ernest_t_bass;1356737 wrote:Grow it in your garage, then.

Okay.

Per the thread... I'd love to be able to grow my own garden. Have a huge back yard, fenced in so idiots couldn't mess with the garden... But I have two really stupid (outside) dogs that prevent me from doing it.

If when those dogs ever die, or I kill them, I've sworn to take back my back yard! A garden may be first on the list!

I'd like to have a garden as well, but my yard is pretty much all clay, and it would be too much work to get something to grow there.

ernest_t_bass;1356744 wrote:Per the thread... I'd love to be able to grow my own garden. Have a huge back yard, fenced in so idiots couldn't mess with the garden... But I have two really stupid (outside) dogs that prevent me from doing it.

If when those dogs ever die, or I kill them, I've sworn to take back my back yard! A garden may be first on the list!

WTF Your two dogs are vegan </SPAN></SPAN>:laugh:

se-alum;1356754 wrote:I'd like to have a garden as well, but my yard is pretty much all clay, and it would be too much work to get something to grow there.

A raised bed would work great for you. Just find a design that would best fit what you want and go with it. They are not that expensive to build and the rewards are will worth it.

Belly35;1356755 wrote:WTF Your two dogs are vegan :laugh:

Do you fertilize with gun powder?

justincredible;1356657 wrote: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.

They'll come. We're talking City deer. They're like wilding gangs. :laugh:

Cool season crops like lettuce, peas and onions can be planted pretty early, everything else needs t wait to go in after May 15th or so (unwritten rule of last frost). Don't make the mistake of having a couple warm days fool you into thinking it's cool to start...you'll just be heading back to get new plants. Tomatoes and most peppers don't really "grow" till the soil temps are higher anyway.

Heirlooms are great, but not always big producers, and they can look like bloody hell, but they have better taste. Limited space means you'll need to choose wisely, ie; don't plant 6 zucchini plants, they produce a lot and take up a lot of space, let someone else plant the corn and melons too.

mcburg93;1356756 wrote:A raised bed would work great for you. Just find a design that would best fit what you want and go with it. They are not that expensive to build and the rewards are will worth it.

How easy would it be to keep deer out of a raised bed? I know there are pictures of raised beds on here, but all I'm getting are red x's. When I walk outside in the morning, it looks like a scene from Ace Ventura. There are deer, rabbits, squirrels, cats, and dogs all over the place.

se-alum;1356767 wrote:How easy would it be to keep deer out of a raised bed? I know there are pictures of raised beds on here, but all I'm getting are red x's. When I walk outside in the morning, it looks like a scene from Ace Ventura. There are deer, rabbits, squirrels, cats, and dogs all over the place.

All we use are metal pie plates tied together that bang together when the wind blows. That has always worked for us. I live in the country and had issues with deer but this has worked to keep them away so far.

se-alum;1356767 wrote:How easy would it be to keep deer out of a raised bed? I know there are pictures of raised beds on here, but all I'm getting are red x's. When I walk outside in the morning, it looks like a scene from Ace Ventura. There are deer, rabbits, squirrels, cats, and dogs all over the place.

Rasied bed 2x8x8 64 sq foot of garden and 2 8ft wooden 4x4 cut in half $60.00, 1.60 yd top soil $90.00, 4 8 foot 1/2 in metal pipe $20.00, Chicken wire $25.00

I have deer and they can't feed over the 4 foot high fence and the rabbit can't get under / between the fence and the boards

ytownfootball;1356765 wrote:Cool season crops like lettuce, peas and onions can be planted pretty early, everything else needs t wait to go in after May 15th or so (unwritten rule of last frost). Don't make the mistake of having a couple warm days fool you into thinking it's cool to start...you'll just be heading back to get new plants. Tomatoes and most peppers don't really "grow" till the soil temps are higher anyway.

Heirlooms are great, but not always big producers, and they can look like bloody hell, but they have better taste. Limited space means you'll need to choose wisely, ie; don't plant 6 zucchini plants, they produce a lot and take up a lot of space, let someone else plant the corn and melons too.

Last year planted everything May 10 Beans, Beets, Kohlrab, Canalop, Acorn Spaghetti, Tomotoes, Peppers, Onions, Cucumbers, Radish, lettuce
I start my Herbs also on May 10. It worked out good, but this coming year I will wait till after May 15

As mentioned I will be starting some in May and then stagger 2 1/2 or 3 weeks and plant a second planting of the same vegs.

I don't do corn or melons ...

se-alum;1356596 wrote:Gardens are only for people that want to solidify their beliefs that they are being environmentally friendly.

You mean those Liberial type people like Belly ???

ytownfootball;1356765 wrote:Cool season crops like lettuce, peas and onions can be planted pretty early, everything else needs t wait to go in after May 15th or so (unwritten rule of last frost). Don't make the mistake of having a couple warm days fool you into thinking it's cool to start...you'll just be heading back to get new plants. Tomatoes and most peppers don't really "grow" till the soil temps are higher anyway.

Heirlooms are great, but not always big producers, and they can look like bloody hell, but they have better taste. Limited space means you'll need to choose wisely, ie; don't plant 6 zucchini plants, they produce a lot and take up a lot of space, let someone else plant the corn and melons too.

I'm not a big corn or melon guy anyway.

justincredible;1356854 wrote:I'm not a big corn or melon guy anyway.

Not a fan of nice melons huh?

I have had a garden most of my life; from the family garden as a kid to a 15x40 plot I gardened far many years to my sorry postage stamp plot now.
I've always gotten a lot of satisfaction from it as well as much good fresh produce. Welcome to a great hobby!

Go here: http://rareseeds.com/shop Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

They offer a sweet variety of heirloom seeds that will really whet you appetite for gardening. Ask them to send you a catalog - one of the most beautiful books you'll ever read (OK - so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much!). I wore mine out in four days reading plant descriptions and looking at pictures (better than Playboy - except for the melons!)!

Most seed you can buy locally for half the price, but the selection here will just WOW you.
This year I ordered, among other things, Green Zebra Tomato, Lemon Hot Peppers, Chinese Red Meat Radish and Mexican Sour Gherkin Cucumber.
I cannot wait for spring.
**disclaimer - I have no financial interest in Baker Creek - just love to send them money!**

Tomatoes alone, fresh from the vine, are worth the gardening effort. Unlike most plants that you should plant at the same depths as in their starter pots, you should plant your tomato plants DEEP. If your plant is 12" tall strip of the lower leaves and dig a hole deep enough to leave only 4" or 5" above ground level. When the ground and nightly air temps warm up your plants will grow like weeds with all that stem putting out additional roots. And speaking of weeds, you can eat the lambs quarter that WILL find it's way in to your garden.

Cherry Tomatoes (I like Supersweet 100) are great for salads or just snacking off the vine. Unless you have a huge family, plant only two (and that's just so you have a spare in case something happens to the first) because they are so prolific.

You don't really have room for sweet corn but if and when you do it is fun if for no other reason that for the plethora of varieties available to grow other than the "Honey and Cream Super Sweet Blah Blah Blah" you see at EVERY market.

Potatoes are fun when you dig them and discover what's been growing under there all season. But potatoes are so cheap all year long I can see much more productive use for my garden space. Grow a couple plants for fun but don't exclude other vegetables just so you can stock up on $20 worth of potatoes!

Edible pod peas are a delicious early crop. As are radishes.

I like to eat spinach but don't find it worth growing as it takes a lot of space to grow enough as it cooks down so much.

If you like salads, try an assortment of leaf lettuces, greens and things like Pak Choy.

Belly35;1356784 wrote:Rasied bed 2x8x8 64 sq foot of garden and 2 8ft wooden 4x4 cut in half $60.00, 1.60 yd top soil $90.00, 4 8 foot 1/2 in metal pipe $20.00, Chicken wire $25.00

I have deer and they can't feed over the 4 foot high fence and the rabbit can't get under / between the fence and the boards

Beautiful garden Belly!

You have my undying respect, envy and admiration!
(You're grass kinda looks like shit, but who cares. You can't eat grass)

Crimson and Gray Hair;1356928 wrote:Beautiful garden Belly!

You have my undying respect, envy and admiration!
(You're grass kinda looks like shit, but who cares. You can't eat grass)

Thank you

Thanks for the tip on the tomatoes </SPAN>

Crimson and Gray Hair;1356914 wrote:I have had a garden most of my life; from the family garden as a kid to a 15x40 plot I gardened far many years to my sorry postage stamp plot now.
I've always gotten a lot of satisfaction from it as well as much good fresh produce. Welcome to a great hobby!

Go here: http://rareseeds.com/shop Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds

They offer a sweet variety of heirloom seeds that will really whet you appetite for gardening. Ask them to send you a catalog - one of the most beautiful books you'll ever read (OK - so maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but not by much!). I wore mine out in four days reading plant descriptions and looking at pictures (better than Playboy - except for the melons!)!

Most seed you can buy locally for half the price, but the selection here will just WOW you.
This year I ordered, among other things, Green Zebra Tomato, Lemon Hot Peppers, Chinese Red Meat Radish and Mexican Sour Gherkin Cucumber.
I cannot wait for spring.
**disclaimer - I have no financial interest in Baker Creek - just love to send them money!**

Tomatoes alone, fresh from the vine, are worth the gardening effort. Unlike most plants that you should plant at the same depths as in their starter pots, you should plant your tomato plants DEEP. If your plant is 12" tall strip of the lower leaves and dig a hole deep enough to leave only 4" or 5" above ground level. When the ground and nightly air temps warm up your plants will grow like weeds with all that stem putting out additional roots. And speaking of weeds, you can eat the lambs quarter that WILL find it's way in to your garden.

Cherry Tomatoes (I like Supersweet 100) are great for salads or just snacking off the vine. Unless you have a huge family, plant only two (and that's just so you have a spare in case something happens to the first) because they are so prolific.

You don't really have room for sweet corn but if and when you do it is fun if for no other reason that for the plethora of varieties available to grow other than the "Honey and Cream Super Sweet Blah Blah Blah" you see at EVERY market.

Potatoes are fun when you dig them and discover what's been growing under there all season. But potatoes are so cheap all year long I can see much more productive use for my garden space. Grow a couple plants for fun but don't exclude other vegetables just so you can stock up on $20 worth of potatoes!

Edible pod peas are a delicious early crop. As are radishes.

I like to eat spinach but don't find it worth growing as it takes a lot of space to grow enough as it cooks down so much.

If you like salads, try an assortment of leaf lettuces, greens and things like Pak Choy.

Reps for all the info.

Crimson and Gray Hair;1356928 wrote:Beautiful garden Belly!

You have my undying respect, envy and admiration!
(You're grass kinda looks like shit, but who cares. You can't eat grass)

That area has not grown back yet from the building of the garden Front loader dumped in the top soil, tore up the ground pretty good, plus the weather started to dry out the grass

justincredible;1356588 wrote:Anyone out there grow their own vegetables?

I live next door to a Meijer, so I don't need to grow my own vegetables.

I would like to grow and can green beans, but also realize it's probably silly to grow just that one thing for me only. I am also moving into an apartment in the next 3-4 months and wouldn't be able to anyway.

I might try to talk my parents into gardening and we can split stuff. They already grow tomatoes and a couple other random things.

Fab4Runner;1357509 wrote:I would like to grow and can green beans, but also realize it's probably silly to grow just that one thing for me only. I am also moving into an apartment in the next 3-4 months and wouldn't be able to anyway.

I might try to talk my parents into gardening and we can split stuff. They already grow tomatoes and a couple other random things.

If you dont want to grow them farmers markets usually have many varieties of green beans you can buy and can. I usually buy/trade for herbs at our local farmers market.

dlazz;1357259 wrote:I live next door to a Meijer, so I don't need to grow my own vegetables.

poor and lazy people live near Meijer :laugh:

Have had a 15x15 garden patch in the back yard ever since we moved here - 36" chicken wire to keep the dogs and other critters out. It saves money, and the produce tastes far better that the store-bought stuff, all for very little work. Nothing fancy - tomatoes, green peppers, hot peppers, a hill of cucumbers, plus sugar snap peas this summer. We also raise herbs (cilantro, rosemary, sage, etc, nothing illicit, dammit) in boxes on the side of the deck.

SE-alum - we had the same problem with the clay. The first year I dug out the clay (roto-tilled it down about a foot then had my kids mix it 33/33/33 with purchased topsoil and peat moss. Since then, I just dump leaves from the yard and a few bags of grass clippings on the patch after the first frost, throw a half-dozen handfuls of high-nitrogen on it (speeds up the decomposition), then turn it over with a shovel. The chunks break up over the winter. You'll have to roto-till or break it up again in the spring for a couple of years, but afterward, you'll have a nice, loamy soil that breaks up with just a pass or two from a rake.

Note - don't till up the whole garden in the spring - just the spots where you want to plant. Breaking it up and letting it lie encourages weeds and allows it to pack down again.