The Front Porch Swing

[RachaelS]

Well I thought DH knew how to grow a garden, we have had them on and off for a while. He always got them set up and said he would take care of them, then lose interest and it would all die before I knew it. Well, just found out today that I think the reason he loses interest is he does not set it up right, so things don't go right and he just abandons it. Well pulling out the one book I have and doing research, since I know I don't have a clue. Any good books out there? I have "How to grow more Vegetables" by John Jeavons and just bought "Square Food Gardening". Plus I signed up for "Gardenate" so that is a start at least!

 

[Beekissed]

Well I thought DH knew how to grow a garden, we have had them on and off for a while. He always got them set up and said he would take care of them, then lose interest and it would all die before I knew it. Well, just found out today that I think the reason he loses interest is he does not set it up right, so things don't go right and he just abandons it. Well pulling out the one book I have and doing research, since I know I don't have a clue. Any good books out there? I have "How to grow more Vegetables" by John Jeavons and just bought "Square Food Gardening". Plus I signed up for "Gardenate" so that is a start at least!

The number one reason most people abandon gardens is because the weeds take over and they feel overwhelmed by trying to keep up with them. It will make it immensely easier on you if you can apply weed suppression cloth/mulch on your bedding plants and plant weed suppression in the pathways in the form of clover or grass seeds before the weeds can get a foot hold.

I've mulched the pathways before and it got ridiculous trying to keep the mulch in place and deep enough that the weeds couldn't pop through. Then folks use plastic in the rows....ever since my sister told me a particular horror story about that I've never wanted to try it.

I've found it makes gardening easier, less stressful, retains moisture, attracts bees and makes for cleaner gardening if you just plant your own "weeds" in the pathways and then mulch around your veggies to keep the weeds down to a dull roar.

Do you have loose, sandy soils or do you have clay soils?

 

[RachaelS]

I have rock! Limestone to be exact. I have to bring in my dirt

. I agree it is the weeds, I was kind of thinking of something similar and maybe planting mint or something like that between my beds. I have raised beds by the way.

 

[Searsmom]

Our weeds are so outrageous...they should be in TX where everything is bigger. I actually had a mint patch for 2 years but the weeds over took it and killed them. Even my mom - 80+ years of gardening was shocked at what our weeds do. I still keep trying. Last year the squash bugs made me give up - those new-fangled imported ones from china. So this year I get guineas. I am not getting out there every morning and picking off squash bugs. Then I'd have to weed. It would take all day. Every day.

Vegetable Gardener's Bible is pretty good. Just keep in mind he's up north - Vermont I think. Another good one is The Resilient Gardener. I like Carrots Love Tomatoes - but that may be a little too far on the organic side - interesting though. I was looking for a picture of my favorite Organic Gardening book and found this one: Texas Organic Vegetable Gardening. You might take a peek.

 

[enola]

  At least you have actually used the noisy portable saw thingy!  That's more than most women can say. 

My BF is a city boy - I am as country as women come! You should have seen his face when he saw MY tool box! And then he says, "So you have a lot of tools......But, do you know how to use them?"

........I cut him some slack, after all, he is city boy.......

 

[Beekissed]

I have rock! Limestone to be exact. I have to bring in my dirt

. I agree it is the weeds, I was kind of thinking of something similar and maybe planting mint or something like that between my beds. I have raised beds by the way.

Raised beds? That should be easy! Work 'em up, plant, mulch 'em down. Yer done. I wouldn't plant mint...too tall and too invasive. Plant something low that doesn't get too much height on it, then let the bees come into it. Dutch White Clover is my fave...big bee attractant, big nitrogen fixer, good feed for the chooks, easy to grow in most climates, germinates and grows very quickly before the weeds can get settled in.

I think the square foot gardening book is something you will really like if you have raised beds....very simple and it really works for maximum yields in small spaces.

 

[Triple Willow]

Who else is a big cast iron cookware fan? I love it! I bought a new gadget the other day that I have got to try out. It is a 3 quart sauce pan and a 9 1/2 inch skilet on top as a lid- both have a handle. I wonder if a year old roo cooked in it would be edible.

 

[Beekissed]

My BF is a city boy - I am as country as women come! You should have seen his face when he saw MY tool box! And then he says, "So you have a lot of tools......But, do you know how to use them?"

........I cut him some slack, after all, he is city boy.......

Reminds me of an incident where I had bought a huge bundle of lumber from a lumber yard, seconds to be used for firewood. I was over there cutting it up with the chainsaw and some yahoo came over and was mouthing at my boys about how that wasn't my bundle and that this particular bundle had been reserved for someone else. Well...the bundle I bought had been taken by someone else and this one was the only one left, so I was going to take it. So, I turned to him with that chainsaw still running in my hand and asked, "Is there a problem?"

He started yakking about the lumber and I revved that saw and said, "Take it up with the lumber mill, buddy...this stack is mine, I paid money for it and it's going home in that truck today. Anymore questions?" He walked away.

What is it about men that makes them think that tools will only turn on in their hands and that women couldn't possibly figure out how to use them? It's weird! It's like us assuming they can't use a washing machine if they were so inclined.

 

[enola]

I love cast iron cookware! When my brother passed away Moma asker me if there was anything in his house I wanted. He had a lot of good belongings. All I asked for were his cast iron pans. I plan on them still being useful when I am gone.

 

[Triple Willow]

I love cast iron cookware! When my brother passed away Moma asker me if there was anything in his house I wanted. He had a lot of good belongings. All I asked for were his cast iron pans. I plan on them still being useful when I am gone.

I love it too! I use a small skillet every morning that is probably at least 40 years old. I've got some that I have got ahold of that need a serious cleaning up. They are really rusty. No telling how old they are.