Vegetable gardens (and canning)...

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justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 3, 2013 11:51 AM
Anyone out there grow their own vegetables? Do you also can them or just use them as you pick them?

I want to put in a garden this spring but it will be my first time really gardening. I figure instead of worrying about growing a nice lawn I should do something worthwhile and grow some food. Not only will it reduce our grocery bill but it will make us more likely to stick with a healthy eating routine. Our backyard is small, ~25' x 25'. I would probably start out with a 8' x 15' plot and then expand as needed. Any recommendations on vegetables that grow well in Ohio?
Jan 3, 2013 11:51am
se-alum's avatar

se-alum

The Biggest Boss

13,948 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:00 PM
Gardens are only for people that want to solidify their beliefs that they are being environmentally friendly.
Jan 3, 2013 12:00pm
mcburg93's avatar

mcburg93

permaban to basement

3,167 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:01 PM
We have a garden every year and this year it was a little to big and we canned enough to feed five families. We grow peppers, tomatoes, onions, squash, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, watermelon, and more I just cant think of right now. I will say carrots are a little challenging due to they need soft deep soil. The first time we grew them they looked more like radishes then carrots. If you like asparagus it will take about two years before you can harvest it on a consistent bases. We get corn from the neighbor for free so never really tried growing it. I would also suggest getting the soil tested to see if it needs any fertilizer of any sort. Doing so will save you some troubles if things dont grow like you think they should.
Jan 3, 2013 12:01pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:11 PM
se-alum;1356596 wrote:Gardens are only for people that want to solidify their beliefs that they are being environmentally friendly.
Dynamite drop in, sleeper. :)
Jan 3, 2013 12:11pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:12 PM
My family grows at least corn, tomatoes, and green beans every year with good results.
Jan 3, 2013 12:12pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:18 PM
mcburg93;1356597 wrote:We have a garden every year and this year it was a little to big and we canned enough to feed five families. We grow peppers, tomatoes, onions, squash, cucumbers, radishes, carrots, watermelon, and more I just cant think of right now. I will say carrots are a little challenging due to they need soft deep soil. The first time we grew them they looked more like radishes then carrots. If you like asparagus it will take about two years before you can harvest it on a consistent bases. We get corn from the neighbor for free so never really tried growing it. I would also suggest getting the soil tested to see if it needs any fertilizer of any sort. Doing so will save you some troubles if things dont grow like you think they should.
Thanks for the info. I'll look in to having our soil tested, I am sure I can find a local agency that does that sort of thing.

Our regular meals consist of the following:

onions
carrots
sweet potatoes
spaghetti squash
zucchini
peppers

I'd like to grow these since we use them weekly, basically. I'd also like to do tomatoes, cucumbers, various beans, various lettuces, etc. I guess we'll see what I have room for once I figure out the required spacing. I'm also going to look in to growing some of them in containers which would give me more options. I could grow a couple items on my deck.
Jan 3, 2013 12:18pm
G

gut

Senior Member

15,058 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:19 PM
I'd be more worried about the rabbits and other critters feasting on your crop, first.
Jan 3, 2013 12:19pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:24 PM
gut;1356616 wrote:I'd be more worried about the rabbits and other critters feasting on your crop, first.
The only thing we get in our backyard are squirrels. I guess I'll have to figure something out for them.
Jan 3, 2013 12:24pm
mcburg93's avatar

mcburg93

permaban to basement

3,167 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:32 PM
Tomatoes does well in pots. We usually plant one or two at the end of the season and put it in our window of a house for tomatoes in the winter time. Squash, cucumber, and zuchinni produces a lot of product per plant if it is only the two of you one plant might be enough. Beans are another one that produces a bunch from one plant. We plant about a twenty foot row and we put about fifty quarts up for winter. We ate a lot while fresh and gave a bunch away as well.
Jan 3, 2013 12:32pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:34 PM
We stagger our planting about 3 weeks a part for many of the same vegetables. Green Beans, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Cucumbers mostly because they grow and produce to much at one time.
I grow 4 differ types of Tomatoes for canning and spaghetti sauce, Green Beans are canned, lots of frozen Zucchini bread.
Green peppers, red peppers and some Hot Hungarian peppers also get canned or pickled also.
I’m looking in to ways to freeze some of the vegetable without that freezer burn taste (hate that)
Acorn and Butter Squash I’m looking to cold store then this next winter.

I do what is called a Lasagna Gardening; it cuts back on weeding but really produces because the soil is always replenished every year.

If you are interested PM me and I will call you with suggestions







Jan 3, 2013 12:34pm
B

BR1986FB

Senior Member

24,104 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:37 PM
Also saw this idea awhile back if you don't want to tear up your back yard...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hKNJOU3D7tM
Jan 3, 2013 12:37pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:38 PM
Simple chicken wire keeps out rabbits.... it the deer I worry about

Note: Some plants critter doen't eat... Tomotoes, Zucchine others are fair game.
Jan 3, 2013 12:38pm
Pick6's avatar

Pick6

A USA American

14,946 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:39 PM
Belly35;1356626 wrote:We stagger our planting about 3 weeks a part for many of the same vegetables. Green Beans, Zucchini, Tomatoes, Cucumbers mostly because they grow and produce to much at one time.
I grow 4 differ types of Tomatoes for canning and spaghetti sauce, Green Beans are canned, lots of frozen Zucchini bread.
Green peppers, red peppers and some Hot Hungarian peppers also get canned or pickled also.
I’m looking in to ways to freeze some of the vegetable without that freezer burn taste (hate that)
Acorn and Butter Squash I’m looking to cold store then this next winter.

I do what is called a Lasagna Gardening; it cuts back on weeding but really produces because the soil is always replenished every year.

If you are interested PM me and I will call you with suggestions







hell of a garden, belly
Jan 3, 2013 12:39pm
mcburg93's avatar

mcburg93

permaban to basement

3,167 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:39 PM
If you can get heirloom plants that way you can use the seeds for next year.
Jan 3, 2013 12:39pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:39 PM
I like the raised beds, belly. I was thinking of doing something similar.
Jan 3, 2013 12:39pm
fish82's avatar

fish82

Senior Member

4,111 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:52 PM
justincredible;1356618 wrote:The only thing we get in our backyard are squirrels. I guess I'll have to figure something out for them.
If you plant veggies, the deer will come. There are more deer within the city limits than people think.
Jan 3, 2013 12:52pm
Belly35's avatar

Belly35

Elderly Intellectual

9,716 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:54 PM
justincredible;1356633 wrote:I like the raised beds, belly. I was thinking of doing something similar.
I used 2x12x16 the main part is 24 inch off the ground , I don't have to bend over to pick the plants, the ends are 12 inch and great for tomatoes picking.
I have another garden behind this one that is only 8 high side boards all of the squash are planted there because of the area they take up. I have grown some of the squash on vine arbors off the ground and still working to make that work better. </SPAN>
Jan 3, 2013 12:54pm
power i's avatar

power i

Senior Member

1,296 posts
Jan 3, 2013 12:56 PM
Don't do a garden. I just steal veggies from Mr. Reilly's garden. ;)
Jan 3, 2013 12:56pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 3, 2013 1:03 PM
fish82;1356639 wrote:If you plant veggies, the deer will come. There are more deer within the city limits than people think.
I'd bet my life there will be no deer getting in my back yard. It's sorta boxed in by other houses and only has one entry point which is gated.
Jan 3, 2013 1:03pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 3, 2013 1:03 PM
power i;1356643 wrote:Don't do a garden. I just steal veggies from Mr. Reilly's garden. ;)
My high school math teacher?
Jan 3, 2013 1:03pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 3, 2013 2:48 PM
Weed. Grow weed.
Jan 3, 2013 2:48pm
justincredible's avatar

justincredible

Nick Mangold

32,056 posts
Jan 3, 2013 2:51 PM
ernest_t_bass;1356727 wrote:Weed. Grow weed.
No.
Jan 3, 2013 2:51pm
ernest_t_bass's avatar

ernest_t_bass

12th Son of the Lama

24,984 posts
Jan 3, 2013 2:55 PM
justincredible;1356733 wrote:No.
Grow it in your garage, then.
Jan 3, 2013 2:55pm