Vegie Patch

[KirstieGai]

It's early Spring here in Australia and I've just spent the day planting our vegie patch. We usually only plant in the spring and try a few different things each year as some things just aren't successful for us. I like that the food is fresh without the chemicals and my kids (5,3 and 2) enjoy watering and picking the fresh stuff.

Today I planted tomatoes, beans, bell peppers, lebanese zucchini, cantlope, watermelon, coriander, rocket to go with our already well established parsley, mint, spring onions, oregano and rosemary. I also have a compost worm farm!

SO tell me, who else has their own vegie patch and what do you grow?? Any secret tricks to grow great stuff and keep the garden pests and birds away?

[Mellykat]

We have a new strawberry patch and a new raspberry patch. Both yielded some fruit this summer. Can't wait 'til next summer now!

[mj.johnston]

Ok, is it totally obvious that I'm a scrapaholic when I read the title of your post "veggie patch" and think it's gonna be about the Two Peas site?! LOL!! :duh:

[Mellykat]

Hahaha. At first I thought it had to do with some sort of gardening scrapbooking kit.

[MissPotts]

lol2


I am so jealous I would love a garden but we live in an apartment.

[joscie]

Ok, is it totally obvious that I'm a scrapaholic when I read the title of your post "veggie patch" and think it's gonna be about the Two Peas site?! LOL!! :duh:
i totally thought the same thing!

[mj.johnston]

Ha! Joscie - we're two of a kind!! :bounce:

[MissMint]

i totally thought the same thing!

Me too... LOL. I was thinking 'you dont have to use code names here!; LOL.

I also live in an apartment but would LOOOOOOVE a little garden. I was thinking of growing some herbs in flower pots...is that possible?

Where is Missy she's a planter too.

[KirstieGai]

yes you can grow herbs in flower pots. Some are actually better in pots because some types, like Oregano, can take over a garden!

[MissPotts]

HHMMM! I love oregano, cilantro and sage!

[MissMint]

Do I need big pots? I'd love to do basil and chives and thyme

[Missys3lilbugs]

No you don't need big pots at all. You can go to the local hardware store and get some clay pots for a buck or two. Some people, thats all they do it garden in pots. Especially those who live in apartments or condos. With pots, you have to make sure you water more because the pots suck all the moisture out of the dirt. Next year im going to try and grow tomatoes in pots because we don't have much sun where we live.

Your herbs you can grow in a well lit window in small pots. That way you can have it for cooking.

My mom bought one of these and she loves it:
https://www.tryagarden.com/store/step1.php?set=yes&cid=ppc

She starts seeds and does other things with it as well. Good for a small space.

I have some Mother of thyme in my garden. I planted it in between some stepping stones. It grew a lot so when you go to step on the stones they are covered by thyme and you can smell it.

[MissMint]

OMGosh Missy I've SEEN those and alway wondered if they worked!!!

[Sarah8914]

Very little grows well here!

We wanted to start a garden this year and didn't... we're slackers.

apparently we can grow tomatoes, maybe squash and zucchini, cucumbers... that's all I know. blah! I want fruit!

[KirstieGai]

we also have a lemon tree and just cut down the olive tree because it was too much hard work. No room for anymore fruit trees though. If I can get the watermelon and cantelope to grow I'll be happy.

[MissPotts]

I want to one of those mini gardens too!

[JamWest1007]

My husband and I spent the day in our garden. Sadly, we were mostly "winterizing", as that isn't too far off for us. I was thrilled though to get a bowl full of small ripe tomatoes and a pint of strawberries...off of our June-bearing plants. That used to be unheard of in Nebraska at the end of September...but the weather...it is a changin'. :bigeek:

We like to grow as much as we can, but since we have only been on our acreage for a little over a year, we are still in the process of getting all of our new beds developed. (We grow as much as we can in raised beds, as it makes weeding and harvesting so much easier for me.) We do the "usual" midwestern veggies...tomatoes, peppers, corn, squash, carrots, cucumbers, onions, etc. We also do some fruit...our strawberries are pretty well established, and raspberries and blueberries are ready to be planted. Next year we will also get in our melon patches. We do still have sweet potatoes to harvest, but then we will be done outdoors until spring.

We do grow some herbs in the house year-round, and we are trying some cherry tomatoes in containers this fall/winter...we'll see how that goes. We are a family of vegetarians living in the Midwest, so growing as much of our own as we can really helps keep food costs down. Plus, finding a decent piece of produce around here in Jan./Feb. can be a real challenge. :gah:
I have to tell you though, I thought the thread was going to be about vegetarians. I thought maybe I was going to find out I wasn't the only "tree-hugger" on board.lol2 Boy do I feel silly.

[shades of bliss]

This year we grew tomatos, beans, cucumbers, and peppers. We also tried an Artichoke this year (complete flop, lol). We sometimes grow pumpkins, squash, lettuce and carrots. But I just couldn't get there this year. I grow Basil and Italian Parsley every year too (that is a priority!! We have Italian night every Sunday.)

But it wasn't a good year this year. I think the soil is tired and I need to work some fertilizer in there. I just pulled up the garden this weekend.

[kc_happymom]

Plus I've got three cats who even eat artificial plants (LOL). Yeah... it's pretty sad.

When we did have a backyard I planted cherry tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, green peppers and parsley. Sadly the lettuce and tomatoes never matured at the same time so I never had a full salad from the garden but the carrot soup was yummy.

It's fall here and the leaves are turning yellow and orange and blowing away.

Kathleen from Canada ::yipee::

[kc_happymom]

I have to tell you though, I thought the thread was going to be about vegetarians.

Me too :o) I've been a vegetarian since 1991 and my kids are vegetarian too. Unfortunately since I live in a high rise we don't grow our own veggies but sure enjoyed it when we had a little backyard a few years ago.

Kathleen from Canada ::yipee::

[MissPotts]

I have considered becoming vegetarian. I hate dealing with raw meat its so dirty. As of right now we mostly eat turkey and boca products. Like nuggets, burgers and their ground beef. So I have considered taking the big leap but I have a feeling DH wont go down.

[JamWest1007]

Me too :o) I've been a vegetarian since 1991 and my kids are vegetarian too. Unfortunately since I live in a high rise we don't grow our own veggies but sure enjoyed it when we had a little backyard a few years ago.

Kathleen from Canada ::yipee::

Okay good, I don't feel quite so silly. And it's always nice to hear from other vegetarian moms/families. ::hi:: Nice to "meet" you.

[shades of bliss]

Plus I've got three cats who even eat artificial plants (LOL). Yeah... it's pretty sad.

When we did have a backyard I planted cherry tomatoes, lettuce, carrots, green peppers and parsley. Sadly the lettuce and tomatoes never matured at the same time so I never had a full salad from the garden but the carrot soup was yummy.

It's fall here and the leaves are turning yellow and orange and blowing away.

Kathleen from Canada ::yipee::

I've often wondered how Lettuce and Tomatos ever got together, LOL. Ours never happened at the same time either.

[MissPotts]

I've often wondered how Lettuce and Tomatos ever got together, LOL. Ours never happened at the same time either.


lmao

[JamWest1007]

I have considered becoming vegetarian. I hate dealing with raw meat its so dirty. As of right now we mostly eat turkey and boca products. Like nuggets, burgers and their ground beef. So I have considered taking the big leap but I have a feeling DH wont go down.

I'm so glad being vegetarian is a family thing for us. It makes it sooo much easier that we all eat the same things. Of course, I never dreamed my husband would be on board. He grew up on a farm here in Nebraska, which is not usually conducive to vegetarianism. (I think we might be the only exception in the state. ;)) But he was all for it. And thankfully, there are so many options available now I don't feel like we are "missing" anything. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

[KirstieGai]

we aren't vegetarians but what we eat has changed a lot over the past 12 months. Very rarely do we eat red meat (it plays havoc with our systems) but we do eat chicken and fish. I've been attempting to eat more fish and less chicken too. We also eat a lot of vegetarian meals in the way of pasta, risotto, salads and curries.

[KirstieGai]

Is corn easy to grow?

[paperboutique]

We planted a HUGE garden (I really mean HUGE) this summer. We live on 8 acres, so I guess we were feeling a little adventurous this year! LOL We planted corn, beans, peas, asparagus, beets, swiss chard, carrots, cucumbers (didn't grow!) and lots of Roma tomatoes. We had such a weird summer for growing vegetables though - seriously my tomatoes are not even ripe and we've already had our first frost! I make my own salsa and usually have it all done by now. At this rate, it'll be Halloween before I get it done.

I have no tricks for growing...sorry. But good luck with your garden! I'm jealous that you're planting yours and we're getting ready for snow! LOL

[shades of bliss]

Is corn easy to grow?


Not hard, but grow it in blocks or rows so that they will pollinate each other. :)

[kc_happymom]

::hi:: Nice to "meet" you.

::hi:: Nice to meet you too!

Kathleen from Canada

[JamWest1007]

Is corn easy to grow?

It is around here, Kirstie. I guess you could say it is one of things Nebraska is known for. And sadly, we don't get much more exciting than that. lol2

It really is easy to grow, though. A few weeks after your last frost put your seeds in the ground a few inches apart in rows a couple of feet apart, water as needed, (although it can stand some dry weather), let Mother nature do her thing and wait for the ears to get big enough to harvest. Around here we do have to keep the critters from stealing the ears, which is the trickiest part, but fresh sweet corn is hard to beat so it's worth the effort. You can also grow corn in mounds, about 6 seeds to a hill, mixed with squash and pumpkins. The squash vines will grow up the corn stalks making harvest super easy and the pumpkin will cover the ground around the stalks keeping weeds at bay. Either way, it is worth the effort. Let me know if you decide to give it a try...I love to hear what is working, and not, for other gardeners. :bounce: