Anybody plant a veggie garden because of food prices?

[KSinTX]

I started last year with just a few tomatoes and some herbs, but this year expanded to include carrots, Brussels sprouts, onion, peppers, peas and cukes. Starting as early as I had to this year, it wasn't only because of food costs but it was headed down the road and seemed a smart thing to do. Anybody else going this route?

[momophile]

1. expanding it because of food prices, yes

that and because of peak oil.

we have to wait until the 15th, though, because of the weather.
:hi:

[KSinTX]

3. I'm guessing you aren't near the big snowfall last week?

Are you starting indoors or direct sowing? By expanding, making it bigger or putting in more plants? Just curious because I crammed more in this year. You know, that 3-4 foot margin is more like 2.

Thanks for the hail! :thumbsup:

[momophile]

5. last year we had a new house and yard

and the lady before us planted a lot of stuff so we weren't sure what would pop up and where. so we only planted tomatoes (and some perennial herbs) in a few obvious holes. this year we are digging up some grass and building a raised 4'x8' bed for cucumbers, zucchini and I haven't decided what else yet. we will be buying already started tomatoes for containers for the patio. and the spots that the tomatoes were in last year will be used for more perennials - thyme, lavender and mint probably.

I've never done tomatoes in pots so hopefully it works.

and yes, we always cram more in than the directions say!
:hi:

[stuntcat]

7. that's my answer too, I expanded

I'm cheap anyway :blush: I had so many tomatoes last year that I made lots of sauce to freeze for the winter and I had more jalapenos and cucumbers than I could use almost.
Most of the herbs I've planted are perennials, which is also good for my economy :headbang:

I'm adding a few more feet to the vegetable bed this year.

[KSinTX]

8. Have you started your seeds yet?

I was on my way to a bumper crop of tomatoes last year - until the floods started down here. Then came the stink bugs. Never seen them before or anything like them. My god, the sucked every tomato and it looked like I'd hung out sun-drieds on the vine. There were so many, I just let em have whatever they wanted. But I'm READY for em this year!!!

[stuntcat]

18. spinach!

That is awful to lose so many tomatoes that way, I would have been SO mad.

I'm taking a year off from starting seeds inside, last year I wasted so much time and space. I'll do it again, with the whole starter tray and all, I need to take a break from it though this time.
I started spinach seeds outside last week and they're coming up! And I'm about to start some okra.

I've only been gardening a few years so I'm still learning, and there is A LOT to learn :O

[Breeze54]

2. I wish I could but

I don't have that much area to plant that much or I would.

I have enough space to grow tomato's though but I'll be doing

that in buckets this year, as we're moving soon.

I'll bet many people will be gardening food this year.

Good luck with your garden!

[KSinTX]

4. Thanks!

Container planting is really a neat thing for those who can. I used to plant herbs in every sort of container and soil and was always unsuccessful. Last year, I devoted some land to it and they're going gangbusters. Used to laugh that I couldn't even grow what's considered weeds in some parts of the world. Now I'm giving stuff away.

Good luck on your gardening AND on the move.

[Breeze54]

6. I've never tried growing vegetables in a bucket

but Martha Stewart says it works great. I watched a show of hers about it.

She was growing cauliflower and lettuce as decorations but also to eat.

It actually looked pretty! ;) I had a friend who used to grow corn in

those big white painters buckets and it worked great! I'd love to grow herbs too!

[Blue_In_AK]

9. I've been planting vegetables

since 1991, the first spring after I bought my house. My garden takes up about a third of my (small) backyard.

[MorningGlow]

10. Just started today!

Because of food prices, but also because I finally have a yard with some sun, so I want to give it a shot. And for the exercise. I have an herb garden that I started last year--want to add to that, but these are my first veggies.

Soooo...I'm clearing a patch of ground and am going to get compost. And something to slaughter the grubs I've seen lurking in the yard. But what the heck to plant, is the question. I've got a couple of weeks to decide (to make sure the weather stays temperate 'round here). Cucumbers definitely, because MG Jr. goes crazy for them. Carrots too (and he has a carrot sprout from preschool that needs somewhere to grow). Peas, I think. I am afraid of growing zucchini because I know they multiply exponentially overnight, but I might put in just one or two plants instead of a whole row.

[KSinTX]

13. Congrats on scoring a yard!

'Bout them grubs: nematodes work wonders. They also take care of (fire)ants, fleas, bad nematodes and a whole host of other creepy crawlies. I do my yard twice a year (mix up the ones from the sponge; the dry stuff ain'f for you-know-what).

Welcome to the wonderful world of veggies! Keep me posted on your progress, OK? Peace, KS

[MorningGlow]

15. Cool--thanks!

The only thing I know about nematodes is what I learned from Spongebob Squarepants: They travel in huge roaming bands saying "Hungry! Hungry! Hungry!" and then eat your house (if it's a pineapple).
:rofl:

Yeah, I'm a yard novice. Our first house was on a lake (all we had was a shaded steep hillside taken up by a multi-level deck) and our second house was in the woods, so all we had there was pine trees. Couldn't grow shit--just ferns, and even those only in select places that got a teensy wink of sunlight on occasion.

[Rambis]

11. We are in a CSA

community supported agriculture group- We get veggies delivered May- October every Tuesday- We are trying to eat better and this helps. We don't have time to do it ourselves but we support the local farmer. They have chickens to for meat eaters. I guarantee if you ever have fresh chicken you will never go back to the water injected crap in a commercial grocery.

[KSinTX]

16. Is the local farmer any cheaper or is this a community service? nt

[Rambis]

17. cheaper and fresher

We get a half share which is still a big cooler every week for 220$

Here is a list of what we get over the year by the month-


Crop Month Harvested

Arugula June, July
Basil July, August
Beets June, July, August
Beet Greens June
Broccoli June, July
Broccoli Raab May, June
Cabbage, Chinese June, July
Cabbage (Regular) July
Carrots July, August
Cauliflower July
Cherries June
Chives June
Cilantro July, August
Collards June, July
Cucumber June, July, August
Eggplant July, August
Garlic July, August
Garlic (Green) May, June
Green Beans July, August
Green Onion June, July
Greens (Japanese &, Other) May, June, July, August
Horseradish Root May
Kale May, June, July
Kohlrabi June, July, August
Leeks August
Lettuce, Leaf &, Head May, June, July, August
Mesclun Mix June, July
Mint, Regular &, Chocolate May, July
Onion (Red &, White) July, August
Oregano May, July
Peas (Shell, Snow, Sweet & Sugar Snap) June, July
Peppers (Bell) July, August
Potato (New) June, July, August
Potato July, August
Radish May, June, July, August
Rhubarb May
Romaine June
Rosemary June
Scallions June
Scapes June, July
Spinach May, June
Squash (Summer) June, July, August
Strawberries June
Sweet Corn July, August
Swiss Chard June, July, August
Tatsoi June, July
Thyme August
Tomato July, August
Turnips June, July
Watercress May, June
Winter Onion May
Zucchini


http://www.localfoodsconnection.org/farmers/oakhill.html

[SmokingJacket]

12. Yep, and last year I got chickens.

We have two sugar maples in the yard, and we tap those. I only wish I could bear to shoot the deer in my yard...

I started broccoli and brussel sprouts from seeds, but we had a frost last night adn I don't know when to put them in the garden....

[KSinTX]

14. Hey don't rush em ... it'll be a bitter loss if you do

Probably why my neighbor's laughing at my a** but I'm taking no chances. It's bad enough with all the other vermin and crawlies I have to deal with. Not going to let a cold snap do me in as well.

Let me know how it all turns out. Good luck to ya! (Oh, and you can send some of that syrup down this way :) )

[SmokingJacket]

19. Yep, I'm waiting.

It's tough, since the weather's been so nice....

Good luck to you, too~ :hi:

[kwassa]

20. .

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