Basic Advice Needed

[NeedleCast]

Howdy,

Next spring I plan to try planting my first garden. I a plot behind my garage, about 15 feet by 10 feet. It gets a medium amount of direct sunlight, although the back section of it would often be in the shade of the garage. I live in the Washington, DC area, so we have a mild climate most of the year.

I have never attempted to garden before, but have been looking for something to do with this chunk of land in my backyard for awhile now and figured why not.

I'm looking for suggestions on what would do well in the enviornment I've described. Some favorites of mine are peppers (hot), berries, tomatoes, carrots and any sort of herb. I've also considered trying to grow (and cure) tobacco. I travel frequnetly for work, so I'd need something in the mid-to-low maintinance range. I do have a roommmate, but I don't want to put pressure on her to take care of my pet project when I'm not around other than making sure it gets watered.

[flying_wahini]

1. My first thought is to start adding your soil enriching goodies now!

Also, if you are not sure about the quality of the soil I would
check it out with a good shovel first. See how far down you can
comfortably dig. Are their lots of rocks? Remove as many as you
can now, it helps a lot later. Is is loamy or clayish? Don't go
digging around if the soil is wet, it needs to be on the dry side
as I think it ruins the texture of the soil.
You may also want to consider framing it with some landscape timbers
double stacked so that you will have a raised bed... this helps when
adding soil amendments like compost, manure(horse, if you can find
it) and peat/sand and such. It also helps get a better product.
There is a lot you can do before spring gets here.
Getting the bed ready is half the fun!
wished I was there to help!

[NeedleCast]

3. Raised Bed

I should have mentioned that it's already in a raised bed, about two feet above the surrounding ground. The soil is fair at best, it's standard earth with some sand mixed in. There are some large rocks/bricks that I'll need to pull out before I plant. I'll probably need to add quite a bit of soil, and then supplement that with the small amount of compost I have ready to use.

I have room to essentially double the size of the plot and I'll probably do that once I get planted next year by adding a lower level "terrace" to the existing raised bed.

[Kolesar]

2. THE VEGETABLE GARDENERS BIBLE by Edward C. Smith was "hard to put down"

I found it in the local bookstore two years ago and read half of it while I was there. Smith presents the concepts of raised bed gardening, organic gardening, composting and companion planting.

Raised bed gardening was a revelation to me. We started that and never had such good results. I am still not "up to speed" about companion planting, but I think of that process as evolutionary. You don't "have to" do companion planting. From another book I read, I would be inclined to space the plants further apart to allow each individual plant to have more water available; that would help you in your circumstance.

http://hambydairysupply.com/xcart/product.php?printable=Y&cat=170&productid=153

I hope you have at least eight hours of sun on the garden, and if you have a choice try to get morning sun to dry off the plants.

[NeedleCast]

Thanks!

Any additional book recommendations or even web sites that provide (well organized) information would be greatly appreciated. Google turns up some good results, but anything helps!

[NeedleCast]

4. Thanks!

Any additional book recommendations or even web sites that provide (well organized) information would be greatly appreciated. Google turns up some good results, but anything helps!

[Gormy Cuss]

5. Look for a copy of "Square foot Gardening" for more tips on spacing

plants in smaller space, especially raised beds.

As for what to grow, the tomatoes and peppers will want the longest sun because they need heat and hot peppers are hotter with more sun on them. At the shadier end of the bed you can grow things that hate full on hot sun like lettuce, parsley, cilantro, and other soft stemmed herbs. Heartier herb plants like rosemary, basil, thyme, oregano, and tarragon can be dropped in any smallish sunny spot in the bed -- they also stand abuse in the form of less watering.

Tomatoes, most cukes and some summer squashes are vines, and that means that if you plant them near the edge of the bed and train them to trail over the edge you can place the cages outside of the bed rather than have all that bulk covering up good planting space.

Because DC has a relatively long growing season, you can start growing baby lettuces in the early spring by covering them at night. This can be done with a floating row cover rated for light frost or you can make or buy a small cold frame or mini-greenhouse cover. The same can also be used at the end of the season to protect a few plants from light frost, particularly herbs.
See here: http://www.gardeners.com/Season-Extending/default/StandardCatalog.VegetableGardening_SeasonExtending.cat;pgid=Yfob4opu00000000000000000000AIXk_IoE;sid=74f__PDepN4X37eKkefe_vDURbV6PNH0V0w=
The downside of covers is that someone must uncover them in the morning and cover them at night.

[hippywife]

6. This is an excellent book, too:

http://www.amazon.com/Grow-Vegetables-Thought-Possible-Imagine/dp/0898154154

Have fun!

[Blue Gardener]

7. Always check your state extension service website

And those of surrounding states. They have great advice on gardening in your specific region.