My Garden

[Kreon]

This year I want to plant a vege garden

It's going to have to be compact, as I have only about 24 square feet in a raised bed the shape of Nevada

Does anyone have any compact gardening tips?? (I googled it and found planting in squares instead of rows...)
Any ideas on veges to grow??
Non-Chemical fertilizers and soil helpers

I live in New England, if that helps any...

Thanks

 

[TheSlamma]

What veggies do you like to eat? thats where I would start

 

[Kreon]

anything but leaf lettuce, brassicas, and spinach.

I hate spinach

 

[iRONic]

We do tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, banana peppers, and basil in containers on our deck. Too many critters that munch the plants in the yard here. You'll need a fence around your garden.

 

[Kreon]

hmmm

there was a woodchuck in the area a couple years ago...
I think he got shot though...

What kind of critters do you have?
I live in a pretty suburban place, only little critters like rabbits, woodchucks, coons, skunks etc...
Will these wreak havoc on a vege garden?

 

[Squisher]

Try the newsgroup rec.gardens They've always been very helpful to me.

With enough compost in those beds you won't need fertilizer, but if you're looking for natural fertilizers and pesticides check out Gardens Alive.

 

[iRONic]

Originally posted by: Kreon
hmmm

there was a woodchuck in the area a couple years ago...
I think he got shot though...

What kind of critters do you have?
I live in a pretty suburban place, only little critters like rabbits, woodchucks, coons, skunks etc...
Will these wreak havoc on a vege garden?

We have the same critters as you plus the occasional deer. They will all have a field day with your plants.

 

[Kreon]

Originally posted by: iRONic

Originally posted by: Kreon
hmmm

there was a woodchuck in the area a couple years ago...
I think he got shot though...

What kind of critters do you have?
I live in a pretty suburban place, only little critters like rabbits, woodchucks, coons, skunks etc...
Will these wreak havoc on a vege garden?

We have the same critters as you plus the occasional deer. They will all have a field day with your plants.

Noted: Chicken Wire is now on the hardware store list

How should I install it?
Staple it to the side of the raised bed with stakes to support it?

 

[preCRT]

Originally posted by: iRONic

Originally posted by: Kreon
hmmm

there was a woodchuck in the area a couple years ago...
I think he got shot though...

What kind of critters do you have?
I live in a pretty suburban place, only little critters like rabbits, woodchucks, coons, skunks etc...
Will these wreak havoc on a vege garden?

We have the same critters as you plus the occasional deer. They will all have a field day with your plants.

I'm in MA, and have been gardening for years. One woodchuck can mow down an entire garden in one afternoon. They are evil beasts. Same for those innocent looking bunnies.

You'll need a fence, at least 2-3 ft above ground, 4 is better, and buried 1 ft underground for good measure [those 'chucks will dig under a fence]. Get a bunny fence, or use poultry netting. If the deer decide they like your lettuce, you're cooked, they'll jump any fence under 6-10 ft.



Still haven't found a solution to the chipmunk & vole problem, they ate or ruined every non-cherry tom in my garden last year. :frown: They did leave the cukes, eggplant & peppers alone.




For small intensive gardens, try square foot gardening:
http://www.squarefootgardening.com/

 

[Lola]

i have also learned that you can repluse certain animals by planting merigolds around the garden too.

I have really been reading up on container gardening so you may want to consider that if you are short on space!

I would plant what you know you would eat.

Our garden this year has lettuce, brussel sprouts, peas, beans, corn, pumpkins, tomatoes and icebox watermelon!

 

[iRONic]

Originally posted by: Kreon

Originally posted by: iRONic

Originally posted by: Kreon
hmmm

there was a woodchuck in the area a couple years ago...
I think he got shot though...

What kind of critters do you have?
I live in a pretty suburban place, only little critters like rabbits, woodchucks, coons, skunks etc...
Will these wreak havoc on a vege garden?

We have the same critters as you plus the occasional deer. They will all have a field day with your plants.

Noted: Chicken Wire is now on the hardware store list

How should I install it?
Staple it to the side of the raised bed with stakes to support it?

Yup, that'll do just fine. Also, cayenne pepper in a small spray bottle with water is good to keep a variety of bugs off the leaves.

Do you like cukes? They're delicious fresh from the garden.

Enjoy your veggies!

 

[preCRT]

Originally posted by: Kreon

Originally posted by: iRONic

Originally posted by: Kreon
hmmm

there was a woodchuck in the area a couple years ago...
I think he got shot though...

What kind of critters do you have?
I live in a pretty suburban place, only little critters like rabbits, woodchucks, coons, skunks etc...
Will these wreak havoc on a vege garden?

We have the same critters as you plus the occasional deer. They will all have a field day with your plants.

Noted: Chicken Wire is now on the hardware store list

How should I install it?
Staple it to the side of the raised bed with stakes to support it?

You'll need stakes, chicken wire is very flexible, they'll just knock it over otherwise.

Amend your soil with compost.

 

[iRONic]

Originally posted by: preCRT

Still haven't found a solution to the chipmunk & vole problem, they ate or ruined every non-cherry tom in my garden last year. :frown: They did leave the cukes, eggplant & peppers alone.

Try sprinkling cayenne pepper directly on the leaves and around the bottom of the plant. Re-apply after hard rains.

 

[Kreon]

So here's what I'm looking at growing

Peas (snap or garden?)
Cucumbers
Beans (Pole or Bush?)

I'm also going to grow some tomatoes and herbs in some pots

That sound good, for ~24 sq feet?

 

[imported_weadjust]

Don't plant too early. Frost killed my tomatoe plants (12) last weekend. Gotta start over. Re-planting next week.

 

[IGBT]

..the local gardening radio show I listen to runs adverts for something called a "Earth Box" you might google that and see what you think.

 

[preCRT]

Average last frost date in MA is around May 15th, but this has been a weird year, might pay to wait another week.


If you don't have much space, grow up: pole beans instead of bush beans, and cukes can be trellised.


If you are growing tomatoes in pots, make sure that the pots are large enough for the varieties you want to grow.