60 degree days in January with 70s in the forecast have me looking at my beds and thinking of the upcoming Spring. Anyone else getting that itch? Starting to think about seeds?

I forgot to plant my bulbs, but I heard of a trick where you freeze them then plant. I'm also thinking of planting indoors then transplanting.

I know we'll do one full bed of tomatoes this year, and as always jalapeño peppers but not as many this time. I want to give cukes and eggplant one more go at it, but I'm scratching the yellow & zucchini squash. Not doing corn again. Haven't decided on attempting anything else just yet.

Oh! And I'm starting to compost. Got an indoor container for collecting scraps before going to the yard. Really excited about that

[Edited on January 10, 2013 at 3:46 PM. Reason : ]

1/10/2013 3:43:32 PM

cant we just have a normal year

1/10/2013 4:10:52 PM

I don't control the weather

But planning ahead/buying seeds this time of the year isn't *that* abnormal for gardeners. The current warm snap definitely helps to get the thought process going.

1/10/2013 5:09:06 PM

i've been eating broccoli, cauliflower, choy and lettuce out of my garden. the lettuce has died recently, and some of the cauliflower is turning browninsh due to the freezing temps.

1/10/2013 6:28:52 PM

I just spread compost onto my beds on Thursday. I need to dig it under and start rotational planting for lettuce, spinach, and kale.

Even with any upcoming cold weather, it shouldn't put a damper on cool season gardening.

1/12/2013 1:46:51 PM

Anyone know a good resource for learning about gardening? I know maybe the most basics of basics, and this is the first time I actually have a yard to plant shit in. I might post a picture--but in my backyard is a feeble attempt of someone planting an herb garden along the fence (though to their defense the sage bush is still pumpin' out herbs I don't use). Besides the garden bed, my backyard runs thick with patches of clay, so I don't know if I could (or would want to) expand it much... especially since I'm a pure beginner anyway.

So yeah, intro to gardening resources, advice, warnings, sensible plants to start with (preferably something easy to grow that I could eat instead of say, flowers). DO YOU HAVE KNOWLEDGE?

1/12/2013 2:28:24 PM

I like the NCSU guide for local info: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/ag-06.html

Seed catalogs have started showing up at my door. Guess I should decide what to do this year.

1/12/2013 7:14:30 PM

The tenant that lived here two people before me still has seed cataloges showing up in my mail--that's one of the reasons I'm thinking about trying it.

1/13/2013 10:08:25 PM

aerogarden FTW

1/13/2013 10:08:57 PM

I've got year old peach trees (yellow freestone (elberta)) and fig trees (brown turkey) if anyone wants one.

five lafta bucks.

pm.



Also, I filled my old recycling bin up with dirt and compost to get ready to plant something in it this spring. If you plan on doing the same, move it where you want it to be before you fill it up with dirt.

1/19/2013 8:20:02 PM

Trying to plan out my garden. I only planted tomatoes last year as I spent most of my gardening time planting plants to attract beneficial insects.

1/19/2013 8:59:23 PM

Anyone know where to find this type of PVC pipe clamp? I've tried the snap clamp and they work ok. But when I break down my mini-greenhouse I ended up ripping the plastic. If I can find this type I can break it down to store and re-use the plastic.




[Edited on February 2, 2013 at 9:53 AM. Reason : jpg]

2/2/2013 9:52:58 AM

Not really gardening...but I'm going to have a TON of loquats this year. I've got three small loquat trees that produced a total of three loquats last year (only one tree had them). I think I'm might have at least a hundred this year between the three trees. I'm PUMPED!

2/2/2013 10:14:50 AM

2^ that looks like a hair claw clip

2/2/2013 11:33:03 AM

It is.

2/2/2013 11:35:47 AM

I'm guessing now is the time I should be starting seeds indoors? Guess I should pull the trigger and decide what to order from the seed catalogs.

Is it possible to grow melons using the square foot method? I want to try melons but don't really have much space for them. Should I just dedicate that space to something else?

2/5/2013 6:46:17 AM

2^ I get mine at Walmart, sometimes the dollar tree has them.

2/5/2013 9:15:51 AM

^ you didn't read my post very closely

2/5/2013 2:43:59 PM

gonna start seeding soon

2/5/2013 2:55:44 PM

I'm gonna try to get a community garden going in my neighborhood this year...anybody have any experience/tips with raised beds (general size guidelines, designs, soil composition etc...) and/or commuity gardens in general?

Probably just try to do a basic garden this year and see how it goes...Tomatoes, cucumbers, squash and peppers is what i was thinking.

2/5/2013 4:00:18 PM

The church across the street from me has a community garden. Looks like they just used standard 2x4s to build the plots. Definitely get dirt trucked in rather than buying craploads of bags.

2/5/2013 4:27:37 PM

So I live next to Athens High School and a private residence across the street seems to be using a large swath of land to become a garden for the school. Or at least I'm pretty sure--otherwise some dude is convincing a lot of kids to skip school and mess around in his garden. It just expanded to a huge size, and some landscapers were out there today expanding it even more.

I sorta wish I could go over to the owner and just say, hey, I'll do menial labor in this garden if you will teach me basic shit. Not sure that would work if it was for a high school.


Same question about raised beds--I have small area in the backyard I want to do for a garden, but clay makes it difficult. Instead of prepping all the space with clay, I was wondering how feasible a raised bed along the fence would be (and if that's a bad idea for a first timer).

2/5/2013 5:18:50 PM

I planted some onions sets and garlic today. instead of tryna barricade the menagerie of woodland creatures out of my garden, this year I'm working on things they won't try to eat so hard.

2/17/2013 8:22:15 PM

I finished putting in the spring garden this weekend and started my summer seedlings already inside. 2012 was a writeoff because of my bad timing, the crappy weather and school.

Spring garden has: onions, lettuce, broccoli, snow peas, carrots, beets, radishes, kale, turnip greens, and arugula. All this aged chicken manure and straw should lend to a happy nitrogen-rich environment for leaves.

I should have baby lettuce by spring break.

Anyone going to try to grow sprouts? Where do you cheaply get a lot of seeds for that? I usually get my garden seeds 1/4 to 1/2 oz in the white packets from the garden store, would this work?

2/18/2013 8:20:51 AM

you don't think it's too early for some of those spring crops? Looks like we're still going to have some below freezing nights for a while.

2/18/2013 12:53:07 PM

Started some veggi seeds this last weekend.

2/27/2013 7:53:13 PM

I really need to start seeds this weekend.

2/27/2013 8:54:26 PM

Nope, don't think it's too early for spring stuff, because the weather is actually perfect right now (50s-60s high, 30-40s nights). Just out of my own crazy schedule, I've done spring plantings in the past in December, February, and March, and the heat we occasionally get has done far more damage than any cold has done (mature plants bolt and younguns get heat stress).

You can grow cool weather crops 9 months of the year here in the Piedmont, you'll just get minimal growth in Dec.-Jan. In the past, I've overwintered my brassicas and alliums from fall to spring with no issues. A layer of straw around the roots seems to help.

The whole global warming thing has thrown traditional planting guidelines out the window, with the exception of very cold sensitive crops like your nightshades.

2/27/2013 10:57:14 PM

i've got tomatoes sprouting, grape and heirloom....if the majority of them germinate, i'll should have a dozen or so seelings that i don't use if anyone wants them.

2/28/2013 11:28:03 AM

how's everyone doing?

I also have another question: why do seeds have expiration dates that are usually no more than a year or two? is it just that they are less likely to germinate? i have dozens of expired seed pouches.

3/8/2013 12:37:10 PM

you can try to plant them. Seed packets are sold with a guaranteed viability rate, usually 90-95%. This is why they have the expiration dates. Some seeds are short lived and will dry out and die after a year and a half, such as beans. Others are quite long-lived and can be planted long after a year with decent germination, but the packets are still labeled the same. So, go ahead and try to sprout those expired seeds. Just put more seeds per pot, and if you have 2 germinate close by, transplant very early.

3/8/2013 4:34:46 PM

Only one seed type I planted hasn't sprouted yet but everything else is looking good.

3/8/2013 5:46:09 PM

Any recommendations for a good low water container plant--part sun? We have very long eaves and I have a hard time remembering to water one container by my garage.

3/11/2013 9:17:05 AM

^^^thanks for the advice, i plan to plant my expired seeds and see what happens.

i planted choy, kale, lettuce, beat, and leek seedling this weekend.

[Edited on March 11, 2013 at 1:40 PM. Reason : ]

3/11/2013 1:40:29 PM

All right, I posted earlier in the season about wanting to attempt a garden, but I didn't even give it a second thought til this weekend, and I guess I'm going to try for it. Would like some advice. I read the NCSU starter guide but I still need to learn a lot more.

So I'm wondering if I'm too late to start a Spring garden from seeds? I hear a lot of people are planting the young plants now, and have had the seeds growing for some time. Is there some wiggle room to this? I'll let you know where I am now:

Garden Space
The space is 6x16 and against a fence (along a 16 foot edge). The space has 8-10 hours of direct sunlight a day. It was formerly a tenant's garden like... five years ago maybe? I had to dig out some wild green onions, a giant rosemary bush, and a sage bush. Was also filled with roots and trash and debris, so basically I scraped the topsoil and moss and weeds off. I hoe'd up the soil beneath it and mixed it with new topsoil I brought in (which was quite a bit). I've put landscape timbers around the boundary, since the bed is raised a bit.

Seeds
So basically since I just started I'm at "scratch" point. I don't have anything planted. I don't have a layout in mind. I just got my seeds, which came from a friend who had them in storage but wasn't able to do a garden this year because of rental property. The seeds I have:

sumter cucumbers,
clemson spineless okra,
chives,
italian roma tomatoes,
california wonder green pepper,
hungarian hot peppers,
sweet banana peppers,
beefmaster tomatoes,
california wonder bell pepper,
muncher cucumber

Still looking at how much space they take, maintenance, yields, grow time, et cetera, because I really don't know anything. I'd ideally like some recommendations on a good "beginner" selection. I'd like to grow some relatively easily maintained and high-yield--or rather, just a good first time attempt. I don't really know if 6x16 is considered a large beginner garden or not--seems plenty big to me.

EDIT: I'll take a picture later.

[Edited on March 18, 2013 at 6:12 PM. Reason : f]

3/18/2013 6:11:13 PM

My wife is the gardener in our family, but just make sure you have something for those cucumbers to climb on or else they will spread out and take over that space in a hurry.

3/18/2013 6:59:57 PM

I'm on my third year but still learning. Just some real quick tips of advice, make sure you don't plant stuff too close too each other. Look on the internet and get an idea of how big each plant will be and try to plant it appropriately. You want to squeeze in as much as possible. But you don't want to overcrowd, and you want to make sure you can get to all your plants when it's harvest time. Another tip I've learned it that seed can be harder and a little more frustrating. It's much easier to go and get 4 started seedlings for $1.99. However, I know seeds are more rewarding, and I've done a mixture every year. Lastly, make sure no rabbits or other wildlife can get to the garden. Last year I spent a day putting in a couple dozen seedling. Two days later, a rabbit (or rabbits) ate almost every seedling to the ground.

3/19/2013 12:31:51 PM

Where do you find these cheap seedlings? A tomato seedling costs more than my weed how at Home Depot.

Also, what's a good way to keep critters out? Wire?

And does anyone have some good internet resources for gardening?

3/19/2013 3:47:24 PM

For rabbits I've found that zip tieing chicken wire to welded wire then attaching it to the 3 foot tall green garden fence posts works well. Then I use garden staples to hold the bottom of the fencing down so they can't get under it.

3/19/2013 3:56:50 PM

^^a wholesale nursery in angier. http://www.tarheelnursery.com/

I forget what their pack of 3 seedlings cost, but it was ridiculously cheap. I got so many plants last year for half what I would have spent at lowes or retail nursery or farmers market. Just depends on if you want to spend the time driving there and walking around. With it being wholesale there were large greenhouses of just tomatoes.

3/19/2013 4:09:34 PM

I was just at Logan's the other week and got a lot of 4-pack of seedlings for $1.99 each (kale, choy, lettuce, collards). I thought Lowe's was around the same price, if not cheaper.

3/19/2013 4:19:49 PM

Lowe's is def gonna be cheaper than Logan's, The Garden Supply Co or even the farmers market in some cases. I think you get better plants and seedlings at the local nurseries like Logan's or farmers market booths, and they are usually buying theirs from places like Tarheel Nursery if they don't grow their own. So with a drive you can pay less. If I'm buying a ton of plants, I'll go there from now on (or the place across the street that sells trees and shrubs) when I'm starting my garden for veggies or beds. Random pick ups in between I'll go local. This is what I posted in the thread last year...

Quote :

"all the veggies (the little plastic cubes of 3, so 21) & herbs (4'' pot) = 30 seedlings total banana tree was 15'' pot about 1' high aloe was 12'' pot forsythia & honeysuckle 20'' pot, both are btw 3 & 4 feet tall ($7.50 each...saw smaller forsythia in the same size pot at lowes for $16) the flat of marigolds and zinnias (in 4'' pots) were $14 each forgot to mention a 9'' hanging plant, 9'' geranium, 6'' lantana grand total...$120 "

the cubes weren't the traditional 6 pack you see at lowes, but a 3'' cube. they were large seedlings. ridiculous savings even with gas.

3/19/2013 11:11:38 PM

Getting down to 26 degrees Thursday night

3/20/2013 7:43:25 AM

^dang, may put out some plastic bags over the veggies i already have in the ground. (but gotta make sure to remove them the next morning)

3/20/2013 9:28:06 AM

Anyone have thoughts on old seeds? I have some that are two years old. I could go and buy a new lot (9 packets) or just try and germinate these ones. I understand that usually just not as many sprout, yes?

3/21/2013 2:28:21 AM

Quote :

" I also have another question: why do seeds have expiration dates that are usually no more than a year or two? is it just that they are less likely to germinate? i have dozens of expired seed pouches. "

Quote :

" you can try to plant them. Seed packets are sold with a guaranteed viability rate, usually 90-95%. This is why they have the expiration dates. Some seeds are short lived and will dry out and die after a year and a half, such as beans. Others are quite long-lived and can be planted long after a year with decent germination, but the packets are still labeled the same. So, go ahead and try to sprout those expired seeds. Just put more seeds per pot, and if you have 2 germinate close by, transplant very early. "

3/21/2013 10:31:51 AM

i'm "incubating" my old seeds now. 5 days, no sprouts yet.

3/21/2013 12:25:52 PM

This is kinda gardening relating since it involves plants.....Does anyone here have decent experience with house plants, ivy in particular? I need some help/advice on what I should do next with my ivy. I have three and each one has its own quirks. I can supply pictures and such upon request.

3/21/2013 2:53:59 PM

I am going to try and make a trellis out of some kind of fencing or wire + planks or pipe, not really sure yet. The whole 16 foot back side of my garden is against a fence and I'm going to put my vines there, but buying a trellis is holy shit expensive.

3/21/2013 3:36:48 PM

how's everyone's garden going?

4/1/2013 9:41:53 PM