Does a garden in a box exist?

strider3700 · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 4:06 pm Post subject: Does a garden in a box exist?

When I put together my garden this year I basically did it by buying a packet of carrot seeds, a packet of spinach seeds, some strawberry plants, a box of seed potatoes... These all came from different places at different times and even though I knew which zone I was in I still had to do research as to when they should have been planted, how much sun they should get, how to plant...

So I'm wondering if any enterprising company out there has put together a complete garden in a box. Basically You jump online and order up a box that will work in your area (based on zone and average growing days) and the number of square feet your garden is. THen is arrives in the mail with a little print out stating when to plant things, how to plant them recommended arangements and nutriants and so on. Basically take the guess work out of starting a garden. Hell You can even let the people select some of the items and specifications like all hereloom and so on.

So does anyone know if this exists? I'm trippling my garden size this summer and would love to just bulk order a bunch of seeds that come with instructions to get them going next summer.
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shame on us, doomed from the start
god have mercy on our dirty little hearts

strider3700 · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 4:39 pm Post subject:

Never mind

http://www.heirloomseeds.com/complete.html

This seems similar to what I was thinking.
_________________
shame on us, doomed from the start
god have mercy on our dirty little hearts

RonMN · Posted: Fri Jun 03, 2005 6:10 pm Post subject:

There is no garden in a box.

That said...

i APPLAUD you for trying! It's far more than most have done! But there is no "quick fix" to gardening (feeding yourself)...the most work is soil preperation! after that it's important to have heirloom seeds (and then know how to save those seeds so they will grow again).

There are all kinds of books on the subject (I recomend CARLA EMERY: encyclopedia of country living / book of old fasioned recepis).

Alot of learning & alot of work...no way around it.

MattSavinar · Elite Joined: May 09, 2004 Posts: 1990

I ordered four wooden boxes from http://www.squarefootgardening.com

They just came today and the shipping ended up being almost $60. Thought about gathering the wood and doing it all myself, but given time and skill contraints, I would never get started if I truly tried everything from scratch.

Monday I'm calling some local organic gardening places to find out about what soil to buy. (I live in an apartment with a concrete slab as a porch.) Once I get that squared away, I'll ask some people knowledgable in these areas about what seed to buy. Luckily I live in an area where there are tons of people who are into this type of thing.

Matt

JR · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 5:36 am Post subject:

Here are two more links for companies who carry heirloom seeds and also sell them in garden groups. I have purchased garden packages from both companies. AYYOOB..there seeds came in a plastic tub all ready for preserving in your freezer. The other companies, I put them in glass jars with that stuff that takes moisture out (can't think of it's name at the moment}..let them sit for a couple weeks..then put them in my freezer as well. They will last for years if kept dry in a freezer. Here are the links
The Ark Institute

AAOOB Foods

I also bought a garden from The Heirloom seed company above...that is going to be next years garden.

I have my garden in already this year and also plan on trying to do some seed saving for next year. I have several Heirlooms in so we'll see how it goes.

JR

julianj · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 6:18 am Post subject:

Pops · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 7:46 am Post subject:

If someone is just starting out, I’d suggest going to the local garden center (wherever) and buying some 6-packs (then get some seedlings – kidding) of whatever they are selling. Now these will certainly be hybrids (so you won’t be able to save seed) and will have every chemical you can think of sprayed on them. BUT, they will have been grown locally and will do fine in your area, plus you won’t have the worry of starting from seed – not a guarantee but more certain. Getting something from your first garden is very encouraging.

My granny, after she was to old to get around much would have someone get a couple bags of steer manure, cut slits in the front and back of the bag, flop it on the ground and stick store-bought tomato seedlings right in the bag – instant planter! Great tomaters.
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Make a plan and work it:

Wednesday · Posted: Sat Jun 04, 2005 2:19 pm Post subject:

i start seed in a empty egg carton filled with vermiculite, peat moss and black humus
mist it with a spray bottle

i transplant the winners into little pots (anything with drainage will do) when they get a couple leaves i set em out in the mornings on a tray til they are ready to go in veggie bed

im using the square foot gardening techniques as well, it makes things very easy for a veggie bed and i have more room in my yard for perennials

i use less seed this way and its not very much work at all, i am planning to do a winter garden so i am interested in year round harvesting and im still learning about this region so i find that i like to play with the seeds myself

i came from texas where we have 2 seasons, hot/rainy and cold/rainy

up here in the west, i have embraced all four seasons and plan to keep my garden all winter with a cold frame

it helps me to remember these plants, what they need and where to put them if i search for native heirloom seeds and handle them myself

still most of the veggies in my bed this year are hybrids, but hybrid seeds are cheap and my heirloom collection is still very small

i feel confident that i can expand my seed collection of real seeds each season, i have found several good sources close by Smile

in the meantime, i see no problem with using the cheaper hybrids while they are available, i dont plan to continue using them after i replace them with the real thing

ararboin · Heavy Crude Joined: Oct 12, 2004 Posts: 238

Granny-May · Posted: Thu Jun 09, 2005 9:00 pm Post subject:

This year we bought heirloom seeds from these people:
http://rareseeds.com/index.php?page=indexpage

They offer "Homestead Packages" in different sizes for different climates. I couldn't find the listing on the web site, but the paper catalog has a good description of the varieties included in the various packages.

They have a commitment to heirloom plants and a great selection of varieties. I will say that I had a higher germination rate with my own saved seeds than from the ones we purchased, but I didn't have a source for the more exotic plants.

Good luck!

Charlotte