Comments on: 7 Basic Steps of Successful Vegetable Gardening

By: Bonnie Manion

Bonnie Manion — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 13:55:37 +0000

Lisa, have you tried growing vegetables year-round yet, too? It’s fun. Thanks for your great comment…VintageGardenGal

By: Lisa Hazel

Lisa Hazel — Thu, 25 Mar 2010 20:38:16 +0000

these seven plans are good for my new vegetable garden there good ways how to grow vegetable too I’ll make shore that i tell my friends about it

By: Bonnie Manion

Bonnie Manion — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:16:25 +0000

Linda, now is the time to plant your cool weather vegetables like fava beans, peas, greens, etc. I have been meaning to write about the potager, or year-round kitchen garden. They are very quite common in France. Now that everyone is interested in growing their own vegetables, why not do it year-round.

If you have chickens, you must compost, too. See my post on backyard composting. It is a natural progression, chickens, plus manure, plus kitchen vegetable scraps, equals beautiful compost to enchance your vegetable and flower gardens.

Thank you for your wonderful comment…VintageGardenGal

By: Linda Maglia

Linda Maglia — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 23:53:00 +0000

This is my first real vegetable garden oppertunity now that the raised beds are complete. Its late in the year I know.
Due to the fact that I live in southern California and the soil on my hillside is poor we bought a load of topsoil to at least upgrade the hillside bad dirt. Its getting late in the season but we are in a hot zone 9. My questions are what is best to plant in September and do I need to do more with my soil? I had a large garden as a child in Michigan but the amazing dirt and summer weather made everything grow and taste to its fullest potential.
Thanks so much and I think your website is fantastic, it is all about everything that I am most passionate about.

What are your suggestions for planting and ammending the dirt?

By: Bonnie Manion

Bonnie Manion — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:13:30 +0000

Martina, it sounds like you are veggie varmit-challenged. There is nothing like fresh vegetables out of the garden. Thanks for your great comment…VintageGardenGal

By: martina

martina — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 02:56:42 +0000

Such a small world. I was surprised to see my friend Kristin’s post! This was my first year of serious veggie gardening. The main objective was to make it cat/rodent proof as my cat loved to “plow and fertilize” the veg. garden last year. I took two 3×8 cedar raised bed gardens and framed them in heavy duty black construction netting-stapled to 2×2 5 ft. high upright posts that were screwed into the corners of the beds, putting in a small gate between the beds. It was draped fine bird proof netting over the top of the posts and down the open sides of the beds. To access the beds I just rolled the net up to the top and dove in. It worked all right but the posts were low-thankfully this gardener is short so I was able to tend the crops with minimal gymnastic maneuvers. Next year’s tentative plan is to get 2×2 posts but at 7 ft. lengths and top the garden with chicken wire instead of netting. Possibly removing the heavy gauge plastic fencing and using chicken wire instead there as well. This will make it a more permanent construction with easier access for every one (except the cats and rodents).

By: Bonnie Manion

Bonnie Manion — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 20:30:48 +0000

Hi Kristin,
The key is the soil, after that it is easy. Don’t give up! Thought of you last month, glued to the TV for the Tour de France and Mount Ventoux! My little market basket in the above photo came from the market in Sablet.
Same to you, Happy August! Thanks for your great comment…Bonnie

By: Kristin

Kristin — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 11:15:12 +0000

Hi Bonnie,

The pickings are slim in our garden (my second year as a newbie gardener, and one who is not very consistent in her garden work…). I realize, now, after reading your post–that this may be largely due to the soil: I did not work it, turn it over, add nutrients… and the rest. I planted 7 tomatoe plants and we have enjoyed the small (sometimes grape-size…) harvest.

I never have luck with eggplant… and the zucchini, which are usual grow à gogo, are few in number.

I had moved the garden closer to home… where the soil was different. Next time, I’ll follow your helpful tips! Thanks and wishing you a happy August.

Cheers,
Kristin
PS: the verveine tea plant is happy, though, and a nice cup of thé at the end of the day is a great reward.