elegantlion Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Seriously, my boys got me a Chia head and it's not even growing correctly. However, we have a great yard for growing things. We'd like to start a vegetable garden but don't have a clue how to start. We live in South Louisiana so we're region 9 or 10, I think. We'd ideally like to start with one or two items and expand from there. Are cucumbers easy to grow? Anything but tomatoes, we aren't real fans of tomatoes here. I also wouldn't mind having a window herb garden. Any helpful tips? Is there a good website for my black thumb? Also a simple way to keep critters out. We have everything from cats, rabbits, squirrels, and armadillos. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marylou Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Zucchini grows well all over the world! Not sure about its nutrient value, but we like it here. Have fun! Also there is a book calle How to Grow More Vegetables Than You Ever Thought Possible on Less Land Than You Can Imagine Maybe your library has it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angel Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 (edited) I bought Roots, Shoots, Buckets, and Boots last year and plan on using it this year to give it a try. It's a great book and one that will be easy to get the kids involved. I'm in the same boat as you. I've killed parsley before:glare: My biggest hang up is getting a spot ready to garden. I don't mind the trial and error of getting it planted just right but they whole planning it out and clearing the area ... eck! I found out that we can start planning after May 15. I don't expect much to grow this year, but we're going to try:D ETA: Here's a really simple website that I found, give info in really simple terms LOL! http://urbanext.illinois.edu/firstgarden/planning/ Edited March 10, 2009 by Angel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 I don't have any advice for you - except that our cucumbers grow like weeds here in NC. We always plant a big garden, but my husband is the green thumb. I have also noticed that any type of squash seems to grow and produce a lot. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happy Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 EL, welcome to gardening! It's one of my passions. From seed....Squash, both yellow and zucchini, are easy as someone else said. I'd start there. Green beans are pretty easy, but you need a lot of them to get enough beans to make a sidedish for supper. Peppers, bell, banana, and jalapeno, are easy to grow. Buy transplants at any garden center. Sprinkle lettuce seeds in a container and mist with water. One of the keys for successful veggie gardens is water. Veggies need good, deep watering and they need you to keep water off their leaves as much as possible. Prevents fungal diseases. Another key is full sun. Veggies do not want shade, they want...nope, they need to bask all day every day. I hang out at http://www.gardenweb.com forums. I pop in and out of the veggie garden forum, but live in the cottage garden and rose forums. You might enjoy the book "Square Foot Gardening", too. I make a homemade Bunny-be-gone spray. Blend two eggs with a drop of dish soap and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Add water to make a quart and put into a spray bottle. Mist the leaves of anything you don't want the bunnies nibbling on. They hate the smell of rotten eggs. You must reapply after rain. Feel free to PM me here or on Facebook if you have specifics I can help with. I'd love to introduce you to another addiction. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
athena1277 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 To grow a chia, you need to water it A LOT! My roommate in college had one and we had to water it twice a day or it dried out. And when they die - they stink horribly! I refuse to buy my kids a chia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elegantlion Posted March 10, 2009 Author Share Posted March 10, 2009 Thank you all for the wonderful replies. I'm checking them out now. Happy, yes just what I need another addiction. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosie_0801 Posted March 10, 2009 Share Posted March 10, 2009 Don't water zucchini in the evenings or they'll go mouldy. If you have a black thumb, start with mint. Keep it in a large container or it'll spread everywhere and water it. If you water it, it will grow. That's all there is to it! I've got some in a few storage crates that dh drilled drainage holes in and they're doing just fine with a bucket of grey water thrown on them when I think of it. It'll give you excuses to start cooking with mint. Dh puts some in our salads sometimes which is a nice surprise. Storage crates are MUCH cheaper than proper gardening pots and come in a much funkier range of colours! We live in drought country so getting colour in my garden from the plants is almost impossible. :) Rosie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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