never planted a thing, and i want to start a garden

i grew up in the city, buying all of my vegetales, and now have a small amount of land. i would love to start a garden... not really sure where to even begin. i know i would love tomatos, potatoes, peppers, and a few others. i would love to get info on starting from seeds, when to plant, how to care for the plants.... i live in zone 5 and have some space to start things inside, or i might buy starters... just need to know what i am in for and what to look for.

Thank you and God Bless
Bro. Robert Ayres

I'd recommend heading for your local library and checking out a few "intro to vegetable gardening" books - there are many excellent ones out there to help you every step of the way! To get you started: Tomatoes are one of the easiest options if you have a sunny area - just buy small plants after the last frost date for your area in the spring and pop them in the ground. The plants should cost you less than a dollar each. Put some kind of strong support in (like heavy wooden stakes for each plant) because the fruit is heavy. Be sure to check final size of the plant so that you leave enough space - mine typically get several feet tall and wide, although there are some "patio" varieties that are smaller. Care is easy - just water them when you plant, and continue to water regularly during any dry spells as the summer goes on. While you're at it, you might want to get some basil started as well (I'd just buy a plant or two to begin) - and look forward to enjoying scrambled eggs with fresh tomato and basil about August! (But look out for critters who want to share with you - you may find that you have to build a chickenwire cage for your tomato plants to prevent squirrels and other "friends" from eating your crop on you.) Good luck and enjoy!

I think going for a book can be a great start.. I have helped some neighbors and friend or two start a small garden and the some things I noticed were they all prefeered to garden differently. Everyone had a different idea of what they are looking for, and Everyone managed to get veggies - each with different layouts and most important to note: the all had different budgets. (my friend had 20 bucks, a six pack of beer and a shovel type garden)

It is as easy or hard as you want to make it - and this is the perfect place to get started.

if you are a reader Also try books like square foot gardening or a book called somthing like "the 64 dollar tomato" - I looked at it yars ago and someone here will know the name - very funny and a little informative.

If you are like me and the do first and research the problems type person than the fall is the perfect time to start prepping the garden.

We need to know some details and maybe a pic of the yard... a budget, will you build it, or buy everything, are you able to dig a simple plot, or do you need (or want) a raised neat and orderly garden.. and how much time do you expect to devote to the garden.

oh, and just how much experience do you have - any houseplants..etc.....
-joe-

My advice is to start small and simple, since you can always expand if you find you enjoy it and want to do more, but if you take on too much too soon it can be very overwhelming. I would check in with some local resources (like your extension service, or even local nurseries) to get ideas of when to start things in the spring, and I would seriously consider buying transplants whenever possible. They'll get you off to a good start, and you can get into seed starting when you've got a bit more experience.

Mel Bartholomew's Square Foot Gardening is a great resource for the starting-small approach; he emphasizes the idea that more people are turned off veggie gardening because they're overwhelmed than for any other reason. I like the original book better than the "new" book, which has you using some specific homemade soil mix. No matter how you garden, you can still use his recommendations about planting and spacing and timing; those are all good.

I have read the $64 tomato and no offense to anyone who liked it, but personally I found it somewhat depressing. Lots of emphasis on things that didn't go according to plan, and all the frustrations involved in taking on a monumental task. Parts were pretty funny, though, I will agree!

And last but not least, stay in touch with us over here at Dave's, and don't be afraid to ask questions! There are tons of knowledgeable people around, who are wonderful resources.

Good luck and have fun!

Warning - can be habit forming!!

Start simple, don't get complicated, enjoy.


Frank

first thanks for all the help, i think i will start small. i am a former union carpenter so my building and hands on skills are very high. my thought is to till the yard then build a raised garden, maybe 12" high. i have already constructed and started using my compost barrel...so i plan to have an organic garden, made with only non-hybred seeds and starts. i have also included a picture of the yard. the small white stone "wall" is going to be removed this weekend which will give me 1/3 of an acre in the back. so about 1/2 of that will be usable, now i will probably start much smaller than that, but still enough to enjoy for the family. as far as time goes, i am now a Pastor and will have at least 2 hours daily to devote to it.

Brother Robert Ayres

If you have a tiller - or can get your hand on one.. it looks like you have a great yard for a garden.
1/6 acre is quite large.... you could feed your family, fill the freezer with pasta sauces, eggplant lasagna, pickle enough for the year, make sauerkraut, horseradish.. freeze fresh corn... onions, garlic, sweet potatoes, okra all the herbs. soups and stews in the freezer. don't forget the berries for jellies and treats for the chickens... your area can grow almost anything. ease into it, but don't be afraid to dig in either - if you hate it just till it in and go smaller.

I have a 20x60 core garden that I till and several smaller 4x 20 tilled that does all that, feeds two adults and two kids with around 2000 square feet total.. I would prefer maybe 2500-3000 so I can try new things and give more away to the neighbors who are always willing to have fresh veggies or soup hot off the stove. the size is for variety. That may be a goal size for you-- I manage it a few hours a week. planting may take 5-6 two hour nights of work and harvesting/canning is done by us after work in several 1 1/2 sessions of picking and preserving... been doing it awhile. it is peaceful, and the most rewarding along with raising chickens..

there seems to be a size you hit that is a little different from everyone.. a line between picking veggies and harvesting a crop.
If you want to ( and I must recommend it if you aren't sure) do a few raised beds.. in the spring go to a local nursery - buy the seedlings and talk to someone there about what is locally grown.

Also, check to see if your county has a local extension agent/agricultural agent or someone who specializes in vegetables in your area, like a Master Gardener. You can search for your county extension agency online if you don't know where to call. Many feed stores will have the info. Check planting dates and the best varieties to plant in your area.

Not just considering your profession but I think stephanietx is dead on, the master gardeners need volunteer hours to certify and they will be there in a heartbeat...

=joe-

Got some good advice there, preacher. It is habit forming as someone said. I am a garden addic. I am also a preacher like you. I love the raised beds over traditional. Once built and filled, they are a lot less work. Amazing what you can grow in a small space.

My advice is to plant things that grow up trellises or fences such as beans, peas, cucumbers, indeterminate tomatoes, etc. Personally I stay away from high space low yeild plants like broccloi, cauliflower and cabbage. Use that space for plants that will produce for a period of time like tomatoes, peppers, squash, lettuces and greens etc. Plant things that like to take over in pots, like herbs. I have a terragon plant and a mint that think they own the whole garden. Plant big viney plants like winter squash on the edge of your garden so you can direct them to grow along the perimeter and not use up too much growing space. Plants like carrots, kholrabi, and onions don't mind close quarters so they are some of my garden staples. Start planting stuff and after a couple of growing seasons you'll figure out the best use of your space. That's my 2 cents worth.

Good advice TMaple.

Tmaple is actually pretty dead on, it is easy to dig in too far ahead.. plant what you like.. it will grow. you have a geat zone, and you will have to try pretty hard to fail.


-- joe-

Hey Brother Ayres,
Welcome to the garden!

Check out this website for "The Bayou Gardener". I know you're in a different zone (he's in 8b), but this guy's step-by-step "How To's" videos are wonderful! And, once you get your planting timeframes in order, you might find them to be quite helpful.

The Bayou Gardener grows crops in the ground, just like you will be (I just saw his video on tilling and fertilizing your planting bed). I'm strictly a container gardener (eBuckets and Earthboxes), but have watched several other videos that are helpful, e.g., seed starting, worm composting, etc.

P.S. Now that we know you're a master carpenter, we'll be expecting a picture chronolog of how your little piece of Heaven on earth develops! Next to picking veggies and flowers, we DGers love to see pictures! They truly do speak a thousand words!

Linda

http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=webcajun#p/u/12/p4D61KVzzrM

Start small and expand gradually.
Begin with your family's favorites, and add new varieties each season.
The area you are selecting for your vegetable garden should have:
= at least 6 hours of sun a day
= avoid areas where there is competition with tree roots
= site should be well drained
= till soil in the fall, if possible, amend if needed and also check soil pH
= know the garden orientation, plant tall plants (like tomatoes, pole beans) on the north side, shorter plants on the south side

I've been growing vegetables for 57 years, but it is always hard for me to tell someone how to start. One thing's for sure: feed the soil and the soil will feed you.

Seed packets usually have growing tips printed on them. Purchased starter plants may, or may not, have similar instructions. Give each plant the space it needs to thrive, feed them every two to four weeks throughout the growing season (I use all organic methods), keep them weed-free, and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

If you have deer in your area, you will need a tall, stout fence. If you have rabbits, you'll have to fence them out, too. As to insect pests, I have found that if you leave them alone, the good bugs eat the bad bugs. Even if you lose an entire crop to the bad bugs, it will build up the preditors so they will be around to tackle the bad bugs "next time."

Gardening is hard work, but rewards are well worth the challenge, especially when you open your freezer door and see the interior filled with all your favorites.

Very Well said, Honey!

hi from australia,
have you thought about a no dig garden ? that way you have less work and more fun

mariannebags - great idea! 2010 will be my fourth summer gardening here in NC. I'm still incorporating my clay soil with the potting soil/compost/worm castings I put in the raised bed during year one. I think by 2011 - I will have a "no dig" garden. By then I should have reached my goal of half-clay and half-other-growing-medium. Then I should be able to add compost/worm castings to the top layer for the rest of my life!

Apparently in a no-dig the worms will help you incorporate the good stuff into your soil. I had a clay soil at my last home in sydney's west and I think you're better off not digging too much anyway as all the good stuff gets buried. I just like a no-dig because its easier! :)

Just a thought...those rocks from the wall will make a great raised bed border in the garden especially if you do a no dig method.

Hey there iPreach, I had my first 'real' garden last summer and it was a blast!

For me some of the most satisfying things to grow were bush beans (both fresh and for drying) because they came up quickly, grew fast, and produced well. Other plants required starting indoors, lots of weeding/watering, hoing, etc., but the bush beans just did their thing and produced a great crop, which was encouraging for me as a beginner. Good luck!