Brand New and Excited

I can't wait to get started with SFG!. My first gardens were big sprawling and very successful, but since we moved to a tract home, my efforts have been disappointing at best. I finally realized that this will probably continue to be my home and I need to learn to adapt. I have 2 4x8 foot raised beds (about 2.5 inches tall) that I plan to make into my garden. It was so hard tearing everything out, but I want to grow veggies, darn it! I have found my Mel's Mix ingredients and ordered the grids and drip system from the SFG site but I have tons of questions. One of my questions is which seeds are best started indoors and which are OK to plant directly. I am in Southern California and plan to start my tomatoes soon, but what about peppers, cabbage, broccoli? (I only grew tomatoes, squash and peppers during the summer in the past few years) Should I direct these questions to a specific forum (like for my region?). Sorry - just excited about gardening again.

There is a seed chart in the back of the book about when to plant seeds and plants based on frost dates. Also check out the back threads under your region.

Thanks! I have been reading the book but haven't quite figured out the charts. Will try your second suggestion.

momvetcat, I love your enthusiasm.

I have a question for you.  As you have read the "book", you must know that 6 inches deep is recommended, but you say your beds are 2 1/2" deep.  Are you going to make them deeper? 

Perhaps you meant 2 1/2 feet deep?

Oops! No they are 2.5 feet deep. I am planning to put the Mel's Mix on top. Thanks for pointing that out. Not feeling real welcome at the  moment. Yes, I read "the book" - actually his first and second. And the second post was not welcoming at all. I am just looking for advice from people who have been there. Sorry, I just want to learn but I doubt I will be back.

Momvetkat, Welcome to the SFG Forum from Fresno! You live in one of the truly year-around areas. You should be able to start your seedlings any time now. tomatoes, peppers and squash. You can also start the greens like bok choy, kale and chards. Heck, if I lived down there I would be trying everything! Up here in Fresno, when the heat starts up, May on, some plants go to seed (bolt) like lettuce, bok choy, and others are finished for the winter, like snow peas. But, as soon as it cools off again in the late fall, you can plant them again. I know peppers and determinant tomatoes can grow for years down there.

momvetkat wrote:Oops! No they are 2.5 feet deep. I am planning to put the Mel's Mix on top. Thanks for pointing that out. Not feeling real welcome at the  moment. Yes, I read "the book" - actually his first and second. And the second post was not welcoming at all. I am just looking for advice from people who have been there. Sorry, I just want to learn but I doubt I will be back.

So sorry you are not feeling welcome, momvetkat.  But I can see only the second post that may have been a little abrupt.  You will get lots of friendly advice here if you stick with us. Please stay!

Welcome, momvetcat - hope you stick around because we all learn from each other.

I'm changing over to Mel's newer suggestions, having set up my beds using his 2006 version so we both are at the starting point.

That's the problem with reading answers, you can't hear any inflection so you have to interpret what you're 'hearing' which can be difficult.  I'm sure the abruptness was well-meaning and probably meant someone was just in a hurry.
In any case, from the cold northeast.   You'll have many advantages over me with your gardening.
Go to youtube as well and put in CaliKim29 and subscribe to her channel.  She grows in your area and has great vids.  In fact she's starting a new series for beginners this year and you're just in time.  Of course, you need to check into your regional thread on this forum to get more helpful responses specific to your area.
I, too, would suggest that Mel's books are very helpful from Mel's Mix to contraptions that aid us to charts on when to start seeds and when to transplant them according to your last and first frost dates.
Remember, when they give days to maturity on the seed packet, it means from date of transplant in cases where plants must be started indoors.
Good luck and don't be shy about asking questions here.  There's a large group that are always willing to give you assistance where they can.

Thanks everyone. Guess I overreacted a bit. I miss gardening so much and am excited for the first time in a long while. I am lucky because I can garden year-round - I have had ripe tomatoes in December! I will check out those videos mentioned and am still a little confused about which plants would be best started indoors. I am actually a MG but that's just book-learning. I was so discouraged over the past years because I couldn't garden the way I wanted to. Now I see some hope. Thanks and sorry.

MVK,  I think that SFG and Mel's Mix with 5 sources of compost make gardening so easy.  I started gardening 23 months ago and if it wasn't for doing the SFG method and having all these folks on the Forum helping me and cheering me on, I would have thrown in the trowel!!

Are you going to remove some of the fill so you have 6-12 inches for MM?  You only need 6" of MM (honestly!) and maybe 2" for top mulch.  Some 12" areas would be nice for carrots, parsnips, potatoes and such.  Just lay weed fabric over the original fill when you have it down to the depth you want and then fill with MM.

sanderson wrote:MVK,  I think that SFG and Mel's Mix with 5 sources of compost make gardening so easy.  I started gardening 23 months ago and if it wasn't for doing the SFG method and having all these folks on the Forum helping me and cheering me on, I would have thrown in the trowel!!

Are you going to remove some of the fill so you have 6-12 inches for MM?  You only need 6" of MM (honestly!) and maybe 2" for top mulch.  Some 12" areas would be nice for carrots, parsnips, potatoes and such.  Just lay weed fabric over the original fill when you have it down to the depth you want and then fill with MM.

wonderful advice

Hi from Atlanta, GA, Momvetcat! 

Glad you've decided to give us another chance...!  You WILL get LOTS of good (and more importantly) practical advice here.

Many of us look thru several websites to get advice on what to start when & whether it should be transplanted or direct-seeded.  I would start with the website of where you get your seeds, then look at Johnny's Seeds, Baker Creek, My Patriot Supply, Seed Savers Exchange....  The USDA has a plant database, but I can't remember if they discuss direct seed vs. transplant...

Some of us also make spreadsheets to help us remember what a particular plant needs.  I'd be happy to send you mine.  Just send me a P.M. (up in the green section towards the right) with your email.

Welcome again.  Have fun!!!

Momvetcat:

So glad you checked back to give us another chance.

The things most often started indoors are things like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts among the brassicas.  Several herbs.   Then there's tomatoes and peppers.  Most other things can be started directly from seed outdoors.
In your region you could probably start your brassicas outdoors from seed but since I'm from the north, I can't be sure.   
Actually, the seed packets will instruct you on the back of the packet how many weeks before frost you should 'start seed indoors.'   They are very helpful.
Good luck.

Just checking into your region's local thread should help you a lot.  Folks from your area will be 'talking' about what they are presently doing in their gardens.

Southern Cal does not have a Regional Host but Tshred is starting some seeds, I think.

momvetkat wrote:Oops! No they are 2.5 feet deep. I am planning to put the Mel's Mix on top. Thanks for pointing that out. Not feeling real welcome at the  moment. Yes, I read "the book" - actually his first and second. And the second post was not welcoming at all. I am just looking for advice from people who have been there. Sorry, I just want to learn but I doubt I will be back.

Hi and welcome

If your beds are that deep, and just starting SFG. Are there trees around that could create a root problem ?
If yes you may want to consider a space between the ground and growing area.
I had to rebuild beds just for that reason

I just wanted everyone who posted to this thread that I appreciate them. I had some weird computer issues and could not get on this site. I didn't realize it was my computer and signed up again. Anyway I am a little distressed and puzzled to read that there isn't a "leader" for Southern California. We are gardeners! I need guidance! (I am a Master Gardener but that title doesn't help because I don't have all the answers). Anyway I wanted to thank everyone and I hope to make friends here!

KATHY, YOU WILL MAKE FRIENDS!

Sorry Kathy, did not mean to come all over domineering. I'm a sweet old lady, really.

Some of the Regions do not have Hosts as not everyone is comfortable with that job, feeling that perhaps they do not know enough etc.  But if you are like me, I have huge gaps in my knowledge and perhaps I will never be as good as others here but I try, and in fact I am rather enjoying the experience of being a host. It's giving back for what I have received.

But not to worry, there is so much you can learn, from other regions, from single issue topics, from anyone else who loves to share their knowledge.  For myself, I spend so much time reading here that I get behind with my actual gardening.

One of the features that I find so helpful is the Search Feature at the top left hand corner of this page.

So keep coming with your questions.

Regards,
Kelejan

Momvet, We are all family.  I'm familiar with SoCal weather so you can be my adopted daughter!  Not all Regions have Hosts.

I see Kelejan replied while I was away from computer.

Welcome to the forum. Look at back threads and ask question. We all kind of lean and learn from each other. I love this site for those reason.

sanderson wrote:Momvet, We are all family.  I'm familiar with SoCal weather so you can be my adopted daughter!  Not all Regions have Hosts.

I see Kelejan replied while I was away from computer.

AS sanderson is one of my honourary Canadians, Momvet,I guess that makes you
my honourary adopted  Canadian daughter?

I am so happy to be part of the family.

Just wanted you all to know what you have helped me do. I have asked a lot of questions, and gotten great advice.