Beginning vegetable/fruit gardening

[No More Perfect]

I have a black thumb. I kill everything I try to grow. Not sure what my issues are but it is what it is. Anyway, I would love for my children to try their hands at it. My children are young (almost 10 down to age two, and of course, the one in utero) and we live in Texas in a cookie cutter house with a postage-sized back yard that has no grass but only weeds and dirt. So, container gardening is probably the way we'll have to go.

 

I'd love any advice or tips on the best things to grow. I am thinking only one to three types of vegetable and/or fruit plants would be the best way to start. And, I would especially appreciate anyone who knows how to grow anything in the hot Texas summers in a backyard that has no shade. :-)

 

Thanks!

[Arcadia]

The only plants that would grow in my patio on hot Calfornia summers are tomatoes and peppers. I grew some from seeds and some from young plants. We get different kinds of tomatoes and peppers so it is very colorful when fruiting.

 

If your backyard is too hot, you can get those jiffy plant starters and do container gardening indoors just for your children to have fun. Herbs grow well on window sill planters.

 

This pdf is from TAMU about how to do container gardening in Texas.http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/files/2010/10/E-545_vegetable_gardening_containers.pdf

[PinkyandtheBrains.]

I am going to strongly suggest reading about Square Foot Gardening. Not only is it easy for those of us who don't have a green thumb, it is perfect for gardening in small spaces. I bought the book, but often libraries have it as well. Also there is plenty of information on the internet about Square Foot Gardening.

[No More Perfect]

The only plants that would grow in my patio on hot Calfornia summers are tomatoes and peppers. I grew some from seeds and some from young plants. We get different kinds of tomatoes and peppers so it is very colorful when fruiting.

 

If your backyard is too hot, you can get those jiffy plant starters and do container gardening indoors just for your children to have fun. Herbs grow well on window sill planters.

 

This pdf is from TAMU about how to do container gardening in Texas.http://aggie-horticu..._containers.pdf

 

 

 

I was successfully able to grow jalapenos and bell peppers once. Unfortunately, I did not realize that if you grew them too close together, the jalapenos would end up tasting exactly like the bell peppers. Big disappointment. Thanks for that PDF, it is very helpful.

[Guest inoubliable]

I haven't gotten it yet, but I've had my eye on this (http://www.amazon.com/Kids-Container-Gardening-Year-Round-Projects/dp/1883052750) for a while now. Sounds like it might work for you, too. Good luck!

[No More Perfect]

I am going to strongly suggest reading about Square Foot Gardening. Not only is it easy for those of us who don't have a green thumb, it is perfect for gardening in small spaces. I bought the book, but often libraries have it as well. Also there is plenty of information on the internet about Square Foot Gardening.

 

 

 

I am glad you suggested that because I actually have that book on my shelf, just forgot about it. That will probably work the best if I can just get the time between my husband and I to make one of those pallet things since we have no useable soil.

[LostSurprise]

If summer temps are really scorching, have you considered spring and fall gardening (thinking of summer the way I would the winter)? Try connecting with your state agricultural website or search for local area gardening blogs to give you ideas about which plants and techniques work for your area.

 

Search for library books which cover your region. State-sponsored NPR often has good radio shows too.

 

I'm from Wisconsin, so I plead ignorance, but peppers and tomatoes do love the hot sun (as long as you keep them watered consistently). If remembering to water is hard you can get a timer and drip hoses to do it for you or buy pots with a water reserve below.

[Truscifi]

I agree with pp about square foot gardening. Also, check with your local agricultural extension office to get recommendations for specific varieties that grow well in your area. I would start with something easy like peppers, tomatoes, and cucumbers.

[No More Perfect]

Thanks everyone. I think I am too late for a spring garden though I may be incorrect. A fall garden is doable as our autumn is very mild. I was hoping that a garden in the summer would give the kids something to do because there is very little for them to do outside. We may just stick to peppers and tomatoes though hopefully lettuce would work. We do not really like fresh tomatoes in our family but I could make a lot of sauce out of them.

 

I am going to take another look at the Square Foot Gardening book and I also found this compact garden that might work: http://boyslife.org/hobbies-projects/funstuff/7222/plant-a-compact-vegetable-garden/.