Requests for Rookie Topics?

Hello all!

For those of you that have enjoyed the Rookie Topic on Friday's, the well has run dry between the Regional Hosts and myself. With gardens and summer fun we have struggled slightly to get the last couple to you on time! Thus there has not been one yet today!

I wanted to open up the request line to the membership, hoping it inspires us a little!


Thanks everyone!

I for one among many has been very pleased with the rookie thread. Since we are coming upon garlic planting time and many of us have graduated from grocery store stock at $.33 per bulb to the good stuff at $3. and up it would be perfect timing to cover garlic. Like many crops experience is the best teacher but I/we could vastly shorten the learning curve with some expert help. Help with planning, purchasing selections, bed preparation, planting, nurturing growth, harvesting, curing and looking ahead to next years crop would be the areas I can think of as key to being a happy and successful garlic grower. By the way thanks to all for the many fine Friday Rookie topics presented so far.

Love the rookie topics! Two things that seem like they should be simple to grow, but that seem to be giving lots of people trouble this year, judging by the posts, are bush snap beans and peppers. I've had trouble with those myself this year. I'd love to see rookie topic posts on those!

I'd like to see late autumn and overwinter crops covered like turnips, rutabaga, kohlrabi, etc. and seed saving.

Mamachibi wrote:I'd like to see late autumn and overwinter crops covered like turnips, rutabaga, kohlrabi, etc. and seed saving.

Agreed we should attempt to stay ahead of the calendar with "timely" topics.

As I'm thinking of this, the question I asked myself was "Is this a ROOKIE veggie - meaning something odd and different that most gardeners may not have tried?" OR "Is this a topic for ROOKIE gardeners?" Because the answers are different... I *think* it's the first...but having the second might not be bad for those of who chose our first foray into veggie gardening to BE SFG.

I for one, would like pictures and step by step info on how BBG gets his Simpson's Elite to produce so well. I tried to plant lettuce last spring and it never grew bigger than about an inch or two. (Thinking it might not have been the best bagged compost.) Yes, BBG, I later bought Simpson's Elite to try this fall after reading more than one of your posts.

But for most seasoned gardeners, they are probably laughing at my inability to get lettuce or any root veggie to grow.

Since I haven't yet mastered the basics - I guess I don't have tons of advice on more unusual crops to plant.

Mamachibi wrote:I'd like to see late autumn and overwinter crops covered like turnips, rutabaga, kohlrabi, etc. and seed saving.

Agree!! I love the seed saving idea and other techniques.

After winter crops, I'd love advice on how to grow melons, watermelon and cantaloupe, for those of us not living in the south (everything I find online is for the south ). I used my extention offices list of watermelons suitable for my area but so far it doesn't look like I'll get any.

A lot of things are probably searchable but I love the convenience of finding them in the rookie posts :o)

Don't stop Rookie Posts!

UnderTheBlackWalnut wrote:As I'm thinking of this, the question I asked myself was "Is this a ROOKIE veggie - meaning something odd and different that most gardeners may not have tried?" OR "Is this a topic for ROOKIE gardeners?"

Yes!

J/K 'Rookie Topics' is BBG's creation, and it's a good one. But the title he came up with out of the blue leaves a lot to be desired. ( to BBG!) What is new and different is determined by one's locale and climate and experience. Maybe he can come up with a better title while he's hibernating this winter!

UnderTheBlackWalnut wrote:
But for most seasoned gardeners, they are probably laughing at my inability to get lettuce or any root veggie to grow.

Nopers. We never underestimate the gardening gods. Just as soon as we think we have this gardening thing mastered, we get our butts kicked! Weather plays such a big part in our success, and there's nothing we can do about it.

UnderTheBlackWalnut wrote:Since I haven't yet mastered the basics - I guess I don't have tons of advice on more unusual crops to plant.

SFG is about teaching people to grow food to eat to sustain themselves. First things first: it starts with what is native/local and is easy to grow. What is 'unusual' goes back to one's climate and locale. If there's something that you are curious about, that would be a good suggestion.

I think what's a "timely" topic can vary by region. Bush snap beans and peppers are timely topics for me, and probably most others in the south, since those can be included in a fall planting. That said, though, I agree that the topics would probably be best kept to what is timely for the majority seasonally.



I think of the Rookie Topics as our own forum library that we're setting up. So I envision it covering all possible veggies eventually!



I, too, would like to see BBG do a topic on lettuce, covering the Simpson Elite. I have also purchased some of those seeds due to his post and am hopeful they'll work for me here in the south!



Then perhaps when all the veggie topics are exhausted there could be a top covering different pests that contain the same kind of great basic information as the veggie Rookie Topics. I think that would be great for all of us and would especially be great for those new to square foot gardneing.

On topic: I originally thought we'd post some weirder veggies and give a background and steps to grow...sort of. The vision is to take the fear out of trying something new for "rookies." Hence, the title.



However, as it's grabbed it's own legs, you're not going to hear a complaint from me. I'm glad the RH's jumped in to help. I'm also glad everyone liked the concept so much that we've kept it going most of the season.



If it morphs into other Rookie Topics, to help people lose their fears, that's more than fine with me since that is still well within the spirit of the concept.



Off topic: I will do a topic on whatever you want to see. I had asked that earlier in our regional subforum, with little traction, envisioning the same results. Sort of taking requests since I don't mind researching things I don't know much about. But, I must put the disclaimer on bush beans or lettuce......I don't do anything special. I stick it in the ground and watch it grow. I don't know why my lettuce doesn't bolt. I have four varieties going right now that have yet to bolt...still. I just love Simpson Elite because it's only bolted on me once in the last three years. And, that was because I ignored it completely for many weeks.



I just planted some lettuces yesterday. I have a couple pictures on the memory card already. If they sprout, I'll post the pics and start describing details if that works.

I know you did a post on Tarragon but I would like to see some more posts on herbs...maybe even which ones might do well started outside and brought in for the winter??

Cauliflower!

Cauliflower! Great one! I vote yes for cauliflower!

Yep fall vegies have my vote, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, lettuce, collards and the like.

I know I'll need the Rookie Thread with this being my first year gardening.

I've already learned soooo much from this forum and I'm very grateful for that.

I never thought I'd grow some food for my family of 6...which has become a family adventure.

Q. Is Simpson Elite a name for a particular lettuce???

Yes, Simpson Elite is a variety of leaf lettuce very closely related to Black-seeded Simpson, which is also slow to bolt. But, I believe Simpson Elite is even more heat tolerant.

Some ideas:

1. Perhaps some on companion planting... we seem to get questions on this from time to time.
   
2. Flowers. Marigolds, Nasturtium, and any others folks like- Mel mentioned planting flowers quite a bit in his book to try and make the garden not only produce vegetables, but also to make it pretty to look at as well. Which plants tend to make good SFG companions, and which tend to try to take over.
   
3. Watering. How to check, how much, when, options, hand, sprinkler, wand, drip irrigation... how to
   
4. mulch. types when to use, benefits.
   
5. STRAWBERRIES - types, growth, runners, pruning harvesting.
   
6. Trellis. Where to place, what can grow well on them, single string vs. netting vs. wire. Wood vs. Metal vs. PVC
   
7. COMPOSTING. I have to admit, Mel in his book wasn't as clear as he might have been on composting. Bins, turning, how often to water, what constitutes brown or green. Pasteurizing compost. Yup, I do that. Guaranteed no weeds / Nematodes/virus/bacteria
   
8. Rain Barrels. Depending on where you are it can be a must to keep your beds watered.
   

I am assuming you are looking for general Rookie Gardener topics. We get a lot of the same questions over and over (which is fine) but maybe having this as a reference section would get a number of new and interesting variant questions out there too. I am always up for learning something new...

Mark

Thank you everyone for the suggestions...I think their will be another week without a rookie topic and then the goal is for it to reappear soon.

Feel free to keep suggestions coming.

I understood that parsnips are suppose to be a fall crop but I didn't know they were suppose to be started in spring so here I am with a packet of seeds wishing I knew more about parsnips....

Krazi - One thing you need to know about parsnips is that the viability of parsnip seeds is very short term. After one year the sprout rate drops off very fast.

krazikandiland wrote:I understood that parsnips are suppose to be a fall crop but I didn't know they were suppose to be started in spring so here I am with a packet of seeds wishing I knew more about parsnips....

Just put something together for you...



https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t8569-quick-hits-on-parsnips#79142



Enjoy!

onions from seed , garlic, strawberries, leeks, beets,cauliflower,broccoli
grains,aubergines(eggplant)

First let me say: THANK YOU! and as BBG has mentioned, the kids are starting back to school very soon ( 08/18 for me - party at my house when the bus leaves) so things are a bit crazy for us parents ( or will be). Take as much time as you need , family first then gardening! LOL



As for topics, Fall season veggies are very much welcomed along with Fall/Winter topics ( hoop houses, row covers, overwintering,etc). I'm still baffled with the do you/don't you water of a winter garden.



I vote broccoli and brussel sprouts!



Again, thank you for your time/sharing your knowledge with everyone. This forum is the BEST!

Brussels sprouts!

celeriac or celery root. - When I'm traveling in other countries, this is the only form of celery flavor I can find.





Kay