When, Lord willing, we get back to North Carolina, I want to start a garden. I've never gardened. I am not even really sure I'd enjoy it. But, I'm sick of paying exorbitant amounts for produce and getting waxy fruit, veggies that don't last and herbs that cost more than a pack of diapers.
I have no idea where to even start, though. What I'm really wanting is something online to help me out. In my perfect world, there would be a program that asks me what I'd like in my garden, the state in which I live (for climate and soil,) and the amount of land I have available? Then it would spit out a picture result of how exactly I need to lay out the garden. It would show me that the tomatoes need to be by the lettuce because of....well, whatever. If I knew where the tomatoes were supposed to go and why, I wouldn't need the program.
Then it would give me more pictures of the tools I would need to get said garden started. It would also provide me with a reminder system. It would be linked to the local weather to let me know that Saturday would be a good day to water the garden, because it'll be nice and cool. But don't water on Monday, because it's going to rain.
See...how hard is that? Is this really too much to ask?
16 comments:
So what you're saying is that you're going to keep buying produce at the store?
If you do start a garden, start off slow... I'd recommend starting with a rock garden or something.
Are you dissing Texas produce?????
We've had several gardens. Tomatoes are terribly easy. Cucumbers too. All I know is don't plant anything too close to hot things like peppers or the hot can bleed over to the other produce.
Also, get a Farmer's Almanac (it's online too)
When I mentioned that I wanted to start gardening, Wil laughed and bought me a bamboo plant, which apparently was impossible to kill. I have more a motivation now to do better since there's something incredibly satisfying about being able to feed my own kid with the food I grow. I'll be following you on this one.
I would love a website like that!
We started a garden this year but started small. We only planted tomatoes. We've had good luck with those so we will be a little braver next year and add a couple of other things.
i have been planting a veggie garden for the past few years. it's much easier than it sounds. the first year i planted one i had a couple of types oftomatoes, broccoli, watermelon, and i think eggplant. i've tried several different veggies since then. it's a trial and error thing. i couldn't grow corn to save my life, but my cucumbers are some of the best. my advice, don't stress, and grow stuff you'd actually eat. right now, the only things i will actually eat is the tomatoes, broccoli, and zuchinni, but i also planted several types of peppers, sweet potatoes, watermelon, and cucumbers.
sorry, this is like a post instead of just a comment.
Actually, I'm not so sure that what you want to find on the Internet isn't already out there. and also--"Jalking?" cracked me up.
I completely agree with you about the produce prices being way high and the quality being rather low! I think your idea of a garden is great...I also think that we should start calling you Farmer Huse!
Hey girl - I am in Texas too. We tried growing Jalapenos this year fairly successfully! On the suggestion of another friend - we will try a "Salsa Garden" next spring: jalapenos, serranos, cilantro, tomatoes, etc. I am thinking of getting one of those 1/2 barrels to do it in. The jalapenos we grew were very tasty - but only about the size of the first part of your thumb - so about an inch long maybe and inch and a half.
Oh - and as you know - jalapenos, serranos, tomatos and cilantro were all suspected of carrying salmonella this summer all over the U.S.A.
Home grown would mean we wouldn't have to worry!
I would suggest this late in the year do container first. But then again I have no idea of your weather out there in Texas. Garden clubs are EVERYWHERE! And of course if you let someone know you are attempting a garden, ther will inevitably be someone who will give you advise on how to grow the perfect veggies.
Me the only advise I have is Horse Poop and LOTS of it. Always helped my garden at my old house. MD has not let me do a garden here yet.
Good luck and keep us updated on how it goes.
lol OCD much?? :) ok, if there is a website like that, i will start a garden with you! i have an idea! i'll supply you with the info ('cause you just know my family had a 3 acre garden every year and this girl can pull some serious weeds!), and you design the website. and in our spare time we'll teach the girls how to pull weeds and water the okra. haha....
We had done a garden the last few years. I really wish we had a pic of our first one! It was humorous, everything basically on top of everything else. We still don't really know what we are doing. This program sounds like a good thing!
I've had a small garden for the past 10 years here in Michigan. It is so easy. I just plant and see what grows. No rhyme or reason here! So far so good!
Whatever you decide to garden, or wherever, I STRONGLY recommend using microbes (in the soil, and/or spray topically). Whatever you grow will grow 3 times the normal size, last 3 times as long, taste 3 times as good and be 3 times as healthy!
I just go down the street to the local farmer and buy from them. No weeds to pull!
keppel
I've been able to email most of y'all back, but if I haven't, sorry!
Thanks for all the help. You better believe I'll be coming back here to check out everything you said when we finally get somewhere that I can garden!
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