Planting suggestions for Extreme NW Georgia?

I apologize if this posting intersects with another one I did, but for some reason, I don't see it out there. Anyway.....

I think I will start with the 4' x 4' planting bed from SFG. Not too large, nor too small to begin. It is only me in the household, so I can't get too carried away.

I want to plant a bush type cantaloupe, several sweet pepper varieties, a bush type cucumber and several flowers with will play well with the veggies. I know, some of you will be saying What? No tomatoes?, but I don't eat them (how totally un-southern of me!).

Any suggestions for varieties and planting layouts in the 4' x 4' that would work well in this area would be wholly welcomed and greatly appreciated!



Holley

I recommend Gypsy pepper. It is a hybrid but far out produced my bell peppers and still has peppers ripening on the plant. One plant I bought at HD has probably given me at least 25 peppers from july til now.

I've had good luck with the space saver cuke as a bush type. I don't know of a bush type cantaloupe. Cantaloupe is a vine so plan on some sort of trellis for it to climb or plant on the outer edge of the box so it can vine all over the yard. I also staggered my 3 cantaloupe plantings by 2 weeks so they didn't all come in at once. I then had to leave my garden, but my neighbors said the 'loupes were tasty.

You don't mention any greenery. Are you planning some lettuce/spinach/greens for the spring? Do you like snap or snow peas. If so, you can plant the peas on a trellis as early as late Feb early Mar and then reuse the space/trellis in the summer for your cantaloupe. Peas have pretty flowers and lettuce/spinach don't do well in really hot weather. Chard is a good green for a summer garden and the red stemmed variety gives the garden an ornamental look. Peppers also need to wait for warm weather to put outside.

Post a layout of what you think you want and somebody in your zone will have some ideas.

Let me suggest dwarf French marigolds among your veggies - these will feed your pollinators and enable the population to grow, as well as repel some pests. I've found them to work very well at repelling squash bugs and cucumber beetles. They help with caterpillars. They are not effective against squash borers and pickleworms.

I discovered this several years ago, and have effectively banished squash bugs and cucumber beetles from the veggies, although they are in neighbor's gardens and CBs are even on my sunflowers (a few) in the front yard.

I think it is a requirement to grow tomatoes in a SFG, even if you don't like them... Then just whip up some tomato sauce and then I will send you my address, voila, tomato problem solved .

Pollinator, Thanks for the advice with the dwarf French marigolds. May I ask where you get yours or where I could get seed? I have seen quite a few marigolds in the various seed catalogs, but I don't remember specifically the dwarf French variety. I love the idea of having something to help with the bugs, naturally! Great idea.

cheyannarach, that is too funny! If I grow any, that is what I would have to do. Most people think I'm nuts for not eating tomatoes. It seems to be a texture thing for me because I love tomato sauce, ketchup, etc. Just something about a raw tomato, yuck! I may reconsider and delve into the world of making homemade tomato sauce which I would gladly share with you! Again, problem solved.

Thanks to everyone who has been so helpful.

durham64 wrote:Pollinator, Thanks for the advice with the dwarf French marigolds. May I ask where you get yours or where I could get seed?

I have lots of dwarf French Marigold seed, and I'll send you some, if you send me an SASE. Click on my icon and send me a private message to set it up.

Once you grow them, you'll always have seed. In fact, here in the South, they will also seed themselves.