<p>Went to my first meeting for my first year of having a community garden plot. Picked up a few tips and actually several free seed packets they had to choose from! </p>
<p>Everyone is assigned one “crop” to plant for donation to the local food bank. I am assigned spinach. We are zone 5b/6. Haven’t grown spinach before - any tips? Successful planting from seed? </p>
<p>Another topic of discussion was making “seed tape”. I’ve done a little looking online and clearly this is pretty simple to do. Anyone have success or recommendations about making/using seed tape??? I would probably NOT purchase seed tape but would go the paper towel or newspaper route.</p>
<p>Finally, I need to start mapping out my garden space - at least with a temporary plan. My plot is pie shaped - something along the lines of approx 12(at widest width) x 17 feet. Are there any online websites or apps that are helpful for plotting out a garden - would love to mess around on my iPad with some alternatives!</p>
<p>Am really looking forward to this opportunity - all the other gardeners were SO nice and helpful. Wow, I felt right at home with this sweet group of people! Looking forward to learning much from them all - some have been at this popular spot for 20+ years! Each gardener is suppose to give their garden a short name (signs will be made to mark all the gardens). My garden’s name? “In A Heart Beet” - after being on the waiting list for 3-4 years when I received the call that one was open, I accepted - in a heartbeat!!! :)</p>
<p>Oh, this could be a depressing thread, LOL.</p>
<p>Last year’s poor results had convinced me not to try again this year. But over the weekend I went through my left-over seeds box and surfed online to investigate some sources of good compost. So, I may well try again this year, but with lesser expectations. </p>
<p>Well, do enjoy it! IMO gardening is great for the body and soul! :)</p>
<p>Plant what you want! </p>
<p>I garden organically in zone 6, and choose my crops for 1) ease and 2) benefit over what is available in the supermarket. I refuse to buy supermarket tomatoes (except for some cherries) and can’t believe some of the tomatoes that are served in many restaurants. So I always plant six or more tomato plants, each a different cultivar. I get starter plants from someone who lives near me who does this as a mini business each spring. Starting tomatoes from seed makes for too many of the same kind for me.</p>
<p>Spinach, like lettuces, is an early crop so you can get it in early, before the tomatoes, which have to wait for the nights to be confidently frost-free (unless you protect them).</p>
<p>I have used seed tapes for some crops but admit to ordering them online.</p>
<p>I like to have some flowers in my garden beds so consider if you want that. Zinnias grow quickly from seed and are so colorful.</p>
<p>Herbs tend to be reliable, especially chives, parsley, dill, sage, etc. Some are perennials so will not need replacement each season.</p>
<p>Rhubarb has been THE easiest, most reliable and trouble-free (no pests) plant for me to grow. If anyone in your garden group has some, he or she will likely to be very happy to split off a section or more for your starter plants.</p>
<p>Thanks JEM! I already scooped up zinnia seeds - they are a definite in my plan! I would like to do another flower for cutting - any suggestions. Oh, well actually I will probably do some sunflowers. </p>
<p>I will do some herbs - have had them at home for several years - basil, parsley, cilantro are musts! </p>
<p>Sunflowers are easy as well, and come in different heights – teddy bear, I think, is a relatively low one.
When you do your plan, just make sure the taller flowers will not block sun from the veggies – consider the direction the sun moves in during the day, and put the tall sunflowers at the rear. Sunflowers can also be grown mixed in with corn, but corn needs several rows so it will fertilize, and considerable space.</p>
<p>Just got a call from my community garden place today - they are trialing 10 raised garden gardens this year - one person who had secured one of these gardens decided they wanted a traditional garden instead - so I was offered a raised garden bed - and took it! I think this might make my first experience an easier, more pleasant one. The area will be smaller, but hopefully more managable. Size estimate is something like 4ft x 10-12 feet. Thinking this might work well for square foot gardening! </p>