Gardeners, what are you planting?

[pocomom]

It's rainy and cold day today, since I can't be out in the garden, I thought I would talk about it!
What are you planting this year?
I'm trying potatoes for the first time, carrots, celery, lots of onions peppers and eggplant (later in the season for us) several kinds of tomatoes, strawberries (Back from last year ) and blueberries and blackberries that appeared to have surrived the deer mowing them down to stubs. Cabbages, Broccoli, squashes, melons, pretty much all the regulars! Lettuce I grow in the garage under grow lights and it is ready to start harvesting!
I started everything from seed this year, and I can't believe I ever bothered with buying plants - huge cost savings and it is much easier to extend the harvest by starting a few plants every week.
We've expanded our garden quite a bit to help out with food costs, and I'm trying to figure out some cost effective ways of keeping the critters out. We now have a high fence, so the deer shouldn't be a problem anymore (they did eat the tops off of ALL my spring flowers though ) but I have some critters that come in under (i assume) and things I plant will just be gone the next day... I'm putting a few things in containers to help with that.
The kids and I made some "pots" out newspaper, so we can transplant directly to
the garden- worked well and was free!
Can't wait for it to get warmer! So what are you growing this year?

 

[CTdiznymom]

It's rainy and cold day today, since I can't be out in the garden, I thought I would talk about it!
What are you planting this year?
I'm trying potatoes for the first time, carrots, celery, lots of onions peppers and eggplant (later in the season for us) several kinds of tomatoes, strawberries (Back from last year ) and blueberries and blackberries that appeared to have surrived the deer mowing them down to stubs. Cabbages, Broccoli, squashes, melons, pretty much all the regulars! Lettuce I grow in the garage under grow lights and it is ready to start harvesting!
I started everything from seed this year, and I can't believe I ever bothered with buying plants - huge cost savings and it is much easier to extend the harvest by starting a few plants every week.
We've expanded our garden quite a bit to help out with food costs, and I'm trying to figure out some cost effective ways of keeping the critters out. We now have a high fence, so the deer shouldn't be a problem anymore (they did eat the tops off of ALL my spring flowers though ) but I have some critters that come in under (i assume) and things I plant will just be gone the next day... I'm putting a few things in containers to help with that.
The kids and I made some "pots" out newspaper, so we can transplant directly to
the garden- worked well and was free!
Can't wait for it to get warmer! So what are you growing this year?

Well, you definately put me to shame! I'm in sw CT, (don't know where you are!) and I have a tiny 4 x 8 raised bed. Stores are just starting to stock their plants and I couldn't resist so I bought 4 tomato plants, some swiss chard, 2 packs of red leaf lettuce, basil and yellow squash. I plan on getting some parsley, and some cherry tomato plants. I'm not much of a gardener, I plant and pretty much hope for the best!

 

[Svhadden]

We've been raised bed gardeners for several years, and I love love love it! Being able to step out my back door and assemble a fresh salad is fantastic. I love watching my kids walk through the garden and pluck off a few lettuce leaves to snack on. We've committed to using as much of our land as we can for growing food. I've finally just admitted that I'm a tree-hugging hippy lol.

We've expanded a bit this year as well. We planted banana peppers, yellow squash, zucchini, several varieties of tomato, eggplants, cucumbers, tons of bell peppers, tons of bush beans, and tons of lettuces (butter, red sails, and romaine). We gambled and put our garden in the first week of March (we're in southeast Louisiana). We did have a cold snap that had us covering the garden for a few nights, but everyone survived, thankfully, and we've been enjoying lettuce from the garden for salads almost nightly. I also put in a small herb garden, basically just expanded on herbs we've planted in previous years. I have a rosemary the size of a phone booth, as well as parsley, sweet basil, garlic chives, green onions, thyme, sage, and mint (in a container so it won't take over the joint). Living in the Deep South and having a very long growing season is a huge blessing.

A few years ago, we planted Meyer lemons and satsumas, so we enjoy those in the Fall. We also planted 6 varieties of blueberries this year, so were impatiently waiting until they mature. One is bearing fruit already, and my kids use it as a snack vending machine haha! None of the ripe ones make it inside .

We also planted a fig, and a pear tree this year, and I'm on the lookout for a pomegranate. Our pear is an Orient, so maybe well be able to enjoy it before retirement.

We also started composting this year, which is new for us. My honey built me a big double decker 55 gal drum tumbling composter, and I'm steadily filling that sucker up.

 

[Pesky]

I've got a bunch of seedlings on my dining room table and need to plant! Ugh, just a bit longer.... I'm going to plant some herbs (rosemary, basil, chives, etc.), tomatoes, strawberries (we've had terrific luck with ours out front), lemon cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin, beans, swiss chard and beets. I also have a critter problem but I am thinking a snow fence will keep the deer out (that and our 90 lb lab/shepherd mix) but I don't think I can do too much about the rats, mice and raccoons that like to come perusing the area. I figure I'm going to give this area in back a go and if I lose too much, I'll turn it into a flower garden instead.

Side note: anyone know how to ward off powdery mildew? I always seem to lose my zucchini to it.

 

[pocomom]

I've got a bunch of seedlings on my dining room table and need to plant! Ugh, just a bit longer.... I'm going to plant some herbs (rosemary, basil, chives, etc.), tomatoes, strawberries (we've had terrific luck with ours out front), lemon cucumber, zucchini, pumpkin, beans, swiss chard and beets. I also have a critter problem but I am thinking a snow fence will keep the deer out (that and our 90 lb lab/shepherd mix) but I don't think I can do too much about the rats, mice and raccoons that like to come perusing the area. I figure I'm going to give this area in back a go and if I lose too much, I'll turn it into a flower garden instead.

Side note: anyone know how to ward off powdery mildew? I always seem to lose my zucchini to it.

I've heard baking soda works? but I haven't needed to try it myself...
I had a burried fence for the little critters but they are pretty ambitious, I think I need to dig it down. I've heard pet and human hair helps, and crushed, cleaned egg shells for rodents- but that may get you MORE racoons!

 

[hlg22]

I am SO excited to be gardening in raised beds for the first time this year. I had 4 3'x6' beds with drip irrigation installed over the winter, and am actually taking gardening lessons with a garden coach, since I've never grown anything other than herbs and a few veggies in containers before! So far, we've planted:

arugula
baby bok choi
broccoli raab
scotch kale
laciantato kale
collards
cylindra beet
crosby beet
detroit red beet
burpee's golden beet
rainbow chard
spinach
salad mix
redleaf lettuce
arugula
cress
tendersweet carrot
dragon carrot
yellow carrot
leeks
onions (red and yellow)
cilantro
peas
dragon's tongue beans
green bush beans
heirloom and grape tomatoes
Bintje potatoes
purple potatoes
red potatoes
red bell peppers
sweet peppers
some sort of spicy asian pepper that I can't recall
basil (regular, purple & thai)
eggplant
squash (zucchini & yellow)
borage
marigolds
cosmos
calendula

I've also got rosemary, thyme, mint and chives in pots, as well as fig and Meyer lemon trees. I am sure there is something I'm forgetting. It is kind of insane to me how much stuff is able to go into those beds...I'm getting so many greens already that I'm eating huge salads for dinner every night! I am really enjoying learning about gardening as well - we never had a vegetable garden growing up and my approach before was just to throw things in pots and see what lived. Learning to do things the right way is really fun (but a lot more time consuming!).

 

[Colleen27]

I have tomatoes (four varieties), bell peppers (four colors), eggplant, sugar beets, corn, popcorn, peas, green beans, lima beans, red beans, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, radishes, green onions, potatoes (red & white), zucchini, summer squash, watermelon, cantaloupe, winter squash (two varieties), pumpkin, cucumbers, quinoa, asparagus, and lettuce in my raised beds. I also have two 10' rows of strawberries in planters made from vinyl gutters, 6 blueberry bushes, and two 20' rows of trellised raspberries, three fruit trees (pear, apple, sweet cherry), and a container herb garden.

I add to my gardens every year. It has become a sickness that isn't particularly budget-friendly! This year I'm building planter-and-trellis space for grapes and hearty kiwi, adding a couple more apple trees, and constructing a hydroponic tower-planter (using a system Disney showcases on the Behind the Seeds tour) for sub-tropicals so that I can easily bring them indoors for the winter.

 

[StephMK]

Well, I am intending to plant tomatoes, green beans, snap peas, cucumbers, canteloupe, strawberries and herbs for tomato sauce & salsa. Yesterday, DH went to loosen up the dirt for me only to uncover a nest of rabbits. *sigh*

We had 2 rabbit nests in years past that we babied then they died of natural causes. We took the dogs out on leashes, the kids loved to check on them, mama was coming to feed them, and it was so sad when they died.

Now, we are kind of over the rabbits. Last year, we had a baby rabbit massacre because the dogs found the nest before we did. Dumb bunny dug it right in the middle of our yard!

This year, she outplayed us. Our garden fence was up from last year and connects to our back garage wall. She buried them next to the wall, in the fenced garden area! UGH. If I plant, it might as well be a baby bunny nursery - protected spot to hop when old enough & plenty of food.

I'd like to learn more and eventually get a compost & rain barrel going. Right now, it's a plant & see what survives kind of operation.

 

[pocomom]

Well, I am intending to plant tomatoes, green beans, snap peas, cucumbers, canteloupe, strawberries and herbs for tomato sauce & salsa. Yesterday, DH went to loosen up the dirt for me only to uncover a nest of rabbits. *sigh*

We had 2 rabbit nests in years past that we babied then they died of natural causes. We took the dogs out on leashes, the kids loved to check on them, mama was coming to feed them, and it was so sad when they died.

Now, we are kind of over the rabbits. Last year, we had a baby rabbit massacre because the dogs found the nest before we did. Dumb bunny dug it right in the middle of our yard!

This year, she outplayed us. Our garden fence was up from last year and connects to our back garage wall. She buried them next to the wall, in the fenced garden area! UGH. If I plant, it might as well be a baby bunny nursery - protected spot to hop when old enough & plenty of food.

I'd like to learn more and eventually get a compost & rain barrel going. Right now, it's a plant & see what survives kind of operation.

Baby Bunny Nursery We have bunnies and all sorts of critters too. Every year it feels like I'm playing Are you smarter than a critter? I've heard they like clover so you should plant a bunch away from your garden and supposedly they will stay on the clover munching side. I'm afraid it would be the official start to our bunny breeding program though.

 

[pocomom]

So far, we've planted:

arugula
baby bok choi
broccoli raab
scotch kale
laciantato kale
collards
cylindra beet
crosby beet
detroit red beet
burpee's golden beet
rainbow chard
spinach
salad mix
redleaf lettuce
arugula
cress
tendersweet carrot
dragon carrot
yellow carrot
leeks
onions (red and yellow)
cilantro
peas
dragon's tongue beans
green bush beans
heirloom and grape tomatoes
Bintje potatoes
purple potatoes
red potatoes
red bell peppers
sweet peppers
some sort of spicy asian pepper that I can't recall
basil (regular, purple & thai)
eggplant
squash (zucchini & yellow)
borage
marigolds
cosmos
calendula

Holy Smokes! That's awesome! Maybe the pepper is a thai pepper? If so be careful, I grew those one year and accidently rubbed my eye after being in the garden. Evidently the oils were still on my hand. Man that hurt!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Our back yard is very shaded and our puppies have free reign back there so I had to get creative. I planted some tomatoes and strawberries in "topsy turvy" planters hanging from the house and shed. I planted those from plants that I bought at the store. And I have cucumbers that I started from seeds indoors that really took off so I planted those in a big plastic storage container that I converted. This is my first year doing it and so far, so good. If it works out I'm going to try to plant more next year.

 

[hlg22]

Holy Smokes! That's awesome! Maybe the pepper is a thai pepper? If so be careful, I grew those one year and accidently rubbed my eye after being in the garden. Evidently the oils were still on my hand. Man that hurt!

Ooh, good warning - I'll have to look at the garden marker to remember the name, but I do remember that my garden coach said that it was extremely hot, and good for making hot sauce with!

 

[Sandy61]

We built our house about 5 years ago and I guess we built it on a path the deer take to get to a creek. Sigh. Lots of deer. They eat everything it seems, especially my tender new trees and bushes. We put metal fencing around most stuff so they couldn't get to it. The burning bushes were being eaten down to stubs every year and they are in cages now. The deer spray works minimally. I heard the best thing is to go to a zoo and get tiger poop. Not gonna do that.

Our small veggie garden has a deer fence and we have had no trouble with that. The only year we had rabbits was the year I was picking strawberries and found a nest of babies right in the middle of the patch. They must have thought it was heaven. They were adorable. We haven't had any since so we must have scared them off.

This year the weather is freaky in Iowa, altho it is always like that. I planted lettuce and spinach right before an all-day downpour. We have onions, tomatoes and green beans. The other day I looked at tomatoes in Walmart and every one was dead. Really dead. We did get a cold snap so I wonder if that killed them. They were also dry. Ooh, I planted asparagus for the first time. Hope it grows.

I am not the greatest gardener but my sister is a master gardener and puts me to shame. She loves to make fun of me but she does give me lots of stuff that she divides.

 

[MarbleBob]

I'm in the St. Louis area. I tried peanuts last year and they worked out great, so I'm planting a bunch this year! (I'm the most excited about these.)

Additionally, potatoes, three types of onions from dixondale farms, sugar snap peas, bunching onions, danvers carrots, parsienne carrots, baby bell peppers, california wonder peppers, jalepeno peppers, serrano peppers, San Marzano tomatoes, brandywine tomatoes, Arkansas Traveller tomatoes, Reisentraub tomatoes, Tomatillos, basil, cilantro, parsley, oregano, spinach, lettuce (bibb & rocky top), cucumbers, green beans, crimson sweet watermelon, moon & stars watermelon, and zucchini.

All of that goes in 5 8'x4' raised beds. Then I have another 8x4 bed dedicated to strawberries that I got from Stark Bro's last year. They grew like weeds! (Tribute and Allstar). Last year I also planted 5 blueberry bushes. We have two apple trees and two grape vines that are all about 8 years old now produce fruit like crazy.

And finally, we planted a new peach tree and an all-in one Almond tree last night. Bring on the growing season!!!

 

[mrsbornkuntry]

Oh, I forgot, last summer my kids planted the seeds from a watermelon they were eating and it actually sprouted.

 

[cltk78]

3 varieties of tomatoes
green, yellow, & red bell peppers
2 varieties of spinach
sweet corn
2 varieties of blueberries

 

[ah1126]

It's rainy and cold day today, since I can't be out in the garden, I thought I would talk about it!
What are you planting this year?
I'm trying potatoes for the first time, carrots, celery, lots of onions peppers and eggplant (later in the season for us) several kinds of tomatoes, strawberries (Back from last year ) and blueberries and blackberries that appeared to have surrived the deer mowing them down to stubs. Cabbages, Broccoli, squashes, melons, pretty much all the regulars! Lettuce I grow in the garage under grow lights and it is ready to start harvesting!
I started everything from seed this year, and I can't believe I ever bothered with buying plants - huge cost savings and it is much easier to extend the harvest by starting a few plants every week.
We've expanded our garden quite a bit to help out with food costs, and I'm trying to figure out some cost effective ways of keeping the critters out. We now have a high fence, so the deer shouldn't be a problem anymore (they did eat the tops off of ALL my spring flowers though ) but I have some critters that come in under (i assume) and things I plant will just be gone the next day... I'm putting a few things in containers to help with that.
The kids and I made some "pots" out newspaper, so we can transplant directly to
the garden- worked well and was free!
Can't wait for it to get warmer! So what are you growing this year?

My Mom has a plastic owl on the top of her garden fence, and some plastic snakes on the ground to help keep the critters out.

Most years I plant tomatoes, but we are going to be moving soon, so I didn't plant anything this year.

 

[dhuba]

I will be planting tomatillos ,poblano peppers, jalapenos, several kinds of tomatoes, eggplant, banana peppers, zucchini. I wish my garden was bigger, but when we first decided to try one a few years ago, we had to put one in with an 8 ft high fence because of the deer, which come through every night, so we only made it so big and now that I want to plant more, I don't have the heart to ask my husband expand it. He just has so many other chores to do and works long hours. There is no way I can have anything not fenced in. He made ours like an outside room with a door to get in. The critters eat almost anything, even my roses get chomped to the ground. I have an herb garden next to the house that isn't fenced and they don't seem to bother that though.

 

[pocomom]

I will be planting tomatillos ,poblano peppers, jalapenos, several kinds of tomatoes, eggplant, banana peppers, zucchini. I wish my garden was bigger, but when we first decided to try one a few years ago, we had to put one in with an 8 ft high fence because of the deer, which come through every night, so we only made it so big and now that I want to plant more, I don't have the heart to ask my husband expand it. He just has so many other chores to do and works long hours. There is no way I can have anything not fenced in. He made ours like an outside room with a door to get in. The critters eat almost anything, even my roses get chomped to the ground. I have an herb garden next to the house that isn't fenced and they don't seem to bother that though.

supposedly they don't like things with strong odor- but I plant all things that are "Deer resistant" around my house and when they are hungry enough, like in the early spring and late fall they will chow down on anything.
I just ripped out my hubby's small fence - but this time I made a moveable one using panels from 3 dog runs/kennels (didn't use all the panels). Now I can adjust the size, if I want to go back to a smaller one, or just put it away if I skip a season, or don't want to look at it all winter. I do need to burry a small piece of fencing underground to help with the little critters though so that will still be some work to move.
I'm also doing some things in containers- I've had luck with tomatoes and peppers in those and I just keep them up against the house near the backdoor and the deer leave them alone. Maybe that would work for you? The berry plants I cover in their own individual fencing in the spring and it works pretty well. But they all get mowed down in the late fall. Too bad I can't train them to selectively prune!

 

[cheap traveler]

I plan to plant:

Tomatoes
Bell peppers
bush beans
cucumbers (first time)
mini pumpkins (letting them climb the fence)
pumpkins - only if I can find netting to protect them from the deer
lots of flowers this year - kid's request

All of this (except the big pumpkins) is going in a 6x6 raised bed. My fence is 3' tall, and last year the deer pushed the top down and ate over the top lol. This year I used taller, stronger fence posts and might string fishing line over the top to keep them out. The big pumpkings I'm going to try and plant on a little hill near my driveway. My kids really want to grow pumpkins, but they take over the garden! I'm looking for some sort of netting to lay on the ground over the plants, because once the flowers grow the deer will have a feast!

My only problem so far this year is my seedlings. I've planted pepper and tomato seeds inside, and they sprouted beautifully, grew to about an inch, and then all died! My last pepper plant is drooping as we speak. I've planted them all again (along with some cucumbers) and have my fingers crossed!

It's been around 70 during the day here, but nights are down to 40 so I can't plant anything in the ground yet
I would have planted lettuce and spinach, but my lettuce always gets soggy in July so I skipped it this year.


Oh, I almost forgot, I'm doing potatoes in buckets this year! First time with potatoes, and I'm so excited to try it!! I can't really grow anything underground because my soil is pretty hard, so I'm going with the buckets.