Gardening tips?

Ok does anyone grow vegitables?
I need to know how to get started. Robert decided to buy seeds and want a garden. I already got a spot cleared and going to get some black plastic to cover it to smother any weeds/ grass. I have the stuff to richen the soil.

When should I plant them?

I have watermelons, cucumbers, peas, tomatos, bell peppers, lettuce, mustard greens, carrots,cantalope, and pumpkins.
Any advice on this will help me greatly.



Ashley

The only tip I have is, you should have it far apart. For what you're growing, try about a foot or two.

Usually the seed packets say when to grow them and how deep, etc. Yours don't? I know tomatoes are a hot weather plant, so you should plant them pretty soon. It depends on the kind of lettuce, I know some "bolt" if it is too hot when they are growing and become pretty inedible.

If you are a new gardner you may find it easier to go to a nursery and buy young plants. I've yet to be able to grow seedlings (I'm pretty new to gardening, and also am impatient with a bad habit of over watering).

Getting a good gardening book on vegetables is probably the most helpful. Sorry I can't be more helpful myself.

I know that with most vegetables, it is better to grow them up to a small plant in a pete pot - then you can plant them out when they are a little more established. (mainly for the lettuce and tomato) A good tip for the cucumbers is to grow thm up some canes, as this will prevent the veg from lying on the floor and going mouldy - they need TONNES of water during hot weather too!

i would also recommend that you establish the pea plants too, before you plant them out by the canes. I am not sure what aphids and bugs you get there, but it might be an idea to cover the plants with a tight net - this will keep away hungry birds too!

For the soil, I would recommend that you dig the soil and turn it, as opposed to smothering it. Then the weeds and grass will add neutriets themselves - you will need to dig it sometimes again too - throughout season. Chicken poop (or Cluck as we call it here) will also help to make the soil better. You can use horse poop too - which you can usually get free from a local stables!

As for spacing, I would say that you have to leave a foot or so gap between the lines of veg - gives space for harvesting and weeding!

I have just remembered, with the lettuce, plant them in batches - grow up say 6 plants (in the pete pots) one week and another 6 the next and so on - this way, each batch will be ready at a different time, prolonging your produce and preventing having a lot of gone off veg!

I'll see if I can think of anything else - hope this helps you!

IF you can you can look up on the internet how to plant.
Sarah is right you need to get some pot plants and use them first.
You need a fairly big area and need to dig and dig to get the soil all nice and evened out and with out weeds.

If you have a coffee machine, the left over powder after you use the coffee is really good on tomatoes, it gives it a good flavour when they have been matured.

You also need to buy plant food, and some other products.

Its also advisable to Make a fence and cover it so the animals dont go and ruin it.

I think Flisssweetpea will help you out! SHE HAS A LOVELY GARDEN!

The vegetables that I have the most success with are tomatoes. I bought heavy wire tomato towers that were expensive but worth the money. Every year I plant tomato plants; beefsteak or the larger slicing tomatoes that hubby really likes, Roma or Italian tomatoes that I like and they're great for homemade soup and other dishes, and a few regular tomatoes like Early Girl, Better Boy, or whatever plants the garden centers or stores have.

Peppers are more of a challenge because the deer love eating the plants and we have a problem with rabbits, too. The deer also browse on tomato plants, so I set up the tomato towers to try and block the deer from browsing on the plants.

Rabbits and deer eat our beans. I used to be able to grow squash and pumpkins, but we have problems with groundhogs. Groundhogs also love cucumber plants. My sons love homegrown cukes, so i try to at least plant them every year.

I suppose if I was a very dedicated gardener, I'd put up a big garden fence, but I just haven't bothered. It's just a lot of time and work.

Good luck with the veges. I've had a few vege gardens in my life and they are so enjoyable!