- Stupid garden mistakes -

[boz]

I have tried for 2 years to have a garden and both years we lost it. so this year I did not even try. the one thing I found out to have a garden like I wont I have to be here 24/365, to have a garden, chicken ,pigs and 3 grandson ages 2,6 and 6 is just to much for my wife, so some thing had to go this year, the real job take me away to long to try and do it all so my Stupid garden mistakes is trying to have one that can't be take of.

 

[oregonkat]

Several biggies here. Planting Euphorbia in the garden because '.... it's so lovely in the spring' UGH. Blasted stuff is coming up everywhere and I have to eat crow each time my hubby reminds me that he did warn me! Planting Chinese Lantern, again because it's so lovely in the fall..... UGH.... coming up everywhere! Please don't plant either one of these things unless they are in planters and even then don't let them go to seed or you will have a battle on your hands!

 

[WickedChicksNH]

Haha, Yes I have made quite a few my first year. I live in Northern Portugal and have inherited/part bought off other family members a small quinta (farm) that has not been used as a farm for many years. I have never gardened before and never grown vegetables. I have a very friendly neighbour - Maria who has been helping me tame everything and has been attempting to impart her knowledge on me, which is pretty damn difficult as I do not yet speak portuguese and she doesn't speak a word of English!!

Maria has farmed her own land her whole life, she does not buy any groceries from stores, she is entirely self sufficient, so a mix up in translation has ended up seeing her plant maize, potatoes, beans, tomatoes, courgettes, etc etc, which sounds great, but there is only 2 of us and I wanted a little garden sized veg plot not whole terraces of corn and potatoes etc as I do still buy lots from the supermarket! I don't intend to be self sufficient, just want to dabble and feel a little proud when I can produce a salad of my own home grown lettuce and tomatoes!!

So I had to very quickly learn canning and pickle making and preserves etc etc as I couldn't dare let her see any of it go to waste!
This year however I think she took the hint and has planted a lot smaller an area up and has been showing me when to plant and when to dig up potatoes etc, she brings me loads of manure and dumps it right outside the back door! Hmmm.

SO yes I am on a bit of a learning curve myself, but it is encouraging me to learn the language as I did happen to understand her when she offered me rabbits to rear for meat which I most definitely did not want. I have instead bought myself some chickens, again I had to turn down her offer of supplying them for me as I wanted pretty chickens as pets, which just makes her chuckle. As her chickens are scraggy no name broilers that only get fed maize to fatten them up asap. She often gives me a chicken for our dinner but she has finally understood after much hand signals, and face making etc that I need them oven ready, not hung by their feet still covered in feathers!!

My dad (grandparents, aunts uncles etc) were born in the Acores!!!
I think that is where I got my interest in Canning and cooking and growing, my grandma would can crush hot peppers, pickled onions, grow her own grapes for wine, chickens and rabbits for (I would like to say pets but we know that isn't the case lol)

Last couple years I planted my garden the only thing I actually got out of it was tons of Zucchini and a pumpkin that grew on it's own over where I dump my grass clipping and dog waste

This year my garden is doing well especially after this 7 day stretch of humid weather.

My mistake last year was I planted everything way too close, picked my summer squash too early, and didn't tie up my tomatoes.

 

[Afrodigh]

I composted a lot of rotten tomatoes last year. This past spring I added compost to my garden when I first started planting and then was out of town for a long weekend. I came back to HUNDREDS of tomato plants coming up in my garden!

I also reuse a lot of containers for starting seeds including egg cartons. I’ve found the cardboard egg cartons always start growing mold but the plastic egg cartons work great.

 

[N F C]

Not my story, this was one of my dad's favorites...

A neighbor wanted to learn how to grow tomatoes. Dad was an old pro at those so he helped the neighbor out, prepping the ground, selecting the type of seed, showing him how to water etc.

Things seemed to be going very well until one day the neighbor shows up at Dad's doorstep with a complete pulled straight from the ground, tomato plant in his hand. He whined to Dad that there weren't any tomatoes growing on the roots like he thought there should be.

Dad didn't think to tell the neighbor that tomatoes do not grown underground like potatoes.

 

[chickengr]

I finally figured out why they call it Dill WEED! It has completely taken over my garden.

just bring a few chickens in and you will get bare dirt (as I did).

 

[Marmalade25]

These are great stories, btw. Thank you for the international delights, it's the closest thing to traveling I will be able to do for some time.

This past year I had the grand idea to plant a cutting garden and even thought I might try to sell some flowers. Well, I bought $25 worth of seeds, threw down some town compost and prayed something would grow. Boy did it, poor things were so crowded that it was a tangled, gangly mess. However, I managed to strike a deal with the local farm stand and they sold my arrangements for me - 27 jars of them in a couple months' time from a 2x18 foot plot. Lots learned, lots fudged, but still some success after all. Can't wait for next year.

 

[NewBoots]

Several biggies here. Planting Euphorbia in the garden because '.... it's so lovely in the spring' UGH.

I can't believe nurseries are even allowed to still sell that stuff. If I'm at Portland Nursery and I see someone looking at them I always warn them.

As far as mistakes? Planting zucchini, we always end up with zucchini the size of torpedoes and about as tasty as well.

 

[Redhead Rae]

I can't believe nurseries are even allowed to still sell that stuff. If I'm at Portland Nursery and I see someone looking at them I always warn them.

As far as mistakes? Planting zucchini, we always end up with zucchini the size of torpedoes and about as tasty as well.

My chickens and pigs like the torpedoes.

 

[NewBoots]

My chickens and pigs like the torpedoes.

That is an excellent point! Once we are at the new place and I've got the coop(s) up I will for sure have zucchini again. That will be great 'cuz who doesn't love a vegetable the grows so luxuriously?