Author
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Topic: How to learn gardening from scratch
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500_Apples
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 12684
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posted 03 October 2008 01:38 PM
So I moved into a new place recently with a massive backyard, massive by the standards of what I'm used to. I thought it might be nice to grow a few things for kicks, and a bit of food could be good too once/if hyperinflation strikes. I'm not sure what doesn't take years to grow... I assume herbs... maybe some plants/fruits though I doubt it. So a few questions: 1) Any recommended easy how to guides? 2) Is there anything that needs to be done before the winter? I'm in columbus, ohio; we get snow here, though maybe half as much as what I'm used to. 3) Random tidbits?
From: Montreal, Quebec | Registered: Jun 2006
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Tommy_Paine
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 214
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posted 03 October 2008 02:23 PM
I used to have cousins in Columbus, Ohio, and visited there quite often in the 60's and 70's. Random tidbits:
From experience, if you intend to plant herbs, think of them as invasive weeds. Common Thyme, if left to go to seed will become quite a garden pest. So can mint, but this can be avoided if it is planted in a container. Mint spreads by rhisome. Be wary of any plant that spreads by rhisome. Sage is easily contained, and it's harvestable throughout the year, and the flowers are attractive. And garlic is more flavourful fresh from the garden-- though it takes two seasons before you can harvest it. But you can plant it late into the season. Growing vegetables for economic reasons might actually not give you any cost benefit in an urban setting. A better way might be to learn more about food preservation, and take advantage of low prices at harvest times. Of course, you cannot put a price on absolutely fresh stuff you grow yourself. Economically, a herb garden might show a better cost benefit analysis, if you actually use them alot. An easy way to brighten up a backyard is to throw wild flower mixes here and there. The time to do that is soon. It's also the prime time to do weeding, if you disdain the use of chemicals and do it by hand.
From: The Alley, Behind Montgomery's Tavern | Registered: Apr 2001
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ElizaQ
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 9355
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posted 03 October 2008 02:55 PM
If you want something simple and easy check out the book, Square Foot Gardening or just look it up online. You don't need massive amounts of space to grow just a little food. This book makes the whole thing really, really easy as it lays out the planting plans and times step by step. I'd also look up "No dig gardening" in google. I'm a no dig gardener and I'd recommend looking into those techniques. For instance this fall you can pick out the places you want for your beds and lay down some sort of smothering material. Weed barrier, carpet or plastic. I get sheets of it free from the local lumber yard. Most just throw out the large wrappers that the lumber comes in and more then happy for you to take it because it cuts down on their disposal costs. What happens is any grass or weeds are simply smothered and decompose into the soil adding to the organic matter, which is what you want anyways. Plus it doesn't disrupt the soil structure as much and can give you a bit of a head start on building your soil. Then in the spring you pull up the material and like magic you have plain soil to work with and no sod to dig through. It saves a lot on what can be backbreaking work digging new beds. Then it depends on what kind of soil you have on how much loosening up you'll have to do to plant as well as other ammendments you might need.
From: Eastern Lakes | Registered: May 2005
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Boom Boom
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 7791
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posted 03 October 2008 03:12 PM
I'm learning through practice and experimenting. One of the things I've noticed is that composting is really slow here, because the climate isn't warm enough - at least, I think that's the reason. I only had half as much compost this spring as I expected.A friend has a huge tiller, so he tilled my garden last year and this. However, I'm hoping to buy the small Mantis tiller, so I can till the inside of the greenhouse, and some smaller gardens I have, that the big tiller can not get into. I've learned that most folks here use seaweed for fertilizer, which is free - and I had a great garden this year after covering it with seaweed last fall. There's a local peat moss supply on the island, tons of it, all free, but it's a lot work to dig up by hand - the mossy ground is too soft to get a vehicle or power equipment in, so after digging up the peat moss you need, you then have to wheelbarrow it about 300 yards to your vehicle. A lot of work! There's no cost benefit to all this gardening for me - it's a labour of love, and something to do in my retirement. As I mentioned in another thread, I give about 60% of my produce away to friends and neighbours for all the help they give me in the year.
From: Make the rich pay! | Registered: Dec 2004
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bagkitty
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 15443
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posted 03 October 2008 05:01 PM
What the others have said about mint... wickedly invasive be careful.You might consider planting some Bee Balm (Bergamot -- monarda didyma), it is a hardy perennial with bright blooms, attracts pollinators to your garden, and its leaves (fresh or dried) can be used to make tea. (Note, bergamot is also the name of a citrus fruit that gives Earl Grey tea its flavour, Bee Balm is a separate plant). Nastursiums are also useful (flowers are edible and brighten up a salad, slight peppery taste) -- they are not perennial, but produce substantial seeds that you can use the following spring. As for tidbits... if you are harvesting seeds from any annuals (vegetables or flowers), they are best stored in a cool dark place... like a refrigerator. A word of warning, whole produce items (especially apples) give off gases which can inhibit germination of seeds so make certain if you are storing seeds in your fridge to keep them in a totally airtight container, preferably glass. Don't store your seeds in the freezer. [ 03 October 2008: Message edited by: bagkitty ]
From: Calgary | Registered: Aug 2008
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ebodyknows
recent-rabble-rouser
Babbler # 14948
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posted 05 October 2008 04:41 PM
Fruit trees might take a bit of time to start producing but that is not a reason to not plant them. Thinking about the environment isn't helped by a gratification now kind of mentality.I'm speaking from the perspective of someone who has benefited a lot from the efforts of apricot/pear/apple/service berry/ mullberry planters of yesterday this summer. I've been harvesting urban fruit through http://www.notfarfromthetree.org. I discovered even a fairly small tree that the current owners don't really give any attention to can yield an incredible amount of food. Typically one tree provided a bounty to be shared between home owners an entire team of volunteers and donations to 3rd parties. Fruit trees are awesome. Second, while there is a lot of talk warning about invasive plants it might be another strategy to use the quick growing wide spreading low maintenance qualities of certain plants to your advantage. If your not worried about growing a wide varierty of things in neatly kept boundries why not let something go wild and reap the benefits of its prolificness. I'd suggest amaranth as a plant to look into. Third, how about opening up the space to the community? Maybe there are more experienced gardners around you who are looking for a place to grow. I find gardening with others pleasing as a social activity plus everyone benefits from each others knowledge and skill base. Check this out for inspiration: http://www.sharingbackyards.com/browse/Vancouver,BC&welcome_box=3 [ 05 October 2008: Message edited by: ebodyknows ]
From: toronto | Registered: Feb 2008
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al-Qa'bong
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3807
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posted 05 October 2008 07:34 PM
I broke a new backyard a few years back. The first thing I did was to get out my spade and start digging. I turned over the patch I wanted to garden the fall before planting. In the spring I hauled in two half-ton loads of manure and spread it over everywhere.I pretty well proceeded as I would have normally done from there. If I were in your position I'd put in some potatoes, peas, green beans, lettuce, tomatoes and zucchini. There are usually never-fail veggies so you will probably have decent production in the first year. You can grow herbs any old place, including planters, so don't use up garden space with them, unless you're growing basil. I devote quite a bit of the garden to my basil, but I'm mad about pesto.
From: Saskatchistan | Registered: Feb 2003
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SwimmingLee
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 14847
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posted 07 October 2008 08:17 AM
Earthworms (and the red worms used in Vermiculture) are very impressive to me. There's not many animals that can convert dirt into a form of protein that is edible by humans.With cows, the dirt is a food source for a plant that is a food source for an animal that is a food source for some human beings. Or, for human vegetarians, the dirt is a food source for plants, grains & legumes, which - given enough water and energy in the form of sunshine - become a food source for humans. Yet, the lowly worm, without any additional energy inputs, is somehow able to convert dirt into protein. Admittedly, not many of us would jump at the chance to eat "pesto sauteed earthworms" - but that's more of a cultural thing. Some of us are willing to pay big bucks for the near equivalent in the form of escargot. [ 07 October 2008: Message edited by: SwimmingLee ]
From: LASIK-FLap.com ~ Health Warning about LASIK Eye Surgery | Registered: Dec 2007
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Tommy_Paine
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 214
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posted 07 October 2008 01:42 PM
If you can eat them raw, enjoy shiny spandex, then you can likely get a job with Vince McMahon on WWE....Seems to me gardners spend alot of time and effort on composting. I used to, until one day I realized that all I want to happen is for stuff to rot outside. which, it will do. I put it in a pile and leave it alone, now. The only thing I add is patience.
From: The Alley, Behind Montgomery's Tavern | Registered: Apr 2001
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Tommy_Paine
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 214
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posted 07 October 2008 04:39 PM
I've never quite got the hang of composting the day to day kitchen waste. I'd like to put things like today's sweet potato peelings (Rebecca West made sweet potato soup tonight, with ginger, and garum masala. Yum) on the back garden, but it tends to bring the local skunk into the yard more often if I do that. Although, I do have remedies for skunk spray, as Spike our cat got sprayed earlier this summer, but it's a hassle I can do without. Never had too much problems with vermin. Skunks aren't that bad-- unless you have an adventurous cat, or a dog. (Zoetheevilandsataniccatfromthedeepestpitsofhell is our other cat, but she and skunks get along splendidly) Mice, well... as long as they stay outside, I don't have a problem with them. And, they stay outside. Yellow Jackets have been a problem here, but I've learned a few tricks in controlling them over the years. I've never seen a politically incorrect rat in all my years in this house, but we have the politically correct kind-- squirrels. They are increadible pests, to be sure. There are ways to discourage them, but other than killing them there is no sure way of stopping them from damaging a garden.
From: The Alley, Behind Montgomery's Tavern | Registered: Apr 2001
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