Backyard Gardening

[Whiteguy492]

Anyone have any good experience with backyard gardening for vegetables and/or fruits? We tried it for the first time last year with minimal success. Whether it be planting too late or not having the right soil or combinations, and lots of weeds. I was hoping to get it right this year.

I plan on doing more of a raised bed in the area I want to work to allow for better soil and not just hard ground "dirt." We have a lot of simple Burpee seeds, which I went through their website to see when we should start sowing.

We had a lot of success with Roma/Cherry/"Vine" tomatoes. So we'll probably do that again. The corn grew well, but we have a huge issue with ear wigs and they were all over them which ended up turning us off and we fed the cobs to the squirrels. Planted Serrano, Jalapeno, Banana, and Bell Peppers to minimal success, maybe about 2-3 fruits per plant. Peas and Pole Beans went no where, strawberries went no where. Pumpkins we planted too late, and radishes we planted too late (80°+ radishes, nu uh!!).

I was hoping to find a good garden planner, one that can help me plan where to plant everything and when. I looked at one, but it gave me like 50+ varieties of each plant and the planner was meh at best.

Any thoughts? I'll be sure to post pictures too!

 

[Lawrence]

The easiest way to guarantee success is to create a "no-dig gardening" bed. If raised it is pretty easy.
Google how to do it as there are a number of ways and theories.
I got my flat mate started on a raised bed on concrete.
Start off with a thick layer of newspaper to cover the bottom.
Followed by a layer of straw, then a sprinkling of organic manure, a layer of pea straw or lucerne, more organic manure. Repeat these layers as often as possible (except the newspaper).
Once you have your desired height add a final layer of good quality compost - this need not be very thick at all. Then wherever you want to plant seeds or seedlings add potting/growing mix (just enough to take the seed/seedling).
Water well and be patient!
Initially your bed will be very high because of the straw content but this will break down quite quickly and the bed will drop.
Google "No dig gardening" tons of stuff on the Internet.
Because of the ingredients used in the bed you will also have a pest free garden.

 

[co2jae]

Raised bed plots were the answer for me. 3 beds. Each 3 feet wide, 12 feet long. I used 2x12 lumber to build them. My wife went to a workshop put on by our local agricultural college and came home with enough education to get our family set for fresh veggies. Good luck!

 

[Whiteguy492]

I'm looking at a 6' x 16', using 1" x 8" as the frame and putting it a little bit into the ground to prevent the grass growing under it. But I'm sure Lawrence's advice with newpaper and straw should prevent weeds and grass long enough for them to die off and not make it through. There are also roots from grape vines coming out the middle/back crawling against the fence line.

I think I'm going to companion plant corn and pole beans near the 6" section against the fence, but the rest I am unsure. I do have a large, 6' x probably 6' area wide open but the pumpkins took up all that space and then some, but I didn't train them so they just grew wherever.

I may just have to make a quick little template on like excel and just start placing stuff and see where it might all fit in.