Advice for a newbie needing to grow as a food source?

I'm going to be unemployed as of May 1 and it just occured to me (DUH!) that I should try growing some of my own. It may not save a ton of money, but I'll be pinching pennies ike crazy. I imagine starting from seed is the least expensive way to begin, but are there some plants that don't grow from seed well? Also, my husband and I both have bad backs, so that limits how much work we can do at any one time. Also, we have deer, so what should we do to keep them away or physically block them? What would we eat, you ask? Good question! :) Tomatoes, cucumbers, zuchini, melons, lettuce, peppers, cauliflower, celery, spinach, broccoli, peas, sweet potatoes, squash, beets, beans and also herbs. Yes - long list! What should I start with? What is most successful for a beginner? What is low maintenance?

We live in the suburbs and have a large backyard where there are areas of full and partial sun. The ground is NOT in good shape. Most of our groundcover is weeds - not grass. :-

Thanks for entertaining all of my questions!

Welcome! You've come to the right place, and you should get plenty of good suggestions and advice. Do you live in an area where you have access to straw or hay in square bales? That might solve both your soil and bending issues. It's kind if self contained raised beds. There's a strawbale Gardening Forum that would let you decide if that might be an option for you. Most of my garden is in bales, so I can't be much help with prepping soil, I'm way too lazy *G*.
There are people here who will help with that, if you choose to go that way.

AFAIK, deer will need to be fenced out.

As for seeds, I can offer you some. I have lots of basics, and tomatoes in all the colors of the rainbow. Let me know, and I'll send them off. You still have plenty of time, I think, though your neighbors may have better advice.

Good luck, feeding yourself is fun, and very satisfying.

p.s. Have you considered keeping a few chickens?

Thank you! I'm pretty sure zoning laws here prohibit me from keeping chickens, unfortunately. You are very generous to offer to send me some seeds. I will definitely take you up on that! I think I know how to private message on here; I'll send you my address. Having bales is an interesting concept- I'll go and take a look at that forum!

Donna

Donna, there is tons information here but it is spread out and will need some digging to find what you need.
I would suggest going to our library and checking out a couple of veg. gardening books. maybe one for soil improvement.
Couple weeks ago I checked out Square foot gardening, liked it so much I bought the book.
I would go with seeds, so cheap, A lady stopped the other day and asked me where I bought my seed...Each year I fill a 25x30 foot garden with everything you can think of. Well I told her I bought the cheapest seed I can find, WallMart, Dollar store, they all grow well for me.
The leaf crops, lettuce, spinach grow fast along with radishes.
Pick a place that has Full Sun All Day and near to water hose. And just get going, things will come together and next year you will be canning, freezing and giving away vegs.

Dwight

Some veggies and some varieties of some veggies are more prolific than others. Zucchini is very prolific, as are Roma tomatos (good for sauces) and horseradish. You get a lot of garlic from a few bulbs. Read the backs of the seed packets. Try to plant what you already know like... i.e., if you like a particular kind of tomato, try to find that kind of seed. You can also get onion sets (little dry onions) because growing onions from seed takes a very, very long time. If you like herbs, growing your own will save a lot of $$$, too. Check the sun requirements, though, because some like shade or part shade. Sometimes food pantries or community organizations have free veggie or herb plants or seeds.

Don't forget some treats... watermelon, blueberries, sugar pumpkins (for pie), etc.... If you can possibly swing it, plant a fruit tree this year (maybe your favorite fruit if it will do well in your area)--check to see if it needs a pollinator. It will take a few years before you get fruit, but it is a good investment for the future.

Plant some flowers to attract bees and butterflies (some varieties are very, very good for this).

If you need garden implements, you may be able to find them cheap cheap cheap at yard sales. Ditto for planters, fencing, gloves, watering cans, hoses, etc.

The public library probably has gardening books you can borrow. If you can, find one on companion planting. There is a wealth of free information online. You can always ask questions at Dave's Garden!

A university extension or nursery should have good information for your immediate area (soil, pests, what grows well and what doesn't, etc.).

Good luck with the garden and good luck finding another job!

I have some broccoli seeds, if you would like, growing on my broccoli plant. They should be ready in a few weeks. I also have a planting strip with Cherry Belle radishes. Good luck finding a new job. My mom is in the same situation. Once again, good luck and have a good day! :)

Isaiah, age 9 going on 90

This message was edited Apr 16, 2011 11:32 AM

Many veggies are fairly easy for beginners. If you have poor soil, you may wish to consider raised beds or containers (also helpful if you have physical limitations).

Peas, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, radishes and lettuce like cooler weather, so can be started earlier. Melons, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, herbs and peppers really like the warmer weather so will do well later in the season.

If you choose to go with containers, you will need to water religiously. Check out the self-contained box gardens for some great container ideas, including e-buckets. There is also a new forum for high-yield gardening in containers, raised beds, etc.

If you need seeds, check out the seed-trading forum....there are many people who are willing to help someone get started. Keep asking questions--that's the only way to learn!

The important thing is to plant what you like to eat, and don't be afraid to try!!!

Okay, I've got a pack ready to go to you Monday (and will probably send more after I get my stuff sorted our), but I wanted to suggest that you consider buying tomato plants for this year. Seeds need to be started about 8 weeks before you can plant them out, and I think it will be a bit late for this year. You can start some of your own if you'll be able to grow a fall crop, I'm not sure if you can, or not. I'm 7b/8 (depending on who you ask) and my fall naters often do better than the spring/summer.
Don't get discouraged easily. This will be a learning process for you, and after 5 years, I'm still "getting my feet wet". I've cut back on some things, and will be upping others, now I've found what I actually use:)

Donna421:

I'm a real estate agent in south florida (zone 10b), and I feel you about having to pinch pennies.

this is what I found out in my short time here on DG:

marigolds planted around your garden (ask others for spacing req.) will deter slugs.

nasturtiums planted at the ends of rows of squash / zucchini will deter many pests (nasturtiums are a general pest control plant).

planting radishes around your squash and leafy veggies will deter what's called a 'squash vine borer', as they go after the radishes first. (note: if planting radishes to eat yourself, don't plant them near your squash) :)

placing shallow dishes with beer in them will attract slugs. Slugs love beer, but the beer kills them.

don't plant like veggies together, or you'll have cross-pollination. ie: plant zucchini on one end of the garden, squash on the other. if planting more than one type of tomato, plant at different ends.

I know there's something to do with companion planting with herbs, but have no clue on that, and it's too late in the season for me to try. But it's on my list for the fall season.

Best of luck to you, and if you have the extra dough, I'd suggest spending the $20 and becoming premium member. you get access to more forums that are of use.

DON'T FORGET TO TAKE AND POST BEFORE/AFTER PHOTOS!!!!!

@Catmad - you're so nice! you rock.

*G* Well, thank you SoFla, but it's just turn around. So many people helped me get started, it's only fair to share. I never use all my seeds, so why not share them? And it's fun to put together a garden, especially when someone else will do the work!

And you're right about the cross-pollinating squashes, but unless you've got a reeeeeally big garden, I'm not sure that opposite ends is far enough :). Now I'm curious aboth the distance, so I'll have to look it up. The cross doesn't affect the current years crop, but you might get some very, um, interesting fruits the next year if you save seeds. I hand pollinate and bag some of the blossoms on plants I want to save seeds from, so they come true. And I do confess to growing out some of the crosses, sometimes...

Oh, and thanks. I'll be looking for nasturtiums....

uh-oh....

I have zucchini at one end, the buttercup squash at the other end, about 13-15 feet away, but I just realized I put the summer crookneck squash in a row along the back 'leg' of the bed, and the only thing separating buttercup and summer squash is 1 foot and a marigold! Well, not planning on saving seeds this year, so *I guess* not a major deal.... :)

i'm trying to grow nasturtium from seed, but they don't seem to be germinating.....and i have that blasted white web mold that the jiffy pods get....

Slugs ate my Marigolds last year - perhaps they were really, really hungry - wish they would eat the darn bamboo!

HoneybeeNC: Slugs ate your marigolds???? I thought marigolds were supposed to DETER slugs? *astonished look on face*

I have bamboo, but I don't want anything to eat it, either - using it as a privacy screen.

Marigolds = one of slugs favorite food, at least here. Maybe the marigolds are sacrificial plants, drawing them away from the desirable plants.

Donna,

CONTAINER GARDENS.

I grow a lot of what's on your list in various containers. Some are in large plastic containers I bought from stores, but many others (my tomatoes, zuccini, peppers, etc) are in cleaned out kitty litter buckets (that the litter comes in) - with drain holes drilled in of course! I also plant various herbs in baskets that people have thrown out due to broken handles, etc. I line them with newspaper to keep the soil in, but allow for good drainage and plant herbs, vegis in those. I know it sounds tacky, but it works and most of it I got for free, so I could spend the money on important things like soil, compost, etc. I also did not have to spend time (and $$$) on prepping my yard for a vegi garden.
Being in a container cuts down on weeds (I have none) and problems like cutworms, moles, rabbits and other pests. It also allows me to isolate a plant if it becomes sick so the issue does not pass on to other plants. Also, some issues can be in the soil, and this way the whole garden is not contaminated.

As for deer.

There are motion activated sprinklers (also called scarecrow spriklers $45) that work pretty well.
As for fencing, it did not keep the deer out of my neighbors garden (in Germany) , they just jumped overuntil she did what the Foresters do: put satchels of dog (or human) hair every few feet down the wire fences around tree farms. The deer stay away. You could probably ask at a dog groomers if you could have the clipped hair. Better if it's from BEFORE the dog gets washed. It can also be sprinkled in the garden.
There are sound deterents that "hum" or flap when a breeze or the wind blows through them. Spooks deer.

Something different. Hope it helps!

Michell: I have planted tomatoes in pots, but the dirt seems to compact too much. Do you use special soil for the plants in the pots & how often do you have to water them.

Not very often, if it's a retro-fitted ePlanter!

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1094601/

Donna, one plant that has prevailed above all for me since I was a very NEW beginner, is winter squash. Pick one you like, plant 5-6 in hills, water, and walk away. They will grow out to cover 15-20' of your "weed patch", and in the fall you'll find fat squash under all those big leaves.

My favorite remains Waltham's Butternut, because it keeps for months in my root cellar, but I also grow at least one new to me variety every year. I've learned that a 15-20 pound winter squash goes to waste for my household of one, unless I wanted to go in the pumpkin pie business. Now I look for tasty 5-6 pound squash that keep well.

Liquid Fence!!! My whole garden is sprayed with it and the deer just walk past. I watched them just this a.m. Its organic and made for veggies

Donna,
So sorry to hear about your situation.
I suggest that you consider Black eyed peas (actually a bean)

Pros:
It produces it's own nitrogen fertilizer.
It contains all of the "essential amino acids"--(the ones the human body cannot synthesize) and it is therefore very nutritious.
Some sources say it is not complete but it is for sure if combined with rice.
It requires little water to grow.
The young leaves are edible as a salad.
The young pods are edible whole.
It dries and keeps well for winter usage.
They can be left on the vine to dry.
It will produce all summer. (needs 75-90 frost free days)
To me they are delicious.

Cons:
Because they are so nutritious deer and insects love them.
They are a bit difficult to harvest but I manage to do it with a bad back by getting on my hands and knees. While it is traditionally a "Southern crop" I found a garden in Maryland that grows it for a food bank to give to "needy people"

I have leftover seeds I will be glad to send you if you Dmail me. No swap---no charge.
I have other seeds also leftover. I will have to see what might grow well in your area this time of year--but can send them with the peas. Otherwise they will "go to waste"
Do not be bashful--we are here to help

I find it rather interesting that Donna asked for input on April 16 and hasn't been back to check the thread and comment. All sorts of things happen to people... wonder what's going on with her?

I have had to resort to container gardening too because of health. Last year i planted a few things in starfoam chests and they have turned out to be good planters. Two are planted for the second year. I bought quite a few more this year. I do buy my potting soil. The same kind my local nursery uses. I buy it in huge bags. I fertilize with liquid Miracle Grow. So far i have 6 tomato plants,3 pots of cukes(4plants to a pot.),4 sweet peppers,2 containers of radishes,2 of onions,2 of lettuce. Also strawberrys.
I made several holes in the bottom of chests.
I already have a lot of daylillys and other flowers in containers.
Vickie

This message was edited Apr 24, 2011 3:24 PM

Darius, if you look at the later posts, there's lots that doesn't particularly pertain to Donna. Maybe she watching, and maybe just hasn't had anything to say. It was a busy holiday weekend for some, as well. I've heard from her, so I'd say things are fine:)

Darius

Passover started on the 18th and didn't end until last night. Pikesville 45 min from me is home to the largest Jewish community in the US outside of New York. Perhaps Donna has been in the same boat as my neighbours and me. Up to the eyeballs with family and friends and fulfilling our religious obligations. Not being difficult, just a thought. It has been an unbelievable week.

Hi Donna,
I would suggest you plant the veggies you and your husband enjoy and are high priced at the markets..tomatoes for example. My plants have lasted several months into the fall, so I bring them into a covered location when the weather turns. I learned how to freeze, can and pickle the veggies. I also started out when hard times hit our family but we're pulling out of a slump and I plan on keeping my containers gardens forever.

A few hints from my novice position...keep the soil in the containers well aerated for a long life.

Hey, my remarks were not meant to be negative, just curious that she had not responded in the thread she started.

Hi everyone! And thanks for your concern - you guys are great! Yehudith (Ding! Ding! Ding!) was correct - Passover took over my life for acouple weeks! I was watching, but didn't have time to really say anything.

Thanks for all of your suggestions. As of Friday at 5:00 I was officially unemployed so I am able to put some time toward this. In theory... Alas, my life always has something going on, and I have spent 75% of my hours since Saturday afternoon at the hospital with my son-in-law who was admitted through the ER and will likely be having surgery Thursday or Friday. Nothing life threatening, but this medical condition has been deteriorating for months and now (G-d willing) it will now be treated and this will be a relatively permanent solution.

A friend gave me a copy of the Square Foot Gardening book, and I think that's what I'll use as a starting point for deciding how and where to start.

I received a very very generous supply of seeds, which I now need to find out how to start. Or - should I just start by putting them all into containers and get them germinating and then find out about the particulars?

DG - this site - is so crazy big - I love it, but at the same time it's a little daunting! And I'm not one that gets daunted easily! ;-)

Good to see you back here, Donna. (Although sorry about your job!)

My goal -- someday -- is to grow enough to make a serious dent in the grocery budget. It hasn't happened yet, and I confess I've spent a bit on soil amendments -- perlite, pine bark pieces -- but I figure that is an investment that is going to pay off.

One way I have saved money is by growing lettuce. It's the tail end of the season here, because lettuce doesn't like it too hot. But it does alright in surprisingly warm weather if you keep it in dappled light, not full sun and it's great for spring and fall here, and I would bet it would do fine on a window sill in winter.

The reason lettuce saves me money is that I was forever buying it to have on hand, but I might only use a few leaves for a sandwich or a sprinkle of some on a taco -- and the rest would get wilted or brown-edged -- and then I'd buy a new bag. And really nice lettuces and romaines (anything but iceberg) tend toward the expensive. I was easily spending $12/month just to have lettuce on hand.

So for me, just having a ready supply of a mixed salad greens has been great. I haven't bought lettuce in months. I have enough for sandwiches and tacos and an occasional salad, although I should have planted more. And lettuce grows well in shallow flat containers and can get tucked in with other plants.

And -- everything I just said about lettuce can also be said about spinach. A great plant to grow, plus you can cook it too. I love spinach lasagna.

I'm also working hard to grow all the oregano, parsley, basil and dill that I can. I just hate spending $3 on a little jar. So far, I've done really well on oregano. I planted a whole packet (I actually dropped the packet into some water so figured I either plant it all NOW or have to throw it out). So now I have a lot plants -- I pinch the top leaves, wash and throw them into a colander, shake it every so often until the leaves are crumbly dry, and put it in a jar.

And of course for sheer bulk of produce, I guess there is little that would beat a zucchini or other sort of squash seed. This is my first year, so I can't speak with any authority, but I've planted a few different kinds and am hoping!

I am also growing tomatoes this year -- or at least a lot of tomato plants! We'll see how much produce there is. I have a raised bed for a few of my tomatoes, but most are in containers. My containers are a mix -- some are actual pots, a couple are the self-watering kind (not e-buckets, just the kind with a little place to pour water at the bottom of the pot), several are free recycled donut glaze containers that I got from my grocery store's bakery department, and a couple are the aforementioned kitty litter buckets I nicked from my neighbor's curbside recycling.

Okay, enough out of me for now! But I hear ya on "frugal" -- that is my mantra.

For your deer, I have a suggestion: The next time you get your hair cut, ask the beautician if she'll give you the cut hair in the shop, and kind of use it as mulch. It's great for deer repellent, and free.

ok, let me start by saying i just wrote a TON a minute ago here, from my mobile phone and accidentally deleted it! ugh! lets try again!
anyway, i'm late here on this thread but i'm in the same spot. my fiance was out of work on comp and what a mess! basically unemployment told him "yeah...you were eligible but since you didn't call every week because we never confirmed your claim... so...yeah... sorry about your bad luck."
anyway i need to grow, can, freeze, and hunt this year just to take the edge off, so send those deer my way! :) i also accept seeds of all kinds ;)
your post inspired me to google "free seeds", because i'm not a subscribed member, believe it or not there are times when you just don't have $5.....and you can live to tell about it!
i found a wealth of info online about how to get "free" seeds from the vegetables you buy in the grocery store or market! :) you can plant any dry beans or peas, any seeds from the unrefrigerated fruits and veggies, and you can plant the leafy tops of horse radish, turnips, and other radish too. you can plant the growing eyes of potatoes, and the little sprouty cloves of garlic, onions, and more! i'm going to be trying this out for sure, i've already started garlic. :) anyway my thoughts are with you. happy harvesting!

I have been a long-time member of Dave's Garden, but was most often found in the Pets community or Farm community. We live about 60 miles west of Houston in a farming community. For the last 6 years we have raised coastal hay and a few Angus momma cows. We leased our land and sold our cows a year ago, and so I decided to make a garden.

This is my first attempt and I went about the planning of the garden with someone reckless abandon. So now I have a raised 12x12 plot, the soil of which is composed of sand, top soil, compost, and topped with 8 inches of hay. The patch is filled with tomatoes, squash, zucchini, melons, peppers and okra. I have stuff growing next to stuff that shouldn't be next to one another (based on my reading, after the fact). I have got all kinds of trailers and vines going any number of directions. The harvest will be interesting, for sure.

Getting to the point: I want to start over again and do this the right way. I am looking for some advice, experience, and links.

I have really enjoyed having this garden and caring for it, and I guess my enthusiasm accounts for my poor planning. Thanks for taking the time to read this.

Melissa

Hi Melissa, I just want to suggest that you copy this and post it in a new thread. You may not get much response to your request unless you get it out in front of people. Something like "New to raised beds in TX, HELP!"
That should get people looking:)

Sorry I can't be more help, I'm pretty much a haybale gardener.

Thanks catmad, will do.

Oddly enough you may still get some good veggies. Maybe more than you're expecting! Good luck.

MelissahL - as far as I can tell, you did nothing wrong. As to planting things next to things that don't like each other -- I've been reading that for years and have concluded: plants don't care. As long as they are in good soil, they'll grow.

I have a bed that has: broccoli, sweet peppers, melons, peas, and soybeans. I had beets in there last month with the broccoli and peas. As I pulled the beets, I added the others. Once the peas are done, the melons will grow up the supports. When the broccoli is done, the peppers will be setting fruit. Actually, the broccoli should have been done a couple of weeks ago, why it's still producing side shoots in 90 degree weather only it knows for sure!

Enjoy your garden.

Just be careful with gourds.... too close to squash and your squash will be ugly. And tough

But not until next year:)

Yes, that is mainly if you chose to save seed for the coming year.

I suspect your primary interest is mastering the garden.

I would look first toward a good base (your soil), suitable cultivars (not all work well in this heat) and placement which is not what you plant next to each other but rather how far apart plants are spaced.

And, IMO, you are doing correctly by reading all you can and asking questions as they come to mind.

With this drought, I would say you picked a good time to be out of the cattle business too.

podster has a good point. Being sure your plants have the space they need to grow is important, too. Although I have different veggies growing in that bed, except for the peas, each is about 2 feet from it's neighbor.

I pulled some of the peas this morning and guided the melons towards the support, then I timmed away some of the older broccoli leaves to allow more room for the sweet peppers which are beginning to bloom.

I STRONGLY suggest anyone who is able to afford it pay the $20/year for enhanced subscription to do it.