[Ashlar521]

Jason , I was looking at your profile to see what your interests are and I noticed gardening . Are you into veggie gardens or flowers , shrubs and other plants . I only ask because I'm into that also . Mostly roses , hollyhock and clamitus outdoors and african violets indoors . I've been told from my male friends that it's wierd( I won't use their term ) I'm into flowers but it gives me peace when I working with them . Especially my african violets , I have them all over the house .

[Jason]

Well I live alone so I do it all. I have a small veggie garden, I tend to take care of a flower bed my parents have, and do all the yard work around my house. I'm really thinking about pulling out my front flower bed next year and making it more colorful, along with adding some lower shrubs.

I still consider myself in the learning phase though. Not sure what truly grows well down here. I had a veggie garden as a kid up north, but found things are different here. I can get the tomatoes tall enough to hit the gutters on the house, but bugs get to them before they turn red, unless I do the cherry tomatoes. I'm trying green beens and cucumbers this year, and have some pumpkin seeds I really need to get around to planting. I tried a blueberry plant unsuccessfully.

I don't know the name of some of the plants the person before me had. When I do change it out I am thinking of going all native though. Hopefully lower the water and maintenance on them. I just need to find a good list with pictures.

Got any tips, or advice?

[jvlighting1]

My father got me hooked on the vegetable garden concept. When I was young, I helped him with planting and weeding and harvesting. It was great. We had so much fun together doing it. I lost my father when I was 17 I am now 35. I keep the tradition alive with my son. He is 6. When I built my house, the first thing I did was find a good sunny spot for my garden. I taught him the same things my father taught me. We love it. So I have a soft spot for the good old tomato, cucumber and pepper garden. I also grow basil, parsley, dill and sage. Love to cook with those.

[Ashlar521]

Originally Posted by Jason

Got any tips, or advice?

Sorry , I'm not that familiar with native Florida plant life , I have a book somewhere around here on it though . I'll see if I can locate it , if I didn't loan it out and never got it back .

I grew up on a farm , if we didn't grow it , we didn't eat it . We raised and our own hogs , cattle and chickens . Suprisingly , all the grandsons learned to plow , disc and drag the fields , set tobacco , cut and rake hay and haul feed and hay for the cattle using teams of mules . My Grandfather didn't drive and never cared to learn . The only time he used a tractor was when my uncle brought his over to bale the hay and pull the flatbed trailor .

[jvlighting1]

Jason... Try a raised garden. Build a rectangle with pressure treated 2x12 wood, right on the spot for your garden. “No bottom” I built one about 15 long by 6 feet wide. Then, dig about 6 inches down in the ground. Fill it with a mix of garden soil, regular soil, and peat moss to the top. Should give you about 18 inches of Good Soil. Plant your veggies and then mulch them in. This helps retain water. If you have a problem with “bugs” you can find a non-chemical non toxic solution to spray on the veggies…”organic stuff. That will help with the bugs. This method has worked very well for me. Just make sure the spot has at least 6 hours of sun. You should go Sun-to-shade. Hope this helps a little.

[Ashlar521]

I didn't think a raised garden , that's a good idea . As for tomatoes , I put mine in five gallon buckets .I drill holes around the bottom for drainage , put a layer of pea gravel in the bottom and the rest soil and I keep them on my porch . Works out great .

[jvlighting1]

Nice Method Ashlar!. I would do the same but my porch is all shade. I was thinking about grapes this year as well. But I am not sure how involved it is. Plus I think they attract Bees.

[Ashlar521]

Originally Posted by jvlighting1

Nice Method Ashlar!. I would do the same but my porch is all shade. I was thinking about grapes this year as well. But I am not sure how involved it is. Plus I think they attract Bees.

My neighbor has a grape arbor in his backyard . I haven't seen to many bees , but don't hold me to that though . I have domestic , thornless blackberries in backyard . The berries get as big as your thumb but they have large seeds in them .

[jvlighting1]

Originally Posted by Ashlar521

My neighbor has a grape arbor in his backyard . I haven't seen to many bees , but don't hold me to that though . I have domestic , thornless blackberries in backyard . The berries get as big as your thumb but they have large seeds in them .

I would think they need a spot with full sun..I might try it. I can go pick up a vine at the local nursery and see what happens...

[Ashlar521]

Originally Posted by jvlighting1

I would think they need a spot with full sun..I might try it. I can go pick up a vine at the local nursery and see what happens...

He has his grapes in full sun , and they seem to do great . My blackberries get morning sun and evening shade . They seem to best that way . When I was young we would go blackberry picking , we would always look for the shade berries . There you usually found the largest and most plentiful berries , rather than the berries in full sun .