Anyone Growing a Garden?

[Hank Camacho]

For the first time I have a yard this year and I am working on growing a garden. I am a lazy bastard so I am trying a no-till method where I spread cardboard on existing grass and then covered it with about 4 - 6 inches of woodchips.

I started some seed potatoes very deep during on of the hot spells in February. They are coming along nicely. I'm going to start another little plot in May to get a late harvest, too.

However, I started a bunch of tomatoes and peppers inside under growlights and I planted them in containers on my driveway to conserve heat and sunlight. (My house has tons of shade and no great access to southern sun.) I think I started the seedlings too early and they are leggy.

What about you? Are you growing anything?

 

[Johns721]

We are on year two of a 60' x 20' garden plot. Last year was a bit of a mess because of the monsoon-like weather we had all spring and early summer, so the weeds basically took over half of it - at one point I was using a weed eater to carve rows between plants. This year is going to involve a ton of landscaping fabric to make rows.

In no particular order, we have areas plotted out for tomatoes (4 types - all purple varieties, companion planted with basil between the tomatoes), 8 types of chile peppers, tomatillos, yellow squash, zucchini, popcorn, sweet corn, okra, long beans, 2 types of melon, fall squash (kabocha), spaghetti squash, amaranth, purple sweet potatoes, cucumbers, and some leftover space for random things as needed. There is a raised bed of asparagus in the general vicinity as well, all 2-3 year plants now, and we are doing the bag method for normal potatoes.

We also started an "edible hedge" along the outside edge of the property - a single deep row of various berry plants both to create a small privacy hedge along the road and to provide a boatload of delicious fruit. So far, there is a small row of 5 trellised thornless blackberries, 4 saskatoon serviceberries, 2 jostaberries, 2 honeyberries, 2 sea berries, 2 goji berries, 2 aronia berries, and 2 Patriot blueberry plants. Gooseberries and raspberries are going in this weekend, along with whatever else I find at the nurseries. Next year when everything is of fruiting age, I should have many happy birds and some of the most colorful bird poop in the region. And hopefully some berries.

 

[Hank Camacho]

I'm really interested in the edible hedge. Are you doing some kind of permiculture / food forest thing?

 

[Johns721]

That's the eventual goal. We have a medicinal herb bed, an edible herb bed, and are trying to figure out which part of the yard is going to be best for a permaculture area. I just got done taking out some scraggly/dead trees and filling back in a portion of the usable yard, so we're going to watch the drainage, etc. this year and start a serious permaculture section next year. The hedge was just a way to get a little privacy from the road, and we figured "why not make it out of things we can eat?" instead of just tossing in bushes.

There's also some random plantings of horseradish and other edible invasives that we are just going to let go feral and eat as needed.

 

[LordEgg_rivals16573]

i grow tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, peppers. some herbs. flowers.

 

[Nubb16]

I've got some tomatoes to put out soon. That's all I care about growing. My papaw (that's a grandfather) does the rest. We only grow what is good to eat here lol.

 

[Kooky Kats]

Gonna do it.

Cherry/Grape/Roma tomatoes
Eggplant
Cucumbers
Herbage- parsley, cilantro, chives, Rosemary

 

[ekywildcat_rivals26726]

I don't usually plant this early, but it's so nice, I'm picking up about 40 Brandywine tomato plants in the morning and setting them out. If it frosts, I'll just have to get up early and wash it off before the sun hits them. I'll plant 5 rows of Ambrosia corn soon followed by Green Bell, Jalapeno and hot Banana peppers. Might plant one row of White Half-Runners if the wife wants to can some more, we're getting a little low from our last canning. Put out a few cucumber plants also.

I love the planting, but when it's 90 degrees out, tilling and hoeing(non UL type) it turns into work. The rewards are worth it though.

 

[Free_Salato_Blue]

What do you use to spray for hippies?

Not planted a garden "yet" but did set out some paw paw trees.

 

[P.PattersonISwalkingthruthatdoor]

Habaneros, cayennes, and bhut jalokia

 

[BlueRaider22]

Always tomatoes. Super Sweet 100s and Celebrity. Zucchini and yellow squash. Sugar Baby watermelon....without a doubt the best taste, size, etc.

 

[JCatfan77_rivals30675]

Yes, Cherokee purple tomatoes, all of the bell pepper colors, eggplants, cayenne pepper and an assortment of Indian vegetables. I always grow a few things that are not readily available in the supermarkets/farmers markets.

 

[LordEgg_rivals16573]

i like cherokee purple and beefsteak tomatoes - german queens too. squirrels are my biggest problem take one bite and throw it down.

 

[Elbridge]

Lots of Tabasco peppers. I've been making my own hot sauce the last couple of years. Pretty kick ***. Also have asparagus coming up now and about to set out a few heirloom varieties of tomatoes.

 

[H. Lecter]

i like cherokee purple and beefsteak tomatoes - german queens too. squirrels are my biggest problem take one bite and throw it down.

Squirrels suck when you have a small garden. I mean eat the whole damn thing before you get another!

 

[weused2luvhim2]

Squirrels suck when you have a small garden. I mean eat the whole damn thing before you get another!

I've got some squirrels the size of small cats, so I don't even bother trying.

 

[Johns721]

If you're in the Louisville area, Starview Greenhouses in LaGrange is a great place to find odd and interesting plants. They have 10+ varieties of tomatoes (heirloom and hybrid), tons of herbs, and a very solid hot pepper selection that hits every notch of the heat scale all the way up to Carolina Reapers. Quite a few interesting berry plants, grapes, etc. as well.

http://www.starviewgreenhouses.net/

 

[Hank Camacho]

My dog is hell on my garden, but I will say this for him: the little bastard will not tolerate a squirrel in his midst. No, sir.

 

[RacerX.ksr]

I've got some squirrels the size of small cats, so I don't even bother trying.

Grow the garden, eat the squirrels. Get a high powered pellet gun with a scope. Go for eye shots.

 

[Get Buckets]

Lots of Tabasco peppers. I've been making my own hot sauce the last couple of years. Pretty kick ***

Would like to hear more about this process.

 

[slick rick.ksr]

I'm really interested in the edible hedge. Are you doing some kind of permiculture / food forest thing?

I had a fair amount of edible hedge when I was young. Tasted great and was less filling.

 

[slick rick.ksr]

i like cherokee purple and beefsteak tomatoes - german queens too. squirrels are my biggest problem take one bite and throw it down.

Saw some cockney queens once

 

[Elbridge]

Would like to hear more about this process.

I take the ripened peppers and cut the tops off, split them to get the seeds out and then mash them. Put the mash in a 2% salt brine to ferment for 2-3 weeks. I then add white vinegar and blend in a food processor. Once blended, I add sea salt.

Last year I included a few cherry peppers. Just a few. It tastes much like Tabasco sauce but fresher/fruitier because the peppers aren't aged 3 years like Tabasco sauce.

 

[Hank Camacho]

I've got a ton of grow pots to fill. Does anyone have a solution for getting potting soil other than schlepping bags home from Lowe's.

 

[trueblujr]

I've got a ton of grow pots to fill. Does anyone have a solution for getting potting soil other than schlepping bags home from Lowe's.

Go to a garden center or greenhouse that sells dirt and mulch by the scoop. If you have a pickup truck just have them dump a scoop in the bed and go home. Usually costs somewhere between $30-40 for a scoop depending on what you get.

 

[Supreme Lord Z]

Depends on what you mean by "garden".

 

[LordEgg_rivals16573]

I've got a ton of grow pots to fill. Does anyone have a solution for getting potting soil other than schlepping bags home from Lowe's.

home depot was selling garden soil in 1 cubic yard amounts, 5 for ten dollars last weekend. we bought a bunch because we do raised beds and the soil beneath is apparently where they dumped a bunch of rock and **** from building the houses around us.

 

[mktmaker]

I change it a little each year, but the following is typical:

basil...lots of basil (sweet; Genovese). Friends have referred to it as a basil plantation.
We love it and it's really easy to grow here in the Deep South.

mint (spearmint; peppermint)

peppers (hot banana; cuban; jalapenos)

tomatoes...small varieties (Roma, cherry, grape)

green onions (scallions)

chives

strawberries...with limited success

I've struggled with cilantro and Italian parsley. I'm in Atlanta with a Southern exposure. That sun eats them up before I can.

Never had much success with watermelons.

Lots of flowers. I change the lineup each year. I like to look at them and the herbs while having a few evening drinks.


About half of this I buy as small plants, just to get a quick start.

The rest I grow from seed in small seed beds. The basil seeds often sprout overnight!
This takes patience, but it's rewarding. We have a long growing season down here.



I was taught not to waste time with potatoes and onions because they're cheaper to buy at the market.

 

[80 Proof]

I have a small raised garden in my backyard here in downtown Lexington. I mostly do leafy greens and herbs in that. Out at my family's farm, my dad and I raise about a 1/4 acre of corn, okra, tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash, cucumbers, zucchini, potatoes, and whatever else sounds good. I might put out a patch of sunflowers this year to attract some birds to shoot this fall.

 

[Hank Camacho]

80,

Still doing Square Foot Gardening?

 

[80 Proof]

80,

Still doing Square Foot Gardening?

Yep. If you stay on top of planting schedules you can really harvest a lot of produce in a small space.

 

[MrLair]

i grow tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, peppers. some herbs. flowers.

This is what I grow every year minus the flowers and herbs. I don't like cucumbers but I grow them for my neighbors.

 

[jockstrap_mcgee]

I have a small plot of tomatoes and about five squash. If the apocalypse hits and there's no more food, me and my family have enough to last us for seven hours.

 

[Hank Camacho]

I have a small plot of tomatoes and about five squash. If the apocalypse hits and there's no more food, me and my family have enough to last us for seven hours.

Sounds like you need an edible hedge, my man.

 

[Supreme Lord Z]

Life is much easier if you plan on being one of the guys that kills someone else that has a food stash if there is an apocalypse. They plan and save for years then "BAM" a meteorite strikes and you just go over and stick a knife in their eye and presto you have your food supply.

 

[kyaddict_rivals308450]

Anybody pressure can green beans, tomatoes, relish and such?

 

[jockstrap_mcgee]

Life is much easier if you plan on being one of the guys that kills someone else that has a food stash if there is an apocalypse. They plan and save for years then "BAM" a meteorite strikes and you just go over and stick a knife in their eye and presto you have your food supply.

There's a Costco about 2 miles from me. It will be a bloodbath, but when all is said and done, it will be the Sovereign Republic of Jockstrap.

 

[mashburned]

Just brought home a Wu hosta. I'm pumped.

 

[Bigtyrone]

We have this awful clay soil which I've been improving with compost amendments. Another year or two of raised beds...

I have a 20x4 bed which I loaded up with 12 tomato plants. I have room for 4-6 more, which I'm going to use for heirloom seedlings I started. I broke down and bought the first 12 after a frost and terrible winds about month ago conspired to kill all the seedlings I had ready to go. I also installed (but haven't tested yet) a drip irrigation system on a timer. I'm pretty excited about that.

I have a bunch of cucumber / squash / melon varieties to try this year. I'm looking forward to the orange crush watermelon and Mexican sour gherkins cukes the most. The cukes are little spherical cucumbers that look like tiny watermelons. Pickle balls!

 

[Guess Who]

Anybody pressure can green beans, tomatoes, relish and such?

Used to a long time ago.. Lot of work but very worthwhile through the winter months.