Welcome, fellow green-thumber!
Welcome, fellow green-thumber!We like growing food and we like sticking our hands in dirt — so sue us! There’s just something about a freshly-picked ripe tomato, there’s nothing like it.
Maybe all you know how to do is keep kale alive, or maybe you have a flourishing garden full of seasonal fruits & veggies. Either way, I’ll be your biggest cheerleader! There’s nothing more hopeful than a gardener with seeds in her/his palm. We are optimistic, us gardeners. And even though sometimes it doesn’t work out and we literally kill everything, we always seem to pick ourselves up and try again. And that principle, my friends, cannot be taught. You got this, and I’m here to help.
Does this describe what you’re dealing with?
One big struggle I’ve found in gardening is clear, simple info. I don’t want to know the days till harvest or how far apart I should plant carrots, I want to know tips & tricks from experts, and the best natural sources of nutrients along with when to apply. Growing food is something we not only do as a hobby, it’s for our health and for our families. We want to eat REAL FOOD, the stuff our ancestors thrived on. And we don’t want it to be impossible — growing food & getting healthy shouldn’t be this hard, right?
’m just starting and it’s overwhelming! What to plant when, where, how! Where’s the best place
to get basic info on starting gardening.thanks
Hi Sawsan-
This website has some great info: https://growinginthegarden.com/
You can also contact your county’s Master Gardeners. They will be able to help with questions about your local soils, plants, and climate.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Pest control is my biggest issue. Aphids killed my radishes and tomato worms got most of my tomatoes.
I am now by myself and don’t have the help I used to have. I probably would not have to plant a garden, but I like the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment it gives me. I now focus more on herbs and flowers . I don’t do cubits because I have a problem with squash bugs.
My issue right now is what to do with the vegetables so I can eat later. My freezer is full. I’m just learning to can.
And BTW, these aren’t all veggies I grew — I get a weekly CSA box from a local farmer.
I am having difficulty getting started. I just moved to a new state two months ago. The soil is not good and I don’t have time to condition it. I’m either going to use raised beds or straw bale gardening. But first I’m trying to get rid of the multitude of weeds. I am using vinegar, epsom salt and dawn. It is working well but taking time. I do have plants ready to go by using two Aerogardens.
Just starting out with my daughter. Hopefully we have a good harvest
MY problem now is getting seeds and soil since I do not want to go inside of the stores1, I bought a raised bed garden from Amazon and it should be here next week, I ordered the seeds from them also but they won’t be here till next month. The soil I want to use is not in stock! But still excited to get the garden bed so I can put it together. I just want to dig in the dirt!
I recently moved into a new smaller home (just me now that kids are grown) and it has a small yard, but you are my inspiration that I can finally have a beautiful garden filled with vegetables and flowers, and buckets and decorations – a small city haven. So challenge now will be layout of the garden and walkways, and getting the soil into working order.
I have a ton of seeds in my possession, i dont know how to grow cucumbers and peas, they get moldy and don´t grow at all, my weather is cold, i live near the ocean and all my garden is infertile even if i change the dirt it gets rock solid again, guess is because the sea salt fog at night, anyway about the cucumber and the peas, i tried the plastic bag hack?, water in a platter beneath or on one side and the dirt or cotton with the seed slightly humid and let it with the bag semi open so it doesn´t suffocate too much, and leave it in the sun, oh i well i guess it was obvious but i plant in pots only, i hope u can give me some recommendations.
Thank you beforehand.
Hi Angela-
Here is DaNelle’s article on growing a vegetable garden: https://www.weedemandreap.com/starting-vegetable-garden/
Here is her other articles from the gardening portion of her website: https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/gardening/
However, DaNelle’s info is geared towards an Arizona like climate. So, for your particular area it would be best to contact your county’s local Master Gardners and they will be able to help you.
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
My problem is I love living in AZ but trying to grow a garden has been horrendous. This is the first honest source to help explain why I have had nothing but failures. I can grow some herbs successfully but tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers? Burnt, dried, dead plants is my only response. I’m building raised beds and I plan to follow DaNelle’s soil guidelines to the letter.
I also live in southern AZ. I have not found raised beds to work well, they get hotter than the surrounding soil and that means they also get drier faster. If you can get through your caliche layer a slightly depressed garden with soil amended with compost seems to work better for me. We are moving soon to another part of town and actually found soil without caliche, but searched for 2 years until I found the land. The soil will still need to be amended with compost, but it won’t need a caliche bar to do the digging.
If you are able to get up any sort of shade cloth over where you are growing your vegetables it might help to keep things cooler and moister as well as making sure to water from the bottom of the plant so that water doesn’t cause the leaves to be burnt. I would also recommend what DaNelle does and use a mulch to keep things wet longer. Sorry if you already knew all of this. 🙂
I need help finding non-GMO seed and plants
Hi Robin-
Check out DaNelle’s article and you may be able to find what you are looking for. https://www.weedemandreap.com/buying-seeds-online/
Best of luck!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
My biggest challenge is that my 2 favourite hobbies don’t jive. We are seasonal campers And when I plant a garden at home, I need to go back and forth. I am trying to be creative and bring some veggie plants to the camper with us to minimize the amount of trips home.
A home of our own with a bit of land to start a garden. Sadly, my husband and I are currently living in a motel (where God is sustaining us) with no idea on where we will be going from here.
Come to Central Va where the climate is moderate. It does get hot and it does get cold but neither last long. Check out Buckingham County, VA. Taxes are low, rural, historic small community, and friendly folks. Depending on location, can have easy, quick access to major cities Lynchburg, Charlottesville, and Richmond areas within 60 min drive.
I’m lacking garden space, everything is packed in mine and it’s a major undertaking to go through picking.
I have a plan to move my patio to add room but can’t find help or fit it in my budget as of yet
i love love love growing my own food! it also gives me an active activity to do. i have some chickens and cats currently so i am interested in farm animals and growing crops!
I moved to AZ almost 20 years ago from the Midwest. I was an avid gardener in IL but I can’t grow anything but a few herbs in Tucson. I tried repeatedly and failed repeatedly so I gave up. Now growing our own food is becoming more important. I miss gardening and I need to learn how to grow food from someone who is successful. So I’m watching your videos and building a few raised beds. The best video you have is how to amend soil in AZ. No wonder I never could get anything to grow! Homegrown tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers are in my future.
Ik have An allotment garden, share it with my mom and brother. I have a limited amount of space for myself in the garden, andere very little time to spend since i have a special needs teenage daughter and a demanding job. Do you have any tips for veggies tot grow that aquire low maintanence but has a big yield (not sure if i’m using the correct words, i’m dutch)
Basicly i have about 4 ours a week to spend gardening…. Wish it was more, but this is it…
Hi Miranda-
That’s great you are working on growing a garden!
These two articles will get you started:
https://www.weedemandreap.com/starting-vegetable-garden/
https://www.weedemandreap.com/5-vegetables-beginner-gardener/
Best of luck with your garden! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have to eat whole foods and I am having a hard time finding organic close to me, so I wanted to start growing my own food. I am allergic to nightshades so I am interested in planting beets, radishes, sweet potatoes, spaghetti squash, and zucchini, onions, carrots and romain lettuce. I live in Indiana, mid-west.
Hi Barb-
It sounds like you are on the right track! I hope things go well for you! Best wishes in Indiana!
Thanks! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have trouble with bugs and animals eating my plants. Sometimes there is not enough rain.
Gardened in a Sunny town plot in MO for years. Have moved rural SC. With many trees and few Sunny areas. Last year the deer ate everything. I have a chain-link dog pen I hope to use to protect my plants. Looking for experienced hint.
Hi Sandra-
I’m sorry the deer have wreaked havoc on your garden. This tips from MSU may help: https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/smart_gardening_to_deter_deer
You can also contact your local county Master Gardners and they can give you advice that may be more applicable in your local area.
I hope that helps! Happy gardening!
Thank you-Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have been a life long gardener for more than 46 years. My husband I have learned a lot about successful gardening thru the years, however for the last few years we have had less and less success with tomatoes. About 4 or 5 years ago a soil borne fungus hit the mid-Atlantic area and we haven’t been able to grow enough tomatoes to enjoy even fresh eating. I read articles about spraying anti fungal sprays, but I worry how this will affect our organic garden. I guess if we aren’t able to grow our own, we buy tomatoes from local farmers without knowing what they spray onto their crops. Any suggestions?
Hi JoAnn-
I am sorry you are dealing with this fungus issue. That must be so frustrating!
I’m not exactly sure what fungus it is you are dealing with, but I am never a fan of spraying commercial/chemical pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. This link talks about some more natural ways to deal with tomato diseases: https://homeguides.sfgate.com/homemade-tomato-disease-remedies-30831.html
I have found baking soda to be a useful tool.
If nothing helps save your tomatoes, buying local fresh produce is a good option. To know how the produce was grown, talk with the growers/sellers. Most are happy to talk about their practices and I am finding more and more are going organic. I have even found my local grocery store is selling locally grown and organic produce. They too are happy to talk about how they purchase produce and work with local growers.
I hope that helps! Best of luck!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
Hi Joann
Try a few in pots where you can control the soil. Maybe that will keep your tomatoes fungus free. Wind helps too, so make sure they get enough air circulation. Good luck!
OK so my challenge is what to do with all the fresh produce when I don’t feel like canning…..I feel like canning about 1% of the time 😉 ….For example; when I have 1 million tomatoes, green beans, onions, etc, and all of the sudden and my friends and family are hiding from me cause they don’t want anymore…what’s a girl who can’t live without growing things to do? I need some ideas of freezer recipes if those exist….for some reason I find that’s so much easier! 🙂
Local food banks. Contact one and see what their rules are for taking home grown produce
How to maximize limited space. Also, I’d like to know how to attract wrens to my garden, or another predator to eat my black widows and brown widows so I can feel comfortable with my children playing and exploring in the garden.
Hi Christina-
This article from the National Wildlife Federation has great tips to attract birds: https://www.nwf.org/en/Garden-for-Wildlife/Wildlife/Attracting-Birds
Also here is DaNelle’s method for organic pest control: https://www.weedemandreap.com/organic-garden-pest-control/
I hope that helps!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I’m trying to do indoor herbs because we live in an area we can’t grow outdoors. How do I keep my herbs alive and thriving? I also don’t know how to best prune to keep them alive!
Hi Kera-
Herbs need as much natural light as possible and good drainage. Give them that and they should grow well indoors.
As for pruning them I follow this advice:
https://www.urbancultivator.net/prune-herbs-gardening-result/
https://www.aces.edu/pubs/docs/A/ANR-1164/ANR-1164.pdf
I hope that helps!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I’m just starting and it’s overwhelming! What to plant when, where, how! Where’s the best place to get basic info on starting gardening?
Hi Dori-
Here is the link to DaNelle’s gardening page: https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/gardening/
Lots of great useful info there.
Also, you can contact the Master Gardners at your local county extension office.
I hope that helps! Best of luck and Happy gardening!
Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I live just South of Houston and have problems with birds (especially Mocking Birds) and paddle leg stink bugs. I haven’t found anything that is effective with the stink bugs but the go from tomatoes to satsumas and then to the pomegranates and finally to the pecans. I didn’t know anything other than web worms were a problem in pecans but the stink bugs ruin almost all of the crop on my tree. If you have any remedy for the stink bugs it would be very appreciated.
I do fine with growing the fruits and vegetables but lose much of my crops to the stink bugs.
Hi Ron-
Neem oil and garlic will deter stink bugs. Also planting wildflowers to attract wasps (natural predator) can help keep stink bug populations down.
You can also try DaNelle’s natural pest deterrent found here: https://www.weedemandreap.com/organic-garden-pest-control/
I hope that helps and you get rid of those pesky stink bugs! Thank you -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I have had a problem with birds in the past. Last year I bought some twirly Pin-Wheels that were in the children’s toy department of our local multi-market. These spin around when you blow on them or run and have a stick to hold them by. I stuck them in my raised beds and they turn with the slightest little breeze. They are also shiny and worked really well keeping birds away. And… my latest trick is to use crushed egg shells and sprinkle them around by flowers and plants to keep the slugs and snails away. It seems that they irritate them so much they won’t cross over them. No worry about pesticides, which I will not use.
Terrie-
Thanks for the great tips! Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
The jury is out on whether I am a GREEN THUMBER or not. I have spent the last few months developing enough compost to use on two 3×6 raised beds, so this month I plan on sifting the compost, gathering my other ingredients and preparing the beds for a February planting. I found the Farmer’s Almanac planting software and tried it out last night. I quickly realized that 48 square feet is a rather small area to work with and I will have to pare down the amount of vegetables I first thought about planting.
I like to hear about others’ experiences with their gardens so I can learn from their mistakes. So, I will be checking in periodically to read posts etc.
(I live in inland San Diego where the summers are hot and we are always dry.)
Hi Linda-
It sounds like you are doing some great planning! I hope it all works out well. Let us know how your growing season goes! Best of luck and Happy Gardening! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I am living in Central Alabama and in an apartment but on the ground floor. I have a mini-greenhouse outside on my so called patio and a 4 foot by 4 foot raised garden bed. I use containers when I can and have worked the garden bed into the soil that you have worked with. I grow trees like Japanese Maples, Corkscrew and weeping willow trees, I have banana trees and palm trees in which I have to bring inside when the temps drop below 50 degrees. My things are really doing well and the soil thing is very true!! Build your soil right and everything will grow in it. The reason for the bed is because my soil outside is nothing but heavy clay and most plants will not survive in it very long and for the greenhouse, I have a simple misting system inside to root cuttings in and so far, everything is working great! I am really getting into grafting especially with the Japanese Maples and I am finding it is not difficult at all. Some things I like to do air grafting on and it is all fun to do. Did I mention that I am blind? If I can do this with a lot of success, then you should definitely be able to!! Just believe in yourself and keep trying!! Take care and the very best to you all!!
I have been gardening for years, starting with my grandparents when I was young.
Most of my experience is in flower gardening.
Our vegetable garden is large and the rows are spaced to allow the rototiller to go between the plants in the spring.
This is just to keep soil broken up.
I am looking for an organic way to control weeds in the open spaces of the garden.
We have tried tilling and mowing the weeds.
This keeps them from going to seed but doesn’t eliminate them.
I have thought about using newspaper and grass cuttings.
Any other suggestions or sources for material to cover rows?
Hi K-
I applaud your efforts on keeping it organic, especially with the never ending job of battling weeds! DaNelle has some great articles on just this very thing. Here is the link to check them out: https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/gardening/natural-methods/
I hope this helps! Thank you and Happy Gardening! -Bobbi (DaNelle’s Assistant)
I am a newish not very experienced gardner. I have had great success with swiss chard, bell peppers, zuchinni and tomatoes, some flowers. Here’s my problem, I always start my garden with those little plants they sell at the garden store. I have horrible luck with seeds. My dad even went out and bought me those little dirt squares that are on trays all you do is stick in the seed and water. I got a few to sprout but then they all died shortly after. I don’t mind getting my starter plants from the store except I can never find itailian zuchinni or swiss chard any more. I grew my chard in summer last year and it provided for me all summer long. Now I can’t find it. So something has got to change. Feeling frustrated. I didn’t even grow a garden this year. I am working on improving my soil as well in a new area, i use raised beds for now will have 4 next year.
Hi Rhonna-
Yes, gardening can be frustrating at times. Here is a link to tutorials about Raised Garden Beds. https://www.weedemandreap.com/12-raised-garden-beds/
These should really be helpful. Plus check these great articles DaNelle has on soil, harvesting, and so many more gardening ideas, tips, and helpful info! https://www.weedemandreap.com/category/gardening/
Best of luck and hang in there! Happy Gardening! -Bobbi
I have not been having a lot of success in gardening since I began. Sometimes good ,some times not so good. I have gone to the raised bed system, but I’m now having problems with the right soil mixture. My plants started growing, but sort-of stopped, didn’t die, just stopped growing. I have a notion that the manure or compost I used, may be contaminated with an herbicide. Either way, it’s looking towards next growing season to find and correct my problems. My goal is to build a sustainable food supply from my own garden. A large task I know, but I’m up to the challenge.
Conditioning my soil to get the healthiest, maximum yield possible.
I love gardening and have learned so much with this conference. I have a great garden with much food produced. I also process all my food for winter. Even able to winter over broccoli, and greens in cold frame. I have a great composting center and with some new ideas am working hard to increase my volume. Thanks for all the information during the conferance. And do hope you have a way to protect my little plants from the birds. I do not want to build a green house. The cold frames do a great job.
Sheila
Birds are eating my plants. By morning they have eaten much of my little plants. They get under the covers. Bird netting too. I have tried rubber snakes. This year has been a bountiful year for all kinds of bird nesting in my back yard. They are good pest control but now pests themselves. The dog works fine during the day it is at night and the dog is a house dog . Barks all night if outside. He is no help. I do hope you have a idea that will help me.
Sheila
Hi Sheila,
I would consider myself a novice – second year sincerely growing a vegetable garden. I have the same problem with birds. Last year it was my tomatoes and I made and hung some sparkly mirrored decorations near the tomatoes – worked a charm – not a single tomato was eaten! This year it’s the strawberries and I have hung a few but it doesn’t seem to be working as well… I think they eat them before the morning light catches the decorations. It’s a process but maybe this is something you can consider. Anything that reflects the sun and shines will deter them.
I moved to Florida a couple years ago. I don’t know what to plant or when!!
Due to physical issues I have a 5 level tower. Need any info on what, where and how to plant. Have some organic seed but don’t know how to get started. Center has a compost tube – what do I use so I get most nutrients. Currently due to cost don’t have much to contribute – bnana peels, apple cores, vegetables from meals on wheals too overcooked to my liking. Soil? Baaasically just getting started. Far cry from what I’m used to.
Years ago I took a gardening seminar and the most important thing I ever learned– “I can teach you everything you need to know about gardening in 3 simple words…soil, soil, soil” –Ed Hume of Hume Seed Company. Stop worrying about how to grow vegetables. If you create great soil the vegetables will grow themselves. Use about 1/2 inch of compost each year and about 6 inches of mulch that is shredded fairly fine, a combination of leaves and grass clippings works well, shredded straw (not hay) is also good. Apply the mulch after the soil has warmed to about 70 degrees and apply more in the fall before the soil temperature drops below 70 degrees. Within a couple of years you will have really good soil. Clean all the debris out of your garden in the fall to reduce insect problems. Also be patient. It takes 3-5 years to become a competent gardener…longer to become a good one.
My ground is cracking. What is missing?
#1 I love your goats, but I live in the city and can’t have any. I have 10 chickens for eggs only because I don’t have the heart to cull them. I live in Texas City, Tx zone 9A. We grow just about all the regular crops. I enjoy fall crops the best-cauliflower, cabbage, carrots, beets, peas, and kale. I grow tomatoes, zucchini, squash, onions, sweet potatoes, okra, bell peppers, jalapeno peppers, cucumbers, many other peppers, and eggplant in the summer. I just got rabbits and use their poop in the garden and compost the chicken manure. I am never sure how much of other fertilizers to use like blood meal, bone meal, and muriate of potassium. How much compost is enough? How much is too much? My watermelons grow, and then when they are 2 inches long they rot. Lastly, I cover all my soil with hay and the earthworm population has grown. I need to learn more and will enjoy all your tips. I love learning. I loved your presentation on the summit. Thanks
I do container gardening and am not having a lot of success. Can you give me advise?
At the moment I am interested in soil building, weed control, insect control, growing herbs, compact space planting, nut trees, tips on making the job easier.
Right now, I rent an apartment, but I was lucky enough to get permission from the landlord to use an empty lot next door to create a community garden, in 2008. We have several raised beds and an arbor.
My dream, though, is to have a small farm for growing my own food. I have images in my head such as a small cabin with a lean-to, solar powered greenhouse so I can grow year-round. Also, a small pond to stock with fish. And chickens… though I am squeamish about raising “meat” chickens or any other animal that would be slaughtered because I get very emotionally attached to animals. Big softy.
Also, and this is something new I’ve become interested in, I’d like to create a small cricket farming business. Yes, I am talking about eating insects. I do not get emotionally attached to bugs, ha ha. A wonderful book on this subject is “Edible.” Did you know 80 percent of the world population eats bugs? (Did you know lobster is a “bug”? Did you know all your prepackaged foods have a certain amount of bug parts in them?) Cricket flour is chock full of protein and other incredible nutrients. Crickets can be “farmed” on much less land, with much less water and create much less waste than the animals we are used to eating. So… that’s part of my dream farm.
I also would like to have room for nut and fruit trees. And I envision inviting local schools and youth groups (and anyone who’s interested) to my little farm to learn more about where food — GOOD food — comes from.
I am in my 60s and feeling a growing urgency to see this dream come true. Money, of course, is the big challenge. I make less than $300 a week now taking care of elderly people with dementia. But I am seeing the impact of my own aging on what’s been a largely sedentary body for most of my adult life, and so I would need help from others to maintain my little farm. In the meantime, I am ravenous for knowledge and that’s how I ended up here at Weed ’em and Reap! I love your videos and your spirit!
My biggest problem with gardening is: WEEDS.
I use mulch and raised beds some, but what else can I do?
Thanks.
I don’t know what soil to use. I know we cannot plant in our current ground. I would need to build planter boxes. What to plant with what and when to start. Companion planting. Homeschooling Mother of five kids. The kids are interested in gardening but seems overwhelming. I want to learn because I know this would be priceless for them.
I’m just not sure how to get started. Where do I buy plants that are organic? If I have to start seeds, can I do so in the ground? I don’t really want to have seed cups all over my house. I also want to know what will grow in my climate so that I don’t spend a ton planting a garden and then none of it grows. And, finally, what time of year do I get started? Can I rotate foods so that we always have a little something growing? Whew! So many questions….
It’s quite hard for me to plant anything in my home garden without my father spotting it and pulling it out.
Have you talked to him about giving you a corner of your own?
I live in Colorado. I also have a huge backyard that is not being utilized for anything other than killing grass (water is expensive!). I would appreciate any ideas to turn my desert into a food oasis — even if it’s only in the Spring & Summer months.
Me too. I plan to start seedling inside for tomatoes, peas, and carrots. I had to double plant my squash and onions because of the stupid squirrels. I would also like to get hailcloth and bendable frame so I can avoid most of the hail. CO Garden Gal
Look up http://www.growfood.com It has a simple way to grow food any where you live. It is a simple way to conserve water. You came grow in the ground are in grow boxes.
I kind of use this method. The raised beds are filled with a soil-less growing medium and you fertilize weekly with a custom mix. Or, you can grow in the ground using the same weekly fertilizer. The results are pretty amazing if your soil already has sufficient calcium. Otherwise the calcium in the formula needs to be adjusted to calcium chloride or your plants may not thrive. I got a lot of great ideas for building my garden from this method but am changing my raised beds over to pretty much what Danelle uses in her video so that I won’t need to use fertilizer next season. I love growing in the 18 inch beds and using the vertical gardening techniques I learned about from the Mittleider method!
One solution to parched ground and having to conserve water is planting in containers… which can be just about anything that holds soil and can have holes drilled on the bottom for drainage. With containers you are watering only where it’s needed and not all over the ground. You could use plastic window boxes. I get big plastic buckets from people, even ones that had cat litter in them, wash them down with hot soapy water, dry in the sun, make holes in the bottom – I start the holes with the point of a sharp knife and then hammer a nail through, because I don’t have a good drill, and voila, I have a “planter.” Containers also allow you to make “custom” mixes of soil that are best for whatever you are planting. For example, I have blueberry bushes and a fig tree growing in containers (I take them in, in the winter). Containers also can be placed where there is more, or less, sunlight, according to the plant’s needs. People grow all kinds of things in containers, including potatoes. Containers also involve less weeding! which is the bane of MY existence. You want containers that are deep enough for the plant you are growing… so carrots and other root veggies need at least three feet depth, in my opinion. Lettuce can be grown in much less. Roots will travel to the depth of the container. There’s a lot of info out there about container gardens. People in cities grow all kinds of crops – even corn! – and beautiful flowers in containers. I’ve seen flowers grown in boots, baby carriages, tires (but I have some reservations about those because of petrochemicals), crates. Another strategy to check out might be using hay bales as the border of a raised bed. If you really want to go crazy, there’s something called hugelkulture, which involves digging a pit and using rotting wood and other materials to create a rich growing area. https://richsoil.com/hugelkultur/ Finally, choosing plants that don’t need a lot of water is a good idea. This is known as xeriscaping. Again, there is a lot of info out there about this technique. In general, I think it’s always best to try to work WITH your particular environmental situation, but there are in fact many ways to overcome issues such as limited water or crummy soil. https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/xeriscape/integrating-vegetables-and-herbs-into-the-xeriscape-garden.htm I would love to hear what you decide to do and how it works out! And I am sure you will find tons of great info here as well as good feedback.
I don’t know where to start when it comes to gardening
1. Decide on an area in your yard for a garden, that gets sun most of the day with only a small section with some shade for cool loving plants. 2. Make a garden plan on paper, where you will put plants that require lots of room and sun, how many rows, etc. 3. Mark it out (I used some landscape timbers, two high so I had somewhere to sit, and made an area 8x20ft about. 4. I pulled tons of grass up, as well as weeds, and cutworms (I am sure they are happy at the dump. Then I mixed in compost to give the dirt better consistency, minerals, etc. 5. I planted too late (May 1), this year I plan to start in March and cover with leaves to protect. 6. Make a plan how to cover your plants for hailstorms. Since mine is so big, I want bendable half hoops that I can attach hail cloth to.
Just moved from Oregon and had a beautiful garden up there but the heat here I have not had much luck.
Any starter info would help.
My husband and I are wanna-be farmers dealing with the stresses of full-time jobs, student loan debt, and caring for our one-year-old son. We love being outside and caring for a garden but struggle to make time for it and all of our other hobbies at the same time. Real food is our goal, and a self-sufficient approach is our means to that end. Any help I can get is greatly appreciated!
I have been gardening since I had my first plot in my first yard 20 years ago when I was 23. My biggest struggle is the Houston heat and finding pertinent info for this area. Also time, time, time… Seems I never get out there and clear the weeds in time!
I may be just a gardener at this time, but I can’t wait until the day I can move to my country property and get a few sheep and chickens! So I’d love to keep receiving info on animals.
My other big struggle… Waiting for those grapefruits to ripen!!
-Susan Griffith
The expense that can come when eating healthy/organic…i’ve tried growing simple vegetables but didn’t work…I think our soil isn’t very good(:
We do raised garden beds filled with organic soil and manure that we buy at the garden center. This has worked wonderful for us as our soil was bad also. We think the previous owner dumped car oil where we wanted the garden. It is a little work to get started but well worth it. One of the great parts of the raised beds is we only spend about 10 min. a week weeding.
I wish I could carve out tea time to garden. I need to learn what really grows best in my area.
That should read ‘more’ time to garden.
not having a convenient place to garden. I live in an apartment with a small balcony.
Hi Danelle! You and your blog are my absolute FAVORITE! I live in a small city on only a 6,000 square foot lot — but I hope to one day do exactly what you are doing! My biggest struggle is an inability to have success growing tomatoes from seed! I prefer to grow from seed vs starters and heirloom varieties only — but it seems impossible to have success — and did I mention I HATE white flies??? Ugh. Regarding eating healthy, my biggest struggle is the cost of grass-fed meat and eggs. It is so expensive! Maybe you should create a new plant stick that has the info you mentioned vs what they currently display!!! I would buy them! I agree wholeheartedly — I want tips, tricks, and problem-solving info NOT how far apart or how deep to plant them!
Finances! We are one a very tight budget and can’t hardly afford organic real-food groceries.
keeping weeds out naturally without harming my plants
I have a very small yard and not much room for a garden but would love some ideas of how to garden “small.”
The deer keep eating it all before it even flowers! I have tried several solutions/remedies but it has not stopped them. I really enjoy reading/hearing your everyday life!
Susan
Deer have no depth perception. If you put up one fence and another one about 3ft. out from that (I thinks that’s how far), they will not try to jump it. Think I read that on a Mother Earth Newsletter I get.
I struggle with when to plant certain food in the months that are not for summer crops, making sure my soil is good and keeping certain pests/insects from destroying my garden while using organic safe products. I had a bad case of hookworm that attacked my tomato and pepper plants, not once, but twice this year. As for eating healthy, if I was just cooking for my self it would be really easy, but cooking for my husband and son make it more challenging. My husband really doesn’t like vegetables, except potatoes, corn, and peas and lets be honest these really are not vegetables and he doesn’t eat fruit either. My son on the other hand loves any fruit or vegetables, but he is 17 yrs old and also loves junk food that I don’t want to keep around the house.
Probably fertilizer. What kind, how much and when to fertilize?
Living in Florida…between the heat and the pests, I find it difficult to keep my plants healthy and producing.
Im struggling with time managing. I should spend a lot of time in the garden after work, but I dont have enough time for my family.
The rats and rabbits are eating what little garden I have.
Garden planning and maintenance for success! Just finished my first season, and I’ve learned a lot — but would love to hear tips & tricks
My biggest struggle is growing everything I would like to in the amount of area I have. While we do have a huge lawn, fruit trees & berries I prefer to use raised beds to grow what I like to eat. I got a bumper crop of tomatoes but my cucumbers did not grow well nor did my carrots or root crops. Very distressing. Even my onion seeds did not do well though my herbs did in the various pots I have used.
Definitely the time factor. My husband does most of the gardening and does it well. I harvest, do some processing, and love to cook with those good foods. One of my favorite things to do is to go into the garden and pick what I want to cook for dinner. What I struggle with is when that honeymoon garden part is over and now I have green beans, pumpkin and other squash, peppers, etc. to process. Sometimes that gets done, or it goes back into the compost! Anyway, there is my two bits. Have a beautiful day and blessings!
Joy Slater
I have had success with harvesting for our dinner but getting double that amount in order to process. (Or sometimes I will just harvest all the mature produce in that raised bed. So if your having spinach for dinner, harvest all the leaves that are ready for harvest and cook what you need but process the rest). So basically, you harvest enough for dinner and storage. The easiest and quickest processing method for us is freezing. Since your already in the kitchen cleaning and cooking your harvest for that days dinner you can also save some for later. We do this once or twice a week. And therefore we dont end up wasting or composting most of bounty.
Bugs..
Squash bugs
Squash vine borer
Cabbage worms
I live in Florida and the ants here are so bad I can’t plant in the ground. I have built two beds from a site (which I can’t remember where I found it but the woman lives in Houston) but they are up almost waist height so no ants. But it was expensive so I only have 2. I have to be very choosy about what I plant. I have visions of being able to plant a good sized garden but won’t happen here.
I just started my first vegetable garden ever! I’m super excited that things are actually sprouting – and need clear info on how to proceed ;). My biggest healthy living challenge is probably getting my act together to actually plan meals so I’m not sitting around unmotivated at 4pm going “I really should be cooking by now.”
I grow a lot, but can’t buy organic or grass fed very much. It is hard to balance it all.
I’m not even sure your site is going to be entirely relevant to me because I live in the mountains of southern Costa Rica at about 3,000 ft. But I enjoy checking in when I have time, so keep ’em coming. And thanks.
I am a beginner gardener and it has been a big learning curve. I feel overwhelmed. There is so much to learn!
Start with 1-6 crops that you and your family really love. Plant them in a 4 foot by 4 foot raised bed (or a raised bed you may already have established) and learn AS YOU GROW all you can about just these crops. Each year increasing the number or raised beds and the amount of crops you grow while increasing your knowledge.
*I felt I should let you know I have done just the opposite of this last piece of advice. I get the most out of just diving in. I plant as muh as I can, wherever I can and see what happens and as things start to unfold I learn about it. So if a plant starts to wilt or change colors of do someting weird or I see some sort of bug, pest or disease I look it up and try to solve the problem and usually this works for me. I have learned quite a lot this way. I’ve also produced a greater bounty as well. I have learned, (for myself at least, this may or may not apply to you) that it doesn’t matter rather the task was big or small, if i was going to get overwhelmed or not. I just go for it. You can’t fail in gardening you just learn how not to do it in that situation, because sometimes what your doing is correct, but still doesnt turn out the way you hoped because of your climate/microclimate, location or some other circumstance pertaining to just your situation.
Mel Bartholomew’s book Square Foot Gardening really helped me establish raised beds and soils and introduced me to planting a lot in a small amount of space.
If you prefer watching videos, John Kohler’s YouTube channel Growing Your Greens is the #1 YouTube Gardening channel with over 1250 videos to date. I encourage you to start from his beginining videos and work up to the newer ones, they are very informative.
We live in the city and only have the space on our balcony, so we have to container garden. We have had some success with tomatoes, but everything else dies or gets infested with mites or ants.
We live in a suburban neighborhood with about 1 acre of land. This year we built a small raised bed. We purchased a mixture of something we thought was compost/manure. We planted a few basic things – tomatoes, cucumber and bell pepper. The plants never really took off. There were some tomatoes but not enough to brag about. And then, the deer figured out how to push through the netting around the garden, so it was an apocalypse after that. I took a picture of a deer STANDING in the middle of our raised bed. We have a TON of deer and they are brazen. They will even climb the stairs and come onto our deck and eat our potted plants.
This isn’t the first time we’ve tried to garden. Years before we tried planting straight into the ground, but our soil is awful and the plants did not grow. We thought this year would be better because we made the raised bed and brought in dirt, but it was basically another failure. We are discouraged.
I like to eat healthy but I hate the time commitment needed for meal prep. I work full time outside of the home and time is short in the evenings. It’s easier to order pizza than spend 2 hours cooking and cleaning the kitchen. So usually I end up choosing convenience over health.
Do your meal preps on the weekends and all you have to during the week is cook the meals. You may even get to cook a few meals and freeze them on the weekends so that you can eat them during the week maybe even on your most busiest day. Get the whole family involved helping out. You have to prioritze and carve out the tgings you find most important. This encourages better health and family time. Its an investment.
I have my first raised bed garden and have no idea what to do once everything starts dying…just leave everything in place as it dies or pull everything out of the garden once it dies????
Keeping my garden alive. Wonderfully my yard is shaded, but that makes it hard to grow anything. I live in just southeast of Houston, Texas. Lettuce it supposed to be very easy and somehow I never got it higher than 1/2″. :/ I just want a small victory type garden. To grow the things we eat most. I just can’t seem to get it going.
I need chemical-free ways to cut back on weeds. and making the most of a smaller space, with increasing shade from a neighbors growing trees.
I’m always amazed what survives and thrives with the Summer heat, and what dies off. Basil that I always thought of as pretty fragile took off this Summer, go figure!
I’d like to know week by week what I should be planting in the garden, what to companion plant, and what I should be adding to the soil so I’m ready for next week and next months plantings. What watering methods work for my above ground planters?
My problem is figuring out what to plant. We want goats. We want to plant vegetations for them.
Finding the time and energy to garden.
Getting my tomatoes to give me more fruit than vine. They’re growing like crazy, but very little fruit., knowing How much I should water.
Compost info.,caring for the compost pile (how often to turn & water)
Logistics and building of a 3 bin system (how long do you add stuff to one bin before leaving it alone & start adding to the next bin so fresh stuff isn’t mixed in with the ‘ready to use’ stuff).
Best layout and companion planting for a really small garden. Containing zucchini so the plants don’t take over the whole garden.
I live in a city and have a 10 x 10 balcony which I partly use to grow some veggies during the summer. My concerns are: I would like to continue indoors and would like to have more information on how to care for veggies that we usually use as annuals (tomatoes, peppers) and perennials that we usually leave in soil for next season. As I do not have a “real” garden I am planning on taking my perennials inside (strawberries, asparagus…) and would like to know how to care for them.
We’re just beginning our gardening journey. I read about a Monsoon Garden at the beginning of the summer and I planted (way before we made our raised garden beds or did much with our soil) loofah, cukes, Malabar spinach (a mistake – I should’ve planted Egyptian spinach but it worked anyway . . . even though it’s a bit slimy), sunflowers, amaranth, purslane, wild flowers, and pumpkins. I’m having such a blast and it was only a slight disappointment when the amaranth and purslane were eaten by bugs. Everything else is growing wonderfully and giving us all sorts of experiences and excitement and reasons to get outside and play. Our grandchildren (unfortunately they all live elsewhere, but they have visited a few times since we’ve planted) love our backyard now. They want to go out and garden even when it’s 117 degrees. I give them a hose and tell them to water the wood chips! I’ve gained lots of information from Jake Mace and Greg Peterson and Justin Rohner, and was so excited to find your site right before we filled our brand new raised garden beds. Your step by step guide was so easy and we’re in the process now of getting more compost from Singhs Farms and waiting on our Amazon order for azomite dust and worm castings and coconut coir. You are such a blessing to us!! Thanks for being there. It seems a little daunting to know what and how to fill our beds (three 4ft x 14 ft) and if I should really do all the things people suggest (make out a planting guide, weigh your harvest, etc, etc) but I’ll just have to jump in there and begin. Just like I did in July when I knew absolutely nothing. The planting and nurturing seem almost better than getting a crop! Thanks again.
I need help getting started with container gardening. Many of my attempts have died pretty quickly, and I don’t know why.
Soil mixture without a doubt.
We have a small yard and a lot of shade. I grow swiss chard, kale, carrots, radishes, potatoes and other veggies that don’t require full sun but the snails and slugs love these conditions too. We have two chickens so I hand pick the snails/slugs and feel them to the girls but the insects eat a lot of the garden first. If I had room to grow more I wouldn’t worry about it. Also the graveyard grasshoppers can plow through my veggies pretty quickly and chickens won’t touch these insects.
I HAVE TO STUDY AND DO SOME HOUSEHOLD CHORES BUT I AM UNABLE TO MANGE A GOOD TIME FOR FARMING& GARDENING, BUT I LOVE TO BE WITH PLANTS.
Short growing season and small on space.
My garden space is smaller than I’d like so I need to be smart with what I grow. how many plants I truly need and I love my variety so I’d like to still plant a lot.
I need to learn how to plan meals ahead of time and how to not waste food.
I just moved and have a place where I can have a nice garden , a couple of goats and some chickens! I’m very excited about everything I’m reading. Thank you so much !!!
I want to start a Garden but don’t know where to begin. I had free range chickens which prohibited a garden bc they always tore my herb garden up. The raccoons got them and I am taking a break for a while and focusing on growing food. Are raised beds better? How do I prepare one for planting? Is it too late to start now?
My greatest struggle with eating healthy is the unavailability of good organic food. Everything produce on the market now is loaded with chemicals and so it is challenging to find suitable stuff for an healthy diet.
I really struggle with planting tomatoes. I have not had success for the last three years.
I don’t believe my plants are getting the proper sun/water ratio.
How to get heirloom plants and how to grow them organically. The best plants and fruit trees for zone 5. How to ripen and preserve fruit and vegetables.
Finding hard to find home grown foods like horseradish root at farmer’s markets. Most farmer’s market in our area are selling produce that you find in grocery stores with upc codes stuck on them. I want fresh, home grown, heirloom produce grown in good organic soil.
The sun sears my plants and I have a lot of coconut flour to use up (recipes please?)
I live in the city and have a small back yard that doe not have the greatest soil. I end up buying all of my fruits and vegetables which leads to a large food bill.
I struggle combating pests! All sorts of pests eat my veggies alive as I try to stick with organic farming methods. I spray and dust regularly with mineral and essential oils but it doesn’t seem to be enough. Help!
My husband and I are regenerating land that was abused for 40 years, so our biggest challenge is creating better soil (heavy clay) and growing most of our own food.
Last year i planted some pumpkins, zuchini and other squashes. They hot attacked by powdery meldew(not if that’s how its spelled ). ..this year i find myself hesitant and procrastinating to get in the garden. I have planted a couple of things but I drag myself there. I would really like to grow sone zuchinis again…
Got rid of my goats & moved to Tenneessee. Spring time will tell
Getting all of the details done, especially the weeding! I try to accomplish the major projects like grass cutting, grocery shopping, house work- inside and outside, and clothes washing and folding and putting up, and cooking, but I cannot find enough time to do the detail weeding or the detail maintenance! Too many projects is my main error! I need to have fewer projects and do more maintenance! That is my goal this fall!- finish up my projects and maintain only!
Finding time to weed is my biggest struggle. When we moved to our home in 2015 the garden was all weeds & grass. So I am looking for natural ways to kill weeds without damaging the soil.
Deer…… They destroyed our garden…. Even with a fence around it…. Next year there will have to be a taller fence with electric at the top… 🙁
I cannot grow zucchini. Have tried four times. The plants look great are big and I have flowers but no zucchini.
I have been researching gardening online for some time now and I am confused as to the best way to garden. There’s organic gardening, permaculture gardening, and biodynamic gardening. What are the differences among them and which one is best?
I live in the south where weeds and pests can overwhelm everything. i would like to know more about companion planting and natural weed control to make gardening less time consuming.
I have a tendency to plant more than my areas allow.. like those plants with wandering vines!
Finding the right combination of soil. We live in South Louisiana in a pine forest with a nematoad problem. So I have been thinking about raised beds. Haven’t got that far yet.
Living in the city means there limited space and light in growing nutrient-dense food for the family. For now I am only growing mostly herbs and microgreens at home. I do hope to grow more greens in future. Eating healthy is also one of my priority and sometimes it’s hard to get the kids onboard and do it consistently.
In months to come I am pitching to more preschools to adopt a more holistic garden-based education programme. The focus is not just gyo food but also to use the garden to teach nutrition, life science, math, english etc. That’s my hope. 🙂
I think love for nature is beautiful
Gardening – following through with care in hot, humid, semi-tropical weather.
Healthy eating – my husband isn’t interested in eating grains or less meat.
I struggle with time and having enough money to eat healthy.
Gardening when I have a FT job outside the home.
Hello!!!!!! I don’t have any land but, I do have a pretty big backyard (big enough for a small garden, a rabbit, and a couple chickens and hopefully a goat!) I’ve always wished that I could have a farm but for now this will due ? I still would like info on goats, and chickens ??
Finding information on how to make best use of limited space.
This is my issue as well!