoy your garden!
***BTW, Fl is one of the leading tomato producing states, so no problems there–almost any variety will grow here. Eggplant and papaya are also good choices, but bananas are mainly ornamental here–it doesn’t get hot enough! Bananas are a true-blue near-equator tropical plant that require extreme temperatures and torrential rainfall to ripen to an edible fruit. It is not common for a banana tree to bear edible fruit in FL, but grow it anyway–they are such pretty plants and your squirrels and birds will love you for it!
Charles asks…
Growing vegetable plants?
I am growing a tomato plant, but was wondering, is fertilizer completely necessary for it? If because of photosynthesis it makes its own food, do you need any fertilizer and can the soil run out of minerals?
GardenersCardiff answers:
If you want to grow good and healthy tomato plant, the answer is yes you need to constantly put fertilizer to the soil around the tomato plant. This ensures that the plant are taking and absorbing the necessary nutrient for its natural growth. The main purpose is to keep the stem and leafs to be at their best state of condition. When the plant are in good shape, they will keep growing flowers. The flowers will be pollinated by bees and other pollination agent to keep producing nice and juicy tomato fruits. Basically the tomato plants needs sufficient calcium and nitrogen. Just find your self any fertilizer with these item in it that’s all. Hope this helps.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
]]>
Donna asks…
I need some gardening tips.?
I live in a Boston suburb. The weeds in my garden are overwhelming. Any advice? Would putting a ground cover instead of mulching each year be better (cost wise and work wise)? What ground cover do you recommend? sunny areas.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Before attempting to install a garden you would need to remove the weeds ( manually, chemically or both. ) Adding mulch once the weeds are removed will have many benefits: Mulch reduces weed infestations by blocking light to the soil. Mulch improves the soil structure as it breaks down. Mulch reduces water evaporation wich inturn reduces the likelyhood of watering garden plants. Mulch adds a finishing touch to any garden making it more complete. Mulch has some disease inhibiting factors/properties that occur in landscape plants. Mulch reduces dust and water run-off.
Usually a 2 to 3 inch layer of mulch is reccomended to apply around landscapes.
You can use mulch in conjunction with a groud cover. If youprefer to use only a grand cover that would be fine also. If the function of the groundcover is going to be used to help surpress weeds then you would need a dense , tough, thick , and fast growing ground cover . Some suggestions would be Rosmarinus prostratus, Ajuga reptans,Juniperus chinensis procumbens, and Juninperus conferta. These ground covers live along time and are very durable.
Paul asks…
Do you have any gardening tips?
Hi!
I just found a new hobby –> gardening.
Honestly, I have no tools except for shovels, and maybe a few pots.
Also, don’t forget dirty, rotten, weird, and old soil!
Please answer these:
1) what kind of plants should we plant in the middle of March?
2) what are some essential and useful gardening tools?
3) what kind of soil is the best?
4) how do you know when a fruit is ripe?
5) what time of day should you water plants?
6) i live in california. is the weather alright?
7) do they sell venus fly traps?
THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND IF YOU HAVE ANY OTHER TIPS, WE’D BE SO THANKFUL FOR YOU TO TELL US!
thank you!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Great hobby!It’s my love and profession.I encourage all those interested to help make the world a more beautiful place and use gardening as a means of therapy.you need to start with the basics.1.come up with a plan.what do you want?a.a simple basic vegetable garden,with tomatoes,Cukes, beans,and radishes?it’s a great way to get to know the plant world.2. Did you want flowers? Start with basic annuals, marigolds, cosmos,impatience for the shade.3. Have the soil already done for you .farfard has a wonderful complete mix that will help your basic plants( and others thrive.)4.make sure your planting area has at least 6 hours of sun.take a day and observe.5.tools for gardening should include shovel,hoe,hard rake,claw,spring rake,and pic axe to soften and loosen up the area to be first gardened.always ware in the morning with a deep ,thorough watering.and never after 4 as you can propagate mold and fungus by evenings cool temps.california goes up and down the coast, alot of different zoning,you are so going to be more specific on what you can plant.venus fly traps primarily for inside use.surprisingly,your more apt to find them at food sores and chain nurseries.need any more help?april is when i start going nuts with my business.e-mail me before then.happy to help aspiring gardeners
Susan asks…
gardening tips ??????
ok so you need to answer these few questions…
1. helpful tips for growing flowers.
2. were to get cheap seeds
3. how much should i pay for a rose bush ?
GardenersCardiff answers:
1. Helpful tips for growing flowers.-The care for the plat is on the tag. It varies for all flowers.
2. Were to get cheap seeds-You can get them any where for a 1.00 something to 3.99 at any builder/Home Depot store, for example.
3. How much should i pay for a rose bush ?-It really does depend, you know that saying, “You get what you pay for.” That goes especially for rose bushes. Just avoid buy any cheap ones under $8.00 those turn out to be most likely misfits.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
]]>
Sharon asks…
Growing vegetables.?
I am thinking of using my very large garden to grow vegetables. Any tips on which are easiest to grow in the UK ( Shropshire ) I want to grow stuff that will attract as few as possible insects and pigeons.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Beginning a vegetable garden is a massive project but is worth a lifetime of happiness. Begin by getting the soil tested in several locations to determine what nutrients are lacking in your soil so that you can amend the soil before planting. Also it is not so much knowing what plants grow in the UK as knowing what has been successful right in your own neighborhood. Talk to folks with vegetable gardens that are near your home and find out what has worked best for them. Neighhborhood experience is the best education. Insects are good and bad. In a well balanced garden, insects take care of each other. If you use pesticides you might knock off the “good bugs.” Get some really good gardening books that give you layouts for plants that complement each other. Give your plants lots of space for good air circulation. Til and enrich your soil. Any vegetable such as a carrot, parsnip, etc that is a root vegetable, needs unobstructed soil about 12 inches deep. Your top 6 to 12 inches of soil must be free of rocks, sticks, etc. A vegetable garden is a wonderful challenge but initially a lot of work. If you dont do this work, you will be disappointed with your results.
Paul asks…
Is it easy to grow your own vegetables?
I was thinking of growing some stuff to save money but if its very difficult and time consuming, i won’t do it. just how much work is it to grow something like tomatoes or green beans? how long does it take?
GardenersCardiff answers:
It is a committment to time and physcial effort…not mentally difficult. Getting started, no you won’t save money. You have tools to assemble and physical effort to get the soil in shape for growing. If you container garden, then you have the expense of containers and soil, etc.
You save money when you are experienced, have enough growing to justify the time and put quality over quanitity. If you are not gun-ho…….don’t bother.
Time: couple of weekends to get the soil in shape, planting a tomato in May, it won’t bear until August. Green beans from sowing to harvest is 75 days or so. During the time you have to be on top of watering, weeding and pest control.
You don’t sound like a good candidate, instead spend the time searching out local growers at farmer’s markets.
Mark asks…
Is it cheaper to grow my own vegetables or get it from the supermarket?
Do people plant their vegetables in the backyard nowadays more as a hobby or do they actually find it more economical to do so? Is it worth the time and water?
GardenersCardiff answers:
A little bit of both. Many people enjoy tending their own garden and enjoying the fruits of their labor. I spent about 15.00 on seeds at Walmart and have already gotten it back in lettuce, carrots and summer squash. And sweet peas. I should be picking my cukes very soon and as always, I will need to give some away as there are more than I can ever use for my family. Now tomatos this year are a different story. Normally I alwaaaaaaays start by seed under lights, but decided it would be cheaper to get plants than spend the electric on my plants 12 hours a day. So, I went to Lowe’s and spent 45.00 on 26 tomato plants and 1 frying pepper and one salsa verde pepper plant. While the tomatos need more time to get red (some yellow types and 1 purple), there are literally too many to count any longer. With the price of tomatos on sale for 2.99 a pound, I will easily recoup my 45.00, plus some. These will be canned and stored for salsa and sauce all winter. So to answer your question completely, while vegetable gardening is pleasurable, it is also well worth it to plant your own as opposed to buying at the supermarket. Additionally, the veggies are fresher and if you are an organic person, you can buy your plants and seeds as organics and raise them and feed them organically. My question, is why wouldn’t someone plant their own veggies? Good luck and I hope you try it yourself next year.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
]]>
Carol asks…
What are any significant attractions in London outside rail zones 1 and 2?
I’m backpacking through Europe and I want to cut down on my London expenditures. If everything is centralized I might as well walk to them and move hostels every now and again or get an oyster card for zones 1-2 — that would save me a good chunk of cash. But if the places I’d like to see are more widespread, getting a card for zones 1-4 or 1-6 would be better.
Thanks!
GardenersCardiff answers:
I think you will do well with a 1-2 travel card. The majority of the major tourist attractions in London are in Zones 1-2. (Trafalgar Square, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, St Pauls, Monument, Spitalfields Market, Camden Market, London Eye, London Dungeon, British Museum, Natural History Museum, Harrods, Oxford Street, Soho, Covent Garden etc.)
There are a few sites outside these zones, but I would not regard them as the major tourist attractions. It all depends on the sites you plan to visit, but if you are pressed for time and would prefer to see the major tourist attractions, I would say that a Zone 1-2 is perfect.
Lisa asks…
I want to start a vegetable garden, but I have no idea where to begin!?
I want to start a vegetable garden but I’m not sure where to start.
Any tips on a first time garden-grower?
What type of soil? plants for the season? should i start a compost?
GardenersCardiff answers:
You need to start with the soil. Most veggies want a fertile organic soil that is free of nematodes and other creatures. If you live in the US start with finding out your zone. Use the link I provided to find your location on the map. Your zone will help you determine your planting times. For example, where I am is zone 10 and this is not the time of year for veggies, this is when we work on our beds to get ready for our fall gardens. That means we cover the beds with plastic for a few weeks to sterilize the soil, we add manure or other organic matter, and let the soil rest. Another good resource if you are in the US is the Farmer’s Almanac. It will tell you for your area what to plant and when. It will also tell you when to thin you plants and when to harvest. I’ll give you a link for that. Your county should have an agricultural extension office that will have loads of information on your specific area.
Mary asks…
What is an inexpensive way to build a raised garden?
This will be my first time having an actual vegetable garden. I want to build a raised bed. Which materials are better and least expensive? How do I determine the size of my garden? I’m sorry if that is a dumb question haha.
GardenersCardiff answers:
What material could you get that’s plenty-full, and cheap?… Http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=raised+garden+plans&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=raised+garden+plans&sc=8-13&sp=-1&sk=
Bamboo, would look good… Http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=Inexpensive+Raised+Garden+Beds&FORM=RESTAB
zone 9…. Raised beds is bad idea,..what with the heat, and drought..
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
]]>
Charles asks…
Motor Oil good for Vegetable Garden?
I got my first copy of Gardening 101 magazine in the mail today. They had an article about using used motor oil (10w30) mixed with water on your vegetable garden to help with new growth. The recipe called for 1 part Oil to 4 parts water. Anyone tried this?
GardenersCardiff answers:
NO, water and oil don’t mix, plus you’ll be poluting the ground. In most areas that’s even illegal! You are kidding, right?
George asks…
What is the price of each refrigerator?
At a local garage sale, Chris bought 4 gardening magazines and 3 mugs for $8.70; Sarah bought 5 magazines, 2 mugs and 3 refrigerator magnets for $12.35; and Steve bought 2 magazines, 4 ceramic mugs and 4 refrigerator magnets for $15.50. What was the price of each refrigerator magnet?
GardenersCardiff answers:
X=Magazine
y=Mugs
z=Ref Mag
4x+3y=8.70
5x+2y+3z=12.35
2x+4y+4z=15.50
x=90cents
y=$1.90
z=$1.60
Chris asks…
What do I do with this Publishers Clearing House Playing Card?
I opened up my “Better Homes and Gardens” magazine and out popped a fake playing card with the emblem from the “Publishers Clearing House 2010” on it. It’s the Ruby Red Queen of Hearts, if that helps at all. I don’t know what I’m to do with this and I found their website unhelpful. I would like a pretty clear answer about how I would use this card – or if it’s just trash.
It also says “You found it! Now enter at once!”
GardenersCardiff answers:
I would trash it. You don’t need a playing card to play on PCH. The whole site is around the fact that an x number of people will enter into a sweepstakes. Considering the card was in a magazine, your chances of winning are still crappy. Plus if you have to send it in that’s a whole envelope and stamp wasted on a stupid entry.
P.S. I like swagbucks myself – i get swagbucks for searching for things online and then I can redeem them for prizes. So far I have about 900 swagbucks, and it has only been a month or two.
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
]]>
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!
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
]]>
Maria asks…
What do I need to start a outdoor fruit and vegetable garden?
I’m trying to start a garden in my backyard, but I don’t know what I need to get it up and started. I went to home depot and I just ended up feeling like the guy was just trying to sell me stuff that wasn’t necessary. So If anyone can just give me the basics and any hints, thank you. I also don’t plan on starting this until spring since the ground would be to cold and hard to till.
GardenersCardiff answers:
I would start at the local extension office website. All states are listed here: http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/
You can also look at neighboring states. These websites will give you an idea what will grow in your area, when to plant, helpful tips, etc.
Decide what kind of garden you want: traditional, container, raised bed, organic, companion, permaculture, etc. Then google it! There are plenty of blogs, websites and how tos out there.
The world is your oyster. You can do it!
P.S. My grandmother had decent enough soil in her yard. When I was growing up, we had a spade, a hoe, a water hose, a rinkler, and a garden rake. Each year, she generally bought topsoil (for aesthetics), gardening gloves (for us kids), some seeds, and some flats (seedlings). Whether she bought seeds or seedlings depends on the length of the growing season. We would look at the back of the seed package for directions on how to grow the plants.
Carol asks…
Play with words for a gardening Blog?
I am starting my first garden blog focussing on the bullets below. Can you come up with an interesting title/name? Be creative, the bullets are just to give an idea, and that it’s not a regular veggie blog.
-Medusa
-Exotic
-Tropical
-Unusual
-Rare
-Fruit
-Texas
-Jam
Someone Mentioned:
Web-Roots
You Grow Girl (already taken)
Green Hand or Feet
The Breeding Ground
Flower Power
I am not so sure yet. Please help me I have a brain cloud. Thanks much!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Wat!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sandra asks…
What could I grow in my vegetable garden?
I live in Michigan near the lake and I’m wondering what I could grow in this garden I have now.
Its a 8 x 5 fenced in garden that faces east but only gets about 6 hours of sun because of a tree. I planted tomatoes last year and they grew wonderfully I want to know what else could survive.
GardenersCardiff answers:
I live in Seattle, Washington which gets very little sun until July. I also have neighbors with 3 fir trees that block a portion of the sun that we do receive. Last year we did not get enough sunny days to ripen my tomotoes.
I agree with FarmCzar that if you can grow tomatoes which need plenty of sun, that you will be able to grow most summer vegetables with out any problems. Besides choosing early season varieties, you can also get an earlier start on many of these vegetables by starting them indoors from seeds. Here is a good blog on starting vegetables indoors to transplant to your garden:
http://urbangardensolutions.wordpress.com/2011/01/11/should-i-be-growing-vegetables-from-seed
Also there are many cool weather vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, etc that perfer some shade and a little cooler temperatures to grow. These are great to start the spring garden with and to plant in places that do not get enough sun for your warm weather vegetables. Here is a link to a list of cool weather vegetables:
http://www.urbangardensolutions.com/Cool-Weather-Winter-Vegetables-a/152.htm
You can learn what grows best in your area, by seeing what the local farmers bring to the farmers markets. Your local extension office is a great resource for information in your area and will allow you to find a master gardener in your area. Here is a link for all 50 states: http://www.urbangardensolutions.com/List-of-Extension-Offices-By-State-a/266.htm
For Michigan:
http://www.umassextension.org/index.php/about-extension/locations
Powered by Yahoo! Answers
]]>