Hello everyone, I have just joined today, but have been reading the messages for several months. I live near Charlaston, SC. About 30 miles inland from the beach to be exact. I have lived here for 28 years. Grew up neat Blowing Rock, NC. My family had a huge garden each year, and wonderful flowers, and yard. For 25 years I lived at the beach, and never had the time to consider growing vegetables. I was a single parent, work and my daughter consumed all my time. Since 2000 I have remarried, had a bad auto accident that left me partially disabled, and in 2006 we bought this house and moved inland. My husband is not in love with the beach as I am, and he says we are to old to run from the Hurricanes every few years. It is very different here. Some good, and some not so much. My husband is from Europe and really into organic foods/products. This winter after throwing many tomatoes away he asked me to consider growing some for him. I love yard work, and I am pretty good with grass/flowers, but don't remember very much about the vegetable gardens my family had. Plus, I am in very different growing conditions here. I have heard horror stories about growing tomatoes. I have purchased some Early Girl, and Better Boy plants from Lowes, and want to grow them in pots surrounded by herbs. Can anyone offer me advice ? I am wondering how much space each plant needs ? My soil is a mix of red clay, and some sort of grey looking marbled clay. It sets up like cement. I can barely dig in it. Much different from the sandy soil at the beach. Never dreamed 30 miles could make such a huge difference. I bought some organic potting soil with Miracle Grow mixed in. Says it is specific for vegetables. Do I need to add anything else to the pot ? For example, I read that I should put pebbles in the bottom of the pot, mix the potting soil with my regular soil, then mulch with shredded paper, and pine straw. Does this sound right ? Oh, another site says put rusty nails in the pot to add iron, and spray with soap to keep down the bugs. Help ! I am very confused here in SC ! My plants are going to die before I can figure out how to plant them. I fear I am already to late as the heat and humidity are kicking in. My birthday is Tues, and most years after that this area turns into a steamer. Confused in SC, Linda

I don't know.... Most homemade potting soil mixes are complicated and expensive enough to make you wish you went to the store and bought some. Priced a bag of perlite or vermiculite lately? I mostly improvise. I had a real successful fig mix by mixing peat moss roughly 50-50 with fine screened (1/4 inch) compost. It's just exploding this year. I've also riffed on the "gritty mix" formula by adding diatomaceous earth sweeping compound I got at the auto parts store. (Use respiratory protection!). One thing about my homemade stuff is that it's a lot more durable than store bought potting mix. The stuff is usually better the second year than the first. Don't mix it with garden soil but don't sweat it too much either. I'm like you, though. Spending lots of money on bags of this and that is not where it's at. I try and keep my bag purchases to commodity type things.

I will also suggest inexpensive 4xT8 fixtures. T5's are "better", but more pricey. Consider editing your post to include the 'growing tomatoes' subforum as well. I have seen other light recommendations there, but I can't find them again. Just because LED is cool and new, remember regular old shop lights are cheap and very energy efficient. You can also put them practically on top of your plants without worrying about burning their leaves, which is a concern with high power (multi-watt) LED diodes. If you like videos describing the benefits/drawbacks of some products this youtube guy has them: https://www.youtube.com/user/albopepper/videos such as https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KcJf1Tbmbg.

Thank you for all the ideas! Beverly, I do love that taupe house with the brown roof. What I meant to say is that with my roof being gray, I don't think I want gray siding to get the same effect. I would consider a brighter or bolder color over pastels. Sasha, i like the 2nd image with the bright yellow and wood door.. I am really drawn to the white images above and Beth's mockups. TY! Deco- that Deephaven Cottage pic looks a lot like my current color. I like the brighter blue on the door. Norwood- no offense taken. I realize it is plain, and that is why I posted. There was a huge tree in front at the curb that was recently taken down and so it feels especially plain and exposed now. I am in NJ and many trees are dying from a bacterial disease. Wsea- cool deck with the lighting. And, I agree that adding a full width front porch is most likely out of my price range,