2009 Garden Plans

[TylerDurdinUMD]

What do you have planned for 2009?

After all, it is March, and that's the start of the season!

I just reviewed what I grew last year.  I tried about a dozen things, half worked, half didn't.  My peas went gangbusters, so they'll be back on the list.  I had good luck with basil and squash, and tomatoes did okay.  Green beans good, carrots okay.  Peppers flopped, but I think my sandy soil did them in.  I got some good MD clay dirt from my brother and I think I may mix it and pot it for a couple pepper plants.  I also want to do lettuce this year (last year it flopped, but weather didn't cooperate), and also potatoes (nothing like new red potatoes!).

Anyone else thinking about this planting season (with the snow coming down outside)?

[hdobrynski]

I've thought about doing a garden again this year with the kids. Last year I planted corn, roma tomatoes, beefsteak tomatoes, cucumbers, and pumpkins. The corn didn't make it and neither did the cucumbers. I had beautiful pumpkin vines, until a borer did them in. The only thing that did well (and I mean really well) were the roma tomatoes. Sucks for me, because I hate raw tomatoes. Luckily I know how to make a great sauce.The small patch we used to plant doesn't get sun until late in the afternoon.

[MissA]

I'm thinking of heading to Lowe's down the road and buy the needed materials to make a veggie/herb garden.. and maybe try my hand at some fruits. i have a ton of space for little gardens like this. Thinking of doing squash/zucchini, corn, tomatoes, carrots.. maybe some others. I'd love to be able to grow my own and eat fresh without the huge cost.

I'd LOVE to have a raspberry and blueberry bush. I had a raspberry bush at my grandma's. LOVED it. So tasty.

[BungholioDoug]

I'm keeping it simple.

Spring:  Spinach, Loose Leaf lettuce, and radishes.  Maybe some green onions.

Summer:  Green beans, summer squash, 4-6 tomatoes (random varieties), and 2-4 hot pepper plants (random varieties).  A parsly, basil, and oregano plant too. (oregano is a perennial, mine keeps coming back every year).

Fall: spinach and lettuce again (these will grow all winter in a cold frame as well).

[Kronin]

I've never heard of anybody exporting MD clay as a superior medium for anything. Good job!

[TylerDurdinUMD]

I have relatively sandy soil, into which I mixed peat moss for water retention.  While most plants seem to like this treatment, peppers come out all weak and pathetic.  Since moving from Maryland, I have been unable to grow a decent hot pepper.  My best guess of the cause is the soil - I believe I need some brick-hard clay soil with air-choking properties and water imperiability once baked to create the proper environment to piss off the pepper plants so they put some flavor into that jonx!

[MissA]

mmm spinach. I didn't think of that.

[vripley]

1-acre of California Gold.

[BungholioDoug]

>I've never heard of anybody exporting MD clay as a superior medium for anything. Good job!

Thank you.  I'm the one who exported it from MD to NJ.  And yet, I never received any sandy NJ baggies in return.  Go figure....
Something about hot peppers, the more you abuse them, the more fire in the hole you get back from them!

[TylerDurdinUMD]

Started some tomatoes and peppers indoors yesterday. 
Garden season 2010 is underway (as the snow falls outside).

Actually going to do the clay-dirt pot thing this year for the peppers... forgot to do it last year, and the plants flopped again.  Also going to put herbs in pots on the deck (garden herbs grow well, but I never wander that far out while cooking to grab them). 

My son wants to grow a whole pumpkin patch, too.  I have no idea where to put this thing.  We'll see.

I should also get some fruit from my berry patches started last summer.  Strawberries, blackberries and grapes, as well as an asparagus plot!

[vripley]

Indoor growing is an excellent idea. I was planning on adding some Blackberry bushes to my crop... Perhaps I will start them indoors as well!

[TylerDurdinUMD]

With Blackberries (and most berries), you will probably do best to pick up existing stock.  From a nursury, you can get 2-3 year old canes, already well established, and that will put you significantly closer to getting at least a handful of berries (instead of just 1-3).