Get Your Summer Garden Started: Planting Tips and Progress Updates

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Discussion Overview

This thread centers around participants sharing their experiences and progress with summer gardening, including the types of plants they are growing and the challenges they face. Many contributors discuss their planting activities, while others reflect on their gardening successes and failures.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, shared their excitement about starting their garden, having planted various tomato and pepper plants, along with herbs in planters.
  • Another participant mentioned that their gardening efforts were hindered by a shed being placed in their garden area, impacting their ability to grow vegetables and flowers this year.
  • Several users reflected on their past gardening experiences, with one noting that they primarily grew weeds but had a resilient yellow squash plant returning this year.
  • One participant expressed a lack of gardening skills, humorously stating they have a "black thumb" and struggle to differentiate between weeds and vegetables.
  • Another participant shared their husband's gardening prowess, highlighting the variety of plants they have grown, including tomatoes and peppers.
  • Some participants discussed their planting lists, which included a wide range of vegetables and herbs, with one noting they had already started growing wildflowers and sunflowers.
  • One participant humorously mentioned their inability to keep even air plants alive, while another shared their admiration for their partner's gardening skills.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ among participants regarding their gardening abilities and experiences, with no clear consensus on the effectiveness of their gardening efforts.

Contextual Notes

Participants shared a variety of personal gardening experiences, reflecting different levels of expertise and success. The thread captures a range of emotions from excitement to humor about gardening challenges.

Who May Find This Useful

Readers within the consultant community who are interested in gardening, whether as beginners or experienced gardeners, may find the shared experiences relatable and engaging.

C
ChefBeckyD
Gold Member
Messages
20,320
Well, my garden is half-done.

Yesterday, I went out to work on it, only to find that our wonderful roofing help had been dumping shingles on it. (and I thought that was what we rented the dumpster for?:cry: ) So, I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning up shingle pieces.

Today, after church, DH helped me rotatille, and rake, and get it ready for planting, and I planted 14 tomato plants (6 different varieties), 10 pepper plants (4 different varieties) and a row of white onions.

Then, I did a bunch of much needed weeding from around my raspberry bushes and rhubarb....and I am feeling so good that my summer gardening has begun - not just talked about, but actually stuff done!

I still have green beans, yellow beans, sugar snap peas, butternut squash, and carrots to plant...and a few pumpkin seeds. Plus, I am trying herbs in planters, last time I did this, the critters ate it all, but I'm hoping in planters, I can bring them into the garage at night to keep them growing. So I have parsley, basil, cilantro, and rosemary. (already had chives)

So - anyone else (Janet, I know you're with me!) a gardener?
 
ChefBeckyD said:
Well, my garden is half-done.

Yesterday, I went out to work on it, only to find that our wonderful roofing help had been dumping shingles on it. (and I thought that was what we rented the dumpster for?:cry: ) So, I spent yesterday afternoon cleaning up shingle pieces.

Today, after church, DH helped me rotatille, and rake, and get it ready for planting, and I planted 14 tomato plants (6 different varieties), 10 pepper plants (4 different varieties) and a row of white onions.

Then, I did a bunch of much needed weeding from around my raspberry bushes and rhubarb....and I am feeling so good that my summer gardening has begun - not just talked about, but actually stuff done!

I still have green beans, yellow beans, sugar snap peas, butternut squash, and carrots to plant...and a few pumpkin seeds. Plus, I am trying herbs in planters, last time I did this, the critters ate it all, but I'm hoping in planters, I can bring them into the garage at night to keep them growing. So I have parsley, basil, cilantro, and rosemary. (already had chives)

So - anyone else (Janet, I know you're with me!) a gardener?
Click to expand...

DH planted a SHED on my garden, so no veggies or flowers for me this year! :(
 
  • Thread starter
  • #3
Kitchen Diva said:
DH planted a SHED on my garden, so no veggies or flowers for me this year! :(
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That would be cause for murder at my house! (JUST KIDDING!) DH wants me to have a good salsa garden - because he loves my salsa more than any other, and we ran out in February this year.
 
this is what i remember my DH planting
onions
blue potatoes
peas
lettuce
radishes
dill
cilantro
zuchinni
yellow squash
acorn squash
about 8 varieties of peppers
and 10 types of tomatoes
we'll actually have fresh raspberries ready tomorrow with our hoemmade ice cream
 
Hmmm- I grew mostly weeds, but the psycho yellow squash plant that wouldn't die came back this year- it's growing next to the shed. DH put a bunch of shrubery and twig clippings over my perenial garden, and the early thaw and then crazy April- where we had snow and freezing temps, killed most of the plants on the flower side. Oh well- once the weeds fill everything in, I'll have orange tiger lillies, so it's all good!
 
I love gardens. I just don't love gardening. You see, I have a black thumb. My mere presence kills plants. I can hear you gardeners now. You're thinking I'd be a natural at weeding. Nope. I can't tell the difference between a weed and a cute, little baby veggie.The Furry Guy is fabulous with plants. However, we haven't had a vegetable garden in several years. Neighborhood vermin decimated them in the years he was planting them. He generally grows several sugar pumpkins for pies and some tomatoes in planters.
 
Teresa Lynn said:
this is what i remember my DH planting
onions
blue potatoes
peas
lettuce
radishes
dill
cilantro
zuchinni
yellow squash
acorn squash
about 8 varieties of peppers
and 10 types of tomatoes
we'll actually have fresh raspberries ready tomorrow with our hoemmade ice cream
Click to expand...

That is because your growing season is more than 4 months like ours is in MN! LOL
 
oh i forgot my favorite cucumbers
 
Gardening and wine amking are his passion mine is shopping

we have tons of grape vines and it ticks the HOA off becaue we have this huge garden and probably 60 grape vines in our back yard.
 
raebates said:
I love gardens. I just don't love gardening. You see, I have a black thumb. My mere presence kills plants. I can hear you gardeners now. You're thinking I'd be a natural at weeding. Nope. I can't tell the difference between a weed and a cute, little baby veggie.

The Furry Guy is fabulous with plants. However, we haven't had a vegetable garden in several years. Neighborhood vermin decimated them in the years he was planting them. He generally grows several sugar pumpkins for pies and some tomatoes in planters.
Click to expand...

I've killed fake plants. :(
 
I haven't killed any fake ones, but I killed three of those air plants that you don't do anything to. The Furry Guy won't let me near enough to touch plants. I'm just allowed to stand several feet away and admire his skill at growing beautiful things. :)
 
we planted 6 tomato plants, (4 different kinds) 10 pepper (4 different kinds) 2 squash, 1 cucumber, and some watermelon and cantalope. And we have about little 10 tomatoes right now.
 
My son has pots on the front porch from school. We have tomato (for my daughter), popcorn, sunflower, and bean. So we'll see what really takes. LOL
 
ME me me....I planted a whole crap load of cukes(I make pickles)...a bunch of sweet peppers....tomatoes, summer squach and butternut ....I should get a few Hot pepper plants so I can make some salsa too..
 
Becky, I wouldn't call myself a gardener...I'm a beginner...but trying! I've been letting my strawberry plants grow from last year so I can distinguish the weeds! ;)There are a few pictures of yesterday's work on our blog...I have strawberries from last year and chives.This year I planted cucumbers, green peppers, jalepeno peppers, tomatoes, and roma tomatoes. I have some cherry tomato and cilantro seeds to start soon!
 
I planted mine 2 weeks ago. This year I have:

Tomatoes (Roma, Big Boy, Beefsteak, Celebrity, Mr. Stripey, Lemon Boy, Grape Tomato)
Cucumbers
Lemon Cucumbers
Onions
Red Onions
Yellow Bell Peppers
Purple Bell Peppers
Regular Bell Peppers
Anaheim Chili Peppers
Banana Peppers
Jalapeno Peppers
Poblano Peppers
Okra
Sweet Potatoes
Japanese Eggplant
Regular Eggplant
Rosemary
Basil
Cilantro
Spearmint
Parsley
Squash
Zucchini
Green Beans
Peas
Chinese Peas
Long Beans

I think that's all.
 
Oh yeah, I planted 2 rows of wild flowers and sunflowers.
 
Flowers we have. The Furry Guy is a genius with perennials. Our entire property is blooming. It's beautiful. :)
 
raebates said:
Flowers we have. The Furry Guy is a genius with perennials. Our entire property is blooming. It's beautiful. :)
Click to expand...
Pictures please - I love flowers! Last year I had so much basil that I kept putting basil bouquets (sp?) in my kitchen.
 
pamperedlinda said:
I planted mine 2 weeks ago. This year I have:

Tomatoes (Roma, Big Boy, Beefsteak, Celebrity, Mr. Stripey, Lemon Boy, Grape Tomato)
Cucumbers
Lemon Cucumbers
Onions
Red Onions
Yellow Bell Peppers
Purple Bell Peppers
Regular Bell Peppers
Anaheim Chili Peppers
Banana Peppers
Jalapeno Peppers
Poblano Peppers
Okra
Sweet Potatoes
Japanese Eggplant
Regular Eggplant
Rosemary
Basil
Cilantro
Spearmint
Parsley
Squash
Zucchini
Green Beans
Peas
Chinese Peas
Long Beans

I think that's all.
Click to expand...

WOW! What a list!
 
raebates said:
I love gardens. I just don't love gardening. You see, I have a black thumb. My mere presence kills plants. I can hear you gardeners now. You're thinking I'd be a natural at weeding. Nope. I can't tell the difference between a weed and a cute, little baby veggie.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that is me! I've actually been tempted to take pictures of what I planted so I can tell them apart from the weeds as the weeds pop up!

I got small plants this year rather than seeds because if I start seeds outside, other than a few common things like cucumbers, I'd pull the wrong things!
 
we have okra too but we never have to plant it it always returns (one year we had so much we would bring it in from the garden in 5 gallon buckets on the go cart
 
I just planted four tomatoes (two different varieties) and two bell peppers. We're doing containers. It's my first attempt, so we'll see...
 
raebates said:
Flowers we have. The Furry Guy is a genius with perennials. Our entire property is blooming. It's beautiful. :)
Click to expand...

Our yard used to do that- then we bought the house, and within 3 years, well...let's just say it isn't as pretty. I tried to repopulate the flower garden last year, but it looks like most the plants I planted died. I'm so bummed!!
 
DebbieJ said:
I just planted four tomatoes (two different varieties) and two bell peppers. We're doing containers. It's my first attempt, so we'll see...
Click to expand...

I hung my Roma tomatoes this year - reminds me...I have one more to do!
 
Um.....there is some basil growing in a pot that DD brought home from Girl Scouts. I want to try something else but I am SO chicken!!
 
Tomatoes are growing well, have about 18 plants, assorted heirloom varieties. Bell peppers doing ok so far. They don't do very well here, but chilies do fine. Red potatoes are doing ok so far too. Had to replant winter squash due to gophers.Had a rare rain, so will wait to put out more plants, including okra, summer squash, herbs, eggplant, carrots, daikon, greens, green beans, radishes in a few days. Peas and cabbage won't be planted until very end of September, when the weather cools again.Apricots are ripening, just nibbled a few half ripe :) Peaches growing well, too. Bananas took a hit from the cold snap two weeks ago, but guavas are flowering well, hoping for fruit. The wild birds and parrots eat the guava flowers, so we get few fruit but that's ok.Big gardening chore today was gassing gophers, we've been overrun :(
 
I just planted mine on Mother's Day. I have several tomato plants I started from seed, and they actually survived! (Not so much in years past.) Plus a couple of pepper plants I started from seed, and five different colors of peppers from the store. Then I have some pumpkins transplanted from our mulch pile where last year's Halloween pumpkins rotted away, plus cucumbers, zucchini, and some other kind of squash. Oh, and green and wax beans. I still have more weeding to do in another section of the garden, where I am going to plant watermelons and more cucumbers, and just let the vines take over the area.So I have a question for the experts out there... When you plant tomatoes, do you rotate the area in your garden where you plant them every year? Or do you add something to the soil to help them out? I have read that tomato plants can deplete the soil of calcium (IIRC) and should be planted in different spots from year to year, but I like to put my tomatoes in the sunniest part of my garden, which limits the options for rotation. So what do you all do??
 
my husband keeps a very detailed notebook of where everything is planted, when it was and the temp etc. he always moves them around.
now if i could just get him to pick up the newspaper and throw it away each night
 
jbachen said:
So I have a question for the experts out there... When you plant tomatoes, do you rotate the area in your garden where you plant them every year? Or do you add something to the soil to help them out? I have read that tomato plants can deplete the soil of calcium (IIRC) and should be planted in different spots from year to year, but I like to put my tomatoes in the sunniest part of my garden, which limits the options for rotation. So what do you all do??
Click to expand...

Absolutely rotate the location, and never compost tomato, pepper, eggplant or potato plantsl. Helps control disease for us.

Depending on your climate and shade, try a few plants this year in the 2nd best location, and see how they do. Also perhaps try some, esp. smaller fruited varieties, such as cherry tomatoes, in pots.

HTH,
 
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