Oh, dear.. there's no forum for "Brown Thumbs"

[Gal6:7]

Hi, my name is Tina and I am a vegetable garden failure. I have tried several years to grow a garden, but due to limited space, limited assistance and limited knowledge of what the heck I am doing, I have managed to fail each and every time.

I REEEEALY want to get it right this time. Despite the two feet of snow on the ground (with more on the way), I want to start planning now.

What are easy veggies to start with? (I have had some good crops of field greens) How should I prepare the ground and at what point in the spring (is it too late? Should I have done something back in the Fall?) I have chickens (I'm Luke 13:34 on BYC) and would like to plant something for them, too.. I was thinking mangel beets?

Looking forward to "meeting" you all and to maybe getting something to grow this year!

 

[lesa]

Welcome!! You are smart to start thinking about your garden now! Tell us what you tried and what happened... What veggies do you and your family enjoy? No sense growing things, nobody likes! You have wonderful organic matter available to you, if you have chickens. Remember, chicken poop is very high in nitrogen and you need to let it compost, before applying it to the garden. What zone are you in? Don't be discouraged- you can do this. Happy Gardening!

 

[thistlebloom]

Hey Gal6:7! Welcome!
This a perfect time to start thinking about this years garden, and this is a great place to learn. Use the search feature and start reading and asking questions. Even though you may not have done any prep work in the fall you can still have a good garden this year. Good soil can take years to build up, especially if like a lot of us you started with a poor spot, so just jump in and start and don't be discouraged by past failures. I agree with Lesa about planting what your family will eat, and the chickens will likely eat everything you plant, so no need to do anything specific for them until you have a season under your belt. At least that's what I would do. Start small, take notes, have fun!
p.s. your avatar made me laugh!

 

[Gal6:7]

Thanks for the enouraging words.

First - my current conditions:

I appear to be on the line between zones 6/7. My town is at the junction of two rivers and we are fairly close to Long Island Sound, so it is a bit more temperate than the rest of CT. I live on top of a hill, so I have very good drainage.

Last year we took out a very tall holly tree that was shading the entire back yard. Unfortunately, there was a tangle of unidentified weeds growing into and around the tree that still pops up shoots all over half the yard.

I only have a half-acre lot, and the house takes up a 1/4 of that. There is also a 2-car garage and the chickens have a 12x12 run. I plan to allow them a little more freedom over the summer by installing a retractable fence from their run to the deck that will take away more potential gardening space - but this will be in the area where the weeds keep popping up.

I use hay as my chicken bedding in a semi-deep-litter method. I completely clean out the hay once a month and rake it into a pile in the corner of the run. Any food scraps that they don't eat also get raked into the pile. What do I need to do with this pile to make it useable? (NOTE: we just got the chx last Aug, so the pile has only been there since late September)

In the past I have tried container gardening, but I don't think I ever had great soil or drainage. Two years ago - the first summer after we moved into our house - I had a very small (4x8) plot over by the garage. I think I tried to put too many things in too small a space (although I had read you can crowd some things in to cut down on weeds). A lot of grass and perennial flowers ended up all over the garden and it became too overwhelming to weed it. The only thing we got out of it were some field greens, a couple of tomotoes and two pumpkins.

This summer hubby says I can make a bigger plot and I can put it in a sunnier location more out into the yard. I am thinking of a 12 x 12 plot in one part of the yard. Much more than that and we run into a lot of shade from trees and the house. The deck is sunny all day, too, so I am willing to try a few containers there, too.

Things I'd like to plant include tomatoes (cherry and large), peas, snow peas, green beans, carrots, field greens, sweet onion, bell peppers, hot peppers; and maybe one plant each of cucumbers and yellow squash since I'm the only one who eats them. Some garlic and herbs might be nice, too.

I would LOVE to be able to plant corn and potatoes, but feel I dont have the space for it. I also fantisize about growing cabbage to make my own sauerkraut (don't we all!), but that may be running too far ahead at this point.. kinda along with my dream of learning to make cheese, canning/freezing veggies, sprouting grains for bread and getting my kids to actually eat something besides cheese.

 

[Gal6:7]

Oh, and one other question... I would love to have an as-organic-as-possible garden with non GM seeds. If I order heirloom-saved-organic-free-range seeds, however, are they going to be more likely to die in the hands of this microwave mama?

 

[vfem]

Hi great to have ya!

I started out with a brown thumb... really... for years, I would kill it in a matter of days. I had to start with pots on a patio, and nothing survived me. My husband was in SHOCK when I wanted to put in raised beds at our new home, he thought it was a waste since everything would eventually DIE. Needless to say, a few years over here... and walla... magically we EAT!

Anyways, I grew up in Connecticut so I know your weather and zone are way different from mine... I'm so very south here we have different soil, different temps, different ph levels... ect ect.

Would be happy to help when ever I can!

P.s. - LOVE the avatar... its hilarious!!!

 

[vfem]

Oh, and one other question... I would love to have an as-organic-as-possible garden with non GM seeds. If I order heirloom-saved-organic-free-range seeds, however, are they going to be more likely to die in the hands of this microwave mama?

Its not a question of what you do to them... but they will naturally be prone to more diseases then non-organic. I am ALL FOR organic, heirloom seeds. Cost wise, you'll be able to save your own seeds and not have to buy new every season. I will say, if your area is prone to certain diseases, lack of moisture or heavy moisture ect, you want to be able to read how well a certain variety handles those issues. Some hybrids are designed to be resist to things like blight, and that is prone in your area... don't pass up not using a hybrid in that case. You'll have a better survival rating. I say, worry about getting a sucessful learning season first, then pick and chose according to heirloom/organic/non-gmo ect ect later. I think you need a real winning season before you try to tackle anything you are unsure of.

And don't forget... you can still garden organically with a hybrid plant. Then if there is an issue... we are here to help!

 

[thistlebloom]

In the past I have tried container gardening, but I don't think I ever had great soil or drainage. Two years ago - the first summer after we moved into our house - I had a very small (4x8) plot over by the garage. I think I tried to put too many things in too small a space (although I had read you can crowd some things in to cut down on weeds). A lot of grass and perennial flowers ended up all over the garden and it became too overwhelming to weed it. The only thing we got out of it were some field greens, a couple of tomotoes and two pumpkins.

Wow Gal, you really were squeezing a lot in that plot! A pumpkin would have filled that up all by itself! Of the space you have, and the veggies you would like to plant, I would suggest wide beds, I do mine at 4' wide. This cuts down on the space consumed by paths, and you can plant some things a little more closely in a diamond pattern.
I would also suggest you check out building a lasagna style bed, as in the beginning this will cut back a LOT on the weed problems. You could also grow the peas, beans (if your doing pole beans) cucumbers and squash on a trellis on the north side of your bed, to save space, and avoid shading your other crops.
Potatoes can be grown successfully in containers, as well as your tomatoes. Try for as much sun as you can manage in your plot. Good luck and enjoy the process!

 

[digitS']

Hi, my name is Tina and I am a vegetable garden failure. . . What are easy veggies to start with? (I have had some good crops of field greens) . . .

I have been thinking about this part of your question, Tina.

Let me start out with a question of my own: what are field greens? Do you mean greens that are grown as a livestock forage crop?

If you don't have much trouble from flea beetles, you should be able to grow members of the mustard family (brassicas) fairly easily. I grow Asian greens of various types and, other than having to keep the flea beetles off them, they are quite easy.

It helps that crops of greens are quick. Therefore, you are avoiding some risks that may occur over time. Success is mostly a matter of timing since these plants usually grow best when it is fairly cool. Of course, that means that they can be out of the way when other plants can use the space.

I have seen a couple of polls on the "easiest vegetable" and the green bean was a winner. I think that is likely to be the case in most gardens.

Green beans don't take long to grow altho' they aren't as quick as greens. They are also a warm season crop. As Thistlebloom suggested, pole beans may be a good choice for you. The mustard-family of greens probably won't be shaded by the pole beans because they will be gone by the time the green beans make much growth.

If you have given your peppers some extra room by starting them in something like 4" pots - you can probably set them out late, after your spring greens have been harvested. That may also be true with your tomatoes but 6" pots may be better for those guys.

Just some thoughts and my 2's . . .

Steve
Welcome to TEG

 

[rebbetzin]

The most important thing is your soil. I have replaced about all the native soil in my garden. Our native soil here is so alkaline it fizzes when you put vinegar on it!!

Hmmm. Radish, lettuce, spinach and all kind of herbs, all seem pretty easy to grow to me.

I have real problems with corn and squash.
But, we are on opposite sides of the country here.

My lettuce is doing so good right now!! It loves the cool weather we have here in the winter.

I give my chickens WEEDS!! They love them, especially dandelions, wild mustard and any grasses that want to grow in my flower beds. I also give my chickens any lettuce leaves that are not perfect, and they seem to really like radish and beet leaves.

I now "cultivate" danelions!!

I know you will get lots of good garden advice here!