What should I plant in my garden this year?

[jeny]

I'm going to plant my flats in the basement in the nxt few weeks. I plan to buy the supplies this weekend, assuming I don't have a baby instead.

Anyway, what should I plant this year? I have more space, or I wil once we rototill the extra space so I'm looking for ideas.

[ponygurl]

I'm going to plant my flats in the basement in the nxt few weeks. I plan to buy the supplies this weekend, assuming I don't have a baby instead.

Anyway, what should I plant this year? I have more space, or I wil once we rototill the extra space so I'm looking for ideas.

Vegetables.. ;D

[jeny]

Vegetables.. ;D


Yes, what should I plant in my VEGETABLE garden. My husband is planning the flower beds which are all in the front yard and his responsibility anyway.

[ponygurl]

Yes, what should I plant in my VEGETABLE garden. My husband is planning the flower beds which are all in the front yard and his responsibility anyway.

I'm a perrenial fan. More things are hardy there than here.

[Unca Walt]

Save a small spot for catnip.

Another for cilantro.

[kathleen]

What do you plant already?

Do you more of what you already have or something different? What are your personal tastes? If your husband hates beets, for example, there is no point growing them.

I used to divide my growing space into 3 different areas - herbs, veggies and fruit/orchard.

I'd dedicate a growing space to a herb garden, how big it is is dependent on your needs. In this space you could have a combo of perrenials and annuals, just make sure you adequately protect the perrenials during the non-growing season or during frost. Do you even get frost in California?

You already have orange trees, do you want to add some raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries or some other fruits? Again, it depends on your personal preferences.

By far, the biggest space for me is for veggies. Tomatoes are versatile and so much better homegrown than from the store. Things like potatos and corn (and some squash species) take up a lot of space - you are going to have to decide if you have the room. Think about things like broccoli or cauliflower or cabbage (not alot of people grow these) but you have to be really careful about insects with these plants.

Green beans, carrots, radish, lettuce, peas, onions, etc are some of the common veggies people plant and need no special care.

Also, consider companion gardening. It really works. Even if some people don't understand the principles behind it and consider it bullshit. Here's a link:

companion planting (http://colleenscorner.com/Cplants2.html)

[kathleen]

Save a small spot for catnip.

Another for cilantro.


Yes and yes.

I've never had a garden without dillweed. Nor without garlic. Need both for homemade dill pickles. ;D

[MADG]

Plant sturdy, high-yield, plants that are not too aggressive (like scallions or some squashes), and that don’t have a large footprint (IE: take up too much space), and that are resistant to your local pests.

Up here in MA, I was most successful with tomatoes and various peppers… and my neighbor is very successful with cucumbers.

(You should have some cherry tomatoes to refresh yourself whilst toiling in the garden.)

Cabbages and lettuces are pretty sturdy, but need a fairly large footprint… (an almost two foot-diameter circle, in most cases). Things like cauliflower, broccoli, and beans are nice, but you need to plant a LOT of them in order to get a family-sized serving. (Home-grown broccoli and cauliflower sprouted in individual flowerets, not in great heads like you see in the market… and bean vines need lots of room.)

Many herbs can be grown indoors year-round… (I’m fond of fresh chives and parsley… but although I love it, I never had good luck with cilantro).

I had an oregano plant outside that lasted several years, although it gradually diminished in potency and was somewhat aggressive. Surprisingly, Miss Phyllis LOVED it! :)

Fresh mint is also nice to have on hand, but can be VERY aggressive… it can go from herb to WEED in a remarkably short time.

Ask your hubby to include some edible flowers in his displays… they make for lovely and special garnish… (and if HE does it then it saves YOU the room and trouble!) I forget which ones I had… I remember small, red and orange blossoms, looking like small snapdragons. It is VERY important that those special garnish touches be edible…

… function before form. ;)

[jeny]

Some excellent ideas. I like to have a BIG garden because our growing season is so long. It's just barely under three months out of the year when I can't grow SOMETHING.

This year I would like to try to can and jar some veggies, so that's why we're expanding the garden.

Last year I did two varieties of corn and that turned out well, but I'm planting a few more rows this year because we went through it like crazy. The carrots turned out so-so and they took up a lot of space so I'm going to skip that this year since they;re so cheap to buy anyway. Same thing with potatoes, they are cheap at the store and a pain in the butt to grow anyhow.

So, tomatoes for sure. LOTS of big juicy, yummy, red...mmm, yeah, lots, and also I'll do some cherry tomates this year since we're expanding. I'll also do some green beans because my husband loves them so much. I'm not a big fan and they do take up a lot of space, but worth it for him.

Squash. Hmm, last year I don't know what happened to my zuchinni, but they didn't yield at all. I'm going to try again though this year, maybe I just got a bad batch of seeds. I'm also going to try some yellow squash and maybe some pumpkins.

cucumbers are a must, a large plot of cucumbers because I could eat about 50 of them a day.

That pretty much takes care of my "veggie" portion of the garden. I should have plenty of room for the new additions considering I'm not going to grow the carrots. Oh, I might try some peas this year too.

Last year I considered some melons and berries, but I never got around to it. This is where the expanded part of the garden comes in. I want canteloupe at least and watermelons. I would also love strawberries.

So all that, plus the grapevines and fruit trees, I think we should be set on produce for the entire year if my canning and jarring is successful. ;D

Whta do you think? Too ambitious? I love to work in the garden, I have plenty of time to do it since I'm at home all day. Alexa can play in the yard, the baby can watch me from the bouncy seat. ;D

Yes and yes.

I've never had a garden without dillweed. Nor without garlic. Need both for homemade dill pickles. ;D


I always loved my mom's homemade pickles. I'm not a big pickle fan either. Man when those are done right they are the best.

[kathleen]

I always loved my mom's homemade pickles. I'm not a big pickle fan either. Man when those are done right they are the best.


My sister gave me some jars at Christmas. Usually her preserves are really good but maybe she had a bad year for pickles or something because they were pretty soft and soggy.

I threw them out. I can't eat soft pickles. Yuck.

[kathleen]

Hey Jen,

Don't forget to leave some room for a marijuana plant or two. ;D ;)

My sister gave me some jars at Christmas. Usually her preserves are really good but maybe she had a bad year for pickles or something because they were pretty soft and soggy.

I threw them out. I can't eat soft pickles. Yuck.



Hmmmm. ;D

[kathleen]

Hmmmm. ;D


I had an uncle who loved drinking the pickle juice from the jar.

You kind of remind me of him. ;D

I had an uncle who loved drinking the pickle juice from the jar.

You kind of remind me of him. ;D



No doubt your favorite uncle. ;D

[kathleen]

No doubt your favorite uncle. ;D


As a matter of fact, he was. :o

He died of cancer a good 10 years ago. Maybe he reincarnated into you. Anything funny happen to you about 10 years ago or so? ;D

Wait, nevermind, most likely never happened. He would never have bought and valued a pair of alligator skin boots. ;)

[jeny]

Hey Jen,

Don't forget to leave some room for a marijuana plant or two. ;D ;)


;D right, you know how much I loke to toke it up.

[kathleen]

;D right, you know how much I loke to toke it up.


Hell with toking it up, you can start a home business, you know, for a few extra bucks. ;D

As a matter of fact, he was. :o

He died of cancer a good 10 years ago. Maybe he reincarnated into you. Anything funny happen to you about 10 years ago or so? ;D

Wait, nevermind, most likely never happened. He would never have bought and valued a pair of alligator skin boots. ;)



This is weird, I began drinking pickle juice some ten years ago.

The boots are lizard not alligator. :)

[jeny]

Hell with toking it up, you can start a home business, you know, for a few extra bucks. ;D


Yeah, can you imagine me, Alexa in a stroller, the baby in the sling, behind the local grocery store selling dime bags? ;D

[kathleen]

This is weird, I began drinking pickle juice some ten years ago.

Interesting............. ;D

The boots are lizard not alligator. :)


My mistake. Sorry. :-[

[ponygurl]

Jen.. if you are going to preserve veggies.. frozen is the way to go. I have done veggies in many ways.. but with frozen you just do not need the salt or the processing time to preserve them, so they are all around healthier for you.

[kathleen]

Yeah, can you imagine me, Alexa in a stroller, the baby in the sling, behind the local grocery store selling dime bags? ;D


No, not really. ;D

I wouldn't suggest that you take it seriously (as if you would :D). The drug laws in the US are really draconian (not like here) and while a goodly amount of normal, hardworking, tax-paying, otherwise law-abiding citizens indulge in this pasttime, there are an equal amount of scumbags involved in this underground market.

You certainly do not want to expose your children to them. :)

[jeny]

Jen.. if you are going to preserve veggies.. frozen is the way to go. I have done veggies in many ways.. but with frozen you just do not need the salt or the processing time to preserve them, so they are all around healthier for you.


When ever I try to freeze fruit or veggies, they end up mushy and gross, so what's the big secret?

[jeny]

No, not really. ;D

I wouldn't suggest that you take it seriously (as if you would :D). The drug laws in the US are really draconian (not like here) and while a goodly amount of normal, hardworking, tax-paying, otherwise law-abiding citizens indulge in this pasttime, there are an equal amount of scumbags involved in this underground market.

You certainly do not want to expose your children to them. :)


Of course. ;)

[kathleen]

Jen.. if you are going to preserve veggies.. frozen is the way to go. I have done veggies in many ways.. but with frozen you just do not need the salt or the processing time to preserve them, so they are all around healthier for you.


Not necessarily. Frozen is good, if you do it right very few of the nutrients are lost.

But canning can be just as good. It does take more time but I don't think time is a factor for Jen. Plus, you don't need to take up the freezer space. And, in case of blackout, your preserves won't spoil from lack of electricity.

[kathleen]

When ever I try to freeze fruit or veggies, they end up mushy and gross, so what's the big secret?


Some things are better to freeze than others. I'll try to dig up a list.

Blanching is the answer to freezing most veggies. Depending on the veggie, you dunk them in boiling water from anywhere from a few seconds to a minute or two, cool them quickly in ice water and then freeze. This gets rid of an enzyme in the vegetables that can cause mushiness when freezing.

[kathleen]

Of course. ;)


Naturally.

There is no doubt in my mind that you are a good mother. You are nothing like those women who shoot up and fall asleep leaving their toddlers to play on a busy street without supervision. ::)

Can you actually believe shit like that happens?

[kathleen]

freezing vegetables (http://wywy.essortment.com/freezevegetable_rtzf.htm)

The first thing to remember is that not all produce can be successfully frozen. This list includes potatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, and celery. These items tend to turn soft and mushy when they are frozen, then thawed out. Other vegetables such as onions, peppers, and tomatoes can be frozen onlyif you are going to use them in a cooked recipe, such as soups or casseroles, later on.They are not real tasty to eat raw after they have been frozen. Green beans, peas, and the like can be frozen and then removed from the freezer, cooked, and served. They tend to hold their shape and good taste. Fruits such as apples, particularly if they are made into applesauce first, is an especially good fruit to freeze, as are peaches, strawberries, and blueberries. Fruits such as bananas and pineapple should be eaten fresh and not frozen.

[kathleen]

BTW, I don't agree with not freezing bananas. I have done so successfully. You have to use the thawed bananas in bread or cake after freezing though.

[jeny]

Naturally.

There is no doubt in my mind that you are a good mother. You are nothing like those women who shoot up and fall asleep leaving their toddlers to play on a busy street without supervision. ::)

Can you actually believe shit like that happens?


No. :'(

[ponygurl]

I have frozen corn, peas, green and yellow beans, cabbage, beets,cauliflower, broccoli, okra(for soup), tomatoes, onions, green peppers.
Get yourself a blancher, and a freezing food book.
I have to say, though, I disregard the blanching times they say in the book. I bring the veggies to a rolling boil, then cool quickly and bag. If green beans just turn colour, they are done enough to freeze for ultiimum freshness and flavour. They say to blanche veggies to release the gases that could cause spoiling. I say hogwash. I have never had a bag of veggies spoil yet. Veggies blanched for less time are more sweet and flavourful, and way less mushy.
I scrape corn off the cob and bring it to a boil to freeze it. This has to be done SLOWLY ..it scorches easily. And I have to say..I have tasted no better corn or peas than what I have frozen except straight from the garden.

[kathleen]

I have frozen corn, peas, green and yellow beans, cabbage, beets,cauliflower, broccoli, okra(for soup), tomatoes, onions, green peppers.

See, another example of how we are a product of our environment. ;D

I would never think to freeze tomatoes because my Mom never did. She canned tomatoes and so I do too. The only way I would freeze tomatoes is to make them into a sauce first.

Everything else is OK to freeze, IMHO, though Mom never froze (and therefore neither have I) onions. I see no point. They can last a whole winter in a properly controlled root cellar or pantry.

[ponygurl]

See, another example of how we are a product of our environment. ;D

I would never think to freeze tomatoes because my Mom never did. She canned tomatoes and so I do too. The only way I would freeze tomatoes is to make them into a sauce first.

Everything else is OK to freeze, IMHO, though Mom never froze (and therefore neither have I) onions. I see no point. They can last a whole winter in a properly controlled root cellar or pantry.

I make sauce too. When i freeze tomatoes, I use them for soups, and to make macaroni and cheese with tomatoes.
Right now I have quite a few frozen tomotoes.. that I do not forsee using. I am going to try to recook them into salsa and jar it.

[kathleen]

When i freeze tomatoes, I use them for soups, and to make macaroni and cheese with tomatoes.

I figured. Tomatoes are one of those foods with a high water content that don't freeze well. Get's all mushy. But that makes them great for soups or casseroles, I imagine.

I've frozen tomato sauce and paste successfully.

[kathleen]

Don't forget about basic landscaping/garden design, Jen. Some people like to sketch out a rudimentary design with pencil and paper before they start pulling the seeds/bedding plants out.

I'm not too keen on the traditional way of planting veggies in long straight rows. I prefer the plot idea (with walkways inbetween) which are narrow enough for you to reach into the middle of the plot. We just discovered the idea of "raised beds" from a couple in Alaska that we are web buddies with (in colder climates it can increase the growing season by a significant amount) and I am absolutely in love with the idea. I can't wait to try it out.

As for basic design, much depends on your personal preference and aesthetic appeal. I tend to dislike the cultured, manicured look of many "designed" gardens like some of the English gardens. The only exception I make is for the Japanese garden look - it is obviously tightly controlled for it's look, but it also has a balance to it that is extremely pleasant. For me anyway. The first time I saw a Japanese garden design I totally fell in love with it.

But generally speaking, I prefer a more natural, wild look for my garden. I like a balance between a planned garden and a wild one. That's the look that is perfect for me.

English garden design (Yuck):

http://teahousehome.com/Albums/VancouverApril2003/images/pcbutchsunken1.JPG

Japanese garden (swoon) ;D:

http://www.asianinfo.org/asianinfo/japan/pictures/japanese_garden.jpg

More like the garden look I prefer, something that naturally blends into the surroundings:

http://www.landandseascapes.com/jpeg/water1lg.jpeg

Do you plan to play around with water and/or rock gardens? You can also design a garden for specific purposes - to attract butterflies, birds and/or other wildlife, for example.