Newbie: need help in planning

17 years ago

Hi, I'm Peg and I live in Chesapeake, VA. This is my first time planting a Square Foot Garden and need some help/info for when to start in my region and what to plant to start.

If any kind soul is willing to help, please do so. I am wanting to grow Organic mainly:

tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers, lettuces, canteloupe and herbs: basil, oregano, parsley and mint.

Thanks!

Peg

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Comments (7)

carolynp
17 years ago
Welcome! Glad you've got the garden bug.
This is where I'd start if I were you: http://www.ext.vt.edu/pubs/envirohort/426-331/426-331.html
They should have some local dates for you to start planting. If you're looking to grow organic, you might want to visit some of the exchange forums. Some folks will probably begin giving away some of their seeds once they figure out their limits this year, lol.
engineeredgarden
17 years ago
Peg, if you plan on growing your own tomato and pepper transplants from seed, you'll need to start those indoors in about 2 weeks. Otherwise, you can plant zucchini, cucumbers, and canteloupes during the first 2 weeks of May, and also storebought tomato and pepper plants.

EG
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sinfonian
17 years ago
I would recommend planting the herbs in a separate bed, and the mint in a pot. It will take over whatever space you plant it in and is impossible to erracate, hehe.

Tomatoes, cukes, zukes, and cantaloupe take well to trellising, but take up a bunch of space, so a long trellis (15 feet) would be a good way to give each veggie the room it needs. Lettuce could be planted at the base.

Just a thought. Welcome and Enjoy your garden!

Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's garden adventure
jj007lj
17 years ago
I'm new here too. I'm from VB, right next door to you. I went ahead with the suggestion of the VT ext. chart and made it a little easier to read.

I'm in the process of picking through what I want to put in there myself. I have 1 4x4 and 2 - 2x6 in a back yard that gets east-west sunlight.

If you want the chart I'm not really sure how to add it in here aside from posting a link to it which I currently don't have.
gardener_mary
17 years ago
Sinfonian, what variety of zuke do you grow on a trellis? I have not been able to find a vining zuke, only find bush type. I'm very interested in reading more about them.

Mary
sinfonian
17 years ago
Hmm good question. I don't actually grow zucchini but I recall folks mention that theirs was all over the place. If so, then they can be trained to a trellis. Maybe Granny or others can chime in. And sorry if I talked out of turn.

Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's garden adventure
gardener_mary
17 years ago
I really hope someone can help, have read the same thing but can't seem to a variety. Anyone know of one please post and let me know.

Mary