First SFG planted!

[reptilegrrl]

Hi, I am a new SFG'r in Houston, TX. Tonight I planted my first SFG. We are working with a 4x4 box. I am very excited. I love gardening and had a veggie garden when I was a kid, which was wonderful. I've wanted to have one again ever since. I am also a vegetarian who wants to eat more healthily, and I think this will really help me to do

Comments

[reptilegrrl]

We really have two growing seasons here, the hot and the cool. High Summer is far too hot for things like lettuces, unless you can manage them in deep shade with lots of water.

Our first frost is usually around mid-December, but it's not a hard freeze- it usually freezes overnight and then climbs above freezing again the next day. Last year's white Christmas was an exception. Occasionally we will have days in January where things stay below 0, but that hasn't happened since 1997-98. Winters lately have been very mild. I live in the middle of the city, where it's always 10 degrees hotter than out in the suburbs. I grew up in the suburban countryside norht of Houston, and out there we would get icicles hanging from the roof and such, and my dog's water dish would freeze over. That doesn't happen here in town.

This is my first veggie garden in Houston. Other HOustonians tell me that this is a good time to plant winter veggies, so I am going with their advice. One woman told me she plants peas this time of year and harvests them in the spring. Another told me she plants tomaties on late summer and gets fruit til January. Several people told me this was a good time to plant so away I go :) It is far too hot in the summer for most of these vegetables.

If things get cold early, I will make a little cold frame over my box. I've planted some things from seed, but others from sets, so some of my veggies will be edible within a month or less.

[elabeth]

Wow, I can't wait to see pictures!
I can't decide if I want a grid on my box or not. I know I want those cool pipe trellis dealies from the book though.

[reptilegrrl]

I definitely like the grid. Have you looked at Mel's website? One of his "improvements" to the system is to stress the importance of the grids. I think he's right; the grid keeps things organized AND makes the garden LOOK tidy and appealing.

[elabeth]

Yeah, that's what he says, but I just really don't think it is all that appealing or attractive or an improvment. It probably does help with the organization though. If I do the grid I'll probably use some kind of string or something that doesn't stand out from a distance. I don't think I need a really flashy obvious grid to be able to plant in the squares.

[reptilegrrl]

I just used wire. I do like thw way the grids look, but a grid made of really big pieces of wood takes up too much space.