A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum Do you think I am getting ahead of myself?

I am a very beginner gardener as far as vegetable gardening. I have only EVER grown tomatoes, cucumbers, green peppers.. and attempted to do watermelon and cantaloupe last year, but they didn't do well.. I think I got them in too late.

So.. what would you suggest to a very beginner gardener wanting to expand her vegi garden??

I have been just DROOLING over the seed catalogs I have gotten this week. I am interested in corn, green peppers, tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers, green onions, at least two types of lettuce, cucumbers for pickling, (which I have never done either), sugar snap peas, cantaloupe, watermelon, brussel sprouts, summer squash, butternut squash...

So am I totally loony??

PLUS!! I want to plant blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, apples, peaches and/or nectarines.

i have the info you need. Plant all those seeds except for the peas&corn indoors in Jiffy pots. You should see my nectarine tree pic. I'll have pics of my peach tree in the Fruit Forum soon.

I actually DID see it!! It is so cute.. with all the little pink flowers!!

And the thought of all those little seeds.. scares the heck out of me!! lol As exciting as it is.. it is also rather intimidating. And I am not sure where I would put the Jiffy pots. I don't have very good lighting here.. maybe one window that is available.. but it has a deck outside with a bit of a roof..

My peach tree pic will be up TODAY!

Anyone have any thoughts on my topic? Please??

You're not ahead of yourself.I'm interested in all of the veggies u want to gro.by the way,nice topic Pinkhorseofcourse

Of the ones you listed I only start peppers, tomatoes and brussel sprouts indoors. The rest our season is long enough I plant outside and never have to transplant. You can start plants without a light source but you will have a hard time getting enough light to keep them from getting leggy. It is best if you can find a spot where you can hang a couple of shop lights. That will start several. If you are not growing but a few of each one tray will probably do it.
Planting dates can vary for each. As an example I start my peppers 8-10 weeks before I plant to transplant them and the tomatoes 6-8 weeks. peppers take longer to germinate and can grow a little slower early in my experience. Brussel sprouts I start with the peppers. This is what works for me. If you have a shorter growing season then you may need to start more inside. Wishing you great results. There is no replacement for growing in your area. You may be able to get some advice from an extension agent or a more experienced grower in the area. Jay

Pinkhorse

Your list is reasonable ....Good luck.

I don't know much about your zone. Can you just seed right in the garden or do you need transplants?

Also, squash and cucumbers take up alot of garden space, how big is your veggie plot?

Well I don't know as I have to start things indoors.. I guess not.. though my melons didn't have time to produce last year.. and the other stuff I mentioned I don't know really.. I have also never had good luck with green peppers.. the plants grow well.. but hardly any peppers.

And as for the size of our garden.. I am hoping to expand this year.. and I always plant cucumbers and the melons on an outside edge of the garden.. so they don't get all tangled up in the rest of it. lol I have always had a small garden before.. and I am not talking about doing 20 plants of each.. I will only do a few of each.. til I get the hang of it.. I know it is alot of work.. and this is going to fall solely on my shoulders.. hubby already said he isn't interested.

My peach tree pic is up in the Fruit Forum