Hi from fellow Jerseyan. Do you have geographically specific suggestions for what I should be doing to get a garden started for this spring? Should I be doing something like started seedlings? I started my first darden last spring by buying plants at Home Depot. Wasn’t too bad, but a lot of trial and error and finally undone by groundhogs and deer
I’m down in TX, but I always admire produce from “The Garden State” when I’m at the grocery store. You guys can grow eggplants..me, not so much..
/johnny
Oh, I’m afraid I’m a geographically-challenged gardener. In fact, I’m a terrible gardener! I’ve bought rose climbers that won’t even stay up if tied with iron bars. I’ve planted hydrangas in scorching sun. Even my Jersey tomatoes look more like shriveled hot peppers. The only thing I have success with are herbs and certain types of greens - namely, Mr. Obama’s arugula and spinach. By August, my garden looks like photos taken after the Battle of the Somme. I also planted some herb a few years ago that is now popping up in my front yard...and taking over my neighbors’ backyard although he’s yet to realize it.
I hope I’ve been a help in encouraging you to garden in New Jersey. But seriously, there is an excellent online forum called Gardening Forum (for those who are intellectually challenged as well as green thumb challenged) that has a Jersey section. They will help you. Good luck!
Hello Jersey. I have not gardened in Jersey but grew up farming in NC. You might be a couple of weeks behind my old schedule. I direct seed most things. Peppers, tomatoes and eggplant are good to start early. Unless you have big windows or a green house, you might wait till the end of February to start peppers, tomato and eggplant from seed, to transplant. Also, other than saving your own seed, a cheap seed source is bulkseedstore or edenbros. both on line and actually operated by the same party. They sell seed by the pound. Seeds keep for years if you store them in a cool dry place. Also, you should have an early garden, summer garden, fall garden and even a winter garden - all outdoors. I have gardened down to five degrees, and I have always had plenty of greens throughout the winter.