Starting a vegetable garden? - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Sun Tzu · 03-10-2004, 01:09 AM

I recently moved to a new house. Theres tons of space in the backyard; but its all gravel. Im going to allocate a section to do something I've wanted to do for awhile; start a garden.

I know I will have to buy soil and obviously seeds. Thats as far as I've gotten. I will do research on what and how to do it, but any advice would be great. What's harder to grow, vitamins in the soil?, etc.

agball · 03-12-2004, 07:25 AM

Your standard Tomatoes, cucumber, peppers are pretty easy to grow. I would recommend some plant food "not too Much".

A little seceret I learned is to add a bunch of broken egg shells to the soil as well. This will help add lots of good nutrients to the mix.

Bossnass · 03-13-2004, 12:15 AM

My brother had a gravelly back yard (previous owner's extra parking spot actually). Since he didn't want a raised garden, the only realy option was to dig it out. Since we were both poor at the time, that meant spades and picks and a few weekends before we dumped a couple truckloads of nice black dirt in.

The problem (other then working our hands raw and our backs to spasms) was drainage. Almosted ended up with a muddy pool after he watered his first rows of seeds. The eventual solution was sod.

In our case, it wasn't worth the effort. Somehow, and I don't know how, make sure the garden can drain as needed.

jbrooks544 · 03-13-2004, 10:26 AM

My 3' high wire fence and gate around mine worked out well for me. Keeps lots of critters and deer from wrecking things. Don't use artificial fertilizers - esp. miracle grow. These push too much "new" type leaf growth and end up attracting bugs. Fish emulsion is good fert. Compost pile is a great idea to continue building soil. Will make your trash less smelly too. Don't add your lawn clippings if you use lots of bad chemicals on your lawn - you will eat the chemicals that way. Rotate where different veggies are grown each year. Keep tobacco products away from tomatoes and wash hands before gardening if you smoke - tobacco smut virus. One of the best things I ever did was buy this small soaker hose, about 3/8" O.D. diameter. I put a run of it under each raised row and keep about 4-5 psi. on it all summer. I never have to water garden. If it gets really wet from rain I shut it off for a few days. Top watering with sprinklers contributes to a lot of plant desease. Test soil to see how much lime you need. I would rent something to dig out area of gravel . I would frequent the forums at http://www.gardenweb.com as that site can't be beat for this stuff.

Sun Tzu · 03-22-2004, 02:47 PM

Thanks for the tips I was about to bad too much ofthe wrong things.

03-10-2004, 01:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Sun Tzu Conspiracy Realist Location: The Event Horizon	Starting a vegetable garden? I recently moved to a new house. Theres tons of space in the backyard; but its all gravel. Im going to allocate a section to do something I've wanted to do for awhile; start a garden. I know I will have to buy soil and obviously seeds. Thats as far as I've gotten. I will do research on what and how to do it, but any advice would be great. What's harder to grow, vitamins in the soil?, etc. __________________ *To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.- Stephen Hawking*

03-12-2004, 07:25 AM	#2 (permalink)
agball Insane Location: Long Island	Your standard Tomatoes, cucumber, peppers are pretty easy to grow. I would recommend some plant food "not too Much". A little seceret I learned is to add a bunch of broken egg shells to the soil as well. This will help add lots of good nutrients to the mix. __________________ "A friend with weed is a friend indeed"

03-22-2004, 02:47 PM	#5 (permalink)
Sun Tzu Conspiracy Realist Location: The Event Horizon	Thanks for the tips I was about to bad too much ofthe wrong things. __________________ *To confine our attention to terrestrial matters would be to limit the human spirit.- Stephen Hawking*

03-13-2004, 12:15 AM	#3 (permalink)
Bossnass Détente Location: AWOL in Edmonton	My brother had a gravelly back yard (previous owner's extra parking spot actually). Since he didn't want a raised garden, the only realy option was to dig it out. Since we were both poor at the time, that meant spades and picks and a few weekends before we dumped a couple truckloads of nice black dirt in. The problem (other then working our hands raw and our backs to spasms) was drainage. Almosted ended up with a muddy pool after he watered his first rows of seeds. The eventual solution was sod. In our case, it wasn't worth the effort. Somehow, and I don't know how, make sure the garden can drain as needed.

03-13-2004, 10:26 AM	#4 (permalink)
jbrooks544 Addict	My 3' high wire fence and gate around mine worked out well for me. Keeps lots of critters and deer from wrecking things. Don't use artificial fertilizers - esp. miracle grow. These push too much "new" type leaf growth and end up attracting bugs. Fish emulsion is good fert. Compost pile is a great idea to continue building soil. Will make your trash less smelly too. Don't add your lawn clippings if you use lots of bad chemicals on your lawn - you will eat the chemicals that way. Rotate where different veggies are grown each year. Keep tobacco products away from tomatoes and wash hands before gardening if you smoke - tobacco smut virus. One of the best things I ever did was buy this small soaker hose, about 3/8" O.D. diameter. I put a run of it under each raised row and keep about 4-5 psi. on it all summer. I never have to water garden. If it gets really wet from rain I shut it off for a few days. Top watering with sprinklers contributes to a lot of plant desease. Test soil to see how much lime you need. I would rent something to dig out area of gravel . I would frequent the forums at http://www.gardenweb.com as that site can't be beat for this stuff.