Like the illusion of Wall Street, with its vast and powerful investment banks, now shuttered, China too is an illusion perpetuated by the Globalists that gave us the 15,000 mile Caesar salad, poisoned cat food and lead based paint on babies' pacifiers. Like the illusion that money would come from thin air to always push housing prices higher, China has spent a generation pursuing its illusion. Pursuing an unattainable dream to be like the West, while 6000 years of its carefully shepherded top soil blows into the sea.
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:27 pm Post subject: So I wanted to start gardening
I'm a total amateur and I've never put a single thing in the ground my whole life. I get out of school in exactly a month (I go to school away from home) and I thought a mini-garden would be a nice addition to my summer. I'll be out May 9th until September 6th, plenty of time yes?
If it matters, our backyard is pretty sh*tty (and somewhat small) the last time I looked so I guess I'll have to clean it up. Also, I live out in the hill country (not in the city) in Texas.
I'll take some before and after pictures when I get home and bump this thread.
Joined: Aug 11, 2005 Posts: 826 Location: Eastern NC
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 1:40 pm Post subject: Re: So I wanted to start gardening
Go to the local library or set some info from your county Ag Extension agent. Simple things like adjusting the ph of your soil make big differences. Plant what you like to eat, first rule.
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:49 pm Post subject: Re: So I wanted to start gardening
Stratovarius wrote:
What kind of things do I need to look for in my soil?
What would you like to grow?
Different plants have different requirements, though most of edible ones (but not all!) will like plenty of light, fertile soil with much humus and number of chemical elements like N, P, K + traces of few others and neutral or slightly alkaline pH.
Joined: Dec 18, 2004 Posts: 4948 Location: One Mile From the Columbia River
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 2:52 pm Post subject: Re: So I wanted to start gardening
First, find a spot for the garden. You can always enlarge or shrink it later. Just go out and mark off a spot. Go ahead. Walk out and do it. Immediately begin composting into this spot thereby enriching the soil. Compost just about everything. It's really easy. Even a total rookie can do it.
Talk to someone nearby who does garden and see what they do. Every area is somewhat different so pay attention to what they say and do. That's important. Learn from others mistakes and successes.
You will probably need to enrich the soil with more than composting but include composting in whatever you toss into the garden spot.
Oh, and don't get all tangled up in the scientific high-brow soil testing involving ph this and acidic that. Just get out there and garden. As each year passes you'll be so much better. _________________ Got Dharma?
Joined: Apr 12, 2007 Posts: 1190 Location: Central NC
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: So I wanted to start gardening
eastbay wrote:
First, find a spot for the garden. You can always enlarge or shrink it later. Just go out and mark off a spot. Go ahead. Walk out and do it. Immediately begin composting into this spot thereby enriching the soil. Compost just about everything. It's really easy. Even a total rookie can do it.
Talk to someone nearby who does garden and see what they do. Every area is somewhat different so pay attention to what they say and do. That's important. Learn from others mistakes and successes.
You will probably need to enrich the soil with more than composting but include composting in whatever you toss into the garden spot.
Oh, and don't get all tangled up in the scientific high-brow soil testing involving ph this and acidic that. Just get out there and garden. As each year passes you'll be so much better.
Yup, you ain't fishing unless your fly is in the water.
Don't get to wound up in all the minutia. Most of the "must haves" in order to do the "must dos" are created to sell something.
Joined: Dec 27, 2004 Posts: 13128 Location: naive idiot fantasy world
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:06 pm Post subject: Re: So I wanted to start gardening
BigTex wrote:
My vote for a rookie: CONTAINER GARDENING
It's much less frustrating for the beginner. But there is nothing wrong with going the terra route.
Your first crop is more symbolic than anything. You will enjoy eating it, but only after showing it to a lot of people.
I agree with Big Tex. Start with containers, unless you feel especially ambitious and don't mind being disappointed. The first year garden is usually a bit of a disappointment unless you buy a lot of compost to add. Many soils in the Hill Country are low in organic matter and nitrogen, and are quite alkaline. _________________ "...powerdown so soft and fluffy you'll think you're living in a pillow." - jboogy
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 1136 Location: Central Texas
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 4:39 pm Post subject: Re: So I wanted to start gardening
For year one: Find a sunny spot, remove the grasses/weeds, buy a few bags of good soil from the local store and add the good soil, your seeds, (follow the package instructions for depth and spacing.) and mulch to your spot. Try the Three Sisters Garden.
Corn, pole beans, and squash, like pumpkin.
Start a compost pile for next year's soil prep.
Dig dig dig.
Ludi, Patti, WisJim, Pops, FranktheTank, SCF, xerces, Strider3700, to name just a few, and many many others, have been posting their hints for quite awhile now. Pay attention!
_________________ About my avatar: Guess.
Last edited by PeakOiler on Sat Apr 05, 2008 5:33 pm; edited 1 time in total
Joined: Apr 17, 2005 Posts: 2758 Location: Vancouver Island
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 5:30 pm Post subject: Re: So I wanted to start gardening
My advice is to put together a list of things that you like eating. No point growing eggplant if you never eat the stuff...
Then once you've come up with a list figure out what's easiest to grow or put it up here and someone can tell you.
Next either put some of them in a container or in the ground.
over all gardening is really pretty easy. Getting consistent good results is hard though. _________________ shame on us, doomed from the start
god have mercy on our dirty little hearts
Joined: Nov 18, 2004 Posts: 1136 Location: Central Texas
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject: Re: So I wanted to start gardening
strider3700 wrote:
My advice is to put together a list of things that you like eating. No point growing eggplant if you never eat the stuff...
True enough. This year I'm focusing on the "salsa garden." Tomatoes, onions, peppers, garlic, and cilantro.
And on the side for that southwest flavor, black beans, pinto beans, and corn.
I still need to plant some red beans for some cajun dishes, too. But I'm not going to try growing rice in this climate. _________________ About my avatar: Guess.
Joined: Dec 18, 2004 Posts: 4948 Location: One Mile From the Columbia River
Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2008 6:13 pm Post subject: Re: So I wanted to start gardening
Ludi wrote:
BigTex wrote:
My vote for a rookie: CONTAINER GARDENING
It's much less frustrating for the beginner. But there is nothing wrong with going the terra route.
Your first crop is more symbolic than anything. You will enjoy eating it, but only after showing it to a lot of people.
I agree with Big Tex. Start with containers, unless you feel especially ambitious and don't mind being disappointed. The first year garden is usually a bit of a disappointment unless you buy a lot of compost to add. Many soils in the Hill Country are low in organic matter and nitrogen, and are quite alkaline.
We started vegetable gardening on a 150 sq ft plot of open hard packed clay-like California desert soil on which only hardy weeds and grasses were growing. We marked off a 10 x 15' area and went at it. We started chopping away at it composting almost everything we could and added some manure. The first year we had a nice crop of peppers, tomato's, zucchini, and a few other nice edibles. By year three we were really harvesting a nice crop and we wish we could have taken our soil with us when we bailed from CA moving north.
Now in Oregon it's much easier because the soil seems to be ready naturally. The point is, we never used containers (too cheap to buy them, mostly) but they seem like a nice idea for anyone with small or large spaces. If we, as complete rookies, could make a garden grow nicely out of that terrible CA soil, anyone can do the same just about anywhere. It's really not that big of a deal.
Just make it happen. Now quit talking about it and get to work! _________________ Got Dharma?
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