New Member in Minnesota

Hello All,

We have relocated from NC to MN this past summer and had to leave our established garden to a new owner that had never gardened before. I left her information and several books in hopes that she would not kill everything.  I have not heard anything. I do know that our neighbor said that they pulled up all our strawberries because they don't like them. Oh boy!! So, as it goes...I am starting from scratch with no established garden, an hour outside of Minneapolis, MN.  We have more than enough space with 1/2 acre but will only plant about 1/4 acre.  My husband and I took 6 months of organic gardening classes from a master gardener when we moved to NC but MN is totally different than the southern states.  We are now getting the seed catalogs up here, have connected online with the University of Minnesota gardening dept. and working on how our beds will be situated on the well-drained hill.  I usually start indoor seeds around January but it sounds like I should be holding off until about March. 

I look forward to learning from all of you.

Happy SFG and Happy Holidays!
Pamela and Pieter

Hi Guys!  Welcome from Atlanta, GA!  Glad y'all have decided to join us on the forum.

Lots of forum folks up your way, so I know you'll get some good advice...

We like pictures.  It will be very exciting to see your garden take shape this spring...

Welcome to our forum Pamela, enjoy and Merry Christmas to you and Pieter

Hi Pamela and Pieter,
 Welcome to the forum
Are you going to do square foot gardening /
If so the books in my strap lines are what we try & follow, its what makes squarefoot gardening different to nearly all others .

Guess what ?

It really does work anywhere in the world and works well so long as you follow the system very carefully.

 Don't be shy on asking questions for we run to the theory that th ere is no such thing as a stupid question.

 I spent several days reading all the threads from day one to give me a flavour of what was involved if you have the time.  I offer that it will be the best thing you could ever do if you really want to get All New Square Foot Gardening ( ANSFG ) under your belt .

 Dave ..aka Plantoid

Pam & Pieter,  Welcome to the Forum from California!    

It sounds like you garden in the traditional in-ground row garden method. ??  One-fifth of an acre for a garden is huge! Lucky you! Most of the folks on the Forum use Square Foot Gardening as a basis for their gardens.  Not everyone, and not for all the garden, necessarily.  This Forum is open to any gardener, as some problems such as pests and diseases plague everyone at some time or another.  Plus, sometimes we just have something big, beautiful or bold that we want to share.  But SFG is an option that once tried, usually makes a person crazy about SFG.  It would translate that you only need 1/5 of your quarter acre to achieve the same thing as with in-ground row gardening.  It also means less water, virtually no weeds, fewer seeds sown, etc.  We love photos of all gardens, so hopefully you will post photos of your new gardening journey here. Again, welcome to the Forum.

We're solid zone 4. I used to try for Mother's Day weekend for the garden, but after several years of frost, I pushed it to after Memorial Day. There's plenty of summer to get it all done!

 Ginbuck and PamelaA.  Nice to see some new folks posting.  Pamela, as a NC resident,  I'm sorry you had to leave the state, but I hope it is a good place for you.

Kay

Welcome from the cold state of Maine, zone 5 in my particular area near a big lake.
We start our cold weather crop seeds indoors in mid-Feb (brocc, cauli, cabb, Brussels sprouts, etc) and our warmer crop seeds in late March (tomatoes, peppers) so that's not very far off by my calendar.  I even direct-seed snap peas in mid March. 
The important date is your last frost date wherever you live so find out that and plan your garden from there.
My seed catalogs are getting a workout; thumbing, planning, erasing, and re-charting my spring course.
I have raised beds and I have berms (soil raised but not enclosed) at home. 
I think you'll find that if you hill up your soil, even if you row garden, it'll be easier for you.  All my rows in the community garden were hilled toward the center and they did great.  The next door farmer was amazed at the zucchini and squashes growing so well in those hilled berms.  It was also easier to hand weed and pick off pests (the berms make the ground higher so easier to work).
Whatever you do, stay with us.  We are a good group.  We share information and pictures and help with answers sometimes.
Its always nice to have another garden friend on the forum.

Welcome!

Hi GinBuck!  Welcome to you too!  Glad you've also joined us!

GinBuck, You joined the Forum about the same time I did. I'm glad you jumped in! Please share some of your Minnesota growing experiences. Do you use a greenhouse for extending the seasons or for over-wintering? Photos?? We love them

Wow, NC to MN! Have you lived in an area with real winter before?

Losing a garden  is hard. And even though it makes no difference at all, it is hard to hear something like the ripping out of all your strawberries. (How can anyone not like them?!)

Welcome to both of you (three of you) - Pamela and Peter, and GinBuck!

martha wrote:Wow, NC to MN! Have you lived in an area with real winter before?

Losing a garden  is hard. And even though it makes no difference at all, it is hard to hear something like the ripping out of all your strawberries. (How can anyone not like them?!)

Welcome to both of you (three of you) - Pamela and Peter, and GinBuck!

Pamela, Peter and Ginbuck, I echo Martha's Welcome (I'm being a bit lazy this morning).
I have made up my mind that if ever I leave my garden, I will not try to find out what happens to it as I am sure, even though I am not the world's best, the majority would not  make things better. When I moved in my neighbour had the most beautiful garden, and she made the mistake of coming back last year to find her garden a complete wilderness. I am sure it broke her heart. It made me sad as well, as I was trying to get up to her standard. Just think, having two lovely gardens side by side. But it was not to be.
Again,

PamelaA & Pieter, & Ginbuck! N&C Midwest region has its challenges!

PamelaA - I can definitely identify with your new climate challenges, as I am a SD transplant originally from CA. If you order your seeds from catalogs, order early, even though you will not be starting them indoors as early as you did farther south. If you wait, much of what you want may already be out of stock due to purchase by those who CAN start seeds earlier. Don't ask how I know.......

Ginbuck - Tell us about your past few seasons of gardening since joining the forum! We see that this was your first post, but your join date is Spring in 2013. What has worked for you and what has not? We love to hear gardening tales!