Budget gardening

[Leshaface]

Okay, so I've ALWAYS wanted to start my own garden, but i've just never had the space to do it. Now that we've just bought our first home cool1, I'm soooo ready to get started!

I want to plant any vegetables, fruits and herbs. Plus I'm not sure how small/big my little gardening section will be..is there a size considered good enough??

So first of all:

1) When is the best time of year to start my garden? We'll be in our new home mid to late September. Do I start right away, or should I wait until next spring??

2) What tools would I need to up-keep my garden? (cheap)

3) What kinds of veg, fruits, etc, do you suggest I grow? We'll seriously eat anything!

4) Any good budget gardening blogs/websites out there?

5) Any tips you have for a successful garden??


Thanks everyone! Can't wait to grow a green thumb!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Okay, so I've ALWAYS wanted to start my own garden, but i've just never had the space to do it. Now that we've just bought our first home cool1, I'm soooo ready to get started!

I want to plant any vegetables, fruits and herbs. Plus I'm not sure how small/big my little gardening section will be..is there a size considered good enough??

So first of all:

1) When is the best time of year to start my garden? We'll be in our new home mid to late September. Do I start right away, or should I wait until next spring??

2) What tools would I need to up-keep my garden? (cheap)

3) What kinds of veg, fruits, etc, do you suggest I grow? We'll seriously eat anything!

4) Any good budget gardening blogs/websites out there?

5) Any tips you have for a successful garden??


Thanks everyone! Can't wait to grow a green thumb!

Congratulations! For veggie gardening, you don't need to worry about planting those until the danger of frost is gone. If you'll still be in Southern CA, you won't need to worry about that. In Chicagoland, it makes a big difference! The old standbys -- tomatoes, squash, peppers, cucumbers, are always good.

I would Google, Google, Google your area about planting, talk to your new neighbors about what grows well. Find a GOOD nursery in your area and spend time talking to them (during off peak times).

My first two years of planting, I bought through some of the bulb and catalog books, to mixed results -- most of the plants didn't make it a second season (I'm not one to plant annuals for flowering plants -- I want something that will come back). I wound up spending way more than would have been necessary if I had just spent the money upfront at a nursery.

Enjoy!

 

[Justsyd2]

Find your local Garden Centers and go talk to them. They'll be able to test your soil, tell you what you need for it, tell you what to plant, and when to plant it, and tell you what to feed it and when, and how much to water.

 

[At World's End]

I just started gardening in Central Oregon (which is not easy!) and I am learning alot the hard way.

My recommendations are:

1) Prepare your garden area properly first. Till it, amend it, whatever is needed to give you good soil to start with.

2) Check out GardenWeb.com. They have forums for every kind of gardening imaginable.

3) Don't count on the big box stores for gardening advice. A local garden center is your best bet.

4) Whatever size you set up for your garden, if your garden starts to take off, it will not be big enough!

Have fun and good luck! It's a very rewarding hobby. Every year my husband buys and plants perenials for me instead of cut flowers for Mother's Day. Year after year our garden grows and I enjoy those flowers so much!

 

[katlas&kids]

Look at squarefootgardening.com I got some real good ideas there and built an above ground garden since I didn't have th e space without tree roots!

 

[Evi]

I think everyone is giving you good advice. I don't think I'd plant this late in the season though I'm not exactly sure what climate zone your in. But for now I'd start by scouting out your property and finding a spot that gets great sunlight for most of the day. Once you'd designated where you want to plant your garden start to think about how big of a garden you want and what kind container, raised beds etc. You can start clearing the area this year and sifting through the dirt to remove any large stone etc. I'd also get the soil tested a lot of universities offer soil testing for a small charge usually like $10. Then if needed you can start to add nutrients to the soil.

There are plants that you can plant now for the fall and for next years crops. If you want asparagus, artichokes, garlic you can plant them all this year for a good crop next spring also you can plant raspberries for next year. I'd try to take advantage of gardening season winding down to buy items you'll need on sale. Get a nice washable pair of gardening gloves, a knee cushion or kneeling pad, basic gardening tools like a hoe, small shovel, hand rake, shears. Honestly just look around for a complete set on sale, now is the time to look for one on clearance. You can compost for your garden and then you can add the tea and soil to your garden throughout the year. Your soil will be so rich for planting next year. I'd spend some time at the library or bookstore and pick up a good gardening book and try visiting some local nurseries or farms they can help you decide what you want to plant next year.

This is my second year planting at home and I still haven't gotten it right some things do fabulous others just so so. It takes time but its definitely worth it. I love having dinner parties and letting people know what came from my garden. Having food on the table same day as picked is fabulous.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

I am also interested in hearing other people answers. My dad always plants lots and lots of tomatoes and cucumbers and peppers, so I was to do something besides those, as we always have much more than we can eat lol

 

[C_leen]

Hi,

As for tools. I recommend Fiskar pruners & a japanese weeding knife. Get good quality and always clean/dry them after use. My first one of each lasted me over ten years. You can get the pruners sharpened once or twice a season to keep them highly functional.

Also, I like to sit on cheap 5 gallon bucket or kneel on one of those garden foam pads.

I really like to garden. I hope you enjoy it!

 

[lovesmurfs]

Hi,

As for tools. I recommend Fiskar pruners & a japanese weeding knife. Get good quality and always clean/dry them after use. My first one of each lasted me over ten years. You can get the pruners sharpened once or twice a season to keep them highly functional.

Also, I like to sit on cheap 5 gallon bucket or kneel on one of those garden foam pads.

I really like to garden. I hope you enjoy it!

Also, a bulb planter -- it's a cone-like thing that you push in the ground and it pulls up the dirt -- makes it soooooo....much easier. I use it for everything, especially veggies every year -- has paid for itself over and over. Looks like:

 

[apnep]

Look at squarefootgardening.com I got some real good ideas there and built an above ground garden since I didn't have th e space without tree roots!

I second square foot gardening. Check out a book at the library. No tilling necessary.

Ang

 

[Leshaface]

Thanks everyone!

Love the tips and ideas!

Lovesmurfs - is that what that contraptions is called? a bulb planter? That looks so helpful!

Evi - Good idea about getting tools now that the gardening season is slowly coming to an end! I'll check out target and big lots pretty soon!



Another question...where do I buy the seeds/plants from? A nursery? See, told you i'm totally clueless!

 

[Sagginit]

planning will save you time and aggrevation. i have found i never seem to give things enough room to grow. i also planted my herbs in front since they are short...well they come back every year and have gotten bigger and bigger and now i cant get to the back without hacking thru them. i will prolly have to dig them up this year and start new next year. i wish i had planned better b/c it would save on things like this.

 

[badblackpug]

I plant everything in pots even though I have the space to actually put them in the ground. We have tomatoes, (roma, grape, heirloom) peppers (bell, jalapena, chile) eggplant, and a huge variety of herbs. herbs are easy, they grow like weeds. We also have 2 apple trees.

Don't forget cages or trellises if you plant vines.

We also make and use a natural pesticide. Cut up several large onions, peel several heads of garlic, and cut up several hot peppers. Boil them all in a large pot of water until mushy. Strain and cool. Spray the liquid on plants. It repels insects and rodents.

We usually buy seeds/plants form Home Depot.

 

[Evi]

I order seedlings from a local farm at the end of every winter. But honestly I think I will limit what I purchase from them next year since a lot of what I got was a little mixed up (not what they said it would be) granted it made this year garden interesting but not what I was planning for. I did have great success with my own seedlings so I think I will start my own next year and hope for the best worst case scenario I should be able to find plenty of veg plants at local markets. Also plan to invest more your first year with your garden paying itself off quickly.

 

[LuckyMamaInDE]

For the very best information about gardening in your specific area, contact your county's agricultural extension service/Master Gardeners

 

[Gigi22]

After moving into your house in Sept., I suggest you check out the gardens in your immediate neighbourhood. Find a few that look really good, and talk to the people as they are gardening. They will be able to tell you what plants do well in your area. Perhaps the current owners of your new house can tell you what plants they have at the house, and where they are planted--you don't want to dig up something that you have mistaken for another plant.
As well, if those avid gardeners in your neighbourhood are growing perennials (a lot, but not all, herbs are perennials) they may be able to give you some plants when they divide up their perennials.
Beans are the plants that keep on giving. You will get a lot of beans from a few rows of plants. And--be very careful about planting zucchini, a few zucchini plants have an insidious way of turning into far too much zucchini, almost overnight. (I actually think that zucchini is a weed, it grows so fast)! And, don't bother growing corn--it takes a lot of space, doesn't produce a lot per plant, and depletes the soil nutrients--plus it is usually cheaper to buy at a roadside stand. And, since the plants are really tall--your neighbours may object to the appearance of corn growing on your lot.

 

[bettymae1121]

Start small your first year. You want the practice but not so much work that you're overwhelmed. After the first year you'll know more about how much your family can eat and if you need to grow more or less, and what veggies/herbs you use a lot of and what you just want a little of. At some point you may also want to start researching how to do your own canning, so you can preserve any extra your garden produces.

I just grow bell peppers, jalepenos, and tomatos in pots due to lack of enough full sun space in my yard. Almost all veggies want full sun and lots of it, you also need to make sure they get enough water. I also use organic Miracle Grow, really makes a difference in my yields!

DH eats all the tomoatos (i hate raw tomatos) and I chop and freeze the peppers for use all winter long in chilies and soups.

 

[tommya60]

The best budget tip is not to plant....I mean do not plant more than you can use. You will need to buy/water all those extra plants. So to keep it budget friendly, plant what you can use.
For me, that's 3 to 4 tomato plants (2 cycles, I have tomato plants nearly year round), basil (can't cook without it), jalapeno, eggplant, Anaheim chile, and possibly a zucchini (one plant). Each year I have a couple of "maybe" plants. That's how the Anaheim chile got into the garden. I no longer plant multiple zucchini--no one wants all those squash and they take a lot of water.
I or DH saves the seeds from the tomato plants or I buy them at Lowes. Basil plant is usually from Trader Joe's. Others are usually Lowes. One of the heirloom tomato plants is from the University plant sale.
Have FUN!

 

[lpereira]

We garden all year round. There are plants that go exceedingly well together and plants that dont. You've heard the saying like peas and carrots? They're plant buddies. There are a lot more just like that. We ring our garden in marigolds because of their insect repellent properties.
Shredded newspaper makes a great garden complement too. All newspapers (not the sales ads) use soybean ink. Be careful not to get it closer than 2 inches or so to your plant or you'll choke it. As the paper degrades the soybean ink is released into the soil; acting as a fertilizer.
Lastly- and we learned this the hard way- if you decide to plant horseradish into the ground- DON'T. Buy a small childrens wading pool, dig a hole and put the pool into the hole. Leave about 2 or 3 inches above ground. Put the dirt from the hole into the pool. Then plant the horseradish. Otherwise it's a pretty invasive species and you'll be uprooting it for years.