I live in a big house in Seattle, Washington with 13 other people. We are all really interested in starting a small organic veggie garden- we would especially love to grow greens and herbs! However, we have limited amounts of sunlight, lots of rain and I'm not sure how to describe our soil. I've tried to do research on the internet, but I feel so overwhelmed by the results I've found. Everything seems to be written in code, and I don't know where to start!
Can anybody point me to an easy, explain-it-all website, or does anyone have suggestions/the time to walk me through the first steps?
What do I need to do?!?
Thank you,
Maeg
Hi Maeg,
Most veggies and herbs want full sun, but some will grow in part sun. Do you know which veggies and herbs you want to grow besides greens? Lettuce will grow in part to full sun as well as some other greens.
Full sin is 6 hours or more
Part sun is 4 to 6b hours
Part shade is 2 to 4 hours of sun
Shade is 2 hours or less of sun.
How much sun does the area you want to plant receive?
The best way to prepare a veggie garden is to decide what you would like to grow and make a plan. I have some sites that will help you with that. You will need to add lots of organic matter to the planting beds and the easiest and best way to do that is with compost. You can make your own to be ready for next year, but you can also purchase it in bags at most garden centers. A 3" to 4" layer mixed into the soil would be a good place to start. Here's a compost calculator so you'll know how much to purchase.
https://www.cedar-grove.com/calculator.asp
Using organic methods and fertilizers will feed the soil. When you feed the soil you feed the plants with diversity of nutrients and micro-organisms. Synthetic fertilizers just feed the plants, don't feed the microbes in the soil and leave behind residual salts. Do read the organic info here.
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/organic/2006/vegetable-garden.html
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/organic/
These should also be helpful.
https://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtmltype=content&id=channel1550&site=
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/ec/ec1228/
Harvest info
https://www.savvygardener.com/Features/harvesting_vegetables.html
https://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/L291-w.htm
Attracting beneficial insects and birds will help control insect pests. Most flowers that beneficials are attracted to are compound flowers. These have a nice landing pad and resemble daisies. So having some flowers in your garden or yard will be helpful. Birds like a water source and a simple large plastic shallow flowerpot saucer will be helpful. Dump the water every 3 days, scrub with a stiff brush and add fresh water. You'll keep the algae away and won't have mosquito larvae. Keep the water near shrubs so the birds will easily be able to fly somewhere close to escape any predators and dry off.
Here's some helpful veggie and herb growing guides. At this first site click on 'Vegetables' for growing guides. The URL is too long and it won't post so you'll have to do it this way.
https://www.explore.cornell.edu/scene.cfm?scene=home%20gardening
https://www.gardenersnet.com/veggies.htm
https://www.savvygardener.com/Features/herbs.html
Here's a site for growing your herbs from seed. The same method can be used for veggies.
[url]https://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=./OnlineSeminars/seeding/demo.html&&cart_id=5440704.22962[/url]
I know I gave you alot of homework, but lmk what you think and if you have more questions.
Newt
Most veggies and herbs want full sun, but some will grow in part sun. Do you know which veggies and herbs you want to grow besides greens? Lettuce will grow in part to full sun as well as some other greens.
Full sin is 6 hours or more
Part sun is 4 to 6b hours
Part shade is 2 to 4 hours of sun
Shade is 2 hours or less of sun.
How much sun does the area you want to plant receive?
The best way to prepare a veggie garden is to decide what you would like to grow and make a plan. I have some sites that will help you with that. You will need to add lots of organic matter to the planting beds and the easiest and best way to do that is with compost. You can make your own to be ready for next year, but you can also purchase it in bags at most garden centers. A 3" to 4" layer mixed into the soil would be a good place to start. Here's a compost calculator so you'll know how much to purchase.
https://www.cedar-grove.com/calculator.asp
Using organic methods and fertilizers will feed the soil. When you feed the soil you feed the plants with diversity of nutrients and micro-organisms. Synthetic fertilizers just feed the plants, don't feed the microbes in the soil and leave behind residual salts. Do read the organic info here.
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/organic/2006/vegetable-garden.html
https://www.helpfulgardener.com/organic/
These should also be helpful.
https://www.marthastewart.com/page.jhtmltype=content&id=channel1550&site=
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/html/ec/ec1228/
Harvest info
https://www.savvygardener.com/Features/harvesting_vegetables.html
https://pubs.caes.uga.edu/caespubs/pubcd/L291-w.htm
Attracting beneficial insects and birds will help control insect pests. Most flowers that beneficials are attracted to are compound flowers. These have a nice landing pad and resemble daisies. So having some flowers in your garden or yard will be helpful. Birds like a water source and a simple large plastic shallow flowerpot saucer will be helpful. Dump the water every 3 days, scrub with a stiff brush and add fresh water. You'll keep the algae away and won't have mosquito larvae. Keep the water near shrubs so the birds will easily be able to fly somewhere close to escape any predators and dry off.
Here's some helpful veggie and herb growing guides. At this first site click on 'Vegetables' for growing guides. The URL is too long and it won't post so you'll have to do it this way.
https://www.explore.cornell.edu/scene.cfm?scene=home%20gardening
https://www.gardenersnet.com/veggies.htm
https://www.savvygardener.com/Features/herbs.html
Here's a site for growing your herbs from seed. The same method can be used for veggies.
[url]https://www.richters.com/newdisplay.cgi?page=./OnlineSeminars/seeding/demo.html&&cart_id=5440704.22962[/url]
I know I gave you alot of homework, but lmk what you think and if you have more questions.
Newt