Back to Eden Gardening and Hugelkulture and other non-conventional garden methods

[lazy gardener]

Plant where you have the most available sun, and you want it close to water access. Otherwise, I suggest that you start small. Um... you have a tendency to bite off a big hunk at a time. Start small, then expand next year. Yes, you can put together your lasagna bed, and plant it right away.

 

[260906]

Your seeds should last several years if kept in a cool, dry place. I put mine in paper envelopes (if they are not in the original packages) and keep them in a cabinet away from moisture and light.

You can always have several small garden spots; make an area for shade-loving plants, an area with morning sun and a little afternoon shade for tender plants that can't take the heat, and an area in full sun for the rest. Fall leaves make a great mulch! They just blow around too much at times, while wood chips stay in place, in my experience. Maybe put down leaves with a little layer of wood chips over it?

Variety in a garden seems to keep plants happy and bugs at bay. If you want to plant several things this year, plant them close together (like the square-foot-method or forest garden) and just plant a couple of each thing you want to try. My family gets all the tomatoes we could want off two tomato plants each year. Now melons...well, I can't get enough melons!

I hope everything turns out great for you!

 

[260906]

Oh, I noticed at the bottom of your post that you are in Massachusetts, so definitely go for all the sun you can! I'm in an area where it stays above 90 degrees in the summer and some plants can't take the full sun, even when it says on the seed package that they need it.

 

[ShrekDawg]

Thank you all so much for all the help! Really appreciate it and it's really... well... helpful lol

I hadn't thought of multiple gardens, that's a great idea. Tomorrow I'll take a picture or video of some potential sites?

And LG, LOL yes, I do have a tendency to do that! I should rein it in this year

And I'm really glad I can start the lasagna bed right away. That sure seems like an easy way to go.

And I looked up the straw bale thing and that seems like a great idea too. I might get the bales in the fall and try that next year.

Maybe I can try a bunch of different methods?

As for the seeds, thanks for the tips! Although someone once said in a plastic bag in the fridge was good so is that true or is a cabinet best?

And I think we usually get to like 80s and 90s with some 100 degree days and some less than 80 days. It's usually never too hot though although lately I think it's either getting hotter or I can't take it as well LOL

It was mid 80s today, hot yesterday, and is supposed to be 80s two more days but then Saturday is supposed to cool off.

I think it's just a heat wave though but I hope it isn't an indication of the summer. :/

 

[ShrekDawg]

Also what do I do with these? I mean, I know I need to transplant them and should have a long time ago but the beds not done. Do I put them in a pot until then or just hurry and make a bed and then move them?

And what about the smaller peppers in the smaller tray? Do I move them yet or leave them? I just thinned them out yesterday.

And I think that little spinach is dead? They all sprouted then the cat ate and killed them all then that one came back but now I think it's dead???

And the herbs, am I supposed to think those out or transplant them or are they supposed to be like that?

Sorry for all the questions haha

 

[ShrekDawg]

Can I use any of this? I just bought 2 things of the peat moss, 1 mulch, 1 lime, and one of the bone meal. And the espoma one they used to have blood meal and bone meal too but i guess they sold out. If I can't use any of it I'll find another use for it ha

 

[ShrekDawg]

And then this other stuff is what I already have. And I bought 2 more plastic pots today and just transplanted a pepper into one of them with the potting mix and garden tone. We'll see how it does. And the trays I just bought yesterday thinking I could start more tomatoes and peppers and whatever else but I might have gotten a little too over ambitious LOL I think I should probably save those trays for next season????

And sorry for all the posts and pictures and taking over this. If needed I can make my own thread. I just thought I would ask here first and you can only post 10 pictures at a time so I had to split it up

 

[ShrekDawg]

This is whats in it

 

[chickengr]

I checked soil where I mixed in some pine shavings with chicken manure. it decomposed a lot. I didn't till it, just sort of lifted about 2 inches of soil and let some shavings/manure fall in then tried to mix it well.

where I put pine needles with manure I now have dark brown soil

 

[chickadoodles]

Putting up trellis for the tomatoes everything is blooming and we have some squash, eggplant a couple inches lone so far.