How Many of Us Garden? What are you growning this year?

[Chefmom]

Oh yes, I have many seeds going already! I like to start seeds more than purchase plants because I can get more variety and at a much cheaper price. I do spend more time though, but it's a trade off.

I just started vegetables last year. My first tomato was only celebrated by me naturally. I have done herbs and flowers for several years.

I have a full range herb garden, dill comes up on its own now. I have a huge patch of catnip for the kitties, another huge patch of several kinds of oregano, lavender is everywhere I can fit it. I have rosemary in pots to bring it inside in the winter, mint is in pots so it doesn't take over the world. I also grow the basics, thyme (and lots of it!), savory, basil (several varieties every year), chives, garlic chives, as much flat parsley as I can fit.

This year the veggies will be tomatoes, I do different varieties to try them out, the pepper I chose for this year is the Ancho pepper. And my garden wouldn't be worth it without my peas!! My kids want to grow corn, but I have very little room so I'm going to try growing corn to pick early for those little baby corns. And I picked a tiny little pumpkin that won't take up much room, but I just love pumpkins.

My kids will grow cactus, sunflowers(my daughter was VERY proud of hers last year!), a variety of flowers and they like succulents too.

Ah Spring, I'm just seeing the tips of green of my pansies coming up out front. I see many houses have their crocus in bloom already and the tulip greens and daffodil greens are starting to poke up!!

Tami

[GayeC]

Originally posted by funnybone:
Anyone have luck with herb gardens? Do you basically just let them grow, or is there fussing with the plants? If there is, then forget it. I'm think mainly of basil, chives, rosemary, and dill.

I have found most herbs to be quite self-sufficient. You can fuss with them if you enjoy it, but if not they seem to do well with only good sunlight and water. The only exception to this (for me) has been cilantro. I cannot grow it. Oregano is very easy and comes back year after year, as does mint. Basil must be planted every year but it is a pleasure to grow.
Gaye

[Emdg]

Hubby and I are both avid gardeners, and grow lots of flowers and herbs, but vegetables are my passion.

I have just finished my garden plan for the year so it's all fresh in my mind. We grow just about everything: Onions, Garlic, Corn, Eggplant, Bell peppers, Spinach, Kale, Oriental Greens, Lettuce, Peas, Chard, Asparagus, Artichokes, Beets,Carrots,Squash, Beans, Cukes, Melons, etc. In addition We always grow 7-10 varieties of tomatoes, and at least 21 different kinds of hot peppers!

To me, there is nothing like fresh home grown produce. You know whats been done to it as far as pesticides(we are organic). It actually tastes like it's supposed to, and IMHO a warm juicy strawberry or tomato eaten in hand is heaven on earth!

[donleyk]

We have a salsa garden. We also grow a bean, stringless green this year, radishes and carrots. I have had a lot of luck with orka, once I figured how to keep out the bunnies!

We don't have enough room for squashes or we'd do them, too.

[Shirley Panek]

It's so funny that you posted this - I was thinking about posting the same. I have been thinking about my garden and just told my husband we need to rent a tiller to turn over the garden.

He asked me if I could just start small. (I have such high expectations, and everything sounds so yummy! I kind of go out of control.) He feels it's unfair of me to kill so many innocent plants. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

So I've had to rethink what I'm going to plant - he's asked me to keep it to about 5 plants. 5 plants?! Is he crazy? What about the peppers I want to grow, and the zucchini, and the tomatoes (cherry, slicing, plum for drying), and the pumpkins, and the herbs, and the edible flowers ... (see what I mean?)

So if you guys could only pick 5 things to plant, what would it be?

Shirley

p.s. (Maybe I'll plant my herbs in pots, that way they're not actually in the garden - that way they won't count, right? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif)

[Vanessa]

WE have been gardening several years now. We rent this plot nearby and it has been great. This land is divided and all these gardeners exchange ideas etc. ITs also nice since when one is away a fellow gardener can water or pick up produce. Surplus is given away and our cleaning day (volunteer time needed) is in April.
Last yr our tomatoes did well. We also grew those pear like yellow tiny tomatoes, herbs, butternut squash, all kind of peppers (colors) and spicy ones,spaguetti squash, summer squash. We forgot the okra but it seems to attract deer so it was ok. Just got several packets of bean, zucchini, butternut squash etc. We usually wait until the grown has warmed up. I start with 2 plants of basil among my tomatoes but use seeds for basil, cilantro, squashes etc. I should check if the asparagus came up and dill.This year I think I will have some flowers too.

[Hoosier65]

I am an avid gardener, mostly of the flower variety. Although I do grow a few herbs. Thyme, oregano, basil, lavender, mint, etc. The basics. My biggest problem is keeping the bunnys from eating it. A woods runs down all one side of our property so this can be a real problem. I will put in one tomato for my DH (I'm allergic). Some years he gets the urge to put in a few veggies, maybe this will be a good year.

[lindrusso]

funnybone,

I would say that herbs don't require a LOT of work, but they do need some tending. Basil, for instance, will always try to flower and bolt on you - you must keep it pinched back or all the plant's energy will go into flowering rather than leaf production. You end up with tall, scrawny plants that supposedly don't taste as good.

Most herbs need pinching in order to grow full and to keep from flowering, but basil is the only one that I find harder to keep up with - but the payoffs are enormous! I planted 6-8 plants last year and had TONS of basil. I still have several containers of pesto left in the freezer - yum!

This year I plan to do parsley (almost out of my summer stock of parlsey in the freezer!), chives, oregano, rosemary, tomatoes, green beans and beyond that I'm not sure. I may delve into spinach or lettuce mixes. We don't have a ton of room, so I have to be selective.

Can't wait for gardening season to start!!! The crocuses are just coming up here, so it doesn't seem like it's so terribly far off now.

[SusanT]

I'm curious about how many CL readers grow their own vegetables and herbs. What do you plan to grow this year?

[TheresaM]

I have been gardening for about 10+ years. DH and I just love to tinker in the garden. We have lots of periannuals and veggies. We grow just about everything. At the end of April, we will put in radishes, lettuce, broccoli, snow peas. Then in end of May, in goes the tomatoes, cukes, zukes, peppers, strings beans. My EG tomatoes are about 6" and I am determined to have tomatoes by June ME.

[funnybone]

I don't garden because my parents and all their friends did. When somebody would visit in the summer, they would go and look at the garden before entering the house. I could never figure that out (maybe it's a European thing). Anyway, I am considering an herb garden - starting off in my kitchen and then placing them outside in the summer. Anyone have luck with herb gardens? Do you basically just let them grow, or is there fussing with the plants? If there is, then forget it. I'm think mainly of basil, chives, rosemary, and dill.

[SusanL]

One of my favorite topics!! BTW my neighbor has planted her spinach already!

Shirley, I would start with tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, basil, and parsley-if you have a small area. Oh, don't forget the garlic!!
We have a bank behind our house that goes up to the neighbor's house ( as opposed to going down). I plant my broccoli, cabbage, zucchini, and pumpkins there among the ornamental bushes and plants. Also, place tomato plants in flower beds, because my "little" garden isn't big enough.

If you have great neighbors, like I do, we are planning what we grow because we share our harvest! That way we have a variety of veggies and not be inundated with a few.

Salsa gardens or theme gardens are fun for small areas also!! Good luck and hope to hear what everyone is harvesting this summer!!!

[SusieO]

I hate gardening. I'm not much of an outdoors person, and I tend to kill things. However, my husband has put in tomatoes, peppers and broccoli. He also wants watermelon, eggplant and some other things. Fine with me as long as I don't have to pull weeds in the heat. Of course I have no problem with eating the tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, etc. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif

[funnybone]

Lindrusso, thanks for the info. One more thing, is it better to buy the plant, or start with seed? How long do the seeds take to grow?

[lindrusso]

funnybone,

Well, that's a matter of opinion. Starting from seed is much cheaper and allows you a greater variety of plants to choose from, but it requires much more fuss - something you seemed to want to stay away from! I think you need to start at least 6-8 weeks before planting time, but it varies with each plant (beans, for instance, sprout very quickly, so they can be sown right into the ground). You need to do things like keep the humidity up, harden them off (introduce them slowly to the outside, etc.) and you also need a sunny spot indoors where the seedlings can grow.

I don't have enough room or time or patience at the moment, so I use nursery plants. Once the boys are older and I have a larger home (hopefully http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif ), I would like to try starting from seed.

Using nursery plants is also a good way to start as a beginner. Getting acquainted with gardening a little at a time might be less frustrating! I would highly recommend getting a book from the library and reading up on it - they can be very informative. They should have books soley devoted to herbs.

Good luck! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by lindrusso (edited 03-22-2001).]

[heeter]

I have a space 4' X 4' that I have an herb garden. I have a rosemary plant in the middle and chives and lovage and (to my dismay, even though I do love it) mint. These come back each year. Then I plant basil and parsley. In another, yet smaller space (maybe 5' X 2') I plant tomatoes and banana peppers (for the grill, we love them!). Romantically I'd like to have squash, asparagus and all the other vegetables but I don't have the space and more importantly the time. I'd love to try some heirloom varities of tomatoes - any suggestions?

[SusanT]

Brandywine Tomatoes are an heirloom variety that have a wonderful flavor.

[deb]

We love to garden but have a problem with
deer eating everything in site. We moved into
a new neighborhood last year that has lots of trees and a lake nearby. This is a new problem for us. It's so bad they ate our jalepeno pepper leaves. They would take 1 bite out of the peppers and then spit out the
rest! They eat tree leaves, most types of flowers (we have found a couple types of flowers they do not like), herbs.. just about everything. Any suggestions on keeping them out of everything? As a last resort we will probably cage in an area for a garden but I really do not want to do that. Help!

[MrsReber]

I have a nice little herb garden- sage, rosemary, thyme, (I have to plant the parsley each year, for all you Simon and Garfunkle fans http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif), lavendar, peppermint, and we planted some patchouli last year. I have no idea what to do with that. I also plant basil, which goes crazy in the garden. Last year we had broccoli (which the groundhogs enjoyed) lettuce, tomatoes, and some peppers. Carrots are fun and easy to grow, too. I don't know if I can get hubby to do a garden for me this year. I usually take care of it, but with the baby due at the end of may, we might just have herbs this year. We also have 3 pear trees, one apple tree, and a cherry tree. And for some reason, each year we have a "surprise" pumpkin show up somewhere in the yard. I guess when our Halloween pumpkins go bad, the seeds somehow disperse in the yard. But I don't mind!

I hear that it's better to grow different varieties of tomatoes each year. I don't know if this is true, but I read that if you plant the same variety in the same spot each year, they won't do as well.

[KathrynY]

Shirley Panek - herbs in pots definitely should not count toward your garden allotment! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I grow most of my herbs in pots on my deck - it keeps them closer to the kitchen so I'm more likely to use them when I cook. Also it keeps the neighborhood cats out of my catnip (they ate it all last year and my own dear kitty was heartbroken!).

I love tomatoes, and have great luck with cherry tomatoes especially. DH insists on hot peppers and LOTS of them.

deb - we too have deer, and they do eat everything! A friend told me a few years ago to plant marigolds around the perimeter of my garden as deer don't like them, so I followed her advice and haven't had a problem. Don't know if it's just luck or the marigolds but now I'm afraid not to plant them!

[deb]

Thanks for the suggestion Kathryn. I know for a fact that deer do not like marigolds or zinnas..we plant a lot of those around our house but I never thought of planting them around the perimeter of the gardern. I will definitely try that. I think I will even mix them in the garden. Great idea!

[Susann]

I have tried,really I have, to grow vegies for the last two years. Last year, I planted a tomato plant, spent hours tending it and was rewarded with about three (yes, you read that correctly) tomatoes. So I decided that those 3 tomatoes were going to get all my attention. One day, I peeked outside only to see a squirrel taking off with one of my cherished tomatoes. Sigh...

This year, I am sticking to herbs only. So far, I have planted basil, parsley, mint (I found a lime mint variety that smells great!),thyme, and chives.

[SandyM]

I have a deer problem too - and I live in a subdivision! I've got all kinds of wildlife around me. Rabbits are always a problem, in spite of marigolds, mothballs, zinnias, etc.

I even have a 3" fence around my garden, but deer can jump, much to my amazement (not).
I don't hold out much hope for marigolds working for me, but if they work for you, more power to ya.

Someone told me to place bars of soap around the plants. I don't know how that will protect my 4' high tomato plants, but I'm approaching the point of desperation, after having lost 3 years worth of tomatoes.

[Peeps]

You all seem to know so much about gardening maybe you can help me - I live in an apartment but I have a balcony that gets great sun. I'd like to try and grow tomatoes - are they any varieties that would work in a pot out there? (I tried last year but then ended up going out of town for months and they died of course). I also tried growing basil last year but never could find a leaf that wasn't bug-eaten, is that common? I'd love to have fresh basil but I don't know how to keep the bugs away. Also my basil did flower - what do you mean by pinching it back?

[deb]

I have tried hanging bars of irish spring soap (because its so strong) in a sock on my young trees but the deer still ate the leaves as far up as they could reach. I actually watched them from the house..I do not think it bothered them a bit, but it might work for you. I live in a subdivision also..not in the country. Let me know if anyone knows of anything else to try. I am an animal lover and think the deer are really
beautiful and fun to watch but they are a pain for gardeners.

[heeter]

The only suggestion for balcony tomatoes is BIG Container. They need lots of root space. Herbs and flowers would be pretty in the same pot. Have fun!!

[SueK]

I have a question regarding gardens...and animals. Two years ago, I planted our first garden, and things were growing like gangbusters. One summer day I went out to weed. I picked up a patch of hay and weeds that was in the middle of the plot, only to find that I had a baby bunny in my hand! My scream would have put Jamie Lee Curtis to shame. Needless to say, a mother bunny had built a nest and given birth in our garden in a short amount of time. I didn't have the heart to move the bunnies, so for the remainder of the season, they grew up (and fed off of) our garden.

Last year we put up a wire fence (about 8" high) to no avail. I'd come down in the mornings, look out back and see the rabbits eating breakfast off my plants. I swear they'd look right at me and go back to eating!

So my question is, HOW do I keep rabbits out of the garden? It's not a big plot, so will a higher fence do the trick? Or is there some sort of scent I can put in the garden to drive them away? Any thoughts are appreciated!
Sue

[Emdg]

Sue

Your best bet is to bury the fencing slightly. We use what is commonly known as deer fence. It is not the most attractive fencing, but it seems to do the trick. The holes in the fencing get smaller as it gets closer to the ground. To keep out rabbits, possums, etc. It is, however, 6 feet tall...Those deer can really jump! So for a small plot, you might not want anything that big. Rabbits will dig under fencing, and that is how they usually get in.

One year the possums learned to climb the fence. They then took one bite out of every melon and decided they weren't ripe yet. Yikes!

Ah, the joys of gardening. If it's not four legged critters it's bugs.



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[This message has been edited by Emdg (edited 03-22-2001).]

[SusanT]

Pepps,

When basil flowers, it stops producing leaves heavily and puts its energy into seed production, so you should pinch out the flowers to keep your supply growing. Bugs will occassionally get at your basil. Keep a close eye on your plants, especially in the morning when a lot of pests are active and hand pick or wash away any visible pests. You won't want to use a pesticide on it. If bugs do get a couple of bites, just wash the leaves thoroughly and chop.

There are some varities of tomatoes made for patios. Ask about them at your local nursery.

Also, the Vermont Gardeners Supply Company sells something called a "Tomato Success Kit" which is a self watering patio garden complete with everything but the plants. According to them, you can grow regular full-szie tomatoes in them. I've ordered it and plan to use it this year, so I can't vouch for their claims just yet.

[Peeps]

SusanT-
Thanks for the tips! I did notice when my basil started flowering at the top it did seem to stop producing leaves. It's pretty much dead now except for the flowers at the top and hasn't produced any usable leaves in months. I don't know if I'll try it again because of all the bugs - I would never see bugs on there, just lots of holes in the leaves, sneaky bastards!
Anyway, I will ask at the nursery about the tomatoes, thanks for the tip!

[SusanT]

Peeps,

Basil is an annual not a perennial. If it's allowed to flower heavily, you'll have more success with a new basil plant.

[Peeps]

SusanT-
I figured I'd have to get a new basil plant, I've just been too lazy to pull up the old one. I did love having the fresh basil when I could find usable, uneaten leaves so I'll think about giving it another shot - I feel like I should take advantage of all the good sun on my balcony somehow!

[SusanL]

At our old house we had problems with the deer also, the "herd" would actually come up behind me while I was gardening, waiting for me to finish! Zinnias, marigolds, and I hate to say it - human hair did work. Got it from my hairdresser who saved it for many people!

Now I fight the slugs-gross!

My first strawberry patch and the birds take nips out of them! It is heartbreaking, what can I do?

[kirkbyky]

aaaahhhh.... The dreamin' is ending and the planning is beginning! My DH and I used to live on over an acre of pure sun w/a 25 x 35 garden chock full of everything. Alas, we've up and moved to the city with a shady lot that's about the size of our old garden. However, our lot backs up to a city park & they have a Garden Progect program here & we have decided to round up the locals & see what happens. every participant gets a 25 x 25 plot of sunny heaven. Four kinds of tomatos (2 paste, 1 slicer, 1 cherry), a paprika pepper for drying, some sweet peppers for frying & HOTHOTHOT for my dad. I'm trying a Charentais melon for the first time, plus butternut squash, cukes, zukes, eggplant(1st try), poss. potatos, too. whew!
Our house has a 'wild-look' front yard that I plant lots of herbs in, but will add some to pots for easy access. I agree with the advice to ck out the library for info, you can find anything & everything. April's only a week away! yippee!

[SandyM]

Susan - now slugs, I have a fix for. In the evening, put a saucer of beer under the plants it's attacking (for me, it's my hostas). That's right - beer.

The next morning, ask your DH or SO to go out and dispose of the saucer full of drunken slugs.

Apparently it's the sugar and yeast that attracts them.

[SusanT]

The National Gardening Association website is excellent for all sorts of gardening advice. They have articles and you can even have your questions answered directly by a Master Gardener! The site is www.nationalgardening.com (http://www.nationalgardening.com)

For those of you who participate in Community Gardening, how did you found out about it? I have very little room to grow vegetables and would love to rent some space.

[kirkbyky]

[Now I fight the slugs-gross!

My first strawberry patch and the birds take nips out of them! It is heartbreaking, what can I do?[/B][/QUOTE]

Actually its prob. the slugs taking 1 little bite out of each strawberry. ick. You can put wood ashes or slaked lime around the area or sand (sharp on there soft bodies) or beer in little cups draws them in to drown & you just pour the drunkards in the trash. If it is bird, uses a fine netting, to keep them away--I got some old tulle at a yard sale and it works fine. Also, a good mulch with hay or sawdust to keep them off the ground (bare dirt). This prevents bruising/softening/rot which attracts pests.

[kirkbyky]

"For those of you who participate in Community Gardening, how did you found out about it? I have very little room to grow vegetables and would love to rent some space."

Most states have a county extension office, or possibly a program thru cities. My DH and I live near Michigan State University in Lansing, MI & they are an excellent resource for this (being an AG university and all). Also try checking at any co-op or natural food stores-NOT the chain type. For the CSA mtg we went to recently, my DH got an email thru school & we saw a flyer at the local library (the mtg was being held there). Let me know if you need more info... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by kirkbyky (edited 03-23-2001).]

[This message has been edited by kirkbyky (edited 03-23-2001).]

[SusanT]

Slugs & snails won't cross a barrier made of copper. It causes some sort of electrical charge that they don't find comfortable. Garden centers carry strips of copper just for this purpose. Perhaps this can help the slug & snail problems.

[MrsReber]

My cat would keep the rabbits away, but my husband keeps the other critters away. I think he enjoys my garden simply because he can bowhunt in the summer in his own backyard! Those groundhogs are taking thier lives in their hands when they eat my vegetables! Has anyone noticed that the groundhogs are now the size of small dogs? How did that happen?

[SusanL]

Thank you everyone for the slug prevention tips. We used pellets last year, but it is poisonous to cats and dogs. Of course, whenever I am out in the garden, our cat joins me. (She is an indoor cat but gardens in the summer, OK, she sleeps under the tomato plants and waits for the birds that never come to the garden.)

Broken up eggshells didn't work!

Anyway, the pellets made the slugs' tongues enlarge so that they suffocated. I can't tell you how gross hundreds of them looked each morning. That is why I am so grateful for your suggestions! There was carnage in my garden, so your suggestions are most appreciated!! Now I can let the little buggers get drunk and pass out- wink wink!