My first real garden

[lowlylowlycook]

So next year will be my first real garden where I try to grow a good number of different veggies. This year I had just Tomatos, Peppers and lemongrass while I started my asparagus patch.


On 10' of 7' high trellis I'll try
peas -- Super Sugar Snap
beans -- Fortex
cucumber -- Diamant

In the main beds I'll add:
Swiss Chard -- Bright Lights
Carrots -- Sugarsnax 54 (F1)-
Tomatoes -- Lots of varieties grown from seed for the first time
Peppers -- I'll get a few plants from a garden center so I can stick to growing tomato transplants for this first year
Garlic -- Already in
Shallots -- Already in

In a small bed with room around it for vines I plan to pit these two against each other. If 3' square isn't enough room and I get less production then I'll have to live with that

Zucchini -- Plato (F1)-
Squash -- Yellow Crookneck (OG)-

Does that seem like a resonable start for a new gardener?

[mdvpc]

Lowly:

what about an eggplant-something like applegreen or camo?

[wmontanez]

Sounds good. What about lettuces and some herbs to complement your main crops, basil and cilantro?

[lowlylowlycook]

Originally Posted by wmontanez

Sounds good. What about lettuces and some herbs to complement your main crops, basil and cilantro?

I might try some kind of lettuce. I was thinking of using some long, deep containers so I could move the lettuce into a shadier spot as the weather heats up. Maybe I can figure out that whole "wintersown" thing and try that.

I will be growing both Thai and Sweet Basil.

I probably won't try to grow cilantro since I've never had any luck with it.

I'll also have some herbs growing near by the kitchen. They don't exactly thrive there since the sunlight is limited but they survive well enough that I can use some when needed.

I plan to put in a third bed for the year after next. Then I'll have a bit more room for things like eggplants, I guess.

[habitat_gardener]

Originally Posted by lowlylowlycook

I plan to put in a third bed for the year after next. Then I'll have a bit more room for things like eggplants, I guess.

Try eggplant (and peppers) in containers. In previous years, the flea beetles demolished the eggplant seedlings early in the season. So this year, I put the eggplants (small-fruited varieties) in 5-gal. containers, protected with bubble wrap to keep the heat in -- it was a cool summer -- and the flea beetles out. And i got eggplants! Some of my plants still have eggplants on them.

Lettuces don't need deep containers. You could also grow them in the shade of other plants. Or plant them near the kitchen. Many herbs are pretty enough to plant in the front yard, if you get more sun there (and if you don't use lawn chemicals).

[Tormato]

llcook,

Your first garden looks very doable.

Do you know if your carrot seed will be naked, pelleted, or taped?

Tormato

[lowlylowlycook]

Originally Posted by Tormato

llcook,

Your first garden looks very doable.

Do you know if your carrot seed will be naked, pelleted, or taped?

Tormato

I haven't really thought about it. A book I have recommends mixing the seed with fertilizer and shaking it out of a spice bottle.

If I don't have rows how well will the taped seed work?

[tam91]

I had both the Bright Lights chard and the Super Sugar Snap this year - I think those are terrific choices. In fact, I STILL have the chard growing after several freezes.

I grow Neckargold pole beans - I find a mix of green and yellow beans very nice in dishes, and Neckargold is productive and tasty.

I find growing sweet peppers annoying - I think I'm about done. They take so long to mature - last year I was busy covering them up at the end of the season, just to get any. This year, I still didn't get many. However, you're south of me and may have better luck. I love the hot peppers though - serranos and jalapenos.

Also, I really enjoy the herb garden. In addition to the basil, I use rosemary quite a bit, and adore the tarragon. Parsley of course, and chives, and thyme. I also have Kentucky Colonel Spearmint - wonderful for mojitos and making mint jelly. When it freezes, I don't know if I miss the tomatoes or the herb garden the most.

Edit: Oh yes, and some onions for green onions around an edge.

[lowlylowlycook]

Hmmmm, I'm thinking about this Sultan (F1) seedless cucumber. Might that be better for salads?

[mdvpc]

Diva is a great cuke also, as well as spacemaster. I like both of them, the boss (wife) likes spacemaster the best. Never grown sultan.

[lowlylowlycook]

Yeah, Diva does sound good. I think I'll go with that.

[mdvpc]

Cant miss with Diva. I grow it every year. Sets real well.

[Tormato]

Originally Posted by lowlylowlycook

I haven't really thought about it. A book I have recommends mixing the seed with fertilizer and shaking it out of a spice bottle.

If I don't have rows how well will the taped seed work?

If you don't have rows?
I'm here to help you with your carrots.
So, what "pattern" do you plan to plant them in?

[lowlylowlycook]

Originally Posted by Tormato

If you don't have rows?
I'm here to help you wth your carrots.
So, what "pattern" do you plan to plant them in?

Well it's raised beds so it's more like squares than rows.

[kath]

Taped seed should still work in a raised bed. Carrots need to be spaced far enough apart in all directions that laying tape down in closely spaced rows and covering very lightly should be very doable. Spacing carrot seeds or thinning carrots is a very tedious job that the tape would eliminate. Taped seed is more expensive than regular seed, as is pelleted seed, but eliminates the waste that usually occurs because it's so hard to sprinkle just what you need when sowing carrots.