Seed catalogs are in! What are you planning?

[Cornelia]

I've received the  Johnny's, High Mowing Organic and Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Catalogs and just beginning to dive into planning my urban garden (aka "the back forty"). I'll have a CSA share, too, so will want to supplement what I expect to receive in that. Some definites:

Herbs - Dill, Basil, Thyme, Chives...

 

Flowers: Chamomile, Echinacea / Coneflower, Bee Balm, Bergamot, Lavender (plus bulbs already planted)

Tomatoes

Delicata squash

Kale

Cucumbers

Watermelon

Arugula

Lettuce

Any recommendations?

[Shellie A. Gades]

Does anyone have a "favorite" seed company that they use? I see no mention of Gurney's... is that a sign?

[Andrew Odom]

Sure. A vertical gutter garden is basically the idea of using gutter material (like for a house) as planters and hanging them in a vertical fashion, one over the other. Check out this blog post:

 

http://www.ahahomeandgarden.com/garden/how-to-make-a-hanging-gutter...

Shellie A. Gades said:

Andrew,

Can you explain your "vertical gutter garden"?

Andrew Odom said:

We're having to go small this year because we are right smack in the middle of moving farms. Our transition from Georgia with our acres of cultivated gardens and fields is being replaced....no, not replaced.....um, being allowed to breathe for a bit while we move on to North Carolina and try our hand there for a while.

 

We are going to grow herbs in a vertical "gutter garden" this year rather than big cold frames. It will be slightly less harvest but we still have plenty of dried herbs (seasonings and teas) from this past bumper year.

 

We will again go with a "salad bowl" approaching relying heavily on lettuce(s), onion, green pepper, tomato, cucumber. We have plenty a little heavier on the cucumber and onions in order to meet both our Italian cooking needs and our love for dill pickles. 

 

One of the things we are going to have to do is a bit of gonzo gardening allowing seeds to cultivate and grow where there is a little room. This year may not bring us the prettiest harvest but it will bring us food a plenty!

[Shellie A. Gades]

Andrew! This is fabulous! Thank you for sharing!

Andrew Odom said:

Sure. A vertical gutter garden is basically the idea of using gutter material (like for a house) as planters and hanging them in a vertical fashion, one over the other. Check out this blog post:

 

http://www.ahahomeandgarden.com/garden/how-to-make-a-hanging-gutter...

Shellie A. Gades said:

Andrew,

Can you explain your "vertical gutter garden"?

Andrew Odom said:

We're having to go small this year because we are right smack in the middle of moving farms. Our transition from Georgia with our acres of cultivated gardens and fields is being replaced....no, not replaced.....um, being allowed to breathe for a bit while we move on to North Carolina and try our hand there for a while.

 

We are going to grow herbs in a vertical "gutter garden" this year rather than big cold frames. It will be slightly less harvest but we still have plenty of dried herbs (seasonings and teas) from this past bumper year.

 

We will again go with a "salad bowl" approaching relying heavily on lettuce(s), onion, green pepper, tomato, cucumber. We have plenty a little heavier on the cucumber and onions in order to meet both our Italian cooking needs and our love for dill pickles. 

 

One of the things we are going to have to do is a bit of gonzo gardening allowing seeds to cultivate and grow where there is a little room. This year may not bring us the prettiest harvest but it will bring us food a plenty!

[pelenaka]

I plant what I know we will eat & need and what will give me the most bang for my effort.

Since my canning efforts are based on our menu I plant my garden accourdingly.  

Year before last I caned up a few dozen pints of both Dill and Bread & Butter pickles which the majority of jars are still on the pantry shelf so no need to plant dill or pickling cukes this year.

This year I want to try growing one of those tomatoes that can be stored for extended periods of time.

Chard - great fresh, frozen or even canned.

Brussel sprouts - because I can't afford retail organic.

Planted aspargus last fall but I don't have high hopes.

 

 

 

 

[Andrea K]

Hi! I got the catalogs too, I ordered online. This is my first year planting and they say the mistake all enthusiatic new gardeners do is growing too much. I agree with that I am planting lots of stuff in case I do something wrong and my plants die. I don't care if I have lots of produce, I have a lovely neighbor who would love to get my veguies and my husband has a big family too. We will share all our vegguies.
I am going to grow in 5 different raised beds
Spinach
Radish
Lettuce
Squash
Melons
Corn
Carrots
Beets
Cucumbers
Cabbage
Broccoli (this last too not together)
Tomatoes
Arugula
Dill
Parsley
Onions and garlic
Gourds to make cups for my special south american tea
I will post all my progress, result from seed swap, here
www.howisitincalifornia.blogspot.com

I hope to have good results
I accept advice from experienced gardeners. I am just a young gardener :)

[Grace]

Hi ~ newbie her but thought I would jump in the conversation.  I honestly don't know what I'm going to plant this year,  I just know I'm going to do a very loose form of lasagna gardening.  I've got one plot that has been on the receiving end of the contents of the rabbit hutches all winter and another plot that we just moved the chicken coop and run off of.  I'm going to put soil over both of those and continue to feed it the results of the rabbits and plop my seeds in.  I'm probably going to use the square foot method.  Although my son is dying to try a 3 Sisters garden, so maybe we'll do that as well. 

[Grace]

I have heard of the "gutter gardening" before but I saw it done with the gutters actually attatched in rows down the side of someone's house.  I didn't really want to do it in that fashion, but I like this idea of hanging them!  Hmmm, we have an old, defunct swing set out back.  I'm thinking I could use that to hang them from?

[Margaret Beers Oliver]

Just a quick note... adding Ameranth, kiwi vines, and top hat blue berries this year.

[Mud Pies to Sticky Buns]

I'm big on adding different things every year to my returning garden. That way for the most part it all comes back every year.  Plus seed saving and swapping! This year I added elephant garlic and 3 color onions ! Can't wait to see how they come out. Plus i'm looking at doing home grown mushrooms? Anyone have ideas on that project?

[Jodie Westwood]

I believe Mother Earth had an article about mushrooms....one needs shade, moisture and rotten wood.  This is my first blog and I actually signed up for the chickens.  This is my fourth year of active gardening.  Each year is so diffferent.  This year I ordered from Baker Seed (again) and purchased seeds of veggies that were grown by the Cherokee Indians - native to the area.  Squash, eggplant, zucchini and tomatoes.  I have only had one year of succesful tomatoes.  I seem to be overly successful in zucchini and potatos.

[Lisa Wolthers]

Hi!  Being an apartment dweller, I am finally getting a first garden out as my brother bought a home and I commandeered a small corner of the back yard for two 4'x8' raised beds.  

The List So Far:

Tomatoes

Eggplant

Jalapeno

Bell Pepper

Strawberry

Rosemary

Basil

Chive

Parsley

Sage

Thyme

Pole Bean

Beet

Radish

Carrot

Cucumber

Lettuce

Leeks

Green Onion

Patty Pan Squash

Cilantro

Dill 

Chives

Nasturtium

 

Each will be just a lil bit to try them out in a garden though most all I buy from the grocery or farmer's market whenever they are available so nothing should go to waste.

Seeds were ordered from Renee's Garden Seeds and live plants will be from a local green house.

 

Now if I can just figure out how to sneak in a compost bin and a small chicken coop without the brother noticing... hmmm.

 

 

[Robin Buterbaugh]

I've had an extremely pared down garden the last couple years, but this year I'm planning to get back into it.  I'm planning for:

More asparagus

More raspberries/blackberries

Onions

Corn

Squash and pumpkins

Garlic

Bush beans

Carrots

Spinach

Dried beans-not sure what kind

Zucchini and summer squash

Onions

Potatoes

Peppers

Tomatoes

Basil, thyme, rosemary, lavender, parsley, chives

chamomile and echinacea