A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion New Members Hi, I'm a newbie

My name is Arlene and I live in California. I'm 31 years old. I am married, and I have 2 children. I am also a student, hoping to enter Nursing school within a couple of years. I love to garden, cook, play with my kids ... I love being in my yard.


This is my fourth year planting a vegetable garden. My first year was fantastic! Everything grew so much, I was giving away vegetables to my neighbors left and right! I thought "This is fantastic! Thia is easy! I'm good at this" ... so my husband built me a little garden area. Here's a picture from 2006 --



it looked like it was going to be a great year! I was wrong. Everything but the tomatoes died in my garden in '06 and '07. Well, this year I am optimistic. I took a soil sample down to the gardening store and found out my ph is at a 7.4, my calcium is at a 10 and my phosphourous is too low. So this year I am mixing in a lot of sand (I have clay soil), compost, Iron & sulphur, and fertilizer. I am going to rototill all of that together and then take another sample down to be checked. I'm optimistic that my garden will do better this year.

I have a question about the calcium measurement. They told me mine measured a 10, but I can't find anywhere online, what is the optimal level of Ca?

I don't know yet what I am going to plant. Definately tomatoes and squash. Probably some melons and basil.

I am also interested in making my own compost bin. I have a few questions about that too.

It's nice to meet all of you!!! Happy gardening :o)

Arlene

Arlene

Were farmers, hubby never heard of 10 calcium.
6.5 is normal level.


What type of fertilizer do you use?

I use bone meal on flowers and bulbs.
Miracle grow in the veggies.

Water might be a huge factor for you..

and then there is shade to consider---too much sun and not enough water can both play a part on some plants.

Your garden area looks real nice though, so better luck this year--

have you considered making a herb garden?/ (a piece of your garden sert aside for your herbs---as many return it can stay in the same site every year.

I thought that was wrong. You say 6.5 is a normal level of calcium?

I use miracle gro on everything but the gardeners supply fellow told me I need a 7-20-20 for the garden.

Last year I was over watering. The clay is so bad here, the water was not draining well. I hope with the sand, it will improve.

Thanks, yes I may plant some herbs too.

10-20-20.fertilizer.. I will ask hubby when he arrives.

Your garden center is not too efficient.


Yes calcium 6.5
b

I think you'll find adding compost to be very benificial.
your garden is VERY cute!

Thanks Cricket! Nice to meet you :o)

welcome

I asked Hubby about the fertilizer..He said 5-10-10 is what most folks use in the garden.. It should be plenty.. He said you can also put too much fertilize on tomatoes and stuff and burn them. Also tomatoes will be all stalk if over fed.

Hope I arent confusing you ..

Thanks Jiffy :o)

No you, re not confusing me :o) at least now I know I'm on the right track!!!

if you cannot get the clay beds ammended to suit--you could make the whole area raised. DH did that for me because of the condition of the soli & because of the low lying area.---he mixed sand/compost & good topsoil.--I now have a very nice raised veggie garden.-

Hi and welcome Arlene, love your garden area.

Thanks Tamara! Nice to meet you :o)