Anyone grow some of their own fruits/veggies?

AimeeL85 · February 2014

What do you grow? I am interested in making a garden this year and trying to grow a few things. I've never gardened before so I'll have to find out what some easy things are to try out that are good for my area (PA). Just curious what you all grow, how much time it takes, how much you yield etc.

ToastieSimons · February 2014

tomatoes, watermelon, butternut squash, cucumbers, lettuce, pie pumpkins, cauliflower, eggplant

Allycat11 · February 2014

We started gardening a couple years ago and have had different outcomes both seasons. I live in MI and 2 years ago was way warmer than usual and last year was way cooler. Due to cool temperatures last year I don't know anyone in this area who had a successful garden. In the past we have grown tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos, green beans, broccoli, cantaloupe and zucchini. Cantaloupe was a huge flop for us. Otherwise, with average weather, the others were pretty easy to grow. In December we bought our first home so this year we will be expanding our garden and adding berries and asparagus.

joyfullyfound · February 2014

I do tomatoes every year because it's a highly competitive family tradition, haha, but everything else I change up... last year I did plum tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, green zebra tomatoes, zucchini, butter leaf lettuce, kale, cabbage, pole beans, and all my regular herbs (rosemary, thyme, mint, oregano, parsley, basil, sorrel, etc). We have a large yard but the majority of it is shaded, so I'm limited on my garden space for veggies that love the sun, which are most of them. This year I already have tomatoes, carrots, red peppers and cucumbers planned, and then I'll decide on the rest when I see my local farm stand's starters.

Growing veggies is totally easy... you'll hit some snags, but you learn as you go and you can't totally screw it up unless you forget to water

I've never really taken serious account of my yield, but it's totally worth the effort! You save tons of $ compared to buying the same at the grocery store... and it's really enjoyable! Everything you grow at home tastes better than store bought (even if in reality it doesn't, haha).

joyfullyfound · February 2014

Gastro reminded me - we also have 2 apple trees, a huckleberry bush, and 3 blueberry plants.

HBirdie · February 2014

We had our first garden last year and kind of just tried some of everything to see what would work.

Successes: Red potatoes. SO. many. potatoes! Carrots, kohlrabi, spaghetti squash, beets, pumpkins, tomatoes, raspberries.

Fails: Peppers, cucumbers, watermelon.

I know we planted more, but the garden is really my husband's thing, so that's all I can remember. Also I live in the Pacific Northwest, I have no idea what would work where you are.

jensriot · February 2014

I did ok a couple of years ago. Last year was a bust. I have a small 4x4 where I grow tomatoes, green beans, and try to grow peppers. Our biggest problem is bunnies. They eat the pepper plants right down to the soil. I'm in north Tx and tomatoes and green beans grew really well. I don't know a volume, but I was able to pick those almost every day. I'm excited to actually dedicate some time to it this year. I'll have to construct some sort of fence to keep the pests out though.

jjt616 · February 2014

I expand my garden every year as I get more comfortable with gardening. Last year I did tomatoes, plum tomatoes (to can to make my own sauce), squash, zucchini, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, green and red bell peppers, carrots, peas, green beans and onions. The onions were an epic fail and I won't waste the space this year on them. Everything else was pretty easy to maintain. I did have my mom come over and plan out where each vegetable should go due to sunlight and not being or being shaded by other vegetable plants. That helped me out a lot. This year I want to try growing strawberries in a barrel.

bhuffman · February 2014

We have a little garden set up in our back yard. We have tomatoes, kale, peppers, and squash. I am so not a gardener, but I plan on doing it again this year. My parents have a plot in the town's community garden and they grow everything I grow plus cucumbers and sunflowers. They are more dedicated than I am.

jenniann87 · February 2014

We do a few different types of tomatoes, jalapeños, bell peppers, strawberries and herbs. We have always had a good yield. It is pretty easy as long as you remember to water them.

I think this year we are going to try cucumbers and squash.

peacelove&mama · February 2014

Last year our garden didn't work out as well as previous years... I think maybe it was a soil issue? But we typically grow tomatoes, peppers (hot and bell), cucumber, green onions, green beans, snap peas, herbs, and raspberries. We tried lettuce and red onions last year but they didn't work out... I plan on trying again this year though. I'd like to try carrots as well.

We get a lot of tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers. We had more snap peas than we could ever hope to eat as well, I ended up freezing some for stir fry and giving some to SIL. Raspberries do well around here but I can never DO anything with them because the kids pick them and snack on them when they're playing outside. I'm lucky if I can pick a few handfuls.

kcisthebombdotcom · February 2014

Tomatoes, strawberries, blueberries, peppers, onions, peas, herbs. think i will try kale this year.

jlpev · February 2014

I live in oklahoma & we grow potatoes, onions, lettuce, okra, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, bell peppers, cucumbers, squash, sweet corn & green beans sometimes.
It does take time to keep it weeded & to get it prepped for the season.
A tiller is great!! But those aren't cheap. Dh built our raised garden with railroad boards (can't think of the exact name) & had dirt brought in bc our dirt here has a ton of clay.
We are going to try cherry tomotoes & strawberries this year. We get a lot of everything. Its fun for ds. This year ill have a 3 yr old & a 1 yr old helping. Fun fun!!

barnwife · February 2014

We have a garden. DH does 99% of the work. We generally grow tomatoes, lettuce/spinach, peppers, potatoes, strawberries, onions, garlic, cucumbers. We also have raspberries, blueberries (although we don't get many), and blackberries. Oh, we also have apple and pear trees.

ariel06 · February 2014

DH handles our garden since I have no skills with plants. We do onions, potatoes (russet and reds), broccoli, carrots, tomatoes, rhubarb, lettuce, cabbage, peppers and celery. We're adding strawberries and raspberries this year.

alli2672 · February 2014

@lalamama81 how did you keep the birds from eating your berries? I have been thinking about growing some, but it almost seems like it will be more trouble than it's worth.

mandymack · February 2014

Gastro said:

Northern California so we grow year round. Right now I have carrots, radishes, fava beans, snow peas (birds and squirrels got most of the flowers so will have a low yield this year), lettuces, garlic, beets, kale, parsley. In the summer tomatoes, bell peppers, zucchini, yellow squash, watermelon, musk melon, corn, basil, strawberries, blueberries and blackberry bushes. This year I'm going to try artichoke again which failed last spring. Two years ago DH built me a bunch of raised beds so that's made winter growing so much easier. We also have a lemon, pomegrante, pear and apple tree. Lots of rosemary and mint around our house that just grow.

I'd swear sometimes that we are the same person!

This will be my third year to plant (I begin every April) and, honestly, the lack of warmth and overcast days isn't enough warm sunshine for much so my yeild has always been very small compared to the costs. Does that even make sense?!?

I'm not saving any money growing my own strawberries because I only have room for 18 plants and only get about 8-12 berries per month June through October.

I do; however, make a KILLING on having my own herbs. This is a huge savings for us.

I've grown cherry, Brandywine heirloom, Roma tomatoes and had great success. We don't need many each week so this is a real money-saver for us.

We have lemon trees that save a ton, too!

I haven't tried peppers, my green onions were a flop, and I'm not sure I have room for corn and potatoes but I'm going to take a class at a nursery down the street and give it a try this year!

AimeeL85 · February 2014

Love reading all these answers, makes me more excited to do it! Seems like it can really cut your grocery bill once you get a good number of things going. My mom is a great gardener so she'll help me, she hasn't done a lot of fruits/vegetables but she can figure anything out.

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Anyone grow some of their own fruits/veggies?

Re: Anyone grow some of their own fruits/veggies?

eclaire 9.10.06 diggy 6.2.11

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