M
MissGuided
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VanillaCreme said:You know, I totally said that I wanted to start growing some sort of veggie. I really want to grow potatoes, however, they may not turn out like I'm thinking. So tomatoes, maybe? Anyone give me some tips on veggie growing?
Absolutely, Nilla - I'll help in any way that I can. I've provided some links at the bottom of this post, should you decide that you wanna try out that green thumb.
The first thing I would suggest is that you find out your planting zone. If I remember correctly, you are in MS, which is likely similar to mine - zone 7-8. If so, tomatoes are definitely a good, hardy vegetable for you to plant. They mature in about 2 1/2 months and at this time of the season I would recommend that you pick up a starter plant, don't start from seed.
You also want to give some thought to what variety you want to grow, determine how much volume you need, e.g, whether you are planting for canning purposes or everyday eating or both, and make sure you have the space and either stakes or cages, depending on the variety chosen. You can probably still plant some bush beans, eggplant or okra now, too. Maturity time for those are similar to tomatoes, so again, buy plants, not seeds. Home Depot usually has a pretty good selection.
And, if you start now you can still plant potatoes for an early October harvest. Be sure to find seed potatoes, not the regular potatoes from the grocery store. Tractor Supply has carried them in the past or you can order them online. If you decide to try potatoes, be prepared, as I hear their 'care' can be a tad laborious. They like a very loose soil, which should be amended and compost used, where possible. There is hay/straw involved and continual 're-layering' as they start to sprout. If you want to try it, a friend gave me an interesting method using old tires (lol) that I would be happy to share.
You will be able to plant some other cold weather crops in another 4-6 weeks, like broccoli, lettuces, pumpkin, carrots, cabbage, etc. Since you are ahead of the game, you can start some of those from seed.
Personally, I find gardening very relaxing and rewarding. Gives me time to think and get away from the stresses of life for a bit, In turn, I get the satisfaction of yummy fresh veggies that aren't full of sketchy pesticides.
Hope that helps a little, but let me know if you have any questions. You can PM me, if you prefer.
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