Vegetable garden questions

[AndreaU]

A very kind neighbor offered me a section of his 50' by 50' garden to take care of as he will not be around for the summer. I've always wanted a vegetable garden, but with 2 dogs and a small (i.e. tiny) yard it's not an option. He doesn't want any money nor does he want the goods... he just doesn't want to see the garden go to waste (his grandparents started it over 50 years ago & since their passing, he lives in the house).

OK, time for the questions...
1. What would be some good started veggies for the inexperienced gardner? I was thinking peppers, zucchini and maybe tomatoes or beans. I'd like to stick with 2 or 3 types of vegetables to start.
2. Also, where is a good place to get plants and/or seeds to plant? Websites and/or 800 #s welcome.
3. Where can I get tips on how to care for my veggies and keep the garden (my corner of it anyway) happy and healthy?

I will be working full-time over the summer, so the lower the maintenance the better. I know I can count on some friendly CLers to help! Thanks so much!

[SoCal]

Wow Andrea, what a nice neighbor! I would love that opportunity. Wish I had more suggestions for you (I have no space for a garden http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif ) other than I think tomatoes would be good. We used to grow them in large containers when my son was little and always had good luck with them. Never did anything special to them except water them!! I'm sure other BBrs will share their ideas with you. Anyone?? Good luck, I mean good growing!

[This message has been edited by SoCal (edited 04-27-2001).]

[Chefmom]

The best place to start is your local, busy-busy, greenhouse. They will carry the varieties that your area supports the best, plus it's a great place to browse.

For starters, tomatoes are a must, beans or peas are good and simple. Peppers, grow the kind that YOU like.

I would also grow something that you are interested it, zucchini is good, maybe a pumpkin plant in the corner for kicks. ANd of course, herbs!!!!

I have a whole thing I typed on my experience with herbs in the herb thread.

Tami

[gobluem82]

Andrea, besides tomatoes, my favorite thing to grow is mesclun lettuces. They are very easy to grow, and so expensive in the store! You really need to start the seeds now, though. You can buy the seeds as a mixture--Shepherd's seeds has some unusual varieties, but good old Burpee's also carries some mesclun mix.

A warning, though--if your neighbor's garden isn't fenced in, you could be visited by deer or, even worse, groundhogs. It can be so disheartening to see absolutely nothing where you had beautiful plants the day before.

50 X 50 is really a large garden, so you have room for things like zucchini--just be sure not to plant too many!

[breadmama]

Scarlet Runner beans! We planted these one summer, and had them growing up tepee poles. They produced bright red blossoms, which attracted hummingbirds, and that was a thrill for me and for my kids. When it was time to harvest the beans, we were so excited to open the pods and find beans that were bright pink and purple! Really pretty, and a lot of fun. I think the beans are good eating, too, but we didn't get enough for a big harvest. We'll plant more this year, for sure.

[SusanL]

Andrea- You are really lucky! I have a small garden but now put veggies in my flower beds. A great thread that helped me was http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/Forum1/HTML/004553.html
Enjoy, we are tilling today!!

[Zinnia]

You have a very nice neighbor AndreaU! Here are a couple of sites that may be of help to you. Happy Gardening! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Zinnia

www.rebeccasgarden.com
http://homeimprovement.netscape.com/homeimprovement/lawngarden.tmpl

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif Zinnia

[peg levy]

Two very simple tips. ONE-put some grass clippings between your rows, or any space left over to control the weeds. make sure the grass has not been treated in the last thirty days. This will not only control the weeds but keep moisture in the soil. TWO-the way to get REALLY big tomatoes is to pinch off the first blossoms. I know this is hard, but you will be rewarded with HUGE tomaotes later in the season. Here in Iowa I pinch until the first of August. This allows the root system of the plants to develop, which determines the size of tomatoes the plants will bear. Don't forget the cucumbers and Enjoy!

[bookworm]

AndreaU

The two words that come to mind when I think of a vegetable garden is time and patience. Even if you don't think you have much time to devote to a garden you'll find yourself in it a lot. It's very relaxing to pull weeds, water and admire your work every day after work. I often found myself getting up earlier in the morning just to spend some time in the garden. Definately save some room for herbs, the fragrances are wonderful. I never really used websites for gardening references, I just read magazines and asked others who had gardens. Good luck and enjoy.

(Just when you don't think you can wait any longer for the vegetables to ripen you'll have them coming out of your ears.) http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif
Lisa

[Leanne]

Here are a couple of gardening tips that me & my mom have both used & they have worked.

Plant tomatoes with basil & marigolds around them - they'll keep the bugs away. (Plus - the marigolds are pretty & fresh basil goes great with tomatoes.)

Another way to keep critters (rabbits, squirrels, etc) away is to line the garden - brace yourself b/c this sounds gross - with human hair. My mom used to get it from her beauty salon. The smell of humans frieghtens the small creatures.

[browneye]

AndreaU:
I second the suggestions for grass clippings between rows to keep down weeds and to retain moisture. Also, water in the morning if you can. And, plant a few Marigolds amongst your veges and Herbs like Rosemary, Tarragon- they will act as a natural bug repellent.
Oh and may I suggest Sweet 100 Cherry Tomatoes- guaranteed success for the first-time gardener! You will have literally hundreds of the sweetest tasting Cherry tomatoes you've ever tasted http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif You'll need one of those wire tomato cages to keep them upright. Mine grow so tall!

[Joyce]

We absolutely love snow peas and spinach in the garden. You can pick the peas right out of the garden and finish them before you ever make it back to the house!!!

[AndreaU]

Thank you all so much for your tips and suggestions! As soon as the garden is tilled (my neighbor told me this weekend) I'm going out shopping for veggies to plant. I've decided on tomatoes, zucchini and green beans. I like the idea of planting some herbs and marigolds near the tomatoes- I love basil!

One question- how easy would plum tomatoes be for a first-timer? I've been using these exclusively over the past year or two and would love to grow them. Again, thanks!

[SusanT]

Andrea - before planting be sure to work about 2" to 3" of a good organic compost into the soil. It's the best thing you can do for your vegetables.

There are two types of tomatoes - determinate and indeterminate. Determinate tomatoes fruit comes ripe all at once while indeterminate tomatoes keep growing and bearing fruit all season. Plum tomatoes are determinate so you may want to be ready to make lots of pasta sauce to freeze when they all ripen.

Tomatoes need an even soil moisture throughout the growing season and have deep roots so when you water make sure you water deeply. It's better to water infrequently - say once a week- and deeply than often and shallowly. Deep watering encourages the roots to grow deeply.

The National Gardening Association has a great website with lots of useful information www.nationalgardening.com (http://www.nationalgardening.com)

Enjoy your garden!

[browneye]

AndreaU:
My experience with Roma tomatoes is that they don't mature quite as quickly as others, so the growing season needs to be a little longer. Also, you would definitely want to get some that have a good head start instead of teensy weensy seedlings.