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Message |
    
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 4739
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 1:03 pm: |     |
This morning I woke up, and it hit me with a BANG! Time to start the garden...
Then, I read Hank's post about getting the beans in before Pattie's Day and I am chomping at the bit - when will spring happen? |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 2141
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 1:15 pm: | |
mem,
Peas..not beans. give peas a chance first..the beans wont stand a chance until a little later. Something else to try...it may or may not be totally booked up, but if there is still any benchspace left at the greenhouse (the space is rented for $20 from October to May), you can start a bunch of stuff from seed and transplant it when the time is right. Or wait until the Garden Club sale in May and go wild...one of the best deals around. |
SoOrLady
Citizen
Username: Soorlady
Post Number: 1862
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 1:22 pm: | |
mem - you can also start your own little seedlings without leaving the comfort of your home... we used to have a huge garden and every March my window sills would be full of little peat trays. |
Tom Reingold
Supporter
Username: Noglider
Post Number: 5812
Registered: 1-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 1:35 pm: | |
Someone want to show me how to garden? I am a total gardening idiot. I grew up in Manhattan in a 14-story building. I lived in apartments all my life until moving to Maplewood. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 351
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 2:40 pm: | |
There was a really cool (sorry) article in the Star-Ledger Home/Garden section last Thurs or maybe 2 Thurs back about actually starting seeds outside before the frost is gone. After all, that's how they grew before we started cultivating 'em.
I'd love to try it (if I wasn't trapped in tax season). If anybody does try, please post.
There's a website about it that I'll try to post here, but the S-L piece was a great summary.
www.wintersown.org
spring is coming!!!
MC |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 4740
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 2:46 pm: | |
Hank,
I meant sugar snap peas - I always call them beans.
Cheers! |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 352
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 2:54 pm: | |
Tom, some random spring-fever ideas:
Maplewood Garden Club has a website and meetings. I'm sure they're wildly knowledgeable about local conditions.
In the MGC website, there's a link to a month-by-month checklist of things to do from the New York Botanical Garden.
Walk around the neighborhood, think about what kind of look you like, ask neighbors what the plants are. They may even be able to give you cuttings or extra plants. (For example, come by any time if you want hosta!)
A ton of books out there. I find the Sunset ones especially helpful, though some of them are specifically for the West. Rodale Press for organic gardening ideas (don't want poisons out there in the yard with the dog, right?).
Catalogs from White Flower Farm, Burpee or wherever, for plant porn as well as ideas.
When the nurseries open, go wander around (keeping a good grip on the wallet).
happy weekend, happy spring -
MC |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 353
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 2:59 pm: | |
P.S. Some catalogs or nurseries may have kits of seeds for kids. These are likely to be easy to grow and impressive/rewarding. In other words, a good place to start. If you're an absolute beginner, there's nothing like an 8' sunflower for that sense of accomplishment. Or some big pots with tomatoes and basil. Go for it.
(You're looking for the words "easy" "reliable" "disease-free" that kind of thing.) |
Hank Zona
Supporter
Username: Hankzona
Post Number: 2143
Registered: 3-2002
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 3:43 pm: | |
Tom,
The Adult School also has in the fall a gardening class that gets you greenhouse space and instruction...for future reference.
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blackcat
Citizen
Username: Blackcat
Post Number: 303
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 5:28 pm: | |
The bulbs are starting to pop up. I guess I should look for my graph paper of what I planted where.... |
yabbadabbadoo
Citizen
Username: Yabbadabbadoo
Post Number: 204
Registered: 11-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 7:33 pm: | |
FF |
Dego Diva
Citizen
Username: Fmingione
Post Number: 292
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Friday, March 11, 2005 - 10:50 pm: | |
I'm in the Adult School gardening class, and according to the instructor, the "peas in the ground on St. Patty's Day" is an old wives tale, and you should wait a bit longer this year - as soon as the ground is workable, it's OK.
My dad is an gardner extraordinaire, and I've picked up a lot from him. (He grows mostly veggies, so I'm going to class to learn more about flowers and plants.) Last year he had 80 tomato plants alone, and he already has veggie plants that are 6" tall in his greenhouse. I'll be glad to pass on whatever wisdom I've gained from him, and from class.
First thing you should start to do is observe how the sun moves across your land. Get a piece of graph paper, and just start noting what areas get the best sunlight. From there, you can decide where a garden might do well. You'll need 5-8 hours of sunlight a day for veggies. If you don't have one large sunny spot for a garden, then a few smaller, potted gardens strategically placed around your property will be great! Tomatoes are like weeds and will do well almost anywhere. Herbs are easy too. It's good to start small for your first time. I learned SO much about what I can grow just from planting my small garden last year, and now I have a plan for something bigger this year. But I made the mistake of going hog-wild and buying WAY too may seedling plants last year, and when they were full grown, they choked each other out. Don't make that mistake.
In the spring time, you'll need to plot out yuor garden area, clear it of grass and roots, check for grubs, turn the soil with peat moss and fresh topsoil, fertilize, put down plants, and top the soil with wood chips. That's the speeady summary! I'll be glad to get specific as you have questions. For now, just start planning. |
Just The Aunt
Supporter
Username: Auntof13
Post Number: 703
Registered: 1-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 3:36 am: | |
If one has a greenhouse can they grow things in it that would normally be out of season if planted outside? I'm thinking of getting a greenhouse if you can. |
mjc
Citizen
Username: Mjc
Post Number: 357
Registered: 10-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 10:02 am: | |
Following up on the Diva's post, when you're observing your yard to see where the sun shines, keep in mind that it will be different after the trees leaf out (if you or your neighbor have big trees). |
Beans
Citizen
Username: Nalini
Post Number: 56
Registered: 11-2004
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 10:48 am: | |
Dego Diva,
Can you please share where you're taking classes. The past two years, I realized I love plants and gardening and I don't know much about it. I would love to take some Saturday courses to learn more. I would like to grow my own tomatoes, peppers and herbs.
If anyone else has any ideas on where I can do this, I would appreciate your help. |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 4745
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 2:45 pm: | |
Dego,
Besides peat moss, use less top soil and mix in more processed manure, some lime to balance the acidity and a bag of sand to prevent clumping. The sandy soil of NJ is one the reasons why our tomatoes, corn, etc. are the best. I also mix in some miracle grow garden pellets, and then water with miracle grow every one to two weeks. Mixing the dirt is like making soup except you can't taste it as you mix, (well, I think Hank Z does, so maybe you can borrow him).
Best of luck!
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Lizziecat
Citizen
Username: Lizziecat
Post Number: 542
Registered: 5-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 2:55 pm: | |
Who has sandy soil? I don't have sandy soil. I have reddish clayey soil and lots of rocks. |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 4749
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 3:17 pm: | |
Lizzie,
I have family down the shore, and their soil is sandy, and they have such nice gardens. Try mixing a bag or two of playground sand into yours along with topsoil, should help deal with the rocky clay aspect.
I had major landscaping done last year, and though I love to garden - I hate to mow and trim. My trusted landscaper recommended a weekly/bi-weekly service I posted about earlier today and have already received emails from other MOLers telling me I made the right choice!
Darris Lawns, 862-205-9731. |
Dego Diva
Citizen
Username: Fmingione
Post Number: 293
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 3:55 pm: | |
Beans, the Adult School gardening class is held every Wednesday night at 7:30, in the greenhouses behind town hall. The class is 20 sessions, given in two parts - 10 in the fall (which already happened), and 10 in the Spring. We are well into the second half of the class now. You can call the Adult School and ask to speak with Raymond or Frank, the instructors, to see if it might still be worthwhile for you to take it. However, I can tell you that you don't need a class for the tomatoes or herbs. Neither I nor my dad have ever had much luck growing bell peppers - I think they're just hard to grow. Has anyone else had luck with them?
Mem, yes, you're correct, I did add manure to my soil as well, but I skipped the lime because I was old it wasn't really necessary. Sand is good because it helps aerate the soil, but plenty of peat moss does the trick too. The idea is to lighten up the soil because our area has heavy, clay soil. Shredded wood chips on top of the soil, after you have your plants in, help too, in many ways. They keep the weeds at bay, they keep the soil moist, they keep heavy rains from packing down the soil, and at the end of the year, you can turn them back into your soil to lighten up. |
mem
Citizen
Username: Mem
Post Number: 4751
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 5:22 pm: | |
Dego,
Lime is good to help balance the acidity of the soil after leaves and pine needles soak into it all winter. And you're right, peat moss is very essential - it adds nutrients, however lime breaks down the acidity so plants can absorb the nutrients quicker. I experimented with house plants years ago, the ones with sand and lime did a bit better than the ones without. And I always use tons of manure - I have a friend in West Orange who has ponies in her yard (Yes - in Essex county!), and I add it to the soil in the fall (fresh horse manure needs months to break down, unlike cow manure).
Still, I am not an expert, so I may be wrong about some stuff but it sure helps the March blues thinking and planning.
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ken (the other one)
Citizen
Username: Ken
Post Number: 242
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 5:28 pm: | |
mem, you really know your ••••!.
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Dego Diva
Citizen
Username: Fmingione
Post Number: 294
Registered: 12-2003
| | Posted on Saturday, March 12, 2005 - 7:15 pm: | |
I just came from the Drugfare in Millburn Mall and they have many of the spring planting essentials on sale - I think until March 16. Burpee flower, veggie, and herb seeds are 30% off. They best bargain, I think, were the planters. I bought 36" long planters for $4, including the saucer beneath it. I paid twice as much in the garden center for those last season. I find those are GREAT for herbs and lettuce. You can move them into the sun when needed, and in the fall, if you have a sun porch, you can move the herbs there and extend your season. Some of my herbs actually lasted through the winter, and my chives & tarragon are popping through the soil already!
Yes, Mem, starting the garden plans is DEFINITELY helping to relieve my Spring fever! |
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