any gardeners?

lelekay

I'm planning on planting my very first veggie garden tomorrow (assuming it doesn't rain).  I'm thinking tomatoes, carrots, and cucumbers, and maybe one more thing (can't decide).  Any hints, tips, or advice from experienced gardeners?

MrsNJSwimmer

I wish I had some advice, but I'm too afraid ot he animals outside eating anything I'd plant.

Aside from that, I can't keep an aloe plant alive, so I'm not so sure how I'd do with veggies!

MauiWedding08

that seems reasonable to me.  I am sure our conditions are much different so I don't think it would be helpful to recommend certain varieties of things, but I would recommend getting a regular and cherry (or yellow pear) tomato plant if you were not going to do so, I end up eating SO many more tomatoes and it's nice to have handfuls of cherry size to throw on our dinner plates. 

My favorite "crop" is spinach - but in IL it is probably too late for a Spring crop, but pick up some seeds and try it out right before fall. I also love eggplant.  They form the most beautiful flowers and it's a difficult plant to grow in my area so I always feel like a total pro (even though I am SOOOO not!!) when I can get a few to grow.  You may have more options, but the long skinny ones work well for me and are so tasty - not as bitter and I don't salt them.

Do you like beans?  Adding a bush or a pole bean might be nice, I bet they would take right off in your area.  (same w/ peas - sugar snap?).  If space is an issue you can train your cucumbers to climb along with the pole peas/beans.  That helps me remember to pick the cukes when they are a reasonable size. 

Squash take up A LOT of room and my garden has been subject to leaf mold by the end of the (wet) summer so I thought about skipping them this year, but ended up still planting a butternut, zucchini, and crooked yellow.  I'm trying kale for the first time this year because I have been making baked kale chips frequently.

 

Have fun!!

MauiWedding08

Just thought of some other things - 

one thing that spreads that *might* be worth it is watermelon, only because I'm jealous that it would probably grow well in your area!  I can get the tiger baby watermelon to grow in my area, they are small and SO good. 

I also have a berry patch (strawberries and raspberries) that are pretty low maintenance, except to keep the birds away.  They don't need to be replanted, so that is the easiest part of my garden, I just go in and weed that portion out in early spring. (and rhubarb). I think J will really enjoy helping me pick berries.

And also think about garlic and onions and herbs.  I throw garlic in the garden in the fall and have been loving all the scapes (the above ground green part) that have popped up.  I over planted last fall in order to enjoy these more this year - if you google it you will see that scapes have quite the following in the foodie world.  I have rosemary growing in my front flowerbed and mint and chives in containers on my deck. 

annasan_k

Robbi has tons of good advice.  I was going to ask if you were starting from seeds or plant starts (do plant starts since it's kind of late to start seeds).  I was told corn is easy to grow, but I haven't been successful - but that's probably more due to my area.  Also, I'd ask at the nursery or wherever you plan to buy your plants about what other veggies do well for your area/zone.  This year I'm only planting herbs (if only summer would actually arrive!), but I find those easy to care for and it's so fun to throw fresh herbs into your cooking - you could try basil, rosemary, cilantro (although that can bolt (go to seed) on you quickly), thyme, mint (plant mint by itself in a pot or you'll be fighting mint plants all over the place), parsley.  I typically do herb gardens in pots so that they can be near the kitchen.  Good luck!