Darkstream
Senior Cook
- Joined
- Sep 7, 2004
- Messages
- 287
Do any of you grow our own vegetables? If so, what, what varieties, how well did you do, and what is your climate ?
Does anyone grow their own vegetables?
- Thread starter Darkstream
- Start date
The friendliest place on the web for anyone that enjoys cooking.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
SizzlininIN
Master Chef
Great topic darkstream. Unfort., I haven't been able to because of all the trees on my property I don't get enough sun. House is up for sale and I can't wait to find one where I can have a good size garden.
I hope you don't mind but I'd like to also ask those who have grown their own vegs to give us beginners some advice.
I hope you don't mind but I'd like to also ask those who have grown their own vegs to give us beginners some advice.
Next year I'll be able to, because I'll be in my new/old house. I want to grow cucumbers, tomatoes, lettuce, green beans, carrots, gr peppers, and I think that's it.
jennyema
Chef Extraordinaire
Yes.
Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, lettuce, zucchini, carrots, collards, okra brussel spouts and some other stuff. Lots of herbs -- basil, rosemary, oregano, parsley, cilantro, lemongrass, thyme, etc. etc.
New England.
My tomatoes and peppers, rosemary, parsley and thyme are still going strong.
Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, lettuce, zucchini, carrots, collards, okra brussel spouts and some other stuff. Lots of herbs -- basil, rosemary, oregano, parsley, cilantro, lemongrass, thyme, etc. etc.
New England.
My tomatoes and peppers, rosemary, parsley and thyme are still going strong.
tancowgirl2000
Head Chef
I just moved into a new/old house where they are going to let me put in a garden!!! Wooo HOoooo I can not wait...my last place wouldnt let me because "she" doesn't like them.....anyways, im planning on doing two plots...one for just potatoes..we easily eat 20 lbs a week....and the other for carrots, peas, ,lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, i might try some honey dew or cantelope...they need lots and lots of heat, so i dont know.....I may even do some corn along with the potatoes....I'd love to do brocolli but last year told me that I have NO idea how to be successful in this, ,and of course I need to grow me self some onions....
A key thing in doing gardens is rotating every year....get a good book, Lois Hole is very good at this....theres also one that Readers Digest offers, I cant think of the name at the moment but they also list all the zones in which certain things will grow well in. Another thing I plan on doing this year is a compost pile....great stuff in them for your veggies....
And well thats all my brain is going to let me think about right now....
A key thing in doing gardens is rotating every year....get a good book, Lois Hole is very good at this....theres also one that Readers Digest offers, I cant think of the name at the moment but they also list all the zones in which certain things will grow well in. Another thing I plan on doing this year is a compost pile....great stuff in them for your veggies....
And well thats all my brain is going to let me think about right now....
SizzlininIN
Master Chef
Oh yea I grew herbs also on the outside windowseal......basil, rosemary, oregano, parsley, chives, and thyme. The next house I plan to do a herb garden.
I used to watch Pauls Homegrown Show.....I think thats what its called.....anyway I liked how he made his rows and they sat up high. He too used his own composte.
I want to grow red tomatoes.....hopefully I'll be lucky enough to pick out a really flavorful bunch....., cherry tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, onions, garlic, sugar snap peas, green beans, carrots, radishes, butternut squash, jalepenos, leaf lettuce, and cabbage.
I used to watch Pauls Homegrown Show.....I think thats what its called.....anyway I liked how he made his rows and they sat up high. He too used his own composte.
I want to grow red tomatoes.....hopefully I'll be lucky enough to pick out a really flavorful bunch....., cherry tomatoes, green peppers, cucumbers, onions, garlic, sugar snap peas, green beans, carrots, radishes, butternut squash, jalepenos, leaf lettuce, and cabbage.
buckytom
Chef Extraordinaire
darkstream, i have a approx. a 4 meter by 10 meter garden, in which this year i grew: tomatoes (roma, big boy, early girl, grape, and a variety of macedonian heirloom my neighbor gives me seeds for), beets(detroit dark red, early wonder), zucchini, yellow squash, giant pumpkins, peppers (jalapeno, habanero, cayenne, hot cherry, red giant bell, corno do toro, and regular ol green/red bell), radishes (icicle, early scarlet), cucumbers (burpless, straight 8), carrots (danvers half long, scarlet nantes), roquette/arrugula, sugar snap and snow peas, and lettuces (mesculun mix, big leaf mix, romaine).
i also grew, in a seperate herb area, approx 1 meter by 5 meters, i grew: basil (sweet, genovese, purple ruffle, thai), english thyme, flat leaf parsley, cilantro, sage, celery root, and a wild variety of mint. oh, and i can't forget the catnip. my neighbor's entire yard became catnip after i palnted some in my garden, lol.
i had great success with everything his year, because i took last year off, and the previous fall i spread several cubic yards of compost, another several cubic yards of peat moss, and organic bird poop fertilizer, and lime. i also started this year with several cubic yards of compost and worm castings. my compost pile was not disturbed for a year, just added on to, so the worms did a great job on the bottom several feet.
the only recurring problem i have is with powdery mildew, because i have a huge apple tree, and i compost the apples. too much moisture helps create the problem with the mildew. it usually gets my squahes and pumpkins, but i fight it with applications of powdered sulfer.
i also have problems with a maggot that attacks peppers, burrowing in thru a tiny hole, then eating the pith inside, which rots the pepper. i have yet to identify the pest, and find an organic way of fighting them...
i also grew, in a seperate herb area, approx 1 meter by 5 meters, i grew: basil (sweet, genovese, purple ruffle, thai), english thyme, flat leaf parsley, cilantro, sage, celery root, and a wild variety of mint. oh, and i can't forget the catnip. my neighbor's entire yard became catnip after i palnted some in my garden, lol.
i had great success with everything his year, because i took last year off, and the previous fall i spread several cubic yards of compost, another several cubic yards of peat moss, and organic bird poop fertilizer, and lime. i also started this year with several cubic yards of compost and worm castings. my compost pile was not disturbed for a year, just added on to, so the worms did a great job on the bottom several feet.
the only recurring problem i have is with powdery mildew, because i have a huge apple tree, and i compost the apples. too much moisture helps create the problem with the mildew. it usually gets my squahes and pumpkins, but i fight it with applications of powdered sulfer.
i also have problems with a maggot that attacks peppers, burrowing in thru a tiny hole, then eating the pith inside, which rots the pepper. i have yet to identify the pest, and find an organic way of fighting them...
tancowgirl2000 said:
well, my house was built in 1870... I love it.. it's so charming... it's gotta have some work, but not that much. I know right where I'm going to have my garden... right behind the garage (which used to be used for horses/carriages). I have always had a fondness for old houses, etc. I can't wait!
tancowgirl2000 said:
I am growing potatoes at the moment. I grow them in old car tyres. Very successful.
Potatoes In Tyres
Normal Way.........................................................................................................................................................................The tyre Method
Get 4-6 Tyres and place two on the ground one on top of the other. Next, fill them with good quality, fertile garden loam, and plant two or three seed Potatoes (old potatoes that you have that has grown shoots are good for this).
When adding more tyres and soil just leave a couple of inches of the potato tops sticking out.
As the plants grow and shoots appear, add more Tyres to the top of the stack and more soil around the plants, until you have a cylinder of 4-6 tyres.
The potatoes will form inside the tyres and may be harvested as usual when the plant dies back at the end of the season.
To stop water collecting in the sides of the tyres drill a few holes in the tyre walls
There is a stack more info on the net regarding fertilizing etc. but it is pretty straight forward. The tyres can be painted to jazz up the garden area etc. I am now going to try some other veges in this fashion. Two tyres should be OK for most.
...........................................................................................
Tomatoes
When planting out tomato seedlings plant down about an extra inch or so of the stem. This helps give a nice stable plant as roots will readily grow from the newly buried portion of stem.
When pruning or pinching out side stems if at all, REPLANT these in pots as they will readily strike saving on buying more seedlings. So if you see a new variety of tomato in the store just buy one and devide it up. Saves a bit of cash.
I grow tomatoes in the winter in pots or styrene vege boxes. Put a couple of stakes around as a fram and attach some Bubble wrap around. insulates and lets light in.
norgeskog
Washing Up
My garden has herbs and I did have tomatoes until I had to pull them up because of the cold.
choclatechef
Washing Up
I did not have a garden this year, but in years past, I had a vegetable garden. I garden with the Ruth Stout method of using a hay mulch.
I grew everything, including herbs, every vegetable I could think of, grapes, cherry trees, peach tree, apple trees, blackberries, and elderberries.
I grew everything, including herbs, every vegetable I could think of, grapes, cherry trees, peach tree, apple trees, blackberries, and elderberries.
I had a garden for the 3 years that I lived on the farm. I dont know what I could add to the wisdom that has already been offered, except....
Grow some salad greens, you will never eat grocery store lettuce again... for real you wont like most grocercy store produce ounce you've eaten the real thing.
2nd... read... critter, varmit, pest and weed control are the hardest things, but ounce you get the hang of it it's not that bad
3rd it's addictive, it's what i miss most about not living in the country... well that and all that free heat I got from the fire place.
4th as Steven Covey might say begin with the end in mind. Be prepared to
Grow some salad greens, you will never eat grocery store lettuce again... for real you wont like most grocercy store produce ounce you've eaten the real thing.
2nd... read... critter, varmit, pest and weed control are the hardest things, but ounce you get the hang of it it's not that bad
3rd it's addictive, it's what i miss most about not living in the country... well that and all that free heat I got from the fire place.
4th as Steven Covey might say begin with the end in mind. Be prepared to
Talking about this gardening stuff reminded me that my mom has a boat load of stuff coming that I have to plant... so i called her to find out when it's coming and now she wants me to call and fuss at the company...and i hit the send button when i was supposed to be hitting the phone button.
Any way
Unless you have a big family or a lot of friends you are going to grow more than you can eat. So you need away to preserve all of that summer time goodness.
You could freeze it but ya might need a lot of freezer space and it would be best if you got a foodsaver shrink wrapper vacuum sealer. Which are getting to be on sale cause the season is over.
The other thing is canning, the mason jar way, which will be on sale especially if there is a big lots anywhere close to you. And a pressure canner which tend to go on sale at wally world in the not to distant future. Also at wally world you can also find the ball guide to canning.
All this maybe way pre- mature
but you dont want to look over your garden and see a nice patch of juicy ripe strawberried, which you are all a twitter to pick and you have no way to put them up. And about this time everybody within 50 miles of you also has a field of nice big juicy starwberries and you will see them with baskets full of jelly jars in the check out line , in front of you.
Me... people think I am crazy cause I am sitting on about 1400 mason jars that someone gave my mom. I am thinking about the 4.5 kids that I want to have. That I will have to feed. Mom also gave me 60 acres. Those grandkids can start feeding themselves from the time they get big enough to walk.
Mind you, your kitchen will be an absolute mess when you finish, but you will be eating well for months if not years afterwards for free. And you can impress your friends and make them envious.
I am descending from my soap box now.
I love gardening. I grow stuff i'd never eat.
Any way
Unless you have a big family or a lot of friends you are going to grow more than you can eat. So you need away to preserve all of that summer time goodness.
You could freeze it but ya might need a lot of freezer space and it would be best if you got a foodsaver shrink wrapper vacuum sealer. Which are getting to be on sale cause the season is over.
The other thing is canning, the mason jar way, which will be on sale especially if there is a big lots anywhere close to you. And a pressure canner which tend to go on sale at wally world in the not to distant future. Also at wally world you can also find the ball guide to canning.
All this maybe way pre- mature
but you dont want to look over your garden and see a nice patch of juicy ripe strawberried, which you are all a twitter to pick and you have no way to put them up. And about this time everybody within 50 miles of you also has a field of nice big juicy starwberries and you will see them with baskets full of jelly jars in the check out line , in front of you.
Me... people think I am crazy cause I am sitting on about 1400 mason jars that someone gave my mom. I am thinking about the 4.5 kids that I want to have. That I will have to feed. Mom also gave me 60 acres. Those grandkids can start feeding themselves from the time they get big enough to walk.
Mind you, your kitchen will be an absolute mess when you finish, but you will be eating well for months if not years afterwards for free. And you can impress your friends and make them envious.
I am descending from my soap box now.
I love gardening. I grow stuff i'd never eat.
tweedee
Head Chef
Tomatoes, Carrots, Lettuce, Cabbege, Potatoes, Corn, Bell Peppers, Turnips, Hot Peppers, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Spaghetti Squash and Crooked Neck Squash.
tancowgirl2000
Head Chef
JulieV.....are there any tell tale signs that one can figure out how old a house is? Ours is plaster, not dry wall....It's old. I love it to extreme. Our other house was about 50 some years old but in WAY worse shape than this one! They have also added an addition on this one for the bathroom and laundry.....
WayneT.....I as well grew potatoes in the tyres last year! Awesome out come. Wasnt too sure if it would work but being as I wasnt allowed to have a garden it was the next best thing to try! If I had to do it again I certainly would!!!
WayneT.....I as well grew potatoes in the tyres last year! Awesome out come. Wasnt too sure if it would work but being as I wasnt allowed to have a garden it was the next best thing to try! If I had to do it again I certainly would!!!
GB
Chief Eating Officer
This year my wife and I bought our first house so this was also my first garden. We grew Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, jalapeños, Portuguese hot peppers, red bell peppers, fennel, cukes, zucchini, celery, red onions, basil, thyme, rosemary, cilantro, and mint. Everything grew very well. My climate is New England.
mudbug
Chef Extraordinaire
Growing veggies requires a lot more attention than I care to provide. However, I do like growing things and have variety of shrubs and perennials.
Ornamental grasses are my favorite plants. I also have viburnums, lilac, redtwig dogwood, daylilies, Nelly Stevens holly, clematis, several kinds of hostas, Russian sage, japanese maple, azalea, river birch, liriope, photinia, and probably others I have forgotten. I guess I do grow one herb - two little rosemary plants that I bought a couple of years ago have grown into monsters.
Ornamental grasses are my favorite plants. I also have viburnums, lilac, redtwig dogwood, daylilies, Nelly Stevens holly, clematis, several kinds of hostas, Russian sage, japanese maple, azalea, river birch, liriope, photinia, and probably others I have forgotten. I guess I do grow one herb - two little rosemary plants that I bought a couple of years ago have grown into monsters.
Wayne T. That's a heck of a good use for old Tyres (Tires, here in the US). Years ago, a popular vessel to use was old washer tubs.
Alas. Cost of water, lousy sandy soil, pests, and nematodes precludes me from having a cost effective garden. As it is, my water bill is approaching $200. Even with all the shrubs and 4 fruit trees on an automatic drip irrigation system.
Alas. Cost of water, lousy sandy soil, pests, and nematodes precludes me from having a cost effective garden. As it is, my water bill is approaching $200. Even with all the shrubs and 4 fruit trees on an automatic drip irrigation system.
tancowgirl2000 said:
I can't answer you on this one. I was just old the house was built in 1870. I'm not experienced to answer. This house has a wood stove in one of the bedrooms and a very narrow hallway upstairs. The garage looks very weathered. I wish I knew more, but I only know what the town has told me. :?
Similar threads
