Thinking about a garden- Help me!

[amc80]

We just moved to a house, so I now have a yard. In that yard are some nice planters. The people who lived here before had a nice little garden with all sorts of veggies. It's all been ripped out and I'm thinking about starting my own little garden.

Here's the thing- I don't actually like gardening. But I like the IDEA of it. So I want to start off small with something that's relatively low maintenance. Tomatoes come to mind.

If it matters- I'm in zone 5B. It's in the 30s-60s here, depending on the day. It freezes nearly every night. Our spring is about 4.7 seconds, and it will go from 40 to 80 within a few days. But then we always get hit with more snow (usually Memorial Day weekend, and definitely at least once storm in April).

What should I plant? When should I plant? Help please

 

[iLander]

You can start tomato seedlings indoors, wait until after the frosts to plant them outside.

Call your local extension service! Just google "(your county) agricultural extension service". You can call them up, they'll connect you with an agent and then bend their ear, they just love that kind of stuff. They can also send you all kinds of brochures and pamphlets, free.

They'll ask you about sun, part sun, that kind of thing, so look around your yard throughout the day. Full sun is usually 8 hours of direct sunlight, part sun is 4-6, and so on. That is important to know, as you select plants.

Also, will you hand water with a hose, or do you have a sprinkler? If you hand water, you'll want to cluster high water need plants near the hose, drought tolerant can be further away.

Honestly, I would make a yard map with trees,etc., go down to the extension service, and have them help me with a plan. It's all free, because your tax dollars go there. Do you have a university nearby, with a landscape architect program? Can you be someone's project?

Or you can do a wildlife habitat yard, that's what mine is. It looks like a regular garden, but it has nesting, water, etc. http://www.nwf.org/CertifiedWildlifeHabitat/UserAccount/SignIn

What about fruit trees? Ask the extension about that, that is extra fun!!

 

[amc80]

iLander, thank you for the great suggestions!

There are two big areas where I'd be planting. Both are next to a fence. One planter has the fence on the north side of it, so it would be full sun. The other has the planter on the west side, so it would be part sun. Both planters have sprinklers.

We do have a local university with a horticulture program. It looks like they have a ton of good info, thanks for that suggestion!

 

[monarch64]

I can't think of any veggie that requires very little maintenance, even tomatoes. You have to pay pretty careful attention to how much water you're giving them, you usually have to stake them or cage them, pests can be an issue, and you have to stay on top of harvesting. If you're ok with doing all that, they are fun to grow and you can make tons of things with them or can/freeze them for later use.

What about an herb garden? Basil, cilantro, rosemary, dill, chives, etc. Those are easy to grow and don't require tons of maintenance either. Do you like to cook? All of those can be used in everyday recipes, and can also be preserved easily for use throughout the year.

Zucchini is very easy if you have a lot of garden space for it to meander. HTH!

 

[cookies]

When I was living in my apartment, I grew basil, along with a bunch of vegetables, on the deck outside. The basil did the best. It didn't need much attention. You just need to water it from time to time, and take off the flowers when they come out. Tomatoes and cucumbers require some work, as they need frequent watering, plus they need some sort of support system for the branches/vines.

My vegetables did do well on the deck, but the squirrels picked all the tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, eggplants, and even hot peppers. They then ate all the leaves. Even though gardening was fun, I pretty much gave it up after that. We now have deer, rabbits, birds, and squirrels, in our backyard. I think unless we build a reinforced green house with some sort of solid foundation, we won't be able to pick any ripe tomatoes..

 

[iLander]

Do you like cherry tomatoes? Those are REALLY easy, much easier than full size. They grow quicker than the bugs/mildew can get them. I cut them in half for sandwiches, and just put a big glob on. The extension service will tell you the type that's easiest for your area. Don't trust home depot, they frequently sell stuff that just won't grow here (at least my store does).

 

[aviastar]

Are you set on veggies for both beds?

I've found bulbs to be pretty easy and the deer, rabbits, groundhogs tend to leave them alone. Plant, mulch, enjoy! Some delicate ones planted in the spring need to be dug up in the fall if you want to save them for the next year or they won't weather the cold very well, but most fall planted ones are pretty hardy!

I'm trying veggies for the first time myself, this year. Well, I tried corn twice at my parents house years ago- one great year, one dud- but that doesn't really apply to gardening in beds!

 

[rubyshoes]

I'm also 5b (or 6a according to the new map) and I am a crazy OCD gardener. Here's what I would recommend you start with:

Herbs - Basil, Thai Basil, Oregano, Sage, Rosemary and Mint (but plant the mint in a pot or it will take over your yard!)

Cherry tomatoes

Little red peppers

Above 3 things plant after first frost.

Annuals - If you have largely sunny spots, sow marigold seeds and cut 'n' come again zinnias. Just buy seed packets, don't waste money on those flats. It's pretty much impossible to kill these. If shady, get impatiens or begonias.

Above things sow after first frost.

Bulbs - Daffodils are the best value for money and easiest (unlike tulips and crocuses, all the rodents won't dig them up & eat them). Don't buy from Home Depot! Buy online from http://colorblends.com HD garden center is like the Zales of gardening. Colorblends is Whiteflash Alliums and hyacinths are pretty and easy too. And try Casablanca and Golden Trumpet lilies in well-draining soil. If you have clay soil, when digging the holes, put gravel chips or pebbles or stones with the bulbs. Guaranteed not to rot.

Spring blooming bulbs plant in Fall.

Perennials - Bleeding hearts in shade are a favorite. As are mums, also columbines and anemones. Try antique roses or Dr Griffith Buck roses when you get more confident.

Plant in Spring. Can plant in Fall also.

Trees - I love redbuds! And crabapples. And magnolias (the hardy ones). There are tons of varieties, from the regular to the super fancy. I have a very rare magnolia I bought from rarefindnursery. I am dying for it to bloom this Spring!

Best to plant in Spring but possible to plant in early summer, avoid planting later in the year.

Everything: Mulch, mulch, mulch! Mulch is your friend and will reduce erosion, conserve water, keep soil cool and moist, starve weeds.

The goal is to create a garden that is lovely in all 4 seasons Here's my front yard in early April and then in late May.

 

[amc80]

Wow, these suggestions are great!

The ironic part about wanting a veggie garden is there are very few vegetables I like. I thought tomatoes could be okay because I could make tomato sauce. I'm willing to grow whatever I can keep alive. If I don't personally like what I've grown, I can give it to someone who will (or make baby food!). I love the idea of herbs.

I've attempted strawberries before (when I lived elsewhere). My general problem is I see a beautiful berry and think "this is great, let's see how big it gets!" and then it dies. So I will need some discipline to actually harvest when I should.

Rubyshoes- your yard is gorgeous! We may be in the same zone but yours is much more green

We have several good gardening stores (stores? that sounds wrong. center?) around here, maybe I'll check one out. I will be sure to stay clear of the zales of gardening

 

[gem_anemone]

I've had a garden for three summers now. I think that bush beans are easy to grow. Really anything "bush" does not need much maintenance. Same with "determinate" tomatoes. Squash is easy to grow and harvest but the plants get large. Indeterminate tomaoes and vine plants will need tied up, trimmed or trellised. I recommend buying seeds/plants that have the shortest harvest date due to your shorter growing season. For your first year I recommend amending your soil with compost and purchasing baby plants for the ones that need a head start. It's easier than raising them from seed especially if you don't have a really sunny window or an indoor lighting system. Then you don't have to purchase extra equipment or "harden" them off. Some (like squash) will go straight in the ground from seed at the last frost date for your zone. I've read that it's better to start with 1 or 2 of a few types of plants when you first start to garden rather than like 10 different plants. For me it has helped to try it different types such as bush, vining, leaf, etc just to see how they grow. Then you can kind of guess about plants from the same family. Also plants are put into the ground at different times throughout the growing season, so you'll want to figure out when to plant what you want. Following the info on the seed packet is a good start.

Get yourself a good long hose with a nice shower head because watering can be a chore and you will want to make it as easy on yourself as possible. The other thing you'll have to worry about is weeds. Pulling weeds is easier after a good rain and the soil is soft. It helps to put down mulch between your plants. It smothers the weeds. My New Years resolution this year is to do a better job vegetable gardening and my first priority this year is to mix in some compost! Good luck! Let us know what you decide to plant!