We're preparing posts for publication beginning next week, and are basing many of our topics on emails we've received from ZRecs readers asking for specific gardening help. If you have questions or topics you'd like to see addressed in Gardenaut posts this gardening season, post them in the comments below and we'll work them into our coverage!
What would you like to see from our garden-blogging team? What big plans do you have for your garden this year, and how can we help you achieve them?
For a beginning gardener, what are some good vegetables to get started? I definitely need something that is lower maintenance and pretty hardy to start.
I already posted on the other thread, but one of my big dilemmas is getting water to my plants. I know it probably sounds wimpy, but dragging a hose 70+ feet every day for watering I just *know* is going to defeat me come August. Any suggestions about engineering irrigation, etc. would be welcome. I’m planning these gardens to be in place for a long time, so a long-term solution is going to be needed.
I’m also looking for information about starting onions and garlic. I’ve never done them before, so a post on those (although maybe they go in in the fall?) would also be welcome.
Any suggestions for what material to use for raised beds? I don’t want to use pressure-treated lumber b/c I’m concerned about things leeching into the soil.
Thanks!
3. Jennifer [3/28/09]
I’m a BRAND NEW gardener. Never grown anything before. We bought strawberry plants as well as some vines (?) from Sam’s Club for blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and grapes. Any suggestions or directions or help would be great! We’re loving this website as we get started! Oh, and my husband wants to ask if we should do any soil prep for our garden. Thanks!
Great questions, everyone! Cecily, I’ll work up a post with some watering options; Jennifer, we have a piece about soil prep ready for publication later this week, and we have had blueberries for a couple years now and are starting blackberries this year, so we’ll share some information that should help. Sara, we’ll poll our gardeners for a quick list of favorite starter plants, but some of this depends on where you’re located - where do you live?
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For a beginning gardener, what are some good vegetables to get started? I definitely need something that is lower maintenance and pretty hardy to start.
I already posted on the other thread, but one of my big dilemmas is getting water to my plants. I know it probably sounds wimpy, but dragging a hose 70+ feet every day for watering I just *know* is going to defeat me come August. Any suggestions about engineering irrigation, etc. would be welcome. I’m planning these gardens to be in place for a long time, so a long-term solution is going to be needed.
I’m also looking for information about starting onions and garlic. I’ve never done them before, so a post on those (although maybe they go in in the fall?) would also be welcome.
Any suggestions for what material to use for raised beds? I don’t want to use pressure-treated lumber b/c I’m concerned about things leeching into the soil.
Thanks!
I’m a BRAND NEW gardener. Never grown anything before. We bought strawberry plants as well as some vines (?) from Sam’s Club for blackberries, raspberries, blueberries, and grapes. Any suggestions or directions or help would be great! We’re loving this website as we get started! Oh, and my husband wants to ask if we should do any soil prep for our garden. Thanks!
Great questions, everyone! Cecily, I’ll work up a post with some watering options; Jennifer, we have a piece about soil prep ready for publication later this week, and we have had blueberries for a couple years now and are starting blackberries this year, so we’ll share some information that should help. Sara, we’ll poll our gardeners for a quick list of favorite starter plants, but some of this depends on where you’re located - where do you live?