I'd like input from Middle Georgia gardeners

12 years ago

Hi, first post here, though I've read posts here for about a year now. I'm near Madison, GA, so I'm looking for advice from folks with a similar climate. Advice from those of you in extreme North and South Georgia might not apply to where I'm at, though I appreciate it all the same. Please note where you're from in your responses if you would be so kind.

Intro:

I got the gardening bug from helping some friends with their garden, so I tried it myself this last year while cramming my brain with as much information as I can. I tried container gardening while I've been working on clearing and improving the soil in my garden area. I've got 2 acres I can work with, but have only cleared a 20' x 40' so far and have been tilling compost into the clay in that area. I'm going to have it tested and keep working on it over the winter for spring planting.

I've been kind of late with just about everything, but for now, just to get started, I am mainly interested in having some things growing and trying to manage the commitment of time to it, I'll hopefully dial things in a little better this coming year.

What I've grown:

I grew/am growing a couple varieties of leaf lettuce. I'm not a fan of the bitter taste of either, but they may be bitter because they grew in the heat, they were started from seed in July. I'm trying again with seed planted in September. Perhaps next year they could be in a shadier spot or with some type of control for the heat -any input is welcome what my problem might have been with those.

My successes have been beets, carrots, green beans, radishes and okra, though with my late start, I didn't yield as much as I would have liked. The beans and the okra are still going though.

I tried garlic, but it apparently wasn't the right time of year to plant it. I'm going to leave it and keep checking on and reading about it to see how it works. In the mean time, I've just planted some more a couple weeks ago and I believe it was the right time.

I've got some onions in the ground and it looks like from the leaves that they're bulbing down there. Time will tell.

I had quite a time with Brandywine tomatoes. They taught me the value of fertilizer, then later, the value of pruning, though it was a late lesson. They didn't do much for about 2 months, until I used some fertilizer, then they shot up several feet until they were over 6 feet and flowering, but no fruit production, at which point I changed to a different analysis fertilizer(did I say that right? -I went to different NPK ratio.) and also trimmed them and got rid of the suckers. Almost overnight they had little tomatoes forming from the flowers and more coming every day. Though it's cooled off and they aren't turning red. I'm still hopeful that I might get a couple of tomatoes yet this year.

My cucumbers have mostly been eaten by worms.

I'm hopeful that the cayenne peppers and jalapenos will get there before the cold shuts me down for the winter. They are producing well, but the jalapenos aren't big yet and the cayennes haven't turned red yet.

What I'd like to know:

I like most vegetables and would like a garden I can eat out of regularly and can out of. I'd really like a plan of what to plant and approximately when, I'd like to know what to plant in its place when it is done producing that can help the soil. And I'd like to use companion planting to help with pests.

Does such a perfect plan exist?

I hope I didn't go on too much.

I'd really appreciate it if you would share your garden plans and how they work out for you. Thanks for reading and for any responses.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

opal52
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I live in Rockdale County. Our garden is small - we live in the city limits of Conyers. Even though we don't have room for a garden big enough to have abundance for canning, I will share a few things since we are not too far from Madison. Lettuce has done fine for us as a spring crop. Heat turns it bitter very quickly. Others may have different experience, but for us, it is usually finished by early June. We have planted it as a fall crop with some success. We tried Brandywine tomatoes a couple of years ago and were mostly disappointed with them. I learned on the Tomato Forum that the early heat in Georgia can make it hard to grown them here since they are particularly sensitive to it. I was advised to get them in the ground as early as possible and the year we tried them, I was able to plant in March and keep them alive by covering them on a few cold nights. They grew beautifully, but we were disappointed with yield and also didn't think their taste was worth the effort. Other varieties have worked much better for us. Again, I have read others on the forum with much better results from Brandywine and also most people really like their taste. We planted Cayenne Peppers this year for the first time. I started them inside and we planted them out end of April. Very big harvest but it did seem like forever before they started turning red. Ours are still producing. The heat this summer did not bother them at all. (When you harvest, you may want to be sure to wear gloves. I found even the leaves of the cayenne pepper plants caused a burning sensation and I even got a rash from them.) Bell Pepper plants this year didn't do much of anything until the heat broke and then late in season they took off. Ours are still producing very nicely which I find a little odd. We always grow cucumbers but have found it necessary to keep them sprayed with insecticidal soap or we lose them early in the season. We usually do a second planting of them in July and we always train them on a trellis.

You may already know about the following link, but if not check out the info. at the UGA site. If you search on Home Gardening, it will return a list of lots of good info. At one time they had publications on vegetable gardening plans for the home gardener.

Here's hoping we get regular rain next season. Rain his winter would be fine with me also :~).

Here is a link that might be useful: UGA College of Agriculture
ChanceGardener
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hey, thanks for the reply. I had not found that page yet, though I've found alot of other UGA info.

Thanks for sharing your experiences and that link.
Related Discussions
Needing input from North Texas gardeners
Q
Comments (4)
I'm unable to help with the first and last part but I can offer a little input on the wedding flower part. I would think that whatever flowering plant is used should have blooms sturdy enough to last throughout the ceremony and reception. What about (the appropriately named) bridal wreath spirea, lantana, gaura or lavender? Also, attractive leaves and foliage create a beautiful arrangement on their own. You mentioned ivy that's already growing. You could always bring a few of the attractive plants and bunch together their foliage with some flowers to create a textural arrangement with them. Even though I got my wedding flowers at Central Market, it was basically textural with sage leaves, fern fronds and a few others I can't recall with inconspicuous white flowers mixed in like baby's breath and star of david. Then we just wrapped the stems in cream and black satin ribbon.
...See More
I'd like to paint my son's room...what color on which walls?
Q
Comments (37)
Yeah I heard about WI teachers and other state workers today on the news. Not sure what you think, but if taking a deduction helped keep my state from going belly up, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But that's just me, I look at the big picture and figure that doing the right thing now might hurt me a little bit financially, but in the long run it might just keep me from having no job at all. Less money for chocolate now is so much better than the possibility of no money for chocolate later. Dianalo, just do your taxes early, then don't worry and be happy. My cousins 25th anniversary was on 9-11-01. She was so excited about it, but called me saying she was so mixed about celebrating after what happened that fateful day. I told her there was nothing wrong with celebrating their love, in fact that day needed all the love it could get. We do the same thing with Christmas although my hubby always sneaks and gets me a little something. Like this year a web cam for my computer because our daughter had just left for S.Korea for a year so we can Skype. I guess I bought one for him too. LOL Funny how I didn't remember buying it. Yes, back to the room....I'd suggest grabbing a level after you make a few dots because you'll want the actual trim to be installed level.
...See More
I'd love your input. Of these- which need support & which don't?
Q
Comments (12)
In my PNW garden these roses grew well. Bouquet Parfait...nice big shrub Prosperity...threw tall canes which then bend right over Blush Noisette....another tall bush which will flop Abraham Darby.....big, tall bush but could stand alone Dark Desire...those thick canes will never need help. Cream Veranda...makes a medium sized bush Polar Express...another medium sized bush Young Lycidas....he can stand alone, big bush Kosmos Fairy Tale...a flopper but staking won't help Crown Princess Margaretta...more tall canes which could use a stake Mme Issac Periere....she stands alone but some canes need tying in Jubilee Celebration...no problems with this one Jude the Obscure....he needed help to look tidy Pat Austin...she liked to lay her head in the mud so she needs help. I have grown roses on a chainlink fence and I found that I had to plant them at least five feet away from the fence or the canes got twisted when they stuck in the chain link mesh. I pruned the back of the bushes to keep them growing straight the first year. I also kept an eye out the first couple of years to make sure they were not getting into a pretzel shape. Those roses such as Crown Princess, Abraham, Prosperity all need some of the front canes to be tied back. This will make a more attractive hedge instead of roses fighting with each other. Also if you have anything called snow, it won't break down and damage the bushes. Make sure you clean out any thin or frail looking growth at the base, you will need some clearance to fertilize or weed them. I am assuming that you aren't into having your skin shredded and stabbed by rose canes. It certainly will look very attractive in a few years time.
...See More
Middle Tennessee Gardening
Q
Comments (2)
Clay IS soil (one of the three major components of soil)....it just tends to hold a lot of water :-) Can you do some simple perc tests to see how well/fast your soil drains? Generally, sloped areas offer pretty decent drainage just by virtue of the elevation. If it drains well in a reasonably short time frame, then go ahead and plant. If not, you may need to construct a berm or raised bed to accommodate these bulbs.
...See More
cindy_eatonton
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I am just south of you in eatonton. My garden is primarily raised beds. I raise enough food to eat fresh most of the year and can/freeze for winter. The challenge is discipline to plant timely and provide sufficient water.

Right now Iam planting winter crops - salad, beets, carrots, etc. The brassicas are in and starting to produce. (broccoli. Cabbage, etc.) Once you have an idea on timing, keeping the garden functional year round isn't too hard.

Would love to talk more! -cindy
ChanceGardener
Original Author
12 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Hi Cindy,

I haven't checked back on this thread in a couple weeks. Thanks for the response.

It sounds like you're doing basically what I'm wanting to do.

If you'd love to talk more, I've got plenty of questions for you.

Do you keep a journal of what you've done at what times? -If you do, it would be hugely helpful to know what I should be doing at what times. As an example, I planted beets and carrots in the late spring, but didn't realize I should have some in the ground for winter. How many raised beds do you plant and what are the dimensions?

Getting up and running while trying to learn about what the different plants need and how to treat them is a pretty big challenge. I'm treating it all as a learning experience and whenever I do have a success, it's just a great feeling. The physical work part of it is a great therapy for getting rid of stress and reconnecting with what I consider to be "real" living.

Would you mind keeping in touch and letting me know what you're doing so I can tag along so to speak?

I'll have plenty more questions for you. Hope to talk to you soon.

Thanks!

I'd like input from Middle Georgia gardeners

Comments (4)

opal52

ChanceGardener
Original Author

Related Discussions

cindy_eatonton

ChanceGardener
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

I'd like input from Middle Georgia gardeners

Comments (4)

opal52

ChanceGardenerOriginal Author

Related Discussions

cindy_eatonton

ChanceGardenerOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

ChanceGardener
Original Author

ChanceGardener
Original Author