New poster - Greetings! What's the best source for advice in my area?

[AmyRey]

I'm fairly new to the gardening game. And the chicken game, too. Found you guys through Backyard Chickens.

I've got a couple of raised beds this year in which I've planted some tomatoes and squash. However, we're building a new house soon and with my new house, I aim to have a huge garden with lots of wonderful veggies.

What I really want is someone to tell me "Okay, this month you need to plant A and harvest B." or "Now is the time to start C seeds indoors and move D outside."

It obviously needs to be area specific (I'm in central Georgia) and I need some pretty close hand-holding until I've done this for a year and know what should happen when.

What's the best source for this? I've seen a bit of this type of information in Mother Earth News. Would my County Extension Office be the place to go? Or is there another that you all would advise?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[obsessed]

I think your county extension should have a pdf of what to plant when for your area. LSU has one here. You can also get soil samples tested there. The library also rocks. I have found alot of southern specific gardening books at my local library. Then there is the archives here. They rock.

ETA: Fix bad spelling

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome. I've seen your posts on BYC.

I agree. County extension Agent and the library. I'd also suggest you check out the local master gardener program. You have some real area-specific experts there.

I have the pamphlet from the extension office that tells what to plant and when, but it is state specific, not county or area specific so I have to adjust a bit on my own. Don't get me wrong. It is a great help.

Good luck!

 

[vfem]

I just found a wonderful article in Mother Earth News about their new site addition for people who need step by step moment to moment garden advice with planting.




Go to their site and do a search for "What to plant now"


:rose :rose :rose :rose :rose :rose :rose :rose :rose


I am getting errors on their search page right this second, but whatever is doing that should clear up. It does have a page you can use, put in your zip or zone and it will tell you what you should plant at what part of each month for your area.

I needed to use it already this month. I'm still behind as I can't find my cabbage seeds!!!

Good luck and....





:tools

Here I think I found your zone/area?!

http://www.motherearthnews.com/Orga...t-Now/Southern-Interior-Gardening-Region.aspx

 

[bid]

The county extension is a good resource. But if you have neighbors or friends in your area that garden or farm that's a good resource also. Especially if they have lived there for a while and been gardening/farming all their life! There is little substitute for experience and local knowledge.

 

[AmyRey]

Thanks, vfem! That's the link I've seen as well.

On this link:
http://www.motherearthnews.com/What-to-Plant-Now/August/Southern-Interior-Gardening-Region.aspx
What's the difference between "sowing outdoors" and "transplanting"?

Edited to add: Nevermind, that's a stupid question. (Did I mention already that I was new at this?)

And Ridgerunner:

What's the "local master gardener program"?

 

[vfem]

If its still too hot to sow directly, they suggest you sow indoors and transplant later in the month after hardening the plant off.

 

[Ridgerunner]

What's the "local master gardener program"?

It's a way to take Bid's advice.

Talk to your extension agent to find someone with the master gardeners. You might find a contact online with a search. I think they are practically nationwide. It's a program where they teach classes and mentor people about gardening. The people doing it are local and are very familiar with your climate and seasons. You might wind up having to do a certain amount of community service hours and will probably have to attend so many hours of qualified classes if you elect to join. I have a friend in the program that got some of her hours attending classes on beekeeping and volunteers a certain number of hours helping to take care of an "historic civil war garden" in a local state park.

You'll learn a lot but to me the biggest advantage is making contact with local experts familiar with your immediate area with great information on when to do what and how to find things you need. I happened to find out about a certified organic compost supplier by talking to my extension agent but I guarantee you every master gardener in this area knows about that source.

And never hesitate to ask a stupid question. It's not stupid, you just don't know the answer yet.

Vfem, thanks for that link. It will go in my archives.

 

[vfem]

Someone here took the master gardener's class and was certified!!! They were in Ohio I think? Ridgerunner, do you remember who that was?! I remembered reading some awesome advice from them on my strawberries, and other berries they had learned.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Someone here took the master gardener's class and was certified!!! They were in Ohio I think? Ridgerunner, do you remember who that was?! I remembered reading some awesome advice from them on my strawberries, and other berries they had learned.

Sorry, vfem. I just saw your question. It was probably Setter4 in Pennsylvania. I found it using the search feature on here once I spelled strawberries right. I think that's pretty good before I finished my first cup of coffee.

http://www.theeasygarden.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=25057&p=2