Got gardening tips? Post 'em here--

[Grace]

Originally Posted by Someday

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Containers, small raised beds, and trellises with vining veggies.

I wish y'all could see my garden.

I've one small, 6'x16'(approx 2mx5.5m) plot in the ground where I have about 30 okra plants sprouting, and I've 6 watermelon plants that will run along the ground under the okra---surrounding that little plot is 9 squash plants with marigolds(not edible, but a natural pesticide for flying pests) in between.

I've one little raised bed, 2'x12'(approx .75mx4m). Along one long side I made a trellis with plastic wire fencing. I planted 20 vining green beans in the bed along the trellised side, and on the other of the trellis I have another 20 vining green beans in pots.
Along the other long side of the raised bed I have Nasturtiums----a very pretty flower that blooms all summer---they are helping to shade the roots of the bean vines(which helps down here where it gets so hot) and Nasturtiums are edible---they have a peppery taste.
At the ends of the raised bed I have 2 eggplant plants and 2 marigolds.

The rest of my garden is in containers.

20 tomato plants, each in a 2 gallon pot.

About 20 cucumber plants in 7 one-gallon pots, placed along a short trellis---you can plant 2-3 cucumbers together in a small pot(same with vining green beans.)

I have snow peas planted in 6 rectangular, window-box type containers----three containers on each side of a trellis. I've been harvesting these for a couple months now----it'll soon be too hot for them, and I'll plant some other type of vining bean or peas there.

I've 6 bell pepper plants, each in a 2 gallon pot.

I've bunches of green onions growing thick in 10 one-gallon pots---I will thin these out as I use them for meals(and chop & freeze for seasoning), which will allow the ones I don't dig up early to become bulb onions by winter.

I have a lemon tree that is loaded with fruit and blooms in a huge pot---I'm really proud of this since I'd rescued it last summer from my brother's house and nursed it back from near death.

I have basil growing thick in a 2 gallon pot.....and I've 2 strawberry pots, one with rosemary & oregano and one with cilantro and chives.

I hope my description helps give you an idea of how you can get a good yield in small spaces, someday. I have a huge back yard, and could have a really big garden....but I don't know if I could keep up with it and everything else!

I started a photo album at snapfish-dot-com the other day with pictures of what my 2008 garden is looking like so far. If you have an account there, I can send it to you.

[Someday]

Friendly and Grace,
Tyvm for your input. I am in the process of deciding what plants I am going to plant. So far, other than the normal vegetables, I think some fruit will be good. I'm aiming for a continuous harvest. So I am going to use gooseberry bushes, some red raspberries, black raspberries, a few fruit trees like pear and cherry. I am going to plant a mulberry simply to keep the birds off the other vegetables. I know they cannot resist mulberry. I thought about blueberry, but I understand they prefer acidic soil, and mine is not. Any other ideas?

I started a photo album at snapfish-dot-com the other day with pictures of what my 2008 garden is looking like so far. If you have an account there, I can send it to you.

Thanks, but unfortunately I do not have a snapfish account.
Blessings

[Mycernius]

I heard a good one today on Gardeners Question Time. If you suffer from bad moss just sprinkle small bird seed over it. Pigeons come down to eat it and while trying to get at the seed they push it into the moss and then rip it out to get at it. All you then have to do is just sweep it up in the morning or after the pigeons have left for the day. Great, no chemicals, no real effort on your part, couldn't ask for a greener way.

[Sazzy]

Originally Posted by Mycernius

I heard a good one today on Gardeners Question Time. If you suffer from bad moss just sprinkle small bird seed over it. Pigeons come down to eat it and while trying to get at the seed they push it into the moss and then rip it out to get at it. All you then have to do is just sweep it up in the morning or after the pigeons have left for the day. Great, no chemicals, no real effort on your part, couldn't ask for a greener way.

How neat!

Another suggestion is to send it to me! I love plants, but they wilt in fear when they see me coming. Every plant in my household dies, no matter what I do