23,821 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Sq. Foot Gardening has its own forum here. Sq. Foot gardening forum

Lots of info there but do keep in mind that it is just one possible method of gardening, it has its own learning curve in addition to just learning the basics of regular gardening, and it has its limitations. Spacing used in SFG all depends on the varieties used with many things. Indeterminate variety tomatoes will require more sq. feet than determinate varieties and will require heavy pruning to fit and produce. Smaller pepper varieties do ok in 1 square but the larger bell pepper varieties often need 2 sqs. Many things require trellising to work in such limited space.

<One thing I realized I didn't do though - I didn't use any weed cloth. I dug out my grass, added newspaper and filled the box. I planned (but forgot) to put down a type of weed cloth near the top of the soil. >

Weed barrier goes on the bottom of the box if you are going to use it for some reason. It normally isn't needed or recommended with raised beds because it creates drainage problems. But either way it doesn't go on or near the top. Doing that would only make planting and fertilizing more difficult so I'm not sure what you were planning there. After planting, mulch goes on the top of the soil around the plants.

Dave

    Bookmark     last Monday at 12:36PM
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m_gold

Melfield & Kathy - thank you for your posts and for helping.

Dave, I used newspaper on the bottom of this garden; hopefully that helps with the weeds. A friend recommended the weed barrier on top and to then just cut holes when planting as he says there may be weed seeds in his topsoil. In any event, it won't be the case did me this year. With the peat I used, is mulch also needed on top for moisture or just to help prevent weeds? I didnt purchase nukch, but i can. Thanks.

    Bookmark     last Monday at 2:03PM
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nancyjane_gardener(Zone 8ish North of San Francisco in the "real" wine country)

It's more heat VS sun. Rather than buying starts at a big box store, go to a local nursery that has plants that are good for your area. The BB stores will sell you plants that aren't right for the time of year and have been grown in artificial conditions that may not be appropriate for your area.

For example, most of the BB stores in this area have no vege starts in the fall when so many greens will flourish in my mild CA area!

Keep reading here and you'll find when to start seeds or starts. There may even be a forum for your area in these forums! Look around! Have fun! Nancy

    Bookmark     May 9, 2015 at 6:11PM
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rhony2

Living in AZ, I get a LOT of sun. What has done best is Eggplant. Give it enough water with the sun and it will produce like crazy, even when the temperature exceeds 110F. However Eggplant really doesn't grow like crazy until the soil temperature hits around 80F. I also tried to grow a variety of cucurbits (cucumber, squash, melon). Cucumber was a failure for me here since all the sun makes the fruit bitter. And in the height of summer I was watering the cucumbers around 3 times a day. I started squash this year and even with the 100F temperature a few weeks ago I did not have that problem. My biggest issue with both the cucumbers and squash was the powdery mildew, which thrives on cooler days although hot sun tends to retard the growth of the fungus. Currently using Neem oil to contain it.

    Bookmark     May 11, 2015 at 8:05AM
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glib(5.5)

I ended up planting the toms under cover (milk jug). To be removed Thursday. Same for peppers.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 8:59PM
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Peter (6b SE NY)

After a few days of 85+ (it hit 89 I think yesterday), it is going down to 41 wednesday and thursday nights. Thats even chance of a frost in my garden. The weather is crazy! It has rained less than 1/4 inch over the last 3 weeks. It's practically a drought. Last Spring it didn't let up a day! The weather has just become so unpredictable here. You could say the only thing for sure is the winter is cold, but 2 winters ago that didn't materialize either.

The only thing in my garden actually looking like they are getting ready to produce for me are my peas and broccoli, and I am worried about them in this heat. Broc needs another couple weeks to get full size to start heading. My tomatoes are still just sitting there over 1 week now after transplanting (to be expected I guess), eggplant too had quite a bit of transplant shock. Given the forecast I am glad I kept my peppers and spare eggplants and tomatoes inside! My beets and lettuce look terrible and Idk if I will get anything worth harvesting this year. We didn't really have a spring.

    Bookmark     May 11, 2015 at 5:21AM
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jagdjh

Thanks for the help everyone! I'll take the advice and go from here. I appreciate the help. Now I can start dealing with the tomato leaf curl I found yesterday :(.

    Bookmark     May 11, 2015 at 4:31AM
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booberry85(5)

You could also try a few things to give your seedling more support. You could try supporting it using toothpicks or shish kabob skewers.

1 Like    Bookmark     May 11, 2015 at 4:42AM
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glib(5.5)

I have always found all my mongrel tomatoes and squashes edible. But I might have been lucky.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 6:38PM    Thanked by ilodato
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daninthedirt(Cent TX; HZ10, Sunset z30, USDA z8a)

FWIW, I transplanted some butternut seedlings that came up in my compost pile last year. They produced fruit that tasted like butternut, and looked mostly like butternut. I may have just lucked out.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 8:10PM
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nancyjane_gardener(Zone 8ish North of San Francisco in the "real" wine country)

The couple of times I used leaves, I ended up with asparagus beetles. I'm going to try the salt and wood chips this year. I also think I lost some to the drought, so I may have to replant. Nancy

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 5:46PM
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agardenstateof_mind

I think the beetles will overwinter in any mulch, possibly even the soil. Although I had cleaned up the beds in autumn and replenished with fresh mulch this spring, I just sent quite a few to a soapy bath today ... They don't seem to have liked it much. Removed eggs and sent them to the bath, too.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 7:28PM
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summersrhythm_z6a

Katie, One lady has a lovely idea and it works for her! :-) I hope it can help you too. http://forums2.gardenweb.com/discussions/3042886/deer-repellant-that-worked-100

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 7:05PM    Thanked by Katie Gooding
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gumby_ct(CT it says Z5)

My hair in the garden didn't help me but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try it. I also tried hanging those old AOL Cds to move in the wind - they used to spook me more than the deer when a reflection would shine in the window, lol.

We are gardening in their space (the spiders too) and as more houses get built they get used to people and don't spook as easily. They also seem to know when hunting season begins or when they are too close to homes to worry about gun fire.

I can watch them all day - I just want them to leave me something to eat too.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 7:27PM    Thanked by Katie Gooding
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gumby_ct(CT it says Z5)

Transplanted? So these plants were hardened off? If not that is likely the problem.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 2:38PM
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daninthedirt(Cent TX; HZ10, Sunset z30, USDA z8a)

Well, I guess it's worth trying! The fact that you succeeded, though for reasons that might not have been what you were trying, is of interest. I wonder to what extent zucchini are able to do that?

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 11:27AM
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annew21(7b NC)

It doesn't hurt to try. That's for sure. Let us know how it turns out!

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 2:20PM
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NHBabs(4b-5aNH)

Your spacing should be fine, and they will grow up your trellis and then spill back down. The flavor is wonderful, and I'd advise picking small as three plants will produce an enormous amount of squash fruits IME. They get a bit woody once they get really big.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 12:13PM
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galinas(5B)

Thank you, will keep eye on them)

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 2:14PM
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antmary_Omaha_NE_5b

I have 4 varieties of peppers. On the first picture is Pizza pepper, it is supposed to have just a zing of heat. On the second is Flavorburst F1, it is probably the earliest and the most prolific. The other two are Antohi Romanian and Sweet pickle. Sweet pickle have very small peppers, but I like the taste, in season they get ripen almost every day, so I always have peppers to eat.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 1:52PM
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wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana

I plan to plant mine as soon as it dries a bit...works well for me.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 2:09PM
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Persimmons(6b Southern MA)

What other programs does it run like?

I'm imaging a cross between Photoshop and ArcGIS.

    Bookmark     January 22, 2014 at 10:26AM
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gumby_ct(CT it says Z5)

Is this DrScottr software still available for trial?

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 9:09AM
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antmary_Omaha_NE_5b

some trees (mulberries, maples) have invasive roots. They'll grow into you bed quickly and the next year you may have the bed fool of roots. Vegetables and most of the other plants can't win this competition.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 5:11AM
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glib(5.5)

no, collard, cardoon and radicchio will give you a good crop, even if it is many hours of shade. They are my rotation in certain beds that have become full shade over time.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 8:05AM
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Peter (6b SE NY)

Here's one of mine.

    Bookmark     May 9, 2015 at 10:49AM
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vgkg(Z-7)

I grew chokes down here a little south of you several years ago and they survived ok for 3-4 years before an extra harsh winter killed them (even with thick mulching). My main complaint about chokes here is that the heads were edible but way smaller than the ones you see in the produce section at stores.

    Bookmark     May 10, 2015 at 7:02AM
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stephanie_criner

Ugh. Now I have mushrooms growing in the containers. NO MORE RAIN!!! They just can't get dried out.

    Bookmark     May 9, 2015 at 4:42PM
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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

The toadstools won't hurt anything and is actually a sign of healthy soil. But yeah, it is awfully wet here too. I keep having to dump the rainwater out of my self-watering containers so the soil can drain. Can you move them under any shelter at all?
Dave

    Bookmark     May 9, 2015 at 6:22PM
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