[MN] & Millions of Other Americans Expected to Raise Bumper Crop of Backyard Vegetables

Twincities.com ^ | March 10, 2009 | Molly Millett

[kimmie7]

ping to my query in above post.

[o_zarkman44]

Deer come in my yard all the time (they got some tulip sprouts this week).

I have a chicken wire fence 30” high, with 3 strands of electric fence on top.
I have no problem with deer in the garden.

I agree. The Mennonites grow some awesome vegetables.
We go to the Versailles area frequently for produce I don’t have room to grow.

[Diana in Wisconsin]

http://www.seedsavers.org

I used to work for them. I totally vouch for them. :)

[longtermmemmory]

Next week there will be a news report over the crisis in unsafe back yard vegitables.

Cities will outlaw this agricultural hazard.

(ala FL orange growers trying to outlaw back yard trees a few years back)

[Ciexyz]

I grow tomatoes in pots on my patio. If you grow enough of them, you'll only lose a small percentage to the critters and deer. (They have to eat, too.)

[kimmie7]

I’m another Mennonite shopper, but love growing things in my small garden.

Checking out the SSE. Loving it! Already up to $36, though! argh!

[o_zarkman44]

Buy heirloom seeds at rareseeds.com
Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company

They have hundreds of varietys but are selling out fast.
I got everything I ordered a couple weeks ago except for one item they were sold out of.

[I Buried My Guns]

"...I had a zuke and a hard squash cross one time in the garden..."

They interbreed? Who knew? Oi.

Makes me wonder what else I can mix.

[I Buried My Guns]

"...you'll only lose a small percentage to the critters...

The critters are my mnemesis. I noticed the other day all my new corn shoots were gone. Don't know who ate them, but I have constructed a blind in my backyard and am prepared to wait them out with my Daisy BB gun. I say I don't know who the miscreant is, but I have an idea, as there are recurring troublemakers in our neighborhood.

[diamond6]

What is needed to raise “laying hens”? Are they noisy? Would they bother the neighbors? How much does it cost to feed them and what kind of shelter is involved.

I know nothing about this :)

[Ellendra]

“I wish I could raise chickens, but I don’t think we’re zoned for it.”

Raise quail, claim they’re songbirds.

:p

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Pretty much anything in the same genetic family. But be careful. That's how 'Audrey' came to be!

[JustaDumbBlonde]

"If you grow enough of them, you'll only lose a small percentage to the critters and deer. (They have to eat, too.)"

That's the way I look at it as well. We farm in addition to gardening and lose a great deal of harvest to deer, hogs, racoons and bears every year. The squirrels don't do quite as much damage, but they are a problem.

We planted 5 acres of watermelons three or so years ago and discovered that melons are the best deer attractant in the world. They can smell which are ripe and then with a few swift kicks the melon is open. Lost probably half of the crop. Found watermelon vines all through the woods that autumn. LOL!

You simply have to plant more than you plan on harvesting. We also look at it as fattening program for the critters that we end up harvesting during hunting seasons. One way or another we get fed. ;-)

[wideminded]

I wish I could raise chickens, but I don’t think we’re zoned for it.

We aren't either, but I have seen people doing it.

[wideminded]

Deer come in my yard all the time (they got some tulip sprouts this week).

I have a chicken wire fence 30” high, with 3 strands of electric fence on top. I have no problem with deer in the garden.

We often have deer in our yard, especially at night. Last year they really took a liking to the rose bushes right next to our house.

I want to put in a vegetable garden so I've been worried about this. Someone on FR gave me a recipe for deer repellant, but I haven't tried it out yet. I'm not sure I'd want to put in an electric fence 30" off the ground as I have a young child.

[Gabz]

I started lettuces, radishes and spinach to grow on the cool porch under lights. I won’t start tomatoes and peppers and other stuff for another week yet.

Couple of questions, m'dear:

What do you start the lettuce, radish, and spinach in? and do you then transplant them or keep them in the container you started them in?

Now, a greenhouse question (or 2 or 3). Mine is finally finished and I moved all of my stuff in there and filled a bunch of starter cells with growing mix. In the past, when doing them in the house, I've always covered the trays with plastic wrap, do I need to do the same in the greenhouse?

[wideminded]

I'll be planting vegetables this year and I'm planning to try raised beds, which I haven't used before. I'd be interested to hear what people have to say about this. I understand the advantages, but I'm thinking about the construction details.

I'm curious about the proper depth for growing vegetables, as well as the best materials to use, lumber vs. blocks, etc. We have plenty of space available.

[Gabz]

We planted 5 acres of watermelons three or so years ago and discovered that melons are the best deer attractant in the world.

And canteloupe. The deer absolutely the baby canteloupes. My husband swears they must be like Sknickers' bars to the deer, but he insists he wants to ry them again this year........

[Gabz]

I’m glad I kept reading before giving you a repeat reply :)

I see that others have given you the info I would have given you !!!

[sneakers]

Thanks for the ping! I started a “layer garden” after reading about it on the survival thread. I laid down newpapers (wet)and straw, and today I went to the recycling center to their compost pile and loaded up a bunch of garbage bags. I hope to see a decent bed ready for planting in a month! Also, I remember my grandpap starting his plants in a small hot house made of a couple of windows and a box made of four planks. I have everything I need so guess what I’m doing this weekend! It’s still pretty cold in our neck of the woods, so I figure I can get tomatoes started.