Ready to get started!

[Lisa0825]

First of all, thanks to everyone who gave me advice and encouragement when I first joined and said I wanted to grow veggies for the first time.

I decided to go with the Square Foot method. The temptation was to grow a whole lot to start, but I know I am better off starting small. So, I decided to start with one 4x4 square, and if it is going well after a while, I can always add another square in another 6-8 weeks.

I planned to have my box ready for planting before I went on vacation March 9, so I could plant as soon as I got back, but I got the flu the end of February... thankfully I was well enough to still go on my trip.... and I came home having NOTHING ready to go.

Today, I picked up the soil components - vermiculite, peat moss, and compost. I had to go about 20 miles out of the way to find the vermiculite, but I was glad to find a supplier, since I understand it is not always easy to find.

I bought seedling tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, jalapenos, basil, and a couple others. There were other things I want to grow that I did not see as seedlings, so I bought seeds and a "germinator" with soil discs for 72 plants. It looked pretty easy, with basic instructions, and a plastic lid to act as a mini-greenhouse. Seeds were inexpensive, so I figured even if I do not have the chance to grow them all this year, it's not big deal. I bought a couple varieties of corn, green beans, peas, lettuce, broccoli, cucumbers, carrots, onion, spinach, and celery. I bought an inexpensive pot to grow the carrots in since they grow deeper than the restof the Square Foot garden. I am also initerested in growing potatoes in a garbage can, which I read about online.

I also bought catnip seeds, and I swear the cats are already interested!

Oh, not related to the square foot garden.... I also bought a blueberry bush, a banana tree, and an avocado tree! I understand it may take a couple years to get fruit after planting a fruit tree, and since I am just learning about veggie gardening, I am hoping that within 3 years, I may be growing most of the fruits and vegetables I consume and buying very little. We have a long growing season on the Gulf Coast of Texas, and combined with methods of year-round growing, I am hoping to have produce for every season. I am not expecting to master all of this right away, but over the next 3-5 years, I hope if I am enjoying some success at this, I will find it paying for itself as well.

So, tomorrow (weather permitting), I will put together my 4x4 box and plant the first round, as well as my trees. Thanks for the input so far! I'm sure I will need more later! :)

[NMDemDist2]

1. have fun Lisa!! glad you're feeling better too

:hi:

[Lisa0825]

3. Thanks!

I really almost didn't get to go on my trip... it was close. But having a week to relax definitely gave me my energy back!

[wildeyed]

2. Fun!

I think you need more than one blueberry bush for pollination purposes. I could be wrong, but check with you local extension service to be sure.

Avocado tree! Lucky you. I am thinking about doing a lemon tree in a pot and bringing it in for the winter. The occasional fresh lemon would be such a treat!

[Lisa0825]

4. I'll look into that...

I'm not sure if they grown wild around here, but I think they may. If so, maybe that may be close enough? Otherwise, it wasn't all that expensive anyway. The avocado tree, on the other hand, was 50 bucks! But once I start getting fruit from it, it will be sooooo worth it! I love avocados, even when they are painfully expensive in the stores!