2011 Garden Plans?

[OpenHands]

With spring on its way (sometime soon, hopefully), I've been pondering ideas for the veggie gardens. What about you? What are you hoping to grow this year? Share you plans!

I'd like to focus more on the fruit orchard so I'm scaling back on the veggies- just some corn, pumpkins, and bottle gourds. Hubby can have the bulk of the space for his canning veggies and cooking herbs. I also like to grow some flowers in pots on the back porch so I can watch for butterflies and hummingbirds. Last year I tried strawberries in pots, but the resident chipmunks ended up getting to the fruit before I did!

My orchard is still pretty young and I haven't gotten much fruit from it so far, but it's also a big job that I haven't given myself sufficient time to focus on yet. My hope is that with some extra TLC this year (in terms of regular spraying and fertilizing) I can encourage more trees to start producing fruit. Fingers crossed, at least.

[calfhill]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

I'm thinking I'd like to try again at an herbal garden. Last time was less than successful.

[Maythe]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

We've got new raised beds so there will be veggies and herbs and I'm thinking of getting some of the upright cordon fruit trees available. I might do the seed order this evening now I come to think of it.

[Gardenia]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

This year I'll be growing pumpkins, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and strawberries for fruits and vegetables. Mostly it's going to be herbs - thyme, rosemary, basil, mint, garlic, sunflowers, sage, and maybe a few other things.

[Celest]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

this year I am trying some heritage tomatoes, corn, pumpkins, maybe some peppers, and lots of hebs!

since it is still in the -10 to -15c here and there is 2 feet of snow on the ground, I have a while to wait

[thalassa]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

we are moving, so have no clue if we will get a garden in early enough or if we will even have room

[Gardenia]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

Oh! I forgot, I also want to grow a good bit of lavender this year. I've been using a ton of it for cooking and making salves and incense, so might be worth it to try to get some growing.

[magusphredde]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

Lavender? ... Blech ... I had some cookies from a friend that had lavender in them ... Yuchie poo ... I think she put a bush in each batch ...

[Celest]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

Lavender? ... Blech ... I had some cookies from a friend that had lavender in them ... Yuchie poo ... I think she put a bush in each batch ...

lavender cookies...yuk!
I love lavender for the scent, it is wonderful in soap and sachets.

[Gardenia]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

lavender cookies...yuk!

They can be good if you don't add in the whole bush... Definitely a flavor that benefits from a bit more subtle use. Love to use it in teas, or jams (blueberry lavender jam is great stuff), and lavender sugar is great for making honey scones and almond biscotti. Just can't go to heavy with it (but too much of any flavor can ruin a great dish).

[Hawkfeathers]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

I plan on serrano peppers, basil, parsley, etc., but mostly in pots, not in the ground.

[FantasyWitch]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

I would love to start a wee garden. It sounds so therapeutic that I think I might. I'm not too sure where to start though. X

[Celest]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

They can be good if you don't add in the whole bush... Definitely a flavor that benefits from a bit more subtle use. Love to use it in teas, or jams (blueberry lavender jam is great stuff), and lavender sugar is great for making honey scones and almond biscotti. Just can't go to heavy with it (but too much of any flavor can ruin a great dish).

true, good point!
I do like it in my tea, and I would be willing to try it in a jam.

---------- Post added at 06:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:52 AM ----------

I would love to start a wee garden. It sounds so therapeutic that I think I might. I'm not too sure where to start though. X

may I suggest that you go to a local garden center and talk to them about what grows well in your area.
There are so many plants that I just cannot grow here because it is too cold.

[Storm]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

I've been seeding in stages for almost a month. I have to grow in containers because I live in St. Petersburg and my soil is actually sand. This is what I have seeded so far.

Tomatoes:
Black Prince
Costoluto Fiorentino
Sweet Chelsea
Black Cherry
Chocolate Cherry
Zebra Cherry
Ilda Yellow Grape
Cuban Yellow Grape
Matt's Wild Cherry
Sioux
Kimberly

Squash:
Benning's Green Tint
Papaya Pear
Eightball
Crook Neck Yellow

Cucumbers:
Poona Kheera
Crystal Apple

Peppers:
Red Savina
Chocolate Habanero
White Habanero
Ring-o-fire Cayenne
Purple Cayene
Devil Serrano
Jalapeno
Jaloro
Tangerine Dream
Dancing Spirit
Medusa
Aconcagua (sweet)
Sunbright (sweet)

Beans:
Edamame
Lincoln Sweet Pea
Fordhook Lima

Herbs:
Basil
Rosemary
Garlic Chives
Mint
Parsley

[OpenHands]

Re: 2011 Garden Plans?

Nice lists, everybody! Maybe the folks who aren't in a position to do much gardening could grow one or two plants in pots?

*waits impatiently* Six more weeks before I can start my seedling trays and ten weeks until I can safely plant in frost-free conditions...