The garden thread...

[michaeljkrell]

Thought it would be good start a gardening thread and members can post information and pics regarding their garden. The last frost date in my zone is fast approaching and we have another big garden planned this year. Our good friend/neighbor is the real master gardener and he comes over to lead the gardening effort in our yard along with our neighbor's yard (it is about an acre and a half all together). We grew probably 18-24 different vegetables last year and have apple trees, pear trees, cherry trees, fig trees (hopefully ours will bear this year) and paw paw trees. We also have tons of red raspberries. This goes along with our chickens (we have 11 now and will be getting another dozen this spring). Last year we had about 1200 feet of zinnias which were just gorgeous. We will be growing more food this year, but still will have lots of zinnias. Here are some pictures from last year.

 

[DNW]

Man, I'd love to have a garden like that. Us city dwellers just don't have the luxury of growing our own food. I can barely keep my tabletop herb garden going.

 

[why]

Figured I'd get all that out right away.

 

[michaeljkrell]

Number one cash crop in the US is marijuana... Followed by cut flowers.

 

[JayJay]

michaeljkrell, the garden looks nice. I used to have a large garden at a previous residence. It was a lot of fun and very relaxing.

 

[Tarmac]

I have tried home growing herbs (real herbs, not the fun kind) and I just failed miserably. I just could not get the right combination of water, soil, fertilizer, etc. The insect problem was insane, how can you keep insects out without using insecticide?

 

[robin]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

I have tried home growing herbs (real herbs, not the fun kind) and I just failed miserably. I just could not get the right combination of water, soil, fertilizer, etc. The insect problem was insane, how can you keep insects out without using insecticide?
Brown thumb for you.

 

[michaeljkrell]

In general, we don't have too much of a problems with disease and bugs. We don't do a lot of this, but there are ways to garden where you plant a grass/fruit/vegetable that attracts good critters that will eat the bad critters that are attacking your good fruits and veggies.

Eliot Coleman is a really good guy to read about organic gardening.

We don't use any chemicals in our garden except for some of the occasional fertilizer on the flowers.

 

[why]

Originally Posted by Tarmac

The insect problem was insane, how can you keep insects out without using insecticide?

I peed all over my oregano every day.

 

[michaeljkrell]

Depending on your diet, urine can be too salty sometimes. Otherwise it is a great fertilzer. They fertilize a fair bit with human urine in South Africa and I know Germany is doing some on a large scale. To be safe, store your urine for a month or two and then use it.

 

[FLMountainMan]

I grow rosemary, a couple kinds of mint, and pearl onions in my backyard (in addition to the pecan tree that shades it).

The effort I put forth is extremely minimal. I'd love to someday have a big garden.