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Post by daylilydude on May 31, 2014 8:31:08 GMT -5
I can't say that I'm the most avid gardener, or the best, by a long shot. But what I can say, is JUST DO IT! You'll make mistakes. Some plants will grow great, others won't. You'll get bugs and slugs. You'll get too much rain, or not enough. You can do the exact same thing 2 years in a row, and get 2 completely different results. Gardening is trial and error, year after year after year, and the only way to find out what you like and what you don't like and what works and what doesn't work, is to try it. That doesn't mean you shouldn't do your homework though. But gardening really is always a work in progress. There are as many methods to gardening as there are gardeners. Gardening is not for the meek or weak at heart. You jump into it with both feet, with lots of gusto, and by the end of the growing season, you'll be saying you'll NEVER plant another!!! At least, until next year. It truly is in your blood... I know gardening isn't for everyone, though I can't imagine why. Gardening is a lot of work! It's ongoing, everyday. I'm sure many more people here have great advice. We would love to hear it!
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Post by Laura_in_FL on May 31, 2014 10:45:17 GMT -5
Start small - one or two small beds or a few containers - so you can give your plants all the care they need. This will also give you an understanding of the work is involved. You can always expand after you have some success under your belt.
Lots of people have been permanently turned off of gardening after they started off with a huge plot and filled it with veggies, only to be overwhelmed with pests, diseases and weeds and not get much harvest.
Problems happen every year to every gardener, and even experienced gardeners lose crops - think of every problem as a learning experience.
One of the classic new gardener mistakes is overcrowding plants. I have read so many heartbreaking stories of new gardeners who started too many seeds or sowed their garden thickly and then couldn't bear to kill any of their "plant babies." The result is always the same: by midsummer the garden becomes be a weedy jungle full of stunted, sickly plants that produce very little. So give away those extra seedlings, and thin those plantings if you want to get a harvest!
To any new gardeners out there: good luck!
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Post by stratcat on Jun 29, 2014 12:37:26 GMT -5
Don't work in your garden when it's wet. You can spread disease; ie. in the bean patch.
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elliemater
Pro Member
Posts: 226
Joined: June 2014
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Post by elliemater on Jun 29, 2014 20:28:24 GMT -5
When our wet season is here there are often 75 days where things don't dry out. I have no choice at times but to work in the garden when it is wet. And I have to say that with my sun intolerance now I am finding I can work best in the rain.
I think that when the wet is this prevalent diseases are going to spread anyway. But if it isn't, then I agree, don't even pick beans when the foliage is wet.
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Post by bestofour on Jul 2, 2014 11:56:06 GMT -5
Just because someone tells you "that won't grow here" doesn't mean it really won't. Maybe it didn't grow for that person that particular year but that doesn't mean it won't grow for you THIS year. I can't tell you how many people have told me not to plant so and so and I ended up having great results.
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elliemater
Pro Member
Posts: 226
Joined: June 2014
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Post by elliemater on Jul 2, 2014 22:00:44 GMT -5
Don't plant 4 packages of radishes just because they grow quickly and everyone grows them...if you hate, loathe and despise radishes. But on the other hand...I have truly enjoyed radishes for the first time just this year! So maybe do grow a little of something you think you don't like...but when you taste it nice and fresh from your garden you may love it.
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Post by spacecase0 on Jul 4, 2014 0:05:33 GMT -5
don't bother to plant anything that you can't defend
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Post by timothyt on Jul 4, 2014 3:27:25 GMT -5
don't bother to plant anything that you can't defend Ain't that the truth!!!
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Post by bestofour on Jul 15, 2014 19:00:28 GMT -5
To quote daylilydude "But gardening really is always a work in progress." So even when you think you've got everything conquered like NO SQUASH BUGS this year, something else will happen like bottom end rot on the tomatoes even though you prepared the soil correctly BUT don't give up cuz next year the tomatoes will be great! but grasshoppers will eat the beans
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Post by Laura_in_FL on Jul 16, 2014 13:51:50 GMT -5
Never give up is probably the best piece of advice anyone could give, Bestofour.
Every gardener, no matter how experienced, has crop failures sometimes. They just try to learn from their mistakes and hardships, and try again next season.
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Post by bestofour on Jul 23, 2014 20:14:17 GMT -5
Don't say you have never seen a bunny in your garden because the very next night you will. (true story)
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Joined: January 1970
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Post by Deleted on Jul 24, 2014 18:53:59 GMT -5
Plant the things you know you like. If you want to try something new, plant a few to see if you like it. You can always plant more next year.
Every gardening season has different challenges. Too wet, too dry, too hot, too cool, bugs eating everything, rabbits eating your beans etc, etc. You have to roll with the punches. But once you've tasted homegrown vegetables you'll be hooked.
I just enjoy gardening. I find the garden a quiet place to gather my thoughts and enjoy nature (except the destructive bugs).
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tntiger
Junior Member
Posts: 33
Joined: July 2011
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Post by tntiger on Jul 25, 2014 9:06:11 GMT -5
I think gardening is a little like sports in which "the thrill of victory... and the agony of defeat" are what keep us interested! You love that big harvest of tomatoes but you know that right around the corner is a new challenge - insects, disease, pests or whatever!
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