I'm about to start my garden.

NativeFloridian

Anyone here a green thumb?  Got any advice for me?  I'm jumping in feet-first, I really have no clue what I'm doing.  I've been researching, but a lot of these garden websites are all technical and shit and I'm just like,



As a side note, we're also going to get some laying hens soon.  Wuuuuut.

And build a fire pit.

NativeFloridian

fredalina said:

Yeah. Wait til spring.

I got some crud I can plant now, and I'm planning on planting indoors to begin with anyway.  If I don't start now I'll never start, so that's the reason for that.

NativeFloridian

fredalina said:

What are you growing? Veggies or flowers? I kind of suck at gardening. But I try every year.

I picked up a variety of stuff.  Lavender, chamomile, cilantro, bell peppers, rhubarb, chives, romaine lettuce, and oregano.

robinsokj

Are you in Florida?

NativeFloridian

robinsokj said:

Are you in Florida?

Yep.

robinsokj

Then you don't want a garden during summer for a lot of things. Seed packets should tell you what works when by region

LaurelBee

Tomatoes need full sun and to be supported. Zucchini plants grow outward not upward, so they may take over your garden. As do pumpkins and watermelon. That's about the extent of my gardening knowledge

Luckie519

I want to start one so bad, but we don't own this house and I am not too sure the landlord would be too thrilled with me digging up his backyard.

nanabanana06

In my region (Zone 7B) we can't grow a lot of things I want unless I find cold weather stuff. Since your in Florida you can do a lot of the cool things like fruit trees and such. The key to a good garden is good compost. I'd start composting and don't do the chemical fertilizer. Compost or manure should be all you need. Each plant needs specific spacing, water, and soil. So learning what each needs is important. Really, other than that all you need to know is not to over water and what bugs are good and what bugs are bad.

NativeFloridian

I might do a terrarium too.  I like terrariums.

ILoveBoys

I started gardening last spring. It gets much easier and you learn, as you go. Lettuce is a cooler weather crop, I plant mine after last frost and in the fall (Kentucky). Peppers need warmer weather (so our summer).

You can do a lot indoor with containers. Just do your research on how big their containers need to be. Mel Bartholomew is all about Square Foot Gardening, which allows more plants in a smaller space. It's pretty awesome.

If you have any specific questions feel free to PM me. My parents farm, also I've read a ton about gardening. Good luck and just remember a lot of it is truly trial and error, and learning what works for you. Visit your county co-op office, they should be able to give you some tips based on your region.

TunaTown

I just started gardening this year. 

Pick one or two things you'd like to plant so that you're not overwhelemed. 

I found it very helpful to visit a real garden center (not a big box hardware store like Home Depot) and chat with a knowledgeable staffer. One staffer spent about an hour with me and shared his knowledge about planting native plants. I also read a book about establishing a native prairie garden started a native prairie area.

During the beginning of Spring, I also reached out to my neighbors and asked them if they were going to break up any plants, and if they did, I'd give them a new home. I rec'd lots of varieties of hostas and bulbs and sedum plants. One neighbor even gave me a few Canna Lilly bulbs - which grew into beautiful plants! It's a cheap way to start your garden area. 

Take it one step at a time.