My first gardens EVER!

I finally got my ingredients together for my MM yesterday!

I am sad to say that I could only afford a source of compost to begin with but I did get the best that I could. I plan on buying different compost to supplement when I replant and thus hopefully get enough nutrients in the ground. Of course I am trying to get my own compost going so then I won't even have to buy compost.

My DS (6) and I planted and watered everything this morning.

Anyway here is what the look like so far. Both images are taken looking north.





So wish me luck with my lack of 5 composts.....More to come as the season progresses

Looks good! Are the raised boxes for carrots?

Great start! Pictures look fab. Fingers crossed you don't have dud of nutrients in there...and to hoping your own compost matures super quickly. Keep us updated. Cheers to the work you've done.

Lookin' really good! Keep us posted on your progress.

Looking good. Lucky you to start gardening the SFG way. I know it is not strickly SFG but I too had a hard time finding 5 different composts so I added an organic micro-nutrient soil builder and it is not too late to add some if you can find it localy just look in the fertilizer section of your favorite garden store. There are lots of brands seek out organic soil builders. Got mine at Ace. Keep us posted. And

Fish Emulsion is a good suppliment to add in when you are short a compost or two too. I use it on my heavy feeders like winter squash because I do 1 per square instead of 1 per 2 sq on the winter squash, just trying to push the envelope.

madnicmom wrote:Looks good! Are the raised boxes for carrots?

Yep The top hats are for carrots. My son and I were so excited to start planting we forgot to stagger our crop and planted all 32 carrots guess I will try that cream of carrot soup I saw recently .

Looking good!

WolfHeart wrote:Yep The top hats are for carrots. My son and I were so excited to start planting we forgot to stagger our crop and planted all 32 carrots guess I will try that cream of carrot soup I saw recently .

Fine looking boxes... hopefully the one compost is a good one and will be all that you need for this year. I'm looking forward to seeing what you're able to get out of the box... be sure to take pictures, and hopefully next year you'll have all that wonderful home grown compost to put in the boxes too. It will be a neat comparison to see how much of a difference the different types of compost in the SFG will make in your situation.

I hear you about planting everything at once... I almost did the same thing today while planting. It's a hold over I think from my old row garden days - plant and thin... best thing though is the carrots will be so good you'll probably chow down those carrots so fast you'll wonder why you didn't plant even more 2 weeks later for a staggered harvest! I love garden carrots, and I have 3 varieties planted now in three squares set to harvest one week at a time... starting in 60 days or so from now...yum.

Mark

Mark, ....Glad you didn't make the same error that I did when planting. I too am curious about the compost (or lack there of) and how it will affect my production. I am also investigating the use of compost teas right now on another Thread.I am hoping to use this as a way to possibly overcome my lack of compost.

My plan currently is to photograph my garden every week on the same day and post pictures to this thread to share, so keep an eye out for regular updates.

You're off to a good start. I like your boxes.
Yes, keep us posted with pictures. We love pictures.

WolfHeart wrote:
My plan currently is to photograph my garden every week on the same day and post pictures to this thread to share, so keep an eye out for regular updates.

Great idea! I think I would like to do this for my garden as well, just for my own records to see how things take shape!

TC

Thanks Goosegirl, I am a photog at heart if not equipment

I am looking forward to seeing everyone's photos of their lush gardens.

Here's to a fruitful growing season to all

WolfHeart wrote:Mark, ....Glad you didn't make the same error that I did when planting. I too am curious about the compost (or lack there of) and how it will affect my production. I am also investigating the use of compost teas right now on another Thread.I am hoping to use this as a way to possibly overcome my lack of compost.

My plan currently is to photograph my garden every week on the same day and post pictures to this thread to share, so keep an eye out for regular updates.

I like that idea alot.

For any newbies that may read this I just want to clarify how important 5 composts are.

As our beloved boffer says:

1 compost=potatoes

2 composts=potatoes and veggies

3 composts=potatoes, veggies, and fruit

4 composts=potatoes, veggies, fruit, and dairy

5 composts=potatoes, veggies, fruit, dairy, and meat

6 composts=potatoes, veggies, fruit, dairy, meat, and dessert!

Just like a human body, plant health depends on a balanced diet.

Congrats on your 1st garden EVER! I hope the one compost source you got works for you.

Happy gardening!

Me too Middlemamma!

I am looking at the compost teas that have been floating around the compost section.

I think what i am going to do this season is brew some of that tea with worm casting and supplement that way till i can get some more composts and the mix that in as the season progresses and then really mix it up in the fall before I put the beds to sleep.

Here's hoping.

Wolfheart, I really sympathize with everyone trying to find five different kinds of manure/compost. It really is not that easy. I usually have my own but so far it is still frozen in a big pile. That is what I get for putting it on the north side of the garden shed. It is so cold today. There is a thick layer of ice on the water in the rain barrels, even though they are in the sun.

I guess I could have bought a bag of worm castings but they are VERY expensive here. So I am hoping that even though I only have four kinds of manure for my carrots, if I top dress later with my own compost once it thaws out, I should be okay. I'll keep my fingers crossed for you too.

Gwynn

The first year I tried to plant carrots in my SFG, I bought finger carrots which are only supposed to be no more than five inches long. I figured that would be perfect for six inches of soil... well they were not to be denied...they grew through the bottom weed cloth and were just as long and large as regular carrots! O well. At least they tasted good and kept all winter!

You must have had a great mix!!

Gwynn

gnesis1949

gnesis1949 wrote:The first year I tried to plant carrots in my SFG, I bought finger carrots which are only supposed to be no more than five inches long. I figured that would be perfect for six inches of soil... well they were not to be denied...they grew through the bottom weed cloth and were just as long and large as regular carrots! O well. At least they tasted good and kept all winter!

We are so glad you joined us. How long have you been SFG'ing?
Love those finger carrots gone wild! How was your general harvest last year? Did you have problems finding all the ingredients for Mel's Mix?
Please let us know how your garden grows this year. What are you doing new and different. Please share photos, cause we love them.

Again, Welcome

So I thought I would just use my original thread to keep you all up to date with the happenings in my SFGs

So here are my Potatoes, I have Red and Yukon Golds. I am going to plant some more seed potatoes when next I hill them up.
I was reading on another thread that some where experimenting with this method and I wanted to try it as well.



Next is what I am calling the sunny garden. It gets the most sun of the two 4x4 that I have.
I have Onions, carrots, a Hungarian Hot pepper and a 'Big Boy' Tomato.



the Carrots:
These are the carrots I planted. I got nervous after a
week of nothing growing and mixed up the soil and
replanted....apparently I didn't need to worry too much because as you
can see I have way to many carrots in that box now.



These are the carrots my DS planted. I did not disturb these and they are not as plentiful.




The 'Shady' box:



Some of my peas:

Not sure but either a bug has found my peas or it was the hail form last night.



The Beets:



The Spinach:



and finally the lettuce. I am not expecting anything from this planting I started way later then I should have, Apr 16.



This Weekend I am heading to Marvin's to grab one more tomato, hopefully they still have the San Marzano variety I was looking at last month. and I have one red bell pepper that I need to start hardening off and get planted too.. At the end of the month I am going to plant my watermelons, pumpkins, Bush Limas and my Haricot Verts Green beans

Good job Wolfheart.

The sunny garden and the shady garden both seem to be doing well. I know what you mean about going back and mixing up the soil and replanting. The temptation is there when thing's sprout slowly in the spring, we just need to have a little faith sometimes (or a little more patience)

I am jealous that Marvin's is so convenient for you. I so desperately want more of their compost, but they aren't geographically desirable for me. I'm going to go to Burger on Saturday as dd has a birthday party in Newtown.

Everything looks wonderful! Great pictures!

Don't worry so much about germination. When the soil is colder, it takes longer, but it will happen. Warmer soil means quicker sprouting. You just have to be patient, tho I know its not easy.

I'm in zone 5A and my peas are just starting to sprout; I also see bits of green for the spinach and lettuce and the greens like arugula. So be patient and it will happen.

If you get another cold snap, they'll slow down some, but they'll start up again as soon as it warms up again.

Example: I started Devil's Tongue and Crispino lettuce seeds on Apr 12th then some Centurian Romaine and Simpson Elite on Apr 25th and you can't tell the difference in size. The cold held back the germination on the earlier ones so the later ones caught up.

Hi Gang,

/begin

It has been crazy in my life lately. I work for a university library normally second shift. Now that school is out for the summer I work 1st shift. And to make things better we are moving the entire library and a portion of another. we have 10 weeks to move two miles of books.

Sorry I had to say that 'out loud' to make my self believe it... as a result of my shift in schedule and the move my updates might be a little more untimely than i would rather see them but hey at least it in not raining right now.

/end

So now on to the good stuff, here is this weeks up date on my first sfg ever.

Here is the Sunny Garden:
Notice the Haricot Verts coming up in the back....It was stunning to watch. I had one poking through one day and then next 14 of its friends were up too It surprised the heck out of me and my wife.




Here are the beans (planted 6May):


The Brussel's Sprouts are going gang busters.


Celery from starts:


and the CARROTS!!!!


The Shady Garden:


The garden peas are coming along. I took the extra trellis netting and strung it up on the fence:


and the Bush Lima beans:



Finally the potato bucket


Well that how it goes this week...I hope to get back to reading on the boards more frequently.