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Growing Trends for Vegetable Gardening

May 24th, 2008 · 1 Comment · Gardening News, vegetable garden

Vegetable Gardening
Questions & Answers (Q&A)
Vegetable GardeningGlobal economy affects gardening equally and the established trends also change with time. Global price increase and downturn in the economies are creating a positive scenario in favor of vegetable gardening. Because of rising food crisis and reduced productions worldwide the edible and vegetable gardening is once again gaining prominence among the gardeners. Increasing price hikes have been one of the prime factors responsible for this change. More and more people are now thinking that they should shift their focus on growing vegetables and other edibles in their home gardens.

The “National Gardening Association (NGA) “in the United States has been conducting surveys since last 25 years. The annual surveys of NGA involve tracking of participation levels and the money spent for several types of garden and lawn categories.

The annual survey of 2007 by NGA demonstrates that the level of participation and the money spent in vegetable gardening category increased considerably during the year. Among the other gardening categories levels of participation and expenditures did not show much variations compared to the established patterns. For categories like flower gardening and landscaping there was a decline instead.

Almost 25 million households participated in the NGA 2007 survey for vegetable gardening category. The survey results revealed that there was an increase of 22% more money spent on vegetable gardening compared to the previous year. Total money spent was 1.421 billion dollars. Vegetable gardeners across the United States showed an increased interest in berry gardening specifically which recorded an increase of 19% with a total investment of 144 million dollars.

Vegetables and EdiblesOn similar track, surveys of the “Garden Writers’ Association (GWA)” are also conducted throughout the gardening seasons. These surveys are extremely helpful in identifying the concurrent trends among the gardeners and other hone gardening activities.

The early spring 2008 survey of GWA reveals that there are almost 39% people across the United States who voted for their interest in vegetable gardening this year. During the previous year this percentage was recorded as 32%. This increase of 7% is quite significant in terms of growing interest in vegetable gardening.

Global trends in favor of the vegetable gardening are equally surging. This may be because of a feeling that vegetable gardening is one of the possible and practical solutions to meet out the increasing food crisis and food prices the world over. In any condition this changed focus id good for vegetable gardening in all respects.


Vegetable Gardening Pictures

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Vegetable Gardening Videos

Home Vegetable Gardening Part I
Home Vegetable Gardening Part II
Vegetable Garden - Fertilizing - Tilling - Planting
My vegetable garden in backyard


Vegetable Gardening Question & Answers

Vegetable Gardening Question: 1


Vegetable Gardening?

I have limited space available, with rocky ledge under the dirt. I am looking at having to use RAISED BEDS for my vegetable garden next year. How would you suggest I accomplish this small feet? If you could send diagrams - I'd appreciate it. Message me and I will give you an email address to send to! Thank you! Sincerely, Becca I can get pictures of the area I intend to use - if you are willing to help work me through it ((for free))... ~Rebecca

Answer:
Here is a photo and description of the one we built this year... We used 8' landscaping timbers we got at Home Depot for each (cost effective, too!). Our area is 8'x16', and is 2 boards deep. We filled it with 50 bags of topsoil and 5 bags of manure, as well as about half a bag of 12-12-12 fertilizer. It took about 2 days total (we had to dig up the sod there first...). We did everything by sight as opposed to precise measurements, we wanted a sort of rustic feel to it. Here is a link to the photos of it: http://flickr.com/photos/stahlsgarden/517232759/

Vegetable Gardening Question: 2


vegetable gardening?

i am TOTALLY new to gardening. i followed the miracle grow soil directions but i have NO idea how much water i should be using when im watering. it said for the 1st week i need to water everyday and then twice a week there after. but i have no idea what is enough water when i am watering. if anyone could give me some guidelines or signs that i have enough water i would appreciate it. also other tips are appreciated. im planting watermelon, sweet corn (from seed) and yellow & red bell peppers

Answer:
I just water enough to wet the ground. When first planting, I water more. I watch my garden and can tell just by looking at a plant if it needs something. Someone answered that you shouldn't water the leaves. that is far from true. You shouldn't water at night, because the water won't evaporate faster and bugs will be attracted. Also, nothing wrong with miracle gro, but I don't know why you need it. I use it only if I am trying to recover a sick plant. I use fertilizer from stratch like blood meal, and bone meal. You get a lot more for your money. Watermelon and corn are great complements to plant together. Make sure you plant lots of corn. I live in Philly with a small yard, and it is amazing what I can produce every year

Vegetable Gardening Question: 3


Vegetable Gardening?

Hi, Im starting a new vegie garden from scratch and wondered if anyone could give me any tips on improving the soil, which vegies should go where and ways to get the best possible results. The patch consists of 3 long rectangular beds. The soil is very sandy, virtually no rocks at all, the soil is a dark grey/blackish colour in some parts and then a redish brown in other parts. At the momment all ive done is dug the soil through and put in some sheep and cow manure. The vegies im going to grow are pretty much all the basics; lettuce, carrots, corn, cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, beans, peas, pumpkin, watermelon, cucumber etc. thanks Forgot to mention that the top bed has shade from about midday on and the 2nd one from has some around 2-3pm-> the 3rd one is full sun.

Answer:
It sounds like you have made a good start. If you are in the northern hemisphere, this is a great time to prepare new beds for next spring. Keep up what you are doing. Add as much organic material as you can get your hands on such as grass clippings, leaves or manures such as you have been adding. Planting a winter cover crop such as annual rye grass that can be tilled under in the spring will help also. Visit our website for more soil improvement ideas at- http://www.gardening-at-the-crossroads.com/soil-improvement.html Good Luck and Happy Gardening from Cathy and Neal!

Vegetable Gardening Question: 4


I like landscaping and vegetable gardening what megazine would i be interested in?

I am looking to subscribe to a megazine, and i'm interested in Lanscaping and vegetable gardening, what megazine should i subscribe to?

Answer:
home and garden

Vegetable Gardening Question: 5


Could someone give me some tips on vegetable gardening in Florida climate?

With the rising costs of gas pushing up food prices, I would like to plant a vegetable garden. What are some vegetables that can be planted in late spring? As I stated, I live in Central Florida where there is plenty of sunshine, but summers are very hot. It is already in the mid 80's in April. Also, the soil here is rather sandy so I would have to fortify it with something before planting. I would definitely like to plant tomatoes, okra, squash, onions and cucumbers. Would these make it in the Florida climate? It is also very humid here. Finally, what is the best type of fence to keep out rabbits and raccoons? Forgive me for sounding clueless, but I am new at this. I would like to make this a fun and educational experience for myself and my children. It would also take some financial strain off of us in the long run. Thanks!

Answer:
I live in AZ, so our temps are about the same. You essentially can grow anything, as long as you are willing to take time to make it grow. What I do when it gets hot it can get up to 115 in the shade in AZ, is to provide not only to attract pollinating birds and bees, I plant Sunflowers that grow 5-12 feet high, usually about a month before I plant everything else in that they will be big enough to do what I want them to do. I also plant squashes and melons around the garden to provide a surface that prevents the loss of water from the soul and they can also provide shade for smaller plants. You can also apply a tarp over the plants to provide shade therefore lowering temps during the hottest parts of the day. To prevent rabbits raccoons: rabbits will try to burrow and can jump up to 6 feet to get at food if hungry enough. Racoons will burrow and climb fencing and both will chew throw food fencing if hungry enough. So, your best bet is have fencing of metal and to have fencing above the top too. A tarp will not stop a starving racoon. Also you may want to put cement blocks about a foot deep into the ground to discourage them from digging under the fence. . However the best to plant during late spring are all that you mentioned and tomatoes, tomatoes are extremely hardy, so are onions. Also radish, and summer spinach. Some tricks to save $, and utilize your space that I have used. Plant these things together : Corn/Okra, Tomatoes, peppers, onions, dill, thyme, garlic reason: Corn/okra will be a natural stake for the tomato plant and the peppers. Onions and the herbs, will help keep away insects and pests and all can share the same space without being a drain on the other. Corn/okra, peas, beans, onions, dill/other herbs reason: Corn/okra will be natural stake for peas and beans. Onion and herbs will help keep away insects and pests and all can share the same space without being a drain on the other. lettuce, beets, spinach, carrots, radishes reason: they will not drain on space and due to radishes and spinach being fast maturers, can be readily replaced and will not be a burden on non bulb plants tips: 1) Try to plant onion, herbs and marigolds around and with anything you plant, in that not only does it taste good they help with predators and insects 2) Do not plant a bunch of bulb plants together, bulb plants drain the soil of nutrients so try to thread them through out your garden 3) make natural compost. 4) allow a portion of your plants to seed and save those seeds for the next time you plant. BENEFIT FREE SEEDS 5) soak your seeds in water for about a day (except legumes) to cut the sprouting time down by half of what is listed on the back of the seed packets.BENEFIT EARLY HARVEST 6) plant different varietes of the same veggie in that some take longer to grow and some have only two harvests and some up to 4, some you can continue to harvest till the plant dies. That way you will always have something ready. BENEFIT YEAR LONG VEGGIES 7) Either spread out plant what ever veggies you wish to plant throughout the garden or have two seperate areas for your veggies to plant, due to insect, bird, gophers etc... you can have at least one that is not attacked veggie plot. 8) make a greenhouse, to have starter plants and to protect younger plants from pests till they are more able to protect themselves. 9) Make a compost. To make compost take the parts of the plants you do not use, such as the outer leaves of lettuce, beet or radish green, the vines of melons that you have harvest already, dying leaves of plants etc... and put them in a pile with dirt and place them inside either an wooden or wire encloser with good ventilation, and toss every week> this will break down and allow air to cause a good "fertilizer" for your garden. BENEFIT FREE FERTILIZER 10) make a chicken coop and keep a few chickens. you can take out a few at a time to eat insects (you will have to make sure they do not try to attack your garden) . BENEFITS eat insects, provide FREE eggs and meat and natural manure for the garden... also once your garden is up and running you can feed the trash from the garden you do not eat to them and cut your costs in feeding them in half or even less . in time you will have free eggs, meat, fertilizer, manure, fruits and veggies... any questions email me... I have loads of other ways to save money in the garden and in the home...

Vegetable Gardening Question: 6


Vegetable Gardening Question?

I am setting up a patch of land in my backyard for gardening. Right now I am going to be planting sunflowers,sweet corn, cucumber, radishes and green onions. On the back of a few of the seed packets it says something about planting the seeds on a hill. Is that I think it means? Like you make a row and a little hill all the way down the row? Thanks all! Wow, I am so sun burnt and sore from tilling the ground. I will make sure to make little hills though!!

Answer:
It means they like a raised bed for extra drainage. For instance, with cucumbers, I mound up about 4 to 6 inches of dirt 1 to 2 feet across and plant 3 plants around the hill. You can make a smaller mound and plant one plant in it. Good luck. Gardening is such fun.

Vegetable Gardening Question: 7


Virgin vegetable gardening: First plant(s) to try: when and how?

Last two times I tried gardening: 1st time my neighbor (at my previous home) laughed (kindly) and told me the tall pepper plants I was so proud of were weeds (and there were no pepper plants to be found. 2nd time: I bought the container of minature boxes with the plastic cover of plants to soon and by the time it was planting season they were useless. What should I try, how and when? Keep in mind every plant that has entered my house has left in a "coffin" within a year. Unfortunately I'm not big on details; if it doesn't "speak" (like a cat) it doesn't get what it needs. Know of any plants that can tell me what they need, how much and when?

Answer:
you may want to try reading a book called "square foot gardening", I think it will help

Vegetable Gardening Question: 8


Organic vegetable gardening?

I'd like to get into organic gardening for my family and I . I have absolutely no idea where to begin. I'd like to grow carrots, peas, lettuce, beans, zucchini, squash. Can anyone offer any helpful hints or websites. Thanks

Answer:
I have been making my living growing produce organically for the past 14 years. For 8 years i was certified organic. I assume you don't care to get certified, you just want to grow pure food. http://www.idigmygarden.com/forums/ is a great forum to learn the ropes. Organic gardening also has a really good forum and the magazine is an excellent resource http://www.organicgardening.com It will take many years to get you soil in shape and learn the techniques for successful organic growing so don't expect a great garden for a few years. Start small, no more than a 10' x 10' (3m x 3m) garden the first year or you will get overwhelmed in august when the weather is hot, the insects are out and the weeds are growing high. Mulch everything with straw (not hay as hay tends to have a lot of weed seeds) and mulch well-at least 6" thick. Straw mulch will keep weeds down, moisture in the soil and blight from happening on plants like tomatoes. It also adds organic matter to your soil. Have a good hoe, rake, wheelbarrow, trowel and garden fork as your basic garden tools. Start a compost pile ASAP, compost will be the main thing you will feed to the soil/plants. Compost is the best thing to build healthy soil and organics is all about building healthy soil as any organic grower worth their salt knows soil is alive and healthy soils means healthy pest free plants. Good luck

Vegetable Gardening Question: 9


What are your best organic vegetable gardening tips?

I am starting an allotment and would like to be purely organic. Got any experience or tips for a newbie that I can use on my vegetable plots? General tips or growong tips, or just general ideas all welcome :)

Answer:
Organic fertilizer, compost, mulch and of course, no pesticides. When it comes to making some dirt properly for a vegetable bed, start by mixing 2 parts steer or horse manure, 1 part peat moss, 1 part sifted dirt from your yard or 1 part topsoil and 1/2 part perlite. I prefer to mix mine in a wheelbarrow, but hell, you can mix it directly in a vegetable or flower bed. Just be sure to till the soil a bit at the bottom of your bed before mixing in your prepared soil. Also when planting either plants, flowers, vegetables, etc... Make a mixture of 1 - 2 tablespoons of fish emulsion (it comes in a 1 gallon jug) and 1 - 2 tablespoons of seaweed emulsion (it comes in a quart up to a 1 gal jug) with about a gallon or two of water in a watering can. Just water your plants or vegetables like you normally would at least once every 2 to 3 weeks. This will help to produce bigger yields and helps to promote stronger root growth. Next when it comes to your flower beds or the bare soil around trees and somewhat later on when your vegetables begin to be more established, if it is possible, try using cedar bark as mulch. The finer the better. This helps alot with water retention in the soil, but cedar also helps as a natural pesticide that has no chemicals. And after a while the cedar bark will breakdown and become compost. Next is composting. Dirt, organic matter, water aerating the compost regularly and watering. I prefer to compost in the ground as opposed to using a bin, or anything else. I dug two 4ft wide by 3 ft deep holes in my back yard, almost side by side. This allows me to have a constant supply of compost year in and year out. Plan on it taking anywhere from several months up to 18 months to make compost. You can add grass clippings, clean paper, apple cores, orange peels, etc... Just whatever you do, dont add anything that has come in contact with any meat products, or fish. As this will attract animals. I like to add a cheap bag of steer manure to the mix which helps with the breakdown of material.... Hit me up if you need any more advice....

Vegetable Gardening Question: 10


Container vegetable gardening. Help!!?

I live in N-E Indiana and plan on growing a few vegetables (ie, beefsteak tomatoes, hot peppers etc.) in containers outside. I am thinking about using some Miracle-Gro Organic Choice Potting Mix 16 Qt but am not sure how much I'll need as I am new to this. I have been informed that I should use 5 Gal containers for the tomatoes and 2 to 3 Gal for the peppers. They sale the potting mix that I'm wanting to use in 16 Qt bags. I guess what I want to know is how many bag's will it take to fill one 5 Gal container? Now I know that 16 Qt = 4 Gal but will one 16 Qt bag be enough per 5 Gal container? Thank you guys very much for any help you can offer on this subject, I am sooooooo lost here : (

Answer:
Just get a big pot. (larger for the tomatoes and smaller for peppers) and fill i up. The larger the better because the roots will be bound if you don't have enough soil. I would do AT LEAST 5 gal for the tomatoes. I am a tomato growing freak so let me know if you have any more questions.

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1 response so far ↓

  • 1 Alice // Jul 12, 2008 at 9:24 am

    I am growing green peppers in a large container. Three plants. The peppers are forming, but some have brown patches on the bottom of them. What is causing this.

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