On Wed, 14 May 2008 14:10:15 -0500, Camp Kitchen
<fourusenet@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>Greetings!
>
>I have always wanted a garden filled with fruits and veggies, but for
>the last 16 years, ever since I left my parent's home, I've been living
>in apartments and was unable to grow anything, as I didn't have room or
>land (not even a balcony!).
>
>Thankfully, my situation has changed radically and now myself and my
>fiance are buying our first home. Right now, there is nothing in the
>(very sunny) yard but some scrub bushes in one corner. Between the chain
>link fence to the rear of the property and the alley there is a
>rectangular plot of land about 4'x10' which I was hoping to use for
>zuchinni, peppers (bell and jalepeno), the tomato plant (since there's
>only two of us we figure one plant will be plenty --same for the zukes)
>and the watermelon. My fiance wants to try watermelon! The yard itself
>is slightly sloped and faces north/south. Virtually all of it is sunny
>all the time, except for the front of the house which is in shade due to
>the house itself. The front yard is mostly sunny except where it butts
>up against the house, which is constantly shady.
>
>We want to plant shade loving flowers up against the front of the house,
>and sun loving flowers (including some lilacs against the chain link
>fence on the one side, and roses on the other side, just to provide a
>bit of privacy) in the back. We're going to plant two raspberry plants
>on the fence on the other side of the rectangular plot, and plant the
>strawberries in the corner.
>
>Our region is 4a. Will we still be able to plant if we don't move into
>our home until mid-June? That's the big question I have right now. I've
>never been in charge of my own garden and I don't know how late you can
>put plants in the ground.
>
>There are already some chives growing along the path to our detached
>garage, I was considering planting some more herbs along the path, but I
>don't know which ones will thrive in full sun.
>
>We also have a dog, a standard Poodle, and whatever we plant will need
>to be dog friendly (and able to deal with being stepped on, that's why
>the veggies are outside the fence, by the alley!). She has been known to
>eat socks, underwear and Kleenex and I don't doubt that she'll try to
>nibble on stuff outside!
>
>I would be very grateful if I could get answers to these questions.
>Research online seems to say how to grow, but not when to plant, or
>what's dog safe.
>
>
>The Camp Cook
>www.clanntartan.org
Check with your county extension service. They have information on
what grows in your area. They can tell you what to plant and when to
plant it. Locate yours here.
http://www.csrees.usda.gov/Extension/index.html
What is more im****tant than the hardiness zone are the frost dates,
last frost in spring, first frost in fall. They tell you how long
your growing season is. Check local nurseries and see what is
available. Read the tags and ask questions.
--
Susan N.
"Moral indignation is in most cases two percent moral,
48 percent indignation, and 50 percent envy."
Vittorio De Sica, Italian movie director (1901-1974)
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