My Garden
By Bethany1202
@Bethany1202 (3431)
United States
August 12, 2010 6:42pm CST
This is my first year having a garden. Now that summer is almost over, I have learned many things. I plan to have a better garden next year.
I planted beefsteak tomatoes but never pruned it, and now I have yet to have one ripen. I know this variety tends to take longer to ripen than other types of tomatoes, but I read up that you can try to shock the plant into maturing by pruning a certain way, so I tried that. Hopefully it will work. If not, I will have to pick the green tomatoes and bring them indoors in a few weeks and hope they ripen in a bag or on the counter with my bananas and such...
I also have onions, cabbage, lettuce, and some fresh basil and cilantro growing. The cabbage looks great. It has a nice big head but I am unsure when to pick it or how to remove it from my garden to use it. How do I know when to use it?
Furthermore, I have no idea when I should dig up the onions. Is there a way to tell? I think they should be ready because of the info on the seed packet and they've been out there for about 3 months with plenty of sunshine and have a nice green grass-like growth expanding through the top of the soil...
Can anyone help me and give me tips for next summer's garden? Please?? I plan to start planting indoors in early spring then move them outdoors after the frost. Please help with any tips, suggestions, info, etc... Thanks in advance!!
4 people like this
10 responses
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
13 Aug 10
Hello Bethany. Sounds like you have a great garden going. Your cabbage can be picked any time now. You cut it of at the root and store it in a cool place. The onions can also be dug any time but when the tops start dieing back they have stopped growing and are mature. You might want to plant onion bulbs next year. They will grow bigger and faster than the seeds..
1 person likes this
@Bethany1202 (3431)
• United States
14 Aug 10
Thanks for the advice. I do like starting from seeds, though, so can I start planting my seeds for onions indoors very early in pots? I mean, I know I can grow indoors in pots year-round, but will that work well if I plan to transplant them outdoors after the frost?
1 person likes this
@magtibaygom (4858)
• Philippines
13 Aug 10
Do you use fertilizers in your gardening? If you are using fertilizers, what kind of fertilizers are you using, organic or inorganic? I mean, natural or from commercial sources? It would be better if you use organic fertilizers, like animal manure or rotting hay. The produce will be smaller in size and shape, like smaller tomatoes, but the nutrient content is better. We call it organic farming. And when you sell your produce in the marketplace, organic produced are priced higher than the ordinary ones.
1 person likes this
@Bethany1202 (3431)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I just used the miracle grow on the garden but I wasn't sure quite how much to feed it or how often. Also, I just recently heard NOT to water the leaves of the tomato plants, only the roots. I was watering everything, leaves and all.
@Bethany1202 (3431)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I also have mulch. Someone suggested that, and I tried it many months ago when I first planted the garden.
@yesah65 (157)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I always remember spending a lot of time in the garden with Mom and Grandma when I was little. Been a truck driver for so many years never had time to plant or tend a garden but it is a good thing to plant a garden and watch something grow. That is life happening, not to mention, it always tastes better when it has been nourished with love and care.
@Bethany1202 (3431)
• United States
14 Aug 10
I agree. Better taste and healthier too -- and cheaper! ; )
@Jennlk84 (4206)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I'm anxious to read all of the comments you receieve because I would LOVE to start my own garden next summer! My husband and I wanted to do one this summer but with moving it just wasn't practical. We live in an apartment, so we're going to do our growing out of pots. Good luck next year!
1 person likes this
@advokatku (4033)
• Indonesia
13 Aug 10
Your garden must be very broad ... joy can have a large garden. Maybe it's good for the next season you plant fruit trees
1 person likes this
@Bethany1202 (3431)
• United States
14 Aug 10
I do have lemon, lime, orange, and banana trees growing. They seem to be doing fine but as still young.
@enterthehole (111)
•
13 Aug 10
I got a couple of tips for you, if you are trying to use your space to the most advantage. If you plant peas early enough you can get a great crop in no time and then pull up the plants and still have plenty of time for another fast growing crop where they were. And with carrots, if when you thin out the small plants, you put a long cardboard tube in the soil (like one from a kitchen towel roll or similar) and fill it with compost and plant the carrot in there you will get lovely straight carrots as they wont be hitting any stones or compacted soil. And the tube just rots into the soil:)
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I have a lemon tree, and a lot of roses and different types of flowers in my garden.
@moondancer (7433)
• United States
14 Aug 10
I think it is wonderful that you have a garden and had the opportunity to learn from having a new one and not having one before. Also you have enjoyed many fresh items from your garden.
I've asked my husband to make the dirt ready for me to have one, but he told me that my health was not good enough and I would not be able to work it.
He is right of course and I know there would be lots to do with some items planted, but there are some that require little work.
@Ceekay1989 (323)
• United States
13 Aug 10
aw gardening is abeautiful thing! i love to see the fruits of my labor (hehe) but it really is its like raising and nurturing a child you plant it and then get to watch it grow i love it i really do . gives me something to do and look forward. some basics be sure you have compost and topsoil and use mulch to protect the soil!
@sweetmary86 (822)
• Philippines
13 Aug 10
veggies such as eggplants, raddish, carrots and those creepy plants...then fruit trees, flowers and orchids!! i use to have sugarcanes and pineapples... herbal plants are also nice
1 person likes this
