What are you planning to grow in your garden?

[Paulette]

I plant a huge garden every year, it saves me a fortune on groceries. I no longer plant corn because it takes up too much space, but I do plant just about every other vegetable you can think of, as well as strawberries and herbs.

[bromeliad]

I'm not sure what region you live in but I'm in New England and last year (since you mentioned bug problems) these really nasty fat grub type things killed all our pumpkin plants along with everyone else I know around here who had them. Buggers! I'm pretty sure there's something you can do to prevent them I'd look into if you're going to try pumpkins. Good luck with your garden!

The pest in question is the squash vine borer. Heck, I knew the buggers were coming and despite my valiant efforts, I still lost four out of 6 pumpkin vines last year.

[kella]

Although I live where it's sunny most of the time, I just started to grow some herbs - like cilantro, rosemary and Italian parsley, as well as jalapeno peppers!

I'm not quite sure what I'm doing, but I must say I'm having fun doing it! Although I don't have much space, I love the feel of the dirt in between my fingers! Plus, I hear getting your hands down in the dirt is great for the health of your nails - could be just an old wives tale, but still!

[mwaters50]

LOVE this topic! I planted my first garden last year at my mothers (I live in a town home and don't have any land.) I did tomatoes, red peppers and cucumbers. I had a TON of cucumbers...too many to eat! I ended up getting a late start on the others though because one of my cats ate the little plants (I started from organic seeds) and then took a nap on them! So, I was behind to start. The tomatoes ended up too squished and the peppers didn't do well because the plants were too small to hold the peppers, so they'd hit the ground and rot before getting big or red.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do this year. I'd love to be able to have some potted stuff, but don't know what does well in pots. My kids love fresh veggies, so this could save $$, but I'm not sure what does well with limited soil to grow in a pot.

I'd love to hear what you all think!

Thanks!

[Mac]

Planted garlic last year, and it turned out great (transformed each clove planted into a new bulb, yum).

Gonna to do garlic again this years, but add some herbs and chiles. Probably no "regular" vegetables for space reasons, but those should be easy and pack a lot of flavor.

[thegrinder]

I'm in Pennsylvania, and our big bug problem last year was stink bugs. They ruined the tomatoes (and I had about 30 plants). We also battle squash vine borers and cucumber beetles every year; in a good year we get about 10 squash per plant before the bugs kill them, but last year we only got maybe 1 per plant. We also have problems with deer eating things (they love strawberries...grrr). I often wonder if gardening is worth the effort and the cost, and each year I swear I'm going to stop or cut back...but then spring comes, and I'm out in the garden again. Peppers are the one plant that always does well with no bug problems, so they are definitely worth growing; I've even had success growing them from seeds.

We got hit by the dreaded stink bug last year too, in Florida. The year before I made up a spray by boiling some jalapeno peppers (or any hot pepper) in water for about 20 mins, then throwing out the peppers and putting the pepper water in a spray bottle. We sprayed the plants every other day or so and had no problems. Maybe that'll work for you! Don't forget to open the windows while boiling - the capsicum kills your throat!

[blue]

Nothing.... if it doesn't cry I don't feed it. It is because of that reason that I just stick with kids and pets.

But you can't eat a baby or put a kitten in a vase! At least not without some phonecalls made and angry men coming to the door...

Going to grow some sunflowers this year, for sure. Supposedly the unopened flower heads taste like artichokes so I definitely want to try that out. Especially given the price of artichokes, lol. Apart from that I am not sure. I have the bottom side of a futon frame and I am thinking of putting it up on legs and hanging some plants from it.

[gabby354]

This will be my first real year planting. Going to do the hanging tomatoes and strawberries this year, and go from there. I have dreams of big gardens and lots of canning, but I'm sure I'll ruin anything I plant.

[soulinstinct]

I rent an apartment, so I can't really have a garden, but I'm going to put a ton of pots on my porch. I'm going to try to plant some hanging tomatoes, and basil, and some other herbs. I think that i'll start them in a few weeks in egg shells, so that when it's warm enough, I can just put them in pots outside! I started seeds in egg shells last year and they were so cute!

[jumpingRabbit]

I'm in Pennsylvania, and our big bug problem last year was stink bugs. They ruined the tomatoes (and I had about 30 plants). We also battle squash vine borers and cucumber beetles every year; in a good year we get about 10 squash per plant before the bugs kill them, but last year we only got maybe 1 per plant.

I haven't tried this yet, but I got a good tip from a professional gardener out here who suggested "trap crops"... apparently squash bugs LOVE zucchini, so plant one of those near your squash plants as a throw away plant and then pull them off and squish them nightly (or soak 'em down with sudsy water). Worth a shot!

---------- Post added at 05:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:55 PM ----------

I'm not sure what I'm going to do this year. I'd love to be able to have some potted stuff, but don't know what does well in pots. My kids love fresh veggies, so this could save $$, but I'm not sure what does well with limited soil to grow in a pot.

I'd love to hear what you all think!

Thanks!

I've grown LOTS of stuff in pots! Even squashes can grow in a pot, you can let them trail on the ground or give them something to climb on. pole beans are good in pots, carrots and radishes are great in pots (I don't think you can put them in the same pot though, check the companion plant listings... some things love each other, others repel each other). Potatoes are OK if you have a deep pot and only put a little soil in, then fill as the leaves grow (it will make potatoes at each layer).

There are some good books on container vegetable gardening, sick right now so brain not working right but will try to post a link when I can... they also address apartment living with balconies.