Any Gardening Tips For A Beginner?

[ranger]

Oh, the joy of gardening! Last Sat. we had a really nice day so I could do some weeding finally. The next day, I couldn't walk - My legs were so sore. God, I'm out of shape! Tomorro, I'm going to plant some peas and potatoes. Might end up in traction. I guess running to the bathroom does not count as exercise! Got some work to do. Susan

[purple]

Oh, the joy of gardening! Last Sat. we had a really nice day so I could do some weeding finally. The next day, I couldn't walk - My legs were so sore. God, I'm out of shape! Tomorro, I'm going to plant some peas and potatoes. Might end up in traction. I guess running to the bathroom does not count as exercise! Got some work to do. Susan

I hear you! I am sore and stiff too, been falling into bed at night. I read that you can burn up to 400 calories, per hour, gardening. I have been hungry every 2 hours it seems so it must be true. We can't plant for another month. I already broke a rake good thing we just bought another one 2 weeks ago.

[Sweetfudge]

The next day, I couldn't walk - My legs were so sore. God, I'm out of shape!

Haha, I ran into the same problem last weekend

[purple]

Will garlic grow if I plant it in the spring or do I have to wait until fall to plant it? Thanks

[purple]

I never, ever thought I'd be saying this...horse manure is nice stuff...for the garden. Organic, free and it has a purpose now!

I have lots of old, dry, black stuff with night crawlers in it...YAY!

[purple]

Update on how my garden is doing.

I have recovered from digging up the whole thing with a shovel and chopping all the clods after the sod was tilled. I see why first time gardeners need to start small whew! The good thing is I now know where all my muscles are...I get new sore ones everyday!

Outside: I have 2 baby peas that popped up through the soil 2 days ago, YAY! I have 2 tiny baby lettuce leaves and that's all so far I hope they are lettuce... EDIT=nope, they are weeds

Inside: everything is doing great...I have starts of onions, green onions, bell peppers, jalapenos, cabbage, broccoli, cucumbers, cantaloupe, marigolds, sunflowers, and lots of tomatoes. I know some things may not produce but I wont know until I try them.

The spacing can drive you crazy until you get the hang of it, however I wont know how well I spaced everything I planted until it pops up. Not to mention never seeing gardens, I don't know what things look like nor how big they get.

Here is what I am trying: all those stated above plus basil, oregano, garlic, 2 types of lettuce plus mesclun (never heard of it before), a few red potatoes, corn, pole beans, beets, zucchini and both long and short carrots.

I saw/smashed 2 ugly beetles and 2 ugly worms...prob those cut worms...ugh. One ugly bug flew into the pole and landed, dead, right in front of me.

We had frost 2 nights ago and still can't plant for 1 more week. I am hardening my indoor plants. My compost is growing and the inside organic waste is going into it.

I have gathered lots of pine needles for the foot paths, still need to get more.

Overall...for a person that kills house plants, I think my garden will grow something

Now to learn how to water properly and to keep away the pests/mosquitos/our cats!

Also I have decided to save my throw away plastic containers and styro foam cups, etc. throught the year so I will be ready to plant indoor starts next spring. I read to wash them out before using.

[missy'smom]

Wow purple! That's quite an undertaking. Should be exciting to see what your garden yields! I grew tomatoes for the first time last year and made lots of roasted tomato soup and BLT's. It was SO good and worth all the work fighting the birds for them. My husband missed the tomatoes so much after they were gone that he was motivated to dig up part of the backyard lawn to make another patch of soil for me to work with! I can't get him motivated to do much usually! He brought home several packets of seeds that he wanted to try so we'll be trying Japanese eggplant, snowpeas and soybeans. Just a couple plants each as an experiment. That's in addition to the usual cherry tomatoes, shiso(perilla), mint, sage, cilantro that re-seed themselves every year and thyme, parsley and zucchini that are new to the garden this year and a container of strawberries for Ds and one of meculin greens. Plus Ds brought home carrot seeds that he planted in a container at Sunday school so I'll have to find a spot for them. I think we had better stop there!

[purple]

Wow purple! That's quite an undertaking. Should be exciting to see what your garden yields! I grew tomatoes for the first time last year and made lots of roasted tomato soup and BLT's. It was SO good and worth all the work fighting the birds for them. My husband missed the tomatoes so much after they were gone that he was motivated to dig up part of the backyard lawn to make another patch of soil for me to work with! I can't get him motivated to do much usually! He brought home several packets of seeds that he wanted to try so we'll be trying Japanese eggplant, snowpeas and soybeans. Just a couple plants each as an experiment. That's in addition to the usual cherry tomatoes, shiso(perilla), mint, sage, cilantro that re-seed themselves every year and thyme, parsley and zucchini that are new to the garden this year and a container of strawberries for Ds and one of meculin greens. Plus Ds brought home carrot seeds that he planted in a container at Sunday school so I'll have to find a spot for them. I think we had better stop there!

Sounds like a great garden...so those things reseed? Very interesting, will have to try one of those next year and get some asparagus started then too.

Can you share your recipe for roasted tomato soup??? My dd is gluten-free/df and hates canned tomatoes. She LOVES tomato soup but organic is like $3 a can so I wont buy it. I want to make her fresh roasted tomato soup but don't know how. I saw on a video about freezing tomatoes and when they thaw the skin falls off...I wonder if it works??? I love BLT's with C (cheese).

THANKS!

[missy'smom]

I use this recipe. Open Original Shared Link If I'm busy or lazy. I'll strain and process it the next day. It's great added to recipes too-like porcupine meatballs instead of the cream of tomato soup and with a splash of milk or cream or Darifree powder.

I would like to try asparagus too! we eat alot of it in season, but it is my understanding that it comes back every year so have to think of where to put it.

My cherry tomatoes are such abundant producers that many escape my eye and fall and rot on the ground so tons of baby plants poke up every Spring. I give away a few, let a couple survive and weed out the rest. The spot where they are doesn't get the soil turned over so alot of seedlings of various kinds emerge in the Spring.

[purple]

I use this recipe. Open Original Shared Link If I'm busy or lazy. I'll strain and process it the next day. It's great added to recipes too-like porcupine meatballs instead of the cream of tomato soup and with a splash of milk or cream or Darifree powder.

I would like to try asparagus too! we eat alot of it in season, but it is my understanding that it comes back every year so have to think of where to put it.

My cherry tomatoes are such abundant producers that many escape my eye and fall and rot on the ground so tons of baby plants poke up every Spring. I give away a few, let a couple survive and weed out the rest. The spot where they are doesn't get the soil turned over so alot of seedlings of various kinds emerge in the Spring.

Perfect recipe...could be called garden soup b/c I am growing all those veggies and will use the green onions. THANKS for sharing!

Great idea about the cherry toms. I will watch where I plant them so I can see seedlings growing next year, thanks for the tip!! I have a raised bed ready for toms and the rest I will plant in various spots...I can put the cherry toms in the bed I will have to remember to cover them next spring since we have a later planting season...I will note that on my garden plans. I am learning so much!

I can hardly wait for fresh salsa and chips!

Next big task is to learn how to can veggies, my favorite is pickled beets..mm.

Thanks again for all your help

[missy'smom]

They say that you aren't supposed to plant tomatoes in the same spot 2 years in a row due to disease etc. But I never have a problem with the cherry's. They seem very disease and bug resistant. Wish I could tell you what variety but I got the original plant from a friend a few years ago.

Salsa is why I planted cilantro last year! I let a few plants go to seed and get them coming back the next year.

[purple]

They say that you aren't supposed to plant tomatoes in the same spot 2 years in a row due to disease etc. But I never have a problem with the cherry's. They seem very disease and bug resistant. Wish I could tell you what variety but I got the original plant from a friend a few years ago.

Salsa is why I planted cilantro last year! I let a few plants go to seed and get them coming back the next year.

Yeah, I have been reading about crop rotation, companion planting, family planting and planting for heirloom seed saving. Nice to know about your cherry toms

I hate cilantro but my dh and dd like it. I always put green onions in our salsa for color and seasoning.

I bought 1 cherry tom and my mil gave me one so we'll see what happens.

[purple]

Need help quick! I think my plants have aphids. They have all the signs and I saw a few. Been reading how to rid them. What's your suggestion??? Thanks so much!!! I lost sunflowers, beans, zucchini, cantaloupe and now maybe tomatoes. Whos knows what's next...

[MaryJones2]

Try spraying them with diluted dish or castile soap. Castile soap gets rid of just about everything that grows on my plants! (I've never lost any of the plants you mention though so it may not work)

[purple]

Try spraying them with diluted dish or castile soap. Castile soap gets rid of just about everything that grows on my plants! (I've never lost any of the plants you mention though so it may not work)

Thanks for your fast reply...I read about using Castile soap but can't get any for a few days. I have Dawn and Ivory bar soap. Thought I'd try using some melted, diluted Ivory first. Thanks!

Update: I got everything sprayed. I found a few aphids, 4 flea beetles and a worm wrapped in fuzz that I squished and out came pretty green ooze!

I think I lost the sunflowers b/c the neighbors sprayed for weeds near to where they are planted. I replanted some in different spots.

Thanks janetw! I learned alot today...again!

edit: the aphids or ? is on the beans and corn. The flea beetles are on the tomatoes or ? And aphids on the toms too.

Not sure about the melon/squash yet but the leaves are turning yellow and the tomato leaves at the top are turning yellow too along with the peppers. Could be other things causing it. I killed 42 baby grasshoppers in almost 1 day and they seem to be gone.

I am gonna try diatomaceous earth soon.

[ranger]

My garden is coming along nicely. Planted a little late this year but, it's better than last year when I was to sick to plant! I'm trying something new this year. It's called the Three Sisters and involves planting corn, runner beans, and squash together. Anyone ever do this? Please let me know.

[purple]

My garden is coming along nicely. Planted a little late this year but, it's better than last year when I was to sick to plant! I'm trying something new this year. It's called the Three Sisters and involves planting corn, runner beans, and squash together. Anyone ever do this? Please let me know.

I heard about the 3 sisters but never checked into it. Glad to hear your garden is doing well!

Mine seems to be alot better than after I transplanted. Its hard to know what things are supposed to look like or NOT look like. I planted when it was hot (80+) and now we have lots of rain and cooler temps but things are growing. I have 3 tiny tomatoes and the peas are grabbing onto the fence with their "little fingers". The green beans leaves may have been eaten by baby grasshoppers instead of the aphids but I think they will be ok now. I lost most of the sunflowers and several zucchini but 2 zuc might pull through. The cantaloupe are standing up strong even though the leaves are about dead but I want to leave them be and see what happens.

I bought some diatomaceous earth but can't use it, we have rain predicted for the next week. I have flea beetles on my tomato plants but only a couple of bugs each time I check them. The inner upper leaves turned yellow but could be from too much water, they are getting a bit greener now but this rain isn't going to help. I pinched off all the sunscald leaves b/c I didn't know to cover them when I transplanted them...so much to learn but it's been fun. The only thing I planted that is not growing is oregano.

We are already talking about enlarging the garden for next year!

I lost 5 lbs. and have muscles again and a tan! (sore muscles too...ha ha)