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[luadoinverno]

I'm a very beginning gardener.  To be honest, I don't have a clue, lol.  I've always had a brown thumb, so much so that I've killed aloes without even trying.  I don't think I've owned a houseplant without killing it for longer than 5 months.  But I'm determined to change that

Comments

[armygeezer]

Please reconsider your desire for Blackberry. The berries are not worth the rampant growth and thorns. If you want something thorny, try pyracanthra or holly, which are much easier to control.
As for your veggie garden, you need to know how long your growing season is and buy seeds that will be able to mature during that time frame. You can extend the season by starting the seeds indoors (with as much light as possible) or using cold frames. Get a catalogue to drool over this winter!

New member

[luadoinverno]

Actually we're getting the blackberry bushes from a friend and the soil where its going is extremely poor so its one of the few things that'll thrive there, lol. I'm partial to them as well.

I'm not entirely sure what our growing season is, something I haven't really checked yet since most everything is indoors at this point. We have a very odd climate here with lots of different weather, sometimes all in the same day. I soo have to get a catelogue! I'll probably have to order online since I want to start as early as I can for spring. Most stores here only sell for a limited time and most stuff is already gone from the shelves.

[primsong]

Egads, are you SURE you want blackberries? I have to go around and kill a dozen of them in my yard every year, I would never voluntarily plant them. They can grow up in to a bramble that will take down small buildings or bury cars, they're very aggressive and difficult to keep looking neat.

[primsong]

Also, we recently had to help friends who were moving into a neglected house to dig out and cut away blackberries along one side - they were growing up INTO the siding and prying off the boards, it was pretty bad - and that was only after a relatively short time of the house being vacant. Barberry might be a better deterrant/ornamental and then you can just buy a flat of berries in berry season with all that money you saved by *not* having to buy brush-killer.

[luadoinverno]

I know, aren't they great? lol. I wonder sometimes if subconsciously I really want them because of that stupid Tom Robbins book, lol.

[undergroundsea]

If you can grown lavender, you could grow rosemary very easily too. Same sort of watering/care scheme.

[redorchard13]

this book:
http://www.amazon.com/McGee-Stuckeys-Bountiful-Container-Vegetables/dp/0761116230
is wonderful.
container gardening is a great way to get comfortable with veggies and really useful if you live somewhere with a lot of changeable weather.

[luadoinverno]

Wow, that one looks like it'll be a great resource and bonus: I can get it from Chapters! Living in Canada, I don't use Amazon much, they're a little weird about shipping certain items and the Canadian site doesn't have nearly as much stuff as the .com does.

Thanks so much, I'll be ordering that this week.

[oaktavia]

I second this book!!!
it's my gardening bible -- and I'm pretty much a beginner too! only 2 seasons of growing things under my belt, and this book helped A LOT!

[luadoinverno]

The globes really are great for indoor plants, especially if you're like me and have a habit of forgetting, lol.

Tomatoes won't be difficult, surprisingly, despite the weather they thrive given the right soil. Friends of ours have grown some beautiful ones around here. We'll be importing our soil from their place most likely, lol. Luckily they only live an hour away and we got out to visit quite often. It'll save on us having to buy potting soil too, though I might mix some in for the added nutrients.