BYC Garden Club - veggie additions

[Eyeheartquail]

I am not a gardener. I don't even know what my zone is. I had a small raised garden last year that produced a few of the basics. Trying for basics again this year (bush beans, tomatoes, radishes, and lettuce) I just bought some Edamame seeds to add to the mix. I have never grown them before. I am clueless. I know they are supposed to be treated like beans. I am excited though. My daughter and I can eat them by the pound.

 

[Marty1876]

Oh yes, soybenas (special variety in your case) are good fixers of nitrogen in your soil. Where are you, I mean, which half of your state? To the West, you'll enjoy slightly damnper, warmer, more temperate weather, to the East (like my brother in law-a guy in a kilt) more cold and snow.

Raised gardens are great! Have you ever read square foot gardening by Mel Bartholomew? Its worth checking out at your library, and an easy read.

I am not a gardener. I don't even know what my zone is. I had a small raised garden last year that produced a few of the basics. Trying for basics again this year (bush beans, tomatoes, radishes, and lettuce) I just bought some Edamame seeds to add to the mix. I have never grown them before. I am clueless. I know they are supposed to be treated like beans. I am excited though. My daughter and I can eat them by the pound.

 

[JulieNKC]

I have asparagus and rhubarb in. Tomatoes and peppers started. As soon as it stops raining and the water goes away I'm planting peas, lettuce, and spinach, hopefully by this weekend. I need to weed the strawberry plot and thin it out some. I have 2 apple and 1 pear tree. A few mulberries and persimmons for the chickens. There used to be rasberries but they got cut down. I want to get some going again, and am wanting to try grapes.

 

[Marty1876]

Wish you were a little closer, you could come dig up some Raspberries! Big fat ones, for free. Old stock, quite hardy. I forgot our persimmon tree, but it only makes like 5 a year. What do you do with yours, Julie? I also have mulberries, but DD's and DH pretty much make short work of those fresh. I guess they forget the purple lips give them away!

I know there is a vinyard between us, near Topeka/Lawrence. We should ask them what grows well here. Its so hard to ripen them, since our nights are never cool.

I have asparagus and rhubarb in. Tomatoes and peppers started. As soon as it stops raining and the water goes away I'm planting peas, lettuce, and spinach, hopefully by this weekend. I need to weed the strawberry plot and thin it out some. I have 2 apple and 1 pear tree. A few mulberries and persimmons for the chickens. There used to be rasberries but they got cut down. I want to get some going again, and am wanting to try grapes.

 

[Eyeheartquail]

I am SW Washington only across the river from Portland, Oregon. I purchased Hakucho soy beans. The woman I bought them from told me they are one of the two early varieties that she would try growing in my climate. She seemed to know what she was talking about. She has over 100 different varieties of soy beans for sale. I have not read that book but probably should. I will try checking it out when i head to the library next. Thanks

Oh yes, soybenas (special variety in your case) are good fixers of nitrogen in your soil. Where are you, I mean, which half of your state? To the West, you'll enjoy slightly damnper, warmer, more temperate weather, to the East (like my brother in law-a guy in a kilt) more cold and snow.

Raised gardens are great! Have you ever read square foot gardening by Mel Bartholomew? Its worth checking out at your library, and an easy read.

 

[Eyeheartquail]

Oh and I have an asian pear tree, crab apples I think and a blueberry bush too. LOL

 

[bakingintherain]

I live in vermont and our zone is 4/5, i have a 20x40 space that i have been slowly adding raised beds to. i have my tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucs, eggplant, some basil, and melons started, and i plan to grow radishes, greens (kale, lettuce, arugula, spinach, and maybe a few more), beets, beans, peas, lots of sunflowers and edible flowers, and corn

we also have a few fruit bushes and plan to add a couple dozen more this year. oh and hops

 

[mama2my4]

I think raised beds are a great choice for you. Every 4 x 4 ft bed 4" deep will grow you enough salad to feed a family of four once per week all growing season! I just mix compost, peat moss, sand, and rotted manure togather for my new beds. I put 3 or 4 layers of paper down inside a wood (or rock, brick, etc) frame, then cover it with my magic mix, and plant that day. The worms will come and happily eat your newspaper and till the lower portions for you. Just feed your plants with side dressing of compost every month, and you should be great!

Thanks for the tips, and for the encouragement! I think I am going to need all I can get. I don't really have a green thumb.....

 

[Marty1876]

Who plants in the shade of their fruit trees?

Its supposed to be good for them to have a raised bet under them, to mulch and help feed them, and things like lettuce, carrots, and broccoli benefit from the increasing shade as the leaves grow in (it's hotter then). Keeps lettuce from bolting.

I plant spring lettuce on the south side in march, east side in april, and north side in may for use thru end of june.... You can grow french breaskfast radish all season without it going bitter, just remember as the weather warms its ready in 2.5 weeks, not 4-6!! Pick lettuce outer leaves constandly, and leave only 4 or 5 in the middle to continue to grop to avoid planting more, and bitterness. Water is the most important ingrediant for sweet lettuce spring, summer, and fall.

Share your favorit garden tip! How do you treat your applie/pear/peach/cherry/etc trees? I dormant spray in the winter, and then use organic spray 3 times over the summer to keep pests down. I also hang a cider viniger/sugar liquid in the trees in open milk jugs, so bugs come in to the "ripe" apple and drown.

 

[JulieNKC]

Wish you were a little closer, you could come dig up some Raspberries! Big fat ones, for free. Old stock, quite hardy. I forgot our persimmon tree, but it only makes like 5 a year. What do you do with yours, Julie? I also have mulberries, but DD's and DH pretty much make short work of those fresh. I guess they forget the purple lips give them away!

I know there is a vinyard between us, near Topeka/Lawrence. We should ask them what grows well here. Its so hard to ripen them, since our nights are never cool.

I'll remember that if I ever make a trip over that direction.

Ours are the little wild kind. The trees are old, and they all grow up high out of reach. They are along the fence over the chicken yard so the ducks eat some, but I haven't ever tried any.
That's a good idea on the vineyard.

Who plants in the shade of their fruit trees?

Its supposed to be good for them to have a raised bet under them, to mulch and help feed them, and things like lettuce, carrots, and broccoli benefit from the increasing shade as the leaves grow in (it's hotter then). Keeps lettuce from bolting.

I plant spring lettuce on the south side in march, east side in april, and north side in may for use thru end of june.... You can grow french breaskfast radish all season without it going bitter, just remember as the weather warms its ready in 2.5 weeks, not 4-6!! Pick lettuce outer leaves constandly, and leave only 4 or 5 in the middle to continue to grop to avoid planting more, and bitterness. Water is the most important ingrediant for sweet lettuce spring, summer, and fall.

Share your favorit garden tip! How do you treat your applie/pear/peach/cherry/etc trees? I dormant spray in the winter, and then use organic spray 3 times over the summer to keep pests down. I also hang a cider viniger/sugar liquid in the trees in open milk jugs, so bugs come in to the "ripe" apple and drown.

Our pear tree is ancient, and I think it's some kind of ornamental pear or something, because the fruit isn't very sweet and hard as a rock. I just like it because it's pretty when it flowers. The deer and chickens eat most the pears. I want to get a new one to plant this year.
The apple trees are babies and one is just getting old enough to produce anything decent so I have no tips on them. I want to get a plum tree and plant it this year. I love plums, do they do good in this area?