Am I the only VJer with a garden?

[Danno 1,228]

Wonder if anyone else is (as my grandmother would say) "Working a garden?

IN my case I am of course doing some vegetables.

With the tree cover in my backyard I am limited on places to find sun light. LAst year I tried Growing tomatoes and Cucumbers on my patio are (which is huge). I simply used some 5 gal buckets. While the results were not fantastic it was not bad either.

This year I had bigger plans, I chose an area that gets a fair amount of sun and thought I would do a "raised bed" as the soil their is not so good. I got the idea after I got some free lumber from a lady who removed a deck.

I figured th9is year would be a learning experience... and I was right

For example, yesterday I went to buy some Cabbage for the wife, It was on-sale for like 33 cents. Now how much sense did that make to grow cabbage when you can buy it that cheap..... never the less, I already have then started so I will let them mature but next year I will focus on Vegetables which are more expensive to buy (beets) and take up less room.

Flowers- I'm not really into flowers but I started some anyway ... just because.

Now I am trying to figure out which flowers keep coming back every year, seems like that would save a lot of work.

I also have a few Japanese Maples in my back yard, is there anyway to clip a branch off and grow it into another tree>?

[natty bumppo 297]

I moved to Houston 3 years ago ... so far people I've met haven't a clue what a garden is or how to store food ... until they look it up on google

yes ... I miss the old days ...

[spookyturtle 9,466]

Wonder if anyone else is (as my grandmother would say) "Working a garden?

IN my case I am of course doing some vegetables.

With the tree cover in my backyard I am limited on places to find sun light. LAst year I tried Growing tomatoes and Cucumbers on my patio are (which is huge). I simply used some 5 gal buckets. While the results were not fantastic it was not bad either.

This year I had bigger plans, I chose an area that gets a fair amount of sun and thought I would do a "raised bed" as the soil their is not so good. I got the idea after I got some free lumber from a lady who removed a deck.

I figured th9is year would be a learning experience... and I was right

For example, yesterday I went to buy some Cabbage for the wife, It was on-sale for like 33 cents. Now how much sense did that make to grow cabbage when you can buy it that cheap..... never the less, I already have then started so I will let them mature but next year I will focus on Vegetables which are more expensive to buy (beets) and take up less room.

Flowers- I'm not really into flowers but I started some anyway ... just because.

Now I am trying to figure out which flowers keep coming back every year, seems like that would save a lot of work.

I also have a few Japanese Maples in my back yard, is there anyway to clip a branch off and grow it into another tree>?

If you have any extra tomatoes, email me a few.

[HannahP 119]

My dad grows carrots, cabbage, kale, onions, asparagus, tomatos, cucumbers, potatos, green beans, garlic, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, pumpkins...I'm probably missing something. He also has chickens (eggs only; they're "pets" pretty much) and beehives.

I just finished helping him plant cucumbers the other day.

If WW3 happens, I'm moving in with him.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

not yet (townhouse) but if events cooperate then one day soon

[spookyturtle 9,466]

not yet (townhouse) but if events cooperate then one day soon

Then will you send me some tomatoes?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

not yet (townhouse) but if events cooperate then one day soon

Then will you send me some tomatoes?

I do believe it would behoove me to.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

not yet (townhouse) but if events cooperate then one day soon

Then will you send me some tomatoes?

I do believe it would behoove me to.

[Peikko 1,575]

I grow stuff. Price is not the only criteria - quality, variety and flavour all factor in.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

We have grown a garden every year I've been here. We've processed tomatoes and beans, dried peppers and tomatoes, and frozen lots of tomatoes, zucchini, eggplant, okra, and green beans. Last year we also planted watermelons and cucumbers - a single plant of cucumber yielded a bushel of cucumbers - the plant just went wild. We also got 12 personal watermelons and I lost count of the tomatoes, and zuccini and peppers. The okra grew so tall that I couldn't reach it without a ladder. We also grow herbs - lots of rosemary, oregano, sage, chives, thyme, stevia and mint. I have over 100 iris that I planted 4 years ago that have multiplied and need to be divided, and a colour co-ordinated front garden that has won us "Most Beautiful Yard of the Month" for the last 4 years. We also planted pear trees and harvested our first pears last year and have an apple tree that we hope will produce this year. We are late getting the garden in this year as it has rained most weekends when I needed to do some of the heavier weeding and roto-tilling so won't have any early crops like spinach, peas or lettuce as it is now too warm, but have the peppers, okra and eggplants ready to transplant. We will be trying the 40 gallon pails for the watermelon and the cucumber this year and placing them directly on a hill behind the house where they can spread out quite well without taking over our small garden space. There's lots more we have done as well but those are the highlights. So, I guess, yes, we garden and eat well from the produce. Oh, we also have an asparagus patch that my husband put in the year before I arrived so we have been able to harvest it the last 2 years.

Edited May 15, 2009 by Kathryn41

[lostinblue 1,989]

We live out in the country raise a few beef and have a small garden. Yan said no corn but it is almost $5.00 a dozen last year. I think it would pay for it self. We have had a frost twice this week so still not in a hurry yet to plant. We do have some cherrys and apple trees. For the amount of apples we use it is cheaper to buy them. One really needs to spray often during the growing season. That is effort and $$$$ big time. It does amaze me how many people have no clue in regards to planting a garden. Could it be a liberal thing. Who knows. With a garden you rely on your self . Not the government.

[Danno 1,228]

not yet (townhouse) but if events cooperate then one day soon

If you have a balcony, you can grow some tomatoes cucumbers in a bucket or recycling box, you can buy the plants already started at Lowes or where ever.

[Danno 1,228]

I grow stuff. Price is not the only criteria - quality, variety and flavour all factor in.

MC, I am baby steppin right now, as I perfect my skill, I will move beyond price as the main factor

[Danno 1,228]

My dad grows carrots, cabbage, kale, onions, asparagus, tomatos, cucumbers, potatos, green beans, garlic, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, pumpkins...I'm probably missing something. He also has chickens (eggs only; they're "pets" pretty much) and beehives.

I just finished helping him plant cucumbers the other day.

If WW3 happens, I'm moving in with him.

Yeah, I might need to join you.... but be sure to pass me his contact info in private, we don't want everyone crashing in on "our" source.

[Peikko 1,575]

I can't believe someone brought politics into a gardening thread...

This year I am growing all heirloom plants. I hope to redeem the seeds for next year. You can't really do that with hybrids as you don't know what you will get. I love the variety of the older plants too - they may not look perfect, but they are a lot of fun