I am also new to the forum and wanted to say hello. What have you started so far? I hope to get my things going this weekend and plan on first getting some peas, broccoli and cauliflower going. In a couple weeks I will then start tomatoes and melons.

My one suggestion is to start slow and grow what you like to eat. The 2 gardens you have are a nice way to start and a great way to learn how this method works. I haven't had a veggie garden in over 6 years and plan on getting on going this year. I always bite off more than I can chew so plan on using my own advice here and going small and simple...I can always dream anyway LOL. Have fun and let me know how things go for you.

Also a great suggestion I was given when I joined was to put your state and zone on you listing so people can give advice for your particular area. Kim

Hello!

I too started this year. Well last year if you count preparing my garden area and building my beds last fall. I too just planted peas, broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach onions and radishes last weekend.

My advice is to do as much research as you can stomach and ask any question you can't find a good answer to. Gardeners are helpful. I love it here and at Ft2Garden.com. I have learned so much from these helpful folks! There's still lots to learn...

Here is a link that might be useful: Sinfonian's garden adventure... check it out!

Hello! This is my third year doing square foot. I'm just starting my peas and lettuce today. Last year I tried to grow everything. This year looks like Lettuce, Peas, Carrots, Beets , Parsnips, Garlic, Peppers, Cukes, Tomatillos, Corn, Beans, Squash (I'm trying a sq ft. version of 3 sisters.) I thought I was paring down. I guess I'm still trying to grow everything.
I've had nothing but trouble with brassicas, so I grow them on my deck. I'm great at growing garlic, parsnips, peas and lettuce. The rest needs a little work. Ha!

I like to remind people to use their local extension service, they are alot of help on what and when to plant.

Welcome!!! I too, am new to SFG. Last year, I paid for someone to dig some beds out around the foundation of the house, figuring I would plant perennials.

When all was said and done, because of my impending divorce, I didn't want to spend money on perennials and instead, threw cuc's, tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and basil in the beds (if you haven't guessed yet, I am italian.) :-) They did so well and with that, I became addicted to gardening!!!

This year, I am building four 8 x 4 beds in the yard. And will also use the beds around the foundation for more veggies. Why bother planting stuff on the sides of the house when I can grow something that we can eat??? It will fill in during the summer and nobody will see them in the winter.

BUT, while my house may not be the nicest in the winter months, the impact my garden had on my neighborhood last summer was priceless.

I am a newly single mom. I bought out my ex's equity in the house. As a single mom, owning a home is a little daunting. But my little garden helped me with that!!!

Before having a garden, I didn't know my neighbors. Our houses are pretty far apart. Last summer, while bringing extra veggies to my next door neighbor, he introduced me to his next door neighbor. So I started leaving baggies of fresh veggies on his mailbox when I had extra. He in turn, introduced me to another neighbor and so on and so on etc. Now, a year later, we all know each other. And have since become friends.

And knowing that I am a single mom with two little kids, they now look out for me. They have helped me tremendously. They help fix clogged drains. Taught me how to spackle. Told me to turn off water pipes going to the outside faucets in the fall. All the little things that you need to know when you own a home. They have even sent over the "construction" guys when they were doing home improvements to see if I needed help with anything.

And sometimes, when I get up too late to bring the garbage to the curb, I find that someone else pulled it from the side of my garage and my garbage is taken out.

Through my little garden and extra veggies that I gave away, I have gotten more help than I could ever hope from my ex!!!
My intentions when giving away the veggies was simply that they wouldn't go to waste. I wasn't looking for anything in return and honestly felt that knowing and becoming friends with the neighbors was really nice.

While I appreciate all of their help, nothing proved more important to me than last week. I was on the phone with a friend and happened to look out my kitchen window. And saw the mental, schizo, bipolar neighbor sitting at my outdoor table. In his boxers. And taking off his shirt. And it was 40 degrees out.

I immediately called the cops. Then called my neighbor across the street and asked her if her husband could come over and stay with us until the cops came. He was here within one minute. I was comfortable knowing that a guy was in the house with us. But the wife called all of the other neighbors. Within five minutes later, I had 5 more people in my living room to stay with me. And another mom in the neighborhood took my five year old and three year old to her house while I waited for the police. The police came a few minutes later. I've never felt so threatened yet so safe at the same time. And it all stemmed from my few cucumber, tomato, eggplant, pepper and basil plants that produced too much!!!