Vegetable Garden

[drom]

I want to plant a vegetable garden this year. I never have before but I have plenty of space- this may be a dumb question, but my only concern is planting and getting one big harvest all at once and not being able to eat everything. Is there a formula to stagger your planting so that you can have ripe vegetables over a longer period of time? Or do you just need to stick to certain types of vegetables that produce over a longer period of time?

I really want Tomatoes, green beans and corn for sure and haven't decided what else i want. I love all veggies.

thanks

 

[inchworm]

I usually plant a portion of each crop every two weeks. E.g., if you can plant tomatoes between May 1 and June 15, plant 1/4 of your seeds on May 1, 1/4 on May 15, 1/4 on June 1, and 1/4 on June 15.

Of course, don't plant the whole packet. Think of how many plants you might need to feed your family. If you think 4, then plant 4-6, not 20 of them!



Inchworm

 

[Ridgerunner]

Inchworm has the right idea. I stagger plant my corn, radishes and most of my greens.

For some crops, you can get production over an extended period of time. Intermediate tomatoes produce over an extended period. Deteminate tomatoes produce most of their crop at one time.

I find that bush beans tend produce at once but pole beans produce over a longer period. You can get more tham one picking off of bush beans but they tend this way.

Most varieties of sweet corn produce all at once, so plant more every two weeks to extend the harvest. I had 6 different plantings of corn last year.

I'd suggest trying a few things this year, see how it goes and get the experience, lurk around this forum, get a compost heap going, and plan bigger next year.

 

[obsessed]

My gardening has always been feast of famine. I am only barely figuring out how not to feast on zukes and famine the rest of the season. This year I tried to get creative with my planting. Like for squash I planted a few (3) summer squashes but planted the winter squash also for later use. And I planted popcorn instead of corn. That way I wont have to can (because I don't know how) or give it all away.

Of the thing I am growing now I should only get tomatoes, green beans, cukes, pepers and zukes for eating now. The popcorn, winter squash, potatoes should be for storing. And the melons don't count cause there is no such thing as too much watermelon.

 

[digitS']

Welcome to TEG, Drom !

You are right to be thinking about a harvest right now, at the beginning of the season. But, here's an idea - enjoy feeding your compost pile.

I once had neighbors back when I was a single dad, who so disliked seeing things "go to waste" that they came over and picked my vegetables and sat them on my front porch.

Ticked me off! I not only had a compost pile but I had chickens. Aaaand, I was a single dad without much of a clue on food preservation and limited time. I've had neighbors and I've had neighbors . . .

Please decide to enjoy your lettuce at the peak of tenderness and then do something else with it when it bolts to seed. Don't feel compelled to eat it as it begins to deteriorate in quality. If you turn under a bed of lettuce that's past its prime, you probably have time to plant green beans and enjoy that harvest before the first frosts of Autumn.

Follow the advice above. And remember, you are the gardener and the "first fruits" are yours to enjoy. Poor quality produce is a thing of the past for you. You get the BEST !

Steve