Gardening & Landscaping
Dear Community,
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
First time vegetable gardening
I know nothing about gardening and am starting to read Vegetable Gardening for Dummies, which is helpful.
I have two questions:
1) Is it a terrible idea to start out big as a first time gardener? Big to me is maybe 20 x 20. I love the idea of a pretty wide variety and large quantities of veggies for canning.
2) How much work is it really? I feel a little bit overwhelmed reading the gardening for dummies book, mostly because it seems like each vegetable has so many specific requirements. Some you plant from seed, some you buy the little plant, some you plant the seed indoors and replant outdoors (I obviously haven't learned all of the terminology yet). How much time would you expect to spend each day on a similar size garden?
Re: First time vegetable gardening
1) I wouldn't say it's TERRIBLE to start off big, but I personally don't think it's a good idea. As you say in your Q2...there's a lot of info to absorb & giving yourself a year to focus on a few vegetables & then adding a few more would be a better plan, IMO. If you *really* want to plant the whole 20x20 space I would focus on maybe just 2 "families" of veg & just a few different kinds within that. So, like focus on peppers, tomatoes, squash & cucumbers. You'd have lots to put up that way too!
2) Within a "family" of vegetables (nightshades, gourds/squash/cucumber, root vegetables, leafy greens and legumes) they all have similar growing requirements, diseases, pests, etc. It's easier when you compartmentalize the information like that. For example, nightshade veg like tomatoes, peppers & eggplant are very similar. Generally, you start seeds inside for all of those (or, if you want, you can buy a plant). The only plants I think you HAVE to start outside by seeds are many of the root veg...like radishes & carrots.
IMO, gardens have busy times of year & slow times of year. In the early spring, I could spend several weekends starting seeds, getting the garden ready, & planting. But once it's planted & mulched (I have raised beds so weeds aren't a big issue), I don't have much work other than watering when it's not raining and regularly tying up the tomatoes.
I think both are subjective answers. It depends on you and how you want to garden.
I don't think its a bad idea to start out big, so long as you don't spend a ton of money and time on it... or I guess on the other hand if its so well-done and thought out and successful!
I really plant, water, and see what happens.