[kev]

This garden was started on February 21, 2010 when the ground was tilled, fertilizer spread and seed potatoes planted. The fertilizer used was 10-20-10, which promotes large root formation with the middle number being 20.

On March 28th the other rows were tilled - snap beans, squash and zucchini were planted. A few days later my step son planted the cantaloupe was planted. On April 3rd the field corn was planted.

As of April 6th, 2010 the snap beans are 3 - 4 inches tall with new sprouts coming through the ground.

Here is a picture of the snap beans.



In all, 3 rows of snap beans were planted - these are high producing plants that will need to be picke every couple of days. Three families will be sharing this garden, so I wanted to make sure that we had plenty of beans, which are really good boiled with some potatoes.

In May the okra will be planted.

 

[Twist]

Hey, so I see that it is normal that the snap beans take a while to get above ground? I planted mine some 10 days ago and there are about 5 or 6 from the 20+ I planted above ground. We did had a lot of rain tho, wasn't sure if they went rotting or not...

 

[kev]

I planted mine some 10 days ago and there are about 5 or 6 from the 20+ I planted above ground. We did had a lot of rain tho, wasn't sure if they went rotting or not...

Soak your beans overnight, and that will speed up the sprouting process. In fact, I try to soak all of my seeds before they are planted.

I used to put my seeds on a cookie sheet between 2 wet towels. But now I just put them in a ziplock baggy. Even if you soak your seeds for a couple of hours before you plant them, it will help.

The water I soak the seeds in is lukewarm. The seeds go from the freezer straight into the lukewarm water. Its kinda like telling the seeds its time to wake up and get to work.

 

[Twist]

Yeah, I know that helps, but I read it gives them less of a chance to survive a rainfall just after planting. So I decided not to do it. Oh well, I saw 3 more beans above ground.

 

[jdogchan]

first off if you roto-till barefoot you might be a ******* lol but seriouly this is a great inspiration, I have done some dirt work but nothing is planted yet. I think you must have a longer growing season in Texas then i have up here in Co. We usually dont plant till end of april. Sure i could plant some stuff but it would be dormant and maybe freeze again.

 

[Thunder]

Tried to grow Blackeye peas and Pintos last year ...didn't have much luck .

 

[JC Refuge]

I probably missed it somewhere, but it looks like you've got a pretty large garden there, Kev. I heard you say it was a three-family garden.

What do have in terms of acreage that's tilled and planted? A full acre maybe or half??

Up here in Minnesota, I'm just starting to till up our garden. It's pretty small--about 25 x 40 I think--I'll have to measure it again. I wanted to double my garden space this year, but it looks like that isn't going to happen--just have too many things going on.

I'll take some pix and post them on my blog as we go.

It's certainly a good thing to encourage folks to grow their own food, to whatever extent they are able!

 

[jkc]

Wow, I am humbled. This is the first year for a garden for me. (at least a real one) I have a couple great people on the boards that have helped me. Trial and error has always worked for me. Keep us posted.

 

[retrieverman]

I have two kinds of tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, crooked neck yellow squash, and burpless cucumbers already in the ground, and I am trying to decide what else to plant. I doubled the size of my garden this year, and I have been helping my elderly neighbor with his garden and haven't taken the time to finish mine.

 

[azhawk]

I have two kinds of tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, crooked neck yellow squash, and burpless cucumbers already in the ground, and I am trying to decide what else to plant. I doubled the size of my garden this year, and I have been helping my elderly neighbor with his garden and haven't taken the time to finish mine.

Sure wish I had you for a neighbor. You sound like the kind of person I would like to know. :thumb:

 

[retrieverman]

Sure wish I had you for a neighbor. You sound like the kind of person I would like to know. :thumb:

There is a house and a few acres for sale across the road from me.

 

[kev]

spring 2010 garden

I probably missed it somewhere, but it looks like you've got a pretty large garden there, Kev. I heard you say it was a three-family garden.

What do have in terms of acreage that's tilled and planted? A full acre maybe or half??

I would estimate maybe 1/4 acre, somewhere in there. In all, there are 3 families that will be sharing in this garden. That is one reason why we planted snap beans instead of regular peas. Snap beans are high producers, we should have to pick them every day, or every otehr day.


The cucumbers went in the ground this weekend.

The snap beans are coming up nicely, the potatoes are growing pretty good, and the tomatoes are coming along real nice.

The patio tomato got its first blooms this weekend.

One of the big beef tomato plants looks like it grows an inch a day.

 

[divinginn]

Nice garden Kev,I got mine started this week. I put in some cukes and jalaopenos,have two different tomatoes,4-5 different peppers,cantaloupes,onions,garlic and probably a few things I have forgot. My whole front porch is covered with plants I need to start getting in the ground this week.

 

[tater65ss]

our growing season is just now starting. I have tomatoes peppers corn beans and squash and cucumbers this year.

 

[kev]

April 26th, 2010 Garden update

The potatoes are anywhere from 2 feet tall to just breaking through the ground. The snap beans are coming along nicely and the corn is around 6 inches tall.

Cucumbers were planted about a week ago, and they are breaking through.

 

[Foley]

lookin great kev!

 

[Thesenator223]

Looking good there Kev.....you are weeks ahead of me weather wise there in your zone but much of my garden is planted also, onions, bok choy, Romaine, Swisschard, spinach, collards, courves, kale and tomatoes.

Still to come, beets, turnips, beans, cukes, zuchinni, butternut squash.

The asparagus here is coming on now, 1" thick, crisp and sweet as candy.:thumb:

 

[Ramona M. Faunce]

I live in southern Oregon. We had snow yesterday! The garden is too wet to till, so I have to wait awhile yet.

 

[splat]

Hey Kev,

How many potatos do you get from each plant on average? I want to try and grow some here in Oregon.

 

[Tucapau58]

Looks good