[Josiah922]

OK folks I am splitting off of Shawn's winter garden thread. Sort of going the same route (great imspiration Shawn) but I am probably gonna be needing a lot more help. (Never been good at gardening) But like Kev has preached about, this IS something you need to learn so here I go.

Starting off with about $16 invested. Seeds and some triple 13 fertilizer. This is a urban garden for all intents. I don't live downtown, but do live in a neighborhood. Thinking about growing a garden in pots. Let's see what we can do.

So far some radish seeds, iceburg lettuce, and a small batch of onions.

I will try to post youtube videos for everyone.

I am a total greenhorn at this so any help is welcomed.

 

[Reality Czech]

Josh,...although it can be done, growing containerized plants is a tad more difficult than ground planting. (More difficult to balance the moisture requirements)
I'd suggest a small plot maybe 4X6' for a starter garden.
You'd be amazed what can be grown in such a small place.
Full sunlight will be required.
Whatever route you chose, let us know and we'll be glad to help with suggestions.

 

[Josiah922]

See that is what I was thinking. My back yard is on the sothside of my house so sun light is not an issue. Good info.

Want to do some planning but I want to get it in some time next week maybe.

Any ideas on preping the soil? working potting soil and some triple 13 like Kev has suggested at other times?

 

[kev]

For the root crops - the radishes and the onions, I really recommend planting them in the ground as opposed to a container.

An over grown flower bed will do just fine.

Question - do you have a fire place or a wood burning bar-b-q pit? The ashes help with acidic soil, and provide trace nutrition's. Do your neighbors have a fireplace or wood burning bar-b-q pit?

 

[Josiah922]

Sorry, no fireplace. This is South Alabama for Pete's sake. I will post some pics of the place that I am thinking of. Just a grassy yard right now.

 

[Reality Czech]

Take it in steps:
1. Break soil with a sharpshooter or shovel to a depth of about 10", remove grass as you go. Lightly water afterward to loosen the clumps if the soil is dry.
2. Day two, till with a tiller if you can get one, or double dig with a shovel.
spread some compost or trip 13.
Make rows, water well to reduce any air pockets and let set a day or two.
3. Plant the veggies that you will eat.
This time of year, some suggestions are cabbage, broccoli, mustards, turnips, green beans, etc.
For a head start, the cucurbits like cabbages and broccoli can be planted with store bought plants,....the rest can be directly seeded.

Just some suggestions.

 

[Txkstew]

Get a small bag of Dolomite lime, $4.50 at Lowe's or some other garden shop. Work it into the soil to neutralize any acid in the dirt. You can hardly over do it, it won't burn. It helps the roots absorb nitrogen. Acid bonds up the nitrogen molecules.

 

[Josiah922]

Get a small bag of Dolomite lime, $4.50 at Lowe's or some other garden shop. Work it into the soil to neutralize any acid in the dirt. You can hardly over do it, it won't burn. It helps the roots absorb nitrogen. Acid bonds up the nitrogen molecules.

OK so how do you know if the ground is acidic?

 

[Txkstew]

Garden centers sell a soil ph meters, that have a probe you stick into the ground. If you have a Harbor Freight store near you, they sell them for less than $4.00.

 

[Josiah922]

OK so here is a little intro to what I am working with and what I have done so far. I hope the video embeds right.

 

[shawn]

You must have been busy today. Are you sprouting the seeds first or just throwing them in there?

 

[Josiah922]

Trying to sprout first. Right now I am just trying to prepare the soil.

 

[Reality Czech]

Looking good Josh.
That looks like a heathy sandy clay loam, the earthworms are a good sign.
The lawn looks good and healthy so I wouldn't try to adjust the ph this year or add too much inorganic fertilizers. The miracle grow soil was a good addition though.
That rain will make the soil easier to row up, so your good to go.
How's the back and shoulder muscles?

 

[Josiah922]

How's the back and shoulder muscles?

Why I oughta ........

Didn't I say I only did half of it? LOL Thinking REALLY hard about investing in a small tiller. Wow, not as young as I used to be.

I got some triple 13 I will work in also. I hope that helps. I am thinking that I should be ready to plant Saturday hopefully.

 

[Reality Czech]

Hehe!
A tiller would help,...but you got the hard part done so no rush on getting one.
I have a 5hp front tined tiller that I bought 15 yrs ago, still runs like new with proper care.
But I still make the rows with a heavy soil rake. Takes no time at all with practice.
I direct seeded everything this fall,....just be sure to tamp the seeds down real good with the back of a hoe to give good soil contact.
The mustards and turnips I planted 3 days ago are already up.

 

[Kenno]

I am jealous! My day time temp was 47 today, driving rain for past several days with snow at 4000 feet (I'm at 2000). My big winter project is to build a large greenhouse so that I can extend my incredabely short growing season.

 

[Reality Czech]

It's still steady in the low 90's down here. But it did drop to a bone chilling 68 last night.
But ya'll are lucky up there in that ya'll get to see that white stuff in the winter,.....I think it's called snow?

 

[Kenno]

I'll ship you all the snow you want, just send-up some of that warm weather!

 

[Josiah922]

OK so I look at the plot this morning and my dog is attempting to help by digging 2 large holes in the plot. (Agrivating dog.......grrrrr)

Anywho, he probably just smelt the new smells from the new garden soil and decided to go see what it was.

Gonna branch the electric fence off to go around the garden. One or two zaps will convence him that further digging may not be wise. I will try to video tape that.

 

[kev]

OK so I look at the plot this morning and my dog is attempting to help by digging 2 large holes in the plot. (Agrivating dog.......grrrrr)

He may be looking for place to stay cool at. Sometimes dogs will dig holes in the dirt under the eaves of houses.