Starting A Vegetable Garden
Posted on 20. Apr, 2009 by Laura-Jane - Whimfield in Outdoors
Starting a vegetable garden is yet another part of country living that I know very little about.
Because our growing season here on Prince Edward Island, in Canada, is pretty short, I’ve overheard discussions at the hardware store that lead me to believe that it’s wise to start your vegetable plants inside.
Feeling inspired, I bought a few seeds (brussel sprouts, roma tomatoes, watermelon, broccoli, and bell peppers), some earth, and a seed tray.
I chose these specific seeds because they take a long time to bear fruit/vegetables. They take between 70 – 90 days to go from tiny seed to edible brussel sprout, tomato, watermelon, broccoli, or pepper. Vegetables with shorter time requirements (ex: radishes, which can go from tiny seed to radish in as little as 25 days ) don’t necessarily need to be started indoors.
After I got home, I was so excited that I threw the seeds into the earth without giving it much thought: I ripped open the packages, buried one seed in the first small tray compartment, threw eight seeds in the next tiny compartment, and just generally randomly planted the seeds with little rhyme or reason.
After all the compartments were full, I realized that I’d neglected to keep track of which row had watermelons, which row had peppers, etc.
So there I was left with a nicely planted tray of random vegetables.
In retrospect, I think I neglected to keep track on purpose because I like surprises.
It has been about a week now, and look at all the growth!
As you can see, there are a few slow-sprouters, but one variety is growing very quickly.
I was convinced that the fast grower must be watermelon, because the tips of the sprouts remind me of watermelon seeds.
Cameron guessed that the fast-grower was broccoli.
I haven’t looked into it any further because it’s fun to see what takes shape.
How can teeny tiny seeds become sprouts…who then become leafy…who then become the fruits and vegetables we know and love!?
Marjorie
Apr 21st, 2009
I am laughing and crying at your “fun to see what takes shape” attitude!! I am also curious what attitude you’ll have by growing season 2010!!
May I remind you that you loved helping me garden as a little girl at Chinook (OK I guess most 4 and 5 year olds do!), and Carol Madsen said you were the best worker she ever had when you worked at her nursery and greenhouses in Sidney as a young teenager!
…Hey, don’t forget I left you some seeds and seed packets from what I didn’t have room to plant in June 2008.
Freda
Apr 21st, 2009
You go girl!!!! Have fun!!
Lisa
Apr 21st, 2009
broccoli is the small one in the 5th and 6th row from the left. I have just started them as well. broccoli is very delicate. I can’t tell what your others are :)
Michelle
Apr 21st, 2009
We saved our egg cartons this past winter so we can use them for planting seedlings. A couple years ago, I found and bought a soil blocker online for my green thumb husband. He’s very organized and meticulous about his garden and was thrilled with his surprise gift.
If you like cucumbers, they are totally different from store bought ones… so crisp and delicious! You can buy a burpless variety. btw.
My favorites things in the garden are beets, tomatoes, cucumbers, strawberries, a variety of herbs (basil is a must for making pesto), yellow and green beans. I LOVE peas but they didn’t do so well in past years. We’ve grown potatoes and carrots but it’s my understanding from research I’ve done that they don’t absorb much in the way of pesticides and such so we don’t bother. Same with onions.
I’d be interested to know how your broccoli and brussel sprouts turn out. We tried brussel sprouts and had no luck at all. Our neighbours had a bounty crop so I don’t know what we did wrong. Perhaps we started too late or didn’t use pesticides. I think moths like them. At any rate, we don’t use any pesticides at all so we get what we get.
Nora
Apr 21st, 2009
We usually grow at least 20 different items in our garden…..the miniture bok choy last year was neat……….but unfortunately it was a bad growing season and the few things that did grow……..the wild life at our house also enjoyed. I need chicken wire this year LOL.
shonna
Apr 21st, 2009
how exciting!!! you will soon become obsessed with watching your garden grow…..this is probably the best thing about simple living (besides the smell of line dried clothes) enjoy!
Natalie
Apr 22nd, 2009
You have a very creative approach to starting seeds! :) I am looking forward to seeing pictures of your garden come summer. Now, someone has taught you about hardening off seeds before you plant them outside, right?
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
Apr 22nd, 2009
@Natalie – Um…no? Do share! :)
Michelle
Apr 22nd, 2009
We’re going to try Edamame this year. I hope it works out! And today, my man came home with packets of seed, one of which is cress.
We’re also going to get out now vintage sprouter out of storage and enjoy a variety of sprouts. Yum…
kazari
Apr 22nd, 2009
we’ve just planted an autumn veggie garden for the first time. Onions and garlic and beans and mint, all in pots.
I’ve ordered strawberries, too!
Here in australia, this is often the best time to plant, so everything has time to settle in and really blossom in spring. I’m excited too!
Gary Gray
Apr 23rd, 2009
Hi L-J
I don’t think that I am a gardener, at least not in the true sense anyway. I usually do container gardening on the patio. (very small scale) Maybe some veggies (for me) and some flowers. (for the butterflies and bees) I do actually look forward to walking through the big field of wildflowers behind the fire hall in the summer and buy mostly fresh veggies from the numerous veggie stands in our area. But mostly I can’t use them (the veggies) up fast enough to keep them from going bad so I end up prepping them and freezing them in my freezer.
I still have berries from last year. Strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. My favorite veggies are broccoli, carrots and peas as well as corn and green beans. And of course potatoes.
I just got a promo sent to me that offers fresh organic produce delivered to my door weekly for $15.00 per (over a 16 week period) Part of the Community Supported Agriculcure movement.
I love it here because there is just so much to enjoy. But again, I just don’t think I could use it all fast enough to keep up.
So in the end I will most likely just have my little container garden on the patio and buy what I can use as it comes in season.
I’ll leave the real gardening to my dreams (less ointment for sore muscles that way too) lol
Smiles :o)
Gary
Kerry
Apr 23rd, 2009
I live in the Kensington area and wish there were more CSA available. I’m on the waiting list for 2010 for Jen & Derek’s farm, but I really wish I could find something for this year. I guess I’ll have to depend on my new garden to supply us with some this year. If anyone knows of any other farms in the area that do the weekly veggie box, please let me know!
Amanda
Apr 24th, 2009
This is hilarious! And wow you’re ambitious to take on watermelon. Even on Pender I haven’t braved that one yet. I’m fighting with the asparagus notion at present!
John Quimby
Apr 24th, 2009
Hey – congratulations!
I’ll be embarking on my first road trip from California to PEI next week. Unlike you and Cam I’m not brave enough to go in winter across Canada! Can’t wait to get my own seeds started.
I hope to see you soon!
John Dale
Apr 24th, 2009
Hello, It was a blizzard here in Calgary on Wednesday, the day we were packing for PEI. This morning we hit the road in a 2 vehicle convoy with a dog and cat for PEI. We are looking to forward to getting there and learning how to plant a garden. I am sure spring will be there when we get there. What is a CSA?
John
Vicki
Apr 24th, 2009
Is everyone moving to PEI?
Kerry
Apr 25th, 2009
CSA is Community Supported Agriculture. It’s a program that farms run where each member pays an amount up front in the spring and then all summer long and into the fall, the member receives a box of produce once a week from the farm.
It’s a great program that supports small farmers and allows the community access to the best produce in their area.
Gary Gray
Apr 25th, 2009
Hay Kerry
Thank you for explaining CSA for John. It does sound like a great program and if there weren’t so many roadside stands in our area with a huge variety of local produce, berries and seafood I would most likely take part. (my challenge is to use up fresh food or get it ready for my already packed freezer right away)
Yes Vicki, the question is: Isn’t EVERYONE moving to PEI? (my hidden island paradise and center of my universe)
Welcome to PEI John Dale is this a first time move or are you returning from Alberta like so many others.
Welcome back to PEI John Quimby.
singing <Prince Edward Island is heaven to me…
Smiles :o)
Gary
John Dale
Apr 26th, 2009
Thanks Gary and Kerry, This is our first time move and we are very excited. We are in Wawa, Ont tonight, PEI in a few more days.
John
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
May 1st, 2009
John, are you here yet????
Toni
May 2nd, 2009
I’m trying pumkins this year too :-) ***GOOD LUCK****
Laura-Jane - Whimfield
May 5th, 2009
Good luck to you too Toni!