Who is planting a vegetable garden this spring?

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

We have a plot at the community garden at the Ann Arbor airport. (I used to be the site coordinator of that community garden, but it was too much hassle.) It's about a 10 minute drive from our house, but the great soil, and open space (which means full sun and less animal problems) makes up for the extra time spent getting there.

I have about 400 seedlings growing under lights in my house -- mostly peppers, tomatoes, and basil. Some were only started about a week ago, but some were started in late February.

We also have a couple raised beds for vegetables at our house, and I'm planning on planting tomatoes and a few other things in containers this year. DH & I are also planning to put containers with vines on our roof, to see if that helps cool the house.

I have gardened most of my life. I think a lot of people have started gardening the past couple of years, hoping to save money on food. Unfortunately, this is much harder than it looks. I doubt I save much (if anything) on my food bills, especially since there is a $105 fee for the garden plot rental. I just garden because I enjoy it.

To save money by vegetable gardening, you really need to have both land and water available for free (well water, for example.)

I have two suggestions for beginning gardeners:
1) Grow what produces a lot in a little space, especially things that don't ship well. We've been happiest with tomatoes, ripe (red, yellow) peppers, bush beans, and basil. (Summer squash also produces well, but DH & I don't like it.) Don't bother with things that take tons of space (corn and pumpkins) or that ship easily and sell cheaply (potatoes.)

2) Mulch! It keeps water in, and keeps weeds down. We use black horticultural plastic for plants that like heat, and marsh hay for paths (less slippery than plastic) and for plants that like it cool.

Oh, a third suggestion: My favorite seed store is Pinetree Seeds. Amazinly good prices, and good descriptions. Aimed at northern gardeners. (They're in Maine.) Pinetree Seeds is online at www.superseeds.com I always pay the $4.50 extra for overnight processing, because otherwise their shipping can be slow.

Judy, that community garden sounds fantastic, so enjoyable. And there is some good advice you have given.

We don't think we will save any money by gardening as much as we find that the taste of the veggies, the freshness can't be beat.

Also, someone inquired about the barrier gel we use to stop crawling ants....it is called Tanglefoot Pest Barrier Tanglefoot

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

The garden proper does not include the main asparagus bed or the two smaller ones.

I heard once that an asparagus bed could also be planted with some other type item. I have strawberries in my asparagus bed, but it has been a big failure. After I stop harvesting the asparagus, they grow tall and block the light from the strawberries. Is there anything that can be grown with asparagus or am I letting the asparagus grow when it doesn't need to grow into the tall ferns?

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

The house next door to us has a very old Black Walnut tree. It seems to kill just about any veggies we plant. I would love to have a garden. Anyone have any suggestions? We've tried pots for tomatoes and that works somewhat, though not as good as growing them in the ground. Are there any other vegetables that do well in containers?

[gophish Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close gophish]

Will be going back to having a garden this year after having gotten away from it for several years. We always used to have a big garden but the trees in our backyard have grown up so much sinch we bought this house 30 years ago that they were blocking most of the available sunlight.
We had a couple of big pines taken down last year and now have some sunny spots in backyard that get 4-5 hours of light a day so will go for the garden again this year.

[basham Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close basham]

I heard once that an asparagus bed could also be planted with some other type item. I have strawberries in my asparagus bed, but it has been a big failure. After I stop harvesting the asparagus, they grow tall and block the light from the strawberries. Is there anything that can be grown with asparagus or am I letting the asparagus grow when it doesn't need to grow into the tall ferns?

The ferns need to grow to supply the energy for next years harvest. We use to cut them lightly and use in flower arrangements as needed.

I've never seen an asparagus bed be interplanted but suppose it could be done. Seed and then throw some compost or potting mix on top so as not to disturb the bed by digging. Some of the early Spring crops would probably work. Lettuce and radishes come to mind.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

Thanks Mark, both are great suggestions. I am moving strawberries to a different bed and will try lettuce.

[vintner Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close vintner]

I lost my saved Romeo tomato seeds. Anyone have this type tomato?