I'm jumping on the veggie and fruit box bandwagon
Jasdip
last month
last modified: last month
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (13)
plllog
last monthsleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
last monthRelated Discussions
HAVE: Box full of veggies and herbs
Comments (3)I have probably found this too late and may not have anything to tempt you, but please look at my exchange page. I know some things I have will certainly grow in your zone and I do have quite a bit to chose from. I would be interested in your eggplants, bell pepper, Thai basil (this is what I'm really after more than anything). Thanks - Pat...See Moreyoung U.S. adults say no to veggies, fruits
Comments (24)Spokaneannie, I'm in Olympia. I lost my garden and orchard to divorce. Now I make do with a tiny patch of illicitly converted lawn barely big enough for a few head of lettuce and some peas or beans. This year I am trying potatoes in chicken wire baskets. I live in a rental, on glacial gravelly till, in a neighborhood overrun with raccoons and norway rats. Hard to keep them out of the garden, even with 2 dogs actively patrolling. Anyone see the NatGeo special on urban raccoons?? that was us, westside Olympia. I could take care of them pretty quickly if this weren't a no shooting zone ... but the neighbors think they're cute and leave out food for them. Though I must say the rats are more destructive to the garden as they burrow under fencing that keeps raccoons at bay. We'll see if I get any potatoes or strawberries. The soil is poor for growing most edibles anyway, and the summers too cool. Best growing crop around here is Doug fir, and you can't eat that; but it likes the gravelly soil and dry summers and it's native. Greens and peas and berries grow very well in better soil but you can only eat so much of those. Fruit trees can do well enough, but the landlady doesn't want me planting trees so I have dwarf peach and apples in pots. And anyway I wouldn't be here long enough to harvest anything off trees I planted. We do have a farmer's market here in Oly, and another one in Lacey, but it's kinda hard for me to get to because of its limited hours. Also the Oly one limits produce to that grown in WA so no citrus. We get to-die-for tree fruits from Yakima, and local berries and greens, and root crops from the Skokomish and Chehalis Valleys where the soil is decent, and nuts and kiwis from Morton. But they're only open a few days a week, not at all in winter, and they close at 3pm. how's a working person to shop there?? I don't do errands on weekends, I save those for adventures; and going to the farmer's market does not count....See MoreLet's talk fruits & veggies
Comments (22)Hi Tracy, I had a large veggie garden at the back that this year is going to be turned into a flower garden. We just didn't use much of the stuff that was in the veggie garden so I don't see a reason for it. I do have a greenhouse where I will plant a few things like tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and who knows what else. But I am cutting way back this year. I also plan to plant lettuce somewhere. For fruit, I have 2 kinds of red raspberries and 1 yellow variety. I had everbearing and Kent strawberries....but pulled out all the everbearing ones. I have a huge saskatoon bush....it is a wild one that grows naturally here. And I have 4 blueberry bushes.....if they don't do something wonderful this year...they will meet the shovel. I also planted 2 nanking cherries last year. Well I had one for a few years but the voles got to it last year....so it had to be replaced. I have never seen fruit from the nanking that was here for a few years...it was small when I planted it and I expected to see fruit last year....but.. The new ones were also small, so I will give them a couple of years to see if they will actually fruit here. Sierra...See MoreWhich fruits and veggies to grow and harvest
Comments (4)I think you should start small and easy to see how you like the additional work. I think you ask a very good question so here's why I grow certain things: - tomatoes, like everyone else, plus I discovered oven drying paste tomatoes is a great way to preserve. They take up less room in the freezer. Plus I found a curried cherry tomato recipe that makes an excellent sauce similar to chili sauce. I like it on breakfast sandwiches. You might find you love salsa but it's not something we eat much of. - peppers: I grow a wide variety since I found a local grower who has an amazing selection. We love peppers. To freeze, just stem, seed and cut in slices. Stick in a freezer bag. Last year I discovered a recipe for roasted red pepper soup. Yum! - herbs: you'll use more fresh herbs if they are right outside your door. Start with the familiar ones. - summer squash: easy to grow and the abundance always launches my zucchini recipe frenzy...everything from pickles to cookies, to side dishes. My DIL makes zucchini relish. - bush beans: I have found the filet type is my husband's favorite. He likes young, tender beans. I do not preserve them so I don't plant a lot. - sugar snap peas: one of our first fresh vegetables here in NH. Expensive in the store. Tastier grown at home. - strawberries: we all love them. I don't grow enough to freeze. - blueberries: I'm just starting out. It might have been smarter just to go to PYO places. Very easy to freeze. - spinach: This may become my favorite garden crop. We have to sow it early (like now) to get a good crop. Last year we had a very mild winter and my August planted spinach wintered over. I think I picked some for salad in March. This is in the category of wonderful things from the garden that are possible even in March in NH. - beets: boy, we love beets and beet greens. I still have some in the frig from last fall. (I think they're still ok.) I'm experimenting with cold storage. I had some in the garage for part of the winter. - lettuce: I'm real iffy on this. First, finding a flavor I like and one that doesn't go bitter. There is so much the average growing book doesn't tell you. I think I need to be more careful about which ones to grow at different times of the season. - winter squash: the bugs did in most of my crop last year but I've found two varieties that are fantastic keepers. This means I can stick squash in the basement all winter and still have some in March. No freezing. No canning. To me, this is an ideal vegetable if you have the room. - parsnips: another vegetable that improves with over-wintering in the garden so we can eat fresh as soon as the ground thaws enough for digging. - kale: my husband hates it. I love it. I brown bag my lunches so I'll grow a little bit for salads and sneak some into occasional soups. - cucumbers are ho hum for us. I really liked a particular variety, poona kheara, but my husband is not a big salad eater and hates pickles. - I also love rhubarb but my husband hates it. The asparagus bed would be wonderful if I hadn't botched starting it in the first place. Probably not good if you have limited space. We do not grow corn because of critter problems. It's much easier to buy at the local farmstand. onions: we eat a lot of onions but I haven't learned the knack of growing a decent sized onion. I should grow lots of scallions because I use them a lot. What I have found is that an abundance forces me to find new ways to use something. I try not to grow too much of anything but I'm always surprised. I thought tarragon flavored sugar snap pickles were wonderful but nobody else did. It is so much fun in summer to pick a fresh pepper for our grilled hamburgers. This past winter I have learned to make my own pizza dough so this summer I will make and can pizza sauce, trying to duplicate our favorite brand (Muir Glen). Happy Gardening!...See Moresleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
last monthJasdip
last monthannie1992
last monthsleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
last monthJasdip
last monthCA Kate z9
last monthLars
last monthlast modified: last monthplllog
last monthJasdip
last monthlast modified: last monthannie1992
last month
Related Stories

DECORATING GUIDES8 Reasons to Jump Off the DIY Bandwagon
You heard right. Stop beating yourself up for not making stuff yourself, and start seeing the bright side of buying from others
Full Story
FARM YOUR YARDHow to Build a Raised Bed for Your Veggies and Plants
Whether you’re farming your parking strip or beautifying your backyard, a planting box you make yourself can come in mighty handy
Full Story
FARM YOUR YARDIf You Have Room for Only One Fruit Tree ...
Juice up a small garden with one of these easier-care or worth-the-effort fruit trees for a mild climate
Full Story
FEEL-GOOD HOME12 Very Useful Things I've Learned From Designers
These simple ideas can make life at home more efficient and enjoyable
Full Story
KITCHEN CABINETSWhy I Combined Open Shelves and Cabinets in My Kitchen Remodel
A designer and her builder husband opt for two styles of storage. She offers advice, how-tos and cost info
Full Story
DECLUTTERING5 Ways to Jump-Start a Whole-House Decluttering Effort
If the piles of paperwork and jampacked closets have you feeling like a deer in the headlights, take a deep breath and a baby step
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNJump-Start Your Kitchen With These Minimalist Essentials
These kitchen tools will get you started on your path to culinary success or delicious downsizing
Full Story
MOST POPULARHow to Get Rid of Those Pesky Summer Fruit Flies
Learn what fruit flies are, how to prevent them and how to get rid of them in your home
Full Story
GARDENING GUIDESHow I Learned to Be an Imperfect Gardener
Letting go can lead to a deeper level of gardening and a richer relationship with the landscape. Here's how one nature lover did it
Full Story
LIFEThe Polite House: Do I Have to Display Decor Given to Me as a Gift?
Etiquette columnist Lizzie Post tackles the challenge of accepting and displaying home decor gifts from frequent visitors
Full StorySponsored
Culpepper Counties Thoughtfully Designed Pool & Outdoor Living Spaces
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)