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Hey gardeners!

I know we've got some gardeners on this board, mostly from your IG feeds. So...

What are you planning on growing?  Do you start from seed or get transplants?

What's your favorite food/gardening/reference book?

Do you have blogs or websites that you follow for advice or ideas?

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Re: Hey gardeners!

  • fabkfabk member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    I still claim gardener status, even though we are talking about not planting much at all this year. Boo. 
    I am planning some planters of tomatoes, and I want to have a pumpkin patch again. The rest we are leaving up to the giant farmers market just next door to our house. After we see their prices and availability this year we will plant more next year.
    We always started from transplants or seeds (but outside never inside first). Mainly because we had nowhere to start them inside. 
    For advice and ideas I stick to pinterest and asking locals. 
  • This year will be our first garden!  We haven't set it in stone yet, but we'd like to plant tomatoes, strawberries, green peppers, jalapenos, maybe cantaloupe.  I'm not 100% sure yet. I need to figure out what goes best together and go from there.  I think I'd like some green beans too, possibly some lettuce.

    I think we were/are planning on starting from seeds, but have I already missed the window?
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  • I have an 8'x4' raised bed. This year I'm doing strawberries (perrenials), green beans (pole and bush), cucumbers, zucchini, jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, carrots, dill, cilantro and basil.

    I like All New Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. I also like these websites:

    The strawberries I bought as transplants. I start the peppers and the herbs from seed inside to then use as transplants. Everything else I plant from seed directly in the garden. 
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  • I have A TON of yard work to do this year.  I'm worried about it because i know how lax I was about the yards last time I was pregnant.

    We have a second raised bed for veggies this year, so we'll see how that goes.  I'm not very good at vegetables.  I like flowers better.  I have a ton of seeds to start outside this year, though I usually get starts from the local garden center.  I have no where to start seeds inside, though, so I only took seeds that I can start directly in the ground - lettuces, peas and beans, cucumbers and I think I also got radishes.  I'll probably buy a couple of tomato and pepper plants, too.

    I also expanded one of my perennial gardens last fall to get my peonies away from the house (I'm terrified about how they will do this year after moving them in the fall.  Peonies don't like to move), so I'm going to re-do that bed this spring (split and move some lilies and irises, rearrange some other stuff, and then probably buy a couple of new plants and fill the empty space in with some annual seeds and see what happens).

    probably 60% of our front yard is landscaped and I tore it apart over the course of last summer.  It needs to be tilled and limed, and then I need to plant it all out again.  This is a huge (and expensive) project in itself, and it's the front yard, so I guess it needs to be a priority.  I was supposed to have planned it all over the winter, but I didn't.  Yikes.

    Finally, I told DD that we can plant a butterfly garden this year.
  • We start everything from seed except for peppers and tomatoes- to start those from seed in our climate you have  to start them inside and I don't have the gear for that. I just get them from the greenhouse in May. 

    This year my son is REALLY excited about the garden, so I'm letting him do most of the picking. He circled what he wanted in the seed catalog, so so far we're doing carrots (purple and orange) and radishes and broccoli (his favorite veggies)- we'll also do green beans, cukes, yellow & green squash, and maybe a pumpkin or watermelon plant if we have room. We'll do a few varieties of tomatoes and peppers. I'm thinking of doing some salad greens although I've never done that before. 

    I'm going to do my herbs in pots this year just because we don't use too terribly many and I feel like they take up so much space! 

    I'm also going to pull up some bush thing that is around one of our trees in the backyard and plant some flowers. Izey loves butterflies and he's been talking about getting them to come to our garden so we did some research to find out what flowers they love the  most. We'll see how that goes. :) 

    I CANNOT WAIT to get started on all of this. 
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  • Instead of using our garden plot in our yard, we're just going to do container gardening on the deck this year, and we are going to start with seedlings. 
    I've actually had horrible luck starting from seed.  It's a shame, because I would love to do seed saving throughout the year.
    We are definitely going to have tomatoes and bell peppers.
    Probably romaine because it did so well last year.
    We will probably also have at least two containers of cucumbers, one green bean, one jalapeno, and a variety of herbs.
    We might do more than that, but I'm not sure yet!
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  • @SnShne322 Yay! My advice is to use some containers so if your soil still doesn't work, you will still end up with some deliciousness!

    We typically just pick up starter plants. I think we will grow tomatoes, bell peppers, cayenne peppers, basil, rosemary, parsley, and lettuce. And after going to the local nursery to pick these up, about five or six others. All the plants end up looking really good! 

    We are limited by the size of our deck for our container garden. We live about five minutes from a huge orchard. They grow a ton of berries as well, so over the summer my H and I will likely go once a weekend to pick our own and freeze the extras. 
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  • So, I'm in Massachusetts, do I have to start certain things inside or can I start them from seeds outside? I posted above what I'm interested in trying, but here they are again for convenience.

    Strawberries
    Green Peppers
    Jalapenos
    Lettuce
    Green Beans
    Cantaloupe
    Tomatoes

    maybe cucumbers or zucchini.

    I got the Backyard Homestead from the library a few months ago, I'm going to get it again soon to really do some research.
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  • fabkfabk member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    edited March 2014
    SnShne322 said:
    So, I'm in Massachusetts, do I have to start certain things inside or can I start them from seeds outside? I posted above what I'm interested in trying, but here they are again for convenience.

    Strawberries
    Green Peppers
    Jalapenos
    Lettuce
    Green Beans
    Cantaloupe
    Tomatoes

    maybe cucumbers or zucchini.

    I got the Backyard Homestead from the library a few months ago, I'm going to get it again soon to really do some research.
    We started everything outside in Northern Ontario. Some years things were in the ground in April (I wish!) other years not until June. We did all of the above except strawberries and jalapenos. We would do tomatoes, Cukes, and peppers from seedlings, the rest by seed outside.
  • I've got way too many tomatoes started, I think I'm at 30 right now.  My garden is super small, so most are determinates / dwarfs that will go in containers on my deck.  I've also started broccoli, peppers, and greens.  I've got seeds to start outside (peas, beans, more greens), I'm planning on adding another 4x4 sfg and cleaning up the side yard and putting another bed in there.  I planted some blueberry bushes last year but I really don't think they made it through the winter.  :(  I would really like to espalier a fruit tree along our fence but it's kind of expensive for an experiment since I don't know what I'm doing.

    I really liked You Grow Girl and Grow Great Grub when I was starting, and still go back to these for reference.  I've gotten a few other gardening books recently but I kind of feel like it's basic information that I already know (probably from the first books I read).

    I love http://diaryofatomato.com/, http://charmcitybalconygarden.blogspot.com/http://daphnesdandelions.blogspot.com/, and http://www.groweat.blogspot.com/#axzz2PttpKNjv.  For gardeners in the DC area, a nestie that used to be on my local board used to keep http://thedirtyradish.blogspot.com/ -- it has a lot of fantastic information specific to my area and although she doesn't update it anymore I use it for references.

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  • On the list for this year: blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots, pole beans, lettuce, spinach, corn, hot peppers and herbs. I'm trying to convince DH that we should do pumpkins too, but he's not really on board with the idea of all those vines.

    Most of that I'll direct seed when the weather is warm enough. The tomatoes and hot peppers I'll get from our local master gardner sale.

    I like The Vegetable Gardener's Bible for reference. MIL gets Organic Gardening magazine, so she'll pass me stuff that interesting/relevent too. Not directly planting related, but I adore The Gardener & the Grill cookbook. It's fantastic.

  • If we get the townhouse we're eyeing, I think we'd do a couple of container plants on the deck outside.  It's got morning sun so that's a good thing.

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  • my garden sucked last year and I gave up about half way through.  

    This year, I plan to re-soil my beds and start from scratch.  

    I will plant the following:

    - Tomatoes (I usually do about 6 different varieties) - not from seed
    - Beans - from seed
    - Peas - from seed
    - Carrots - from seed
    - Radishes - from seed
    - Zucchini - not from seed
    - summer squash - not from seed
    - butternut squash - not from seed
    - brussel sprouts - not from seed
    - eggplant - not from seed
    - cucumbers - not from seed
    - bell peppers - not from seed

    Herbs: (all from seed)
    - Catnip (the cats would revolt if they didn't get catnip every year)
    - Basil
    - Chives
    - Thyme
    - Mint (a must for mojitos)


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  • fabkfabk member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    @booneybear do you plant your herbs in the garden or in planters? I think I want to try some this year.

  • @fabk I grow my herbs in pots on my deck.  My garden is on the side of the house and I am too lazy to walk all the way down there when I want fresh herbs.  It is easier and I will use more when I grow them on the deck in pots.  It is more convenient for cooking purposes.
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  • MrsC7MrsC7 member
    Seventh Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its Name Dropper
    I am jealous of all you gardners.  I have a black thumb.  Couldn't even keep tomato plants alive :(
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  • MrsC7 said:
    I am jealous of all you gardners.  I have a black thumb.  Couldn't even keep tomato plants alive :(
    I have plants in the house that I've had for years.  I like the idea of herbs but we tend to use dried ones more than fresh.  Or mh does since I don't cook all that much.  The only things I kill are succulents.

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  • I'm in AZ, so I follow a totally different schedule than all of you, but we have two raised beds, one for veggies and one for herbs.  The herbs go all year round, though they eventually go to seed and I have to re-do them.  Our winter garden, which is almost over, is almost all lettuce - romaine, green leaf, buttercrunch, spinach. 

    Our plans for summer (probably planting in two weeks) -

    Mini cucumbers
    Jalapenos
    Green/red peppers
    Squash
    Strawberries


    Herb garden -
    Basil
    Cilantro
    Chives
    Thyme
    Oregano
    Rosemary
    Mint (in a pot - or it takes over)

    Our main resource is the staff at our local nursery, we just do whatever they tell us to do :)

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  • MrsC7 said:
    I am jealous of all you gardners.  I have a black thumb.  Couldn't even keep tomato plants alive :(
    Do you have space for some strawberries? I swear I couldn't kill them if I wanted to.
  • 84Lauren said:
    I'm in AZ, so I follow a totally different schedule than all of you, but we have two raised beds, one for veggies and one for herbs.  The herbs go all year round, though they eventually go to seed and I have to re-do them.  Our winter garden, which is almost over, is almost all lettuce - romaine, green leaf, buttercrunch, spinach. 

    Our plans for summer (probably planting in two weeks) -

    Mini cucumbers
    Jalapenos
    Green/red peppers
    Squash
    Strawberries


    Herb garden -
    Basil
    Cilantro
    Chives
    Thyme
    Oregano
    Rosemary
    Mint (in a pot - or it takes over)

    Our main resource is the staff at our local nursery, we just do whatever they tell us to do :)
    My neighbor planted mint a couple of years ago. It took over not only his but my garden. Last spring, it just popped up. I could go out every single day and pull it and there was still more mocking me. I don't even know how it moved the 30 feet to mine, but it managed just fine. That stuff is the devil. 
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  • MrsC7MrsC7 member
    Seventh Anniversary 5000 Comments 500 Love Its Name Dropper
    Kate&Mark said:
    MrsC7 said:
    I am jealous of all you gardners.  I have a black thumb.  Couldn't even keep tomato plants alive :(
    Do you have space for some strawberries? I swear I couldn't kill them if I wanted to.
    @Kate&Mark Can you grow strawberries in a pot or do they have to get later transplanted into a garden?
    image imageimage
  • MrsC7 said:
    Kate&Mark said:
    MrsC7 said:
    I am jealous of all you gardners.  I have a black thumb.  Couldn't even keep tomato plants alive :(
    Do you have space for some strawberries? I swear I couldn't kill them if I wanted to.
    @Kate&Mark Can you grow strawberries in a pot or do they have to get later transplanted into a garden?

    You can do a pot - we had a few pots of them lined up on our deck when we lived in an apartment. And last year my MIL did them in one of those hanging upside-down planter things.

  • jackiback said:
    84Lauren said:
    I'm in AZ, so I follow a totally different schedule than all of you, but we have two raised beds, one for veggies and one for herbs.  The herbs go all year round, though they eventually go to seed and I have to re-do them.  Our winter garden, which is almost over, is almost all lettuce - romaine, green leaf, buttercrunch, spinach. 

    Our plans for summer (probably planting in two weeks) -

    Mini cucumbers
    Jalapenos
    Green/red peppers
    Squash
    Strawberries


    Herb garden -
    Basil
    Cilantro
    Chives
    Thyme
    Oregano
    Rosemary
    Mint (in a pot - or it takes over)

    Our main resource is the staff at our local nursery, we just do whatever they tell us to do :)
    My neighbor planted mint a couple of years ago. It took over not only his but my garden. Last spring, it just popped up. I could go out every single day and pull it and there was still more mocking me. I don't even know how it moved the 30 feet to mine, but it managed just fine. That stuff is the devil. 
    Would you believe that i can't even get it to grow in my yard?  We are doing raised beds this year so it might be different, but our soil is so acidic with the pine trees that we can't get it to grow at all.  I love mint too!
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  • We still have some spaghetti squash growing, but we'll plant for summer pretty soon.  We start with small plants, not seeds.

    This year, we're planning on
    Tomatoes (we do several different kinds - I freeze a lot to use for sauce and soups in the fall/winter)
    Zucchini
    Bell peppers
    Raspberries
    Blueberries
    Peaches (dwarf tree)
    Lemons (we've had this tree for several years)
    Basil
    Rosemary
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  • Kate&Mark said:


    MrsC7 said:

    I am jealous of all you gardners.  I have a black thumb.  Couldn't even keep tomato plants alive :(
    Do you have space for some strawberries? I swear I couldn't kill them if I wanted to.


    Trust me, it's possible, lol! I was doing really good with seedlings this year and then I overwatered them and now they're half dead. I may try to start some more and direct sow as well and see what pops up (or revives).

    This year I have

    Sugar snap peas
    Green onion
    Lettuce
    Spinach
    Watermelon
    Corn
    Garlic- I didn't plant these this year. I did it last yer and they never came up so I thought they were dead. It seems they just needed a winter to do their thing.

    I also plan on buying basil and strawberry plants instead of sowing the seeds. Oh, and I bought a raspberry bush...we'll see what actually happens. I have to cover everything in netting because of the birds around here, so hopefully more survive this year than last.
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  • I gave my mom a hanging strawberry plant last year for mother's day or her birthday (they're about 2 weeks apart), and as long as she stayed one step ahead of the squirrels, she had awesome strawberries all summer.  She had to keep moving the plant around her yard as soon as the squirrels figured out how to get to it.
  • Every year I try to start plants from seed and every year they don't grow (I think my house is just too cold/dark) so I end up buying started plants instead.  

    This year I plan on growing: tomatoes (Roma, San Marzano and cherry), cucumbers, bell peppers, jalapenos, poblanos, habaneros, pumpkins, zucchini, carrots, green, yellow and black beans, popcorn, spinach, beets, eggplant, and a bunch of herbs.  We also have raspberry, blackberry and blueberry bushes along with strawberry plants.
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  • sweetrhythmssweetrhythms member
    Sixth Anniversary 1000 Comments 100 Love Its First Answer
    edited March 2014
    I have no idea what I'm doing and the deer in my neighborhood are insane and have literally knocked down fences that we have put up.  Hoping we finally have figured out how to keep them out of the garden, but we'll see.

    We're going to try:
    - Tomatoes - not from seed
    - Beans - from seed
    - Peas - from seed
    - Carrots - from seed
    - Zucchini - from seed
    - cucumbers - from seed
    - bell peppers - not from seed and some from seed
    - lettuce - from seed
    - carrots - from seed
    - raspberries - not from seed
    - strawberries - not from seed

    Herbs: (all from seed)
    - Basil
    - Chives
    - Cilantro
    - Oregano
    - Mint

    Whatever seedlings my FIL gives us.

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  • fabkfabk member
    5000 Comments 500 Love Its Fourth Anniversary First Answer
    @sweetrhytms

    What are you doing to keep the deer out?
  • fabk said:
    @sweetrhytms What are you doing to keep the deer out?
    Try the urine spray they sell at garden centers.  It should work.

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