veggie garden

[BooBooMyKy]

we really want to make one this year, we even got seeds, but we have no clue what we're doing! can anyone give us some pointers! LOL ! Serious pointers, not stupid remarks. we know you plant the seeds in the dirt and water,.... what we really want is to make sure we can actually eat the veggies, if we can make them grow.

[Peety]

Just plant it and weed ,water,
Some things can't go in yet.read the pkg,

[Jackie B]

If you are starting from seed, you might want to start them in your house now, in the little starter pans. We've planted gardens before, but started late, and so had to buy starter plants from Canadian Tire instead of starting from seed.

[kitty&mimi]

i just buy the actual plants from a greenhouse
i cant do seeding etc in the house because of the cats, they would be too nosey
this yr im doing a garden
i have half a barrel and in that i plant tomatoes, i got so many last yr!
like peety said, just weed and water....
if u plant tomatoes make sure u secure them to something so they don't fall over
im going to try eggplants too
i am planting them in pails and putting them against a wall (so it's warmer)

[iluvchristian]

Most seed packages will tell you what month you can start them outdoors. Each plant is different and will have different needs. I always like to germinate the seeds inside before putting them out anyways. To do this, I get a large square container, place soaking wet paper towels on the bottom, place the seeds spread out (without touching them with your hands too much) then cover them with another soaking wet paper towel. Should take about 3-6 days and then the seeds should start to sprout. Then you place them in soil. Does that help for a start?

[IMHO]

We use huge pots for everthing...easy to maintain...less weeds in pots...fun to watch on the patio. We plant cucumbers...tomatoes and green peppers.

[kitca]

it depends on what you are growing on when and if you can plant outdoors now. like onions and spinich and peas you can start right outside from seed in your garden. others you wait till close to the full moon at the end of may/beginning of june to plant and put out the seedlings.

one of the most important things is your soil. you need good soil. a soil compost blend from lemeux's is great. or you can buy the bags of black earth and manuere to mix together. you need to make sure your soil stays fairly moist and water it well if it is dry/windy/sunny. the best water to use is rainwater. it is best because it has no added chemicals and it is not so freezing cold when you water with it and that is better for your plants. (these are tips, you dont have to do any of it and still get a fine garden, seeds are pretty relisiant sp?)

if you want a garden and not to use containers you should avoid pressure treated wood that leaches out chemicals, and most veggies like full sun. a raised garden bed is pretty easy, dont need to really prepare the earth much. easy-cheap way of doing it is to rough up your soil with a shovel so its not hardpan. then make your garden edges with bales of hay (you can get them for $2.00 each i think if you look around) then cover your own earth with newspapers to help smother out the grass and weeds and water the newspaper. add several bags of leaves on the bottom. even better if you shred them with your lawnmower first. then add your soil, manuere, compost. you will think you have lots of leaves, but once the weight of the soil comes down they compact.

you can grow an amazing amount of food in a 5 X 12 space. for potatos start them in the bottom of a 5 gallon pail, or an old tire, or cleaned out metal container. make sure to drill drainage holes in the bottom. bury your starter potatos in a couple inches of soil. every time the leaves and shoots come up about 4-6 inches bury them again in another couple of inches of soil. keep doing this all the way up the side of the container (if using tires, add another tire...) until you can add no more soil, then just make sure to water, but not drench. every time you added soil to the shoots they will form potatos all the way up the barrel. they say you can grow a 100 pounds in a 45 gallon drum.

[A*lil*Loopy]

Everyone is gonna hate me.................

We are currently preparing for our first garden in the new place. It is measuring 50' x 75' and we are killing off the grass. Yep, with Round up even though it is chemical, etc as I don't have a lot of choice with the size. We are having it tilled up on the May long weekend.
(just a note, I guarantee rain that weekend so don't plant until the last weekend of May)

We have to clear the clumps and make our rows, tomatoes beside the carrots, etc. We're putting in Peas (3 varieties), Cucumbers (2 varieties) Spaghetti squash, watermelon, beans (yellow and green), corn, Carrots (3 varieties), Tomatoes (5 varieties) and tonnes of other veggies.

Trick is to figure out where you want your garden, watch the sun and see if you are going to get what amount you need for a garden. Your soil will also decide what will grow well and what will not so be sure to read up on the veggies you want to plant. Certain veggies like more sun than others so read your packages and make a few drawings to figure it out. You will also need things like stakes and string to tie up tomatoes and peas, etc. You will need to raise some of your rows (melons, potatoes, squash) and have enough space between your rows to walk. It is an incredibly fun learning experience and is great for the whole family. You will want a hoe, and a 3 or 4 pronged claw rake for keeping weeds at bay.

There is a lot of information available on organic gardening and pest control (I'm using ducks). There are also methods of planting certain vegetables together to maximize area useage as well as keeping the bugs busy.

Oh, and depending where you live, you will need to keep your garden safe from wildlife or thieves. (green netting strategically placed will tangle a thieves foot and trip them up, lol) I have to actually put up a big fence to stop our local deer and bunnies from stopping in.

If you need any twine for tying things in your garden, let me know via pm, I've got tonnes of it from our hay bales.

Good luck to you and remember it is totally worth it, there is nothing better than fresh veggies from your own garden. (then you get to learn canning if you have lots)

[Peety]

We used tomato cages for my peas instead of tieing them with string.
I like doing it that way so much better.
I saved alot of money on groceries growing my own and it was fun for my little one to watch things grow and eat veggies.
I grew over 30 pumpkins last year I am going to plant the same and give them to the school for the kids to clean.
I am still eating potatoes from last season.