11. When growing leaf lettuce in succession, plant significantly shorter rows and more rows - each about 2 or more weeks apart. Two long rows=more lettuce at one time than I can eat and the early stuff is getting huge since I can't pick it fast enough. Now I won't have any lettuce next month since it will surely all be too old by then.

Spacing, spacing, spacing!

Scott - Every time I look at my cauliflower in the garden (which is a looong way from being ready) I think about the yummy soup that I intend to use if for this winter. IF I get what I hope to, some will be eaten fresh but for soup > into the freezer it goes. (I have a great recipe if you are interested.)

Maureen

Yes to the irrigation system. This is the first year I've used it and it has been a huge labor saver, among others.

Yes to freezing!!! Just this morning I tossed all the Roma and Amish tomatoes I brought in from the garden into the blender and got two quarts of puree for soup this winter. Yum!!! I'll have another two quarts in a couple of days. Have you priced tomato puree in the store lately?

I HATE mapping out a garden design. I never know what I'm planting each year. Every year I plant willy nilly whatever strikes my fancy and see what happens. I need to try to at least get a basic idea in my head of what I want to accomplish. (that's true for veggies + flower beds)

Example: Planted 8 Sunflower plants, When they were about 8in tall I realized they were going to shade out half my garden!
I transplanted 7 of them. The transplanted ones are half the size of the 8th which was never disturbed. (Gosh its 7ft tall and I'm hoping for 11/12)

Lesson 2: planted those 7 sunflowers in a grassy area of the yard. YOU have to have a prepared bed if you want to see good results from your labor. Or, sunflowers don't like transplanting! :)

This post is funny. Its somehow comforting to read other people's mistakes!

For me:
1. Either give up on starting tomatoes from seed or do it RIGHT with grow lights and multiple repottings.

2. Quit growing so dang much lettuce and greens. Grow more beets and carrots instead.

3. Just because you have a whole bin of seed potatoes (left over from last years crop that sprouted) doesn't mean you have to plant them ALL). What am I going to do with all those potatoes? I don't even like potatoes.

I'm sure i would have more if it were further into the season, but here in the chilly NW I'm still awaiting my first zucchini (at least I learned from last year that one plant is enough)

stacey

Eight broccoli plants in a 60 sq. ft. garden, that also has tomatoes, peppers, peas, carrots, lettuce, onions, and cucumbers is TOO MANY! Besides, by mid-July they hadn't even started forming heads. Talk about a waste of space!

Oh, and don't wait until the peas are done, to plant the canteloupe next year, or there may not be enough time to actually get a canteloupe. Just plant them directly in front of them. By the time the canteloupes get settled in and need the fence for support, the peas should be finishing up ... I hope.

Bonnie

"2) I need an irrigation system. I'm too lazy to remember to water often enough."

Incorrect. You don't need an irrigation system; you just need to move to Iowa. We have plenty of water for you here.

"4) Plant less - The kids don't want 35 cauliflowers over 2 weeks. My neighbors are starting to make believe that they aren't home."

Blanch and freeze. If you don't have a freezer, get one. It makes your garden very worthwhile year round. There's nothing like eating fresh tasting produce when there is a blizzard blowing outside. It even impresses the kids. Another great feel good project is to take excess vegetables to the county home to benefit your local mentally ill confined persons, or to a nursing home to benefit the elderly. And if that's not your cup of tea donate to someone who has their own restaurant. I have even seen the local bar and grille cook up great vegetables donated from home gardens. Don't be shy because there are people who will gladly accept your surplus.

I havn't ever been able to grow even one head of cauliflower, thanks to a ten-year struggle with cabbage-moth. The last two years though have seen a huge reduction in the severity of the infestation, for reasons unknown. I have brassicas in reasonably good condition in mid-summer, which hasn't occurred since my first year of garening. I'll be attempting some over-wintering cauliflower this fall.

I second the suggestion to try and resist crowding plants into the garden - that's always been a weakness for me....

Since this seems to be a confessional -

1. I gotta, Gotta, GOTTA start keeping records. Some have asked me what variety purple pole beans I grow. Not a clue. Bought the seed, planted it , and tossed the wrapper. I have 4 varieties of garlic I just dug up. No clue what varieties. ARGH! Really, whats so hard about writing stuff down?

2. I better widen the potatoes next year. Lat year, they were at 28 inches, this year, I went 32. Next year, I'll go 36".

3. Need to keep up my rotation. I put into my mind where I want stuff and what should follow what, but always seem to plant potatoes behind tomatoes or sweet corn behind potatoes. This goes back to keeping records...

I'm sure I'll think of more to confess.

This is my first garden, and I have to do containers because of space and that we are hoping to move. But even as a newbie, I've learned some lessons.

1. I need to keep records. We are only half way through the season and I've already lost track of the planting dates that didn't work out.

2. Be patient with the tomato seeds. Just because I've received the seeds in February doesn't mean I have to immediately plant them. This leads to spindly plants most of which didn't survive hardening . (see lesson 1)

3. Lima beans that are started too early don't make it and have to be replanted later in the year. (see lesson 1)

4. An 18 gallon tote is too small for 2 jalapenos and 2 keystones. They grow well, but the keystones don't produce as well as I like when crowded.

5. An 18 gallon tote is too small for 2 tomato plants.

6. Tomatoes need caged early in the year so the cages will fit over the branches, and the plants are not leveled by wind storms.

7. Squash vine borers leave a very noticable entry point and if ignored will kill zucchini plants.

8. Carrots are not as easy as I thought. They don't do well in a 5" deep container, and if planted in the same container as lima beans will be shaded out by the much larger lime bean plants.

I'm sure I've learned more than this, but since I still haven't picked up a record book, these are the only things I remember.

1) I can't eat 6 heads of cauliflower in a week
2) Stagger the romaine lettuce better
3) Forget eggplants and bell peppers in maritime climate
4) Beans can be pressure-canned quite easily
5) Root maggots are hell

Extreme newbie - I have learned a whole lot!

1. Cabbage worms do not taste good. Take pest prevention measures earlier then later.

2. 3 broccoli plants, 6 tomato plants and a butt load of radish do not fit in a 6'x3' raised bed. Plan your space accordingly. And when they say that radish are not warm weather crops....listen to them!

3. Tomatoes do NOT like to be transplanted. SO once you realize that those 6 plants will not fit in a small space, do not offer them to neighbors and/or family members.

4. Buying seed packets is an addiction and I should really speak to someone about it.

5. Start planting veggies in random places. It will encourage your husband to build you another raised bed for next season :)

6. Liquid fence is a god send when it comes to the rabbit population. Buy early and spray liberally.

7. Plant more corn. That first harvest was amazing!

Thin the zuke seedlings as recommended. Two people really do not need 18 zuke plants. Not enough recipes out there, but I can freeze the zukes for winter soup use. How do I incorporate the zukes into tonight's meal?

Don't use last year's spaghetti squash seeds. I ended up with some very strange hybrid. Not sure if it is a zuke or a spaghetti squash.

Don't plant radishes in July. They don't like the heat.

Smiles - I'm with you on the seed packets! What IS that about?

I just have no idea. I have about 15 seed packets, 7 of which just arrived from Parks seed company. Hopefully they will save for next year. I was thinking about doing the 'Toy Choi' in my aerogarden over the winter.

1. Keep better records. I dont have a good memory!

2. This seems to come up alot. Family of 4 needs no more then 2 zuk or squash plants. 8 is way to many!

3. Cuks OMG you dont need 10 plants of these either.

4. plant lettuce is much shorter rows in sucsession. WTH do you do with 15 feet of lettuce? let alone 2 more with differnet varities. Salad anyone??

5. Pick radishes often. They are really spicy and fiberous when the size of a lemon. Heartburn!!!!

6. From last year dont plant your sweet corn close to the neighbors. cross pollenation does not make very good product.

1. My idea of a semi-bush buttercup squash and the seed company's are not necessarily the same. Even though the lasagna bed they are in is quite large they completely cover the tier they are growing in and have shot out across the upper and lower tiers. They don't listen well either. I have discussed at great length with them that they are semi-bush and they just don't care.

I learned that rabbits and/or groundhogs can chew through a plastic deer fence.

Hello drscott,

One item that drew my attention is spacing in general and #7 in particular. SFG gardening has very little to do with simply growing things compactly. It must be in very good soil. Good soil is more central to the basic concept than space despite its name SFG. If you plant corn in ordinary top soil 1 foot apart I would not be surprised that corn would not do well especially since it is the prime example of nitrogen eating plants.
If you are a bit careless with the soil SFG will disappoint and this has been an issue with me when all I had available was commercial compost since I had recently moved. I did have a box that seemed have some issues on the corners with some plants. If you have space and reasonably decent top soil then why not use the space you have? However don't plant in big rows which I think is universally foolish for home gardening unless one is going for a farm appearance. 4x4 beds or some such is far better for weeds, disease and soil compaction. I had come to this conclusion as a teenager when I did a row garden and 4X4 in ground bed side by side. However having done all the above including SFG, I would have to say SFG is the least amount of work. This includes container gardening which is a bit more work mostly because of watering for the exchange of the ultimate in flexibility.

Maureen,
If Scott don't want your recipes, I sure do. And do you just wash the cauili and freeze. And what about the zukes -
what kind of soups are they added to ?

A newbie gardener's lessons learned:
1. don't water from above. Even though it rains at night, it really does matter. Use a soaker hose.
2. If the zuchinnis & cukes stay really small, they're not pollinated. Plant flowers to attract bees, and if necessary hand pollinate.
3. plants grow really big really fast. don't plant them too close together.
4. the cheap metal cone shaped tomato supports stink. they fall over in the wind once the tomatoes grow big (which is really big!). invest in stronger supports.
5. scarlet runner beans don't like temps in the 90s and high humidity.

lessons learned is so true ...

1. when the seed packet/sticker in the transplant says, plant those cukes/zucch/melons/squash 6-10 feet apart ... DO IT!!! we had to go in there last night and *amputate* some of the wayward vines!

2. i learned a long time ago, 2 zucch plants is enough for a family of 7 (really) and i'm stickin' to it.

3. soaker hoses are your friend -- no overhead watering can match one very-oft-moved soaker hose!

pretty much, that's it for now ... i'm sure there will be more later ...

Joy - I didn't want to hijack this post so I sent the cauliflower recipe to you directly. Enjoy!

Hi all. Here's a list that may help everyone.
1. Plant your spinach and radish across the South side of your plot and then seed in summer squash after they've gone by. Seems a little late but it's avoided the SVB here as well as utilizing available space.
2. Using compost as a mulch really keeps the soil evenly moist and feeds it simultaneously.
3. Space those beets at LEAST 4" apart, they'll really do much better. And keep the soil moist around them at all cost.
4. If you grow summer squash in a half whiskey barrel you must thin to one plant. It'll flourish without overcrowding.
5. Daconil or Serenade keeps fungus away from your squash leaves as well as protecting your tomato plants and roses.
6. Raised beds keep things organized, drain well and conserves compost and amendments.
7. The best fertilizer is the gardener's shadow (be there).
8. Finally, Garden Web is the place to go when you need help.

1. When trellising winter squash, picking a variety with a 15lb squash (and growing it on the very top of the trellis) is probably not the best idea.

2. Woodchucks are the most evil creatures ever. The solution is to leave the hole you know and set up a havaheart trap there. Put boards to channel the woodchuck into the trap, cover the whole thing with chicken wire so he doesnÂt have another option but to go into the garden "through" the trap and bait with peaches (organic or the most expensive you can find. Mine wouldnÂt eat cheap peaches). This worked on 11 (and counting) woodchucks.

3. DonÂt plant potatoes next to something they can squish. Two years in a row IÂve had them fall over on whatever was next door.

4. Kohlrabi is a really, really cool vegetable

5. Laminate garden plans and attach them to the plots. My individual plant markers always fade in the sun and I get real tired of running in and out of the house to identify which tomato, zucchini, or pepper I have.

6. Yes, 16 zucchini plants really are too many for one person. BUT, if you get squash borers in some of the plants, you will still have zucchini. Plus, really tasty heirlooms freeze well and can be used in several casserole recipes (recipes available upon request :) ).

Lesson I leaned and what to do next.

Should I plant second crop of Zukes after killed by SVB?
Should I plant second crop of Cukess after killed by cucumber beetles and squash bugs?
Should I tell neighbors to use pestiside on their cukes so I don't get any bugs from them?

Squirrels who have lived for years around your garden may suddenly decide that your produce is good stuff even though they had generations before them that wouldn't touch them.

It's crazy...any tomato not protected or under 2' is a goner. I just picked the remaining low-growing ones out at this point so the plant doesn't waste it's energy on something that's gonna grow 1/2 way before a squirrel eats it.

I know this exists and isn't not uncommon, but I've never had a problem in 4 years gardening in this area. We're not even in a stressed food/water supply situation for them. This generation of squirrels have just decided this is good stuff.

At least they won't touch the peppers and generally don't tend to do so.

I'll protect the harvest next year. This year they just ambushed my plants too quickly for me to make an investment in a crop covering worth it.