"I am interested in getting started growing my own vegetables. Any suggestions for doing this inexpensively?" ~ Anonymous

Read all you can—FREE from the local library—and while all those leaves that you gather this fall are rotting away this winter, you can read about what to do with them. Chopped up w/the mower, they make perfect mulch, helping to keep down weeds and reduce watering. Added to a compost pile, along with your vegetable scraps and (untreated) grass clippings, manure from a local barn or stable, they will decompose and
turn into a rich, crumbly soil amendment that is the best fertilizer that money can’t buy! So start gathering all the leaves you can now. You can make compost bins to hold them out of free wooden pallets-just nail 3 sides together, and leave the front side free so that you can get to the pile to turn it occasionally. Or you can just rake them into a large pile, run the mower over them, and they'll rot where they lay. You can start a worm bin in a Rubbermaid-type plastic storage bin, and feed them all your kitchen scraps--no meat please. Their castings are like black gold to your plants. 

Read Worms Eat My Garbage for more info. I keep a worm bin in the house during the winter, when my compost bins outside are frozen. I then move the worms to the garden in spring, and feed my compost piles all my scraps I collected during the warmer months. You can join online discussion groups about gardening and seed swapping and get some free seeds that way. Or you can send for free catalogs and spend the winter planning your garden and placing your order. Start saving 'seed starter cups' now; old yogurt cups are great. You can make cups from folded newspaper too. I would start seeds in a soilless mix, not garden soil. It is light and is sterilized so will be free of things that may harm your plants. 

If you have to buy a few tools, buy good ones and you'll only buy them once. Take care of them. Rent a tiller rather than purchase one, if you need to turn your soil over. You should only have to do that the first year or so. Doing that this time of year is perfect, because then you can plant a green manure cover crop of rye, alfalfa, or clover to grow like a blanket over the garden area all winter. Next spring, till it under and your soil will already have a big head start over just planting your seeds into bare soil. You can buy such seed very reasonable at your local feed and seed or farm supply store. You can get lots of free advice from your local Ag Extension service. If you live near a state college, be thankful. They are a tremendous free resource for gardeners! They also offer classes on becoming a master gardener. Happy gardening!" ~ Jan

Once they are established and planted in the garden I water with Miracle Grow once a month to give plants a boost. When flowers start to bloom on tomato plants I trim off any branches that do not have flowers. This puts the nutrients back into the plant and helps the tomatoes grow. To keep weeds at bay, I use the grass clippings I collect when I mow my yard. Can't beat the price. Next year I'm planning on getting straw for under my zucchini plants. This way the zucchini has a soft dry place to rest while growing.

Since you are just starting out, review how many vegetables you would want to have. One tomato plant would be sufficient for a couple of people. Sometimes a plant will decide to be dormant. Having an extra plant ensures that I will get some type of yield. I have a family of four. This year I planted 8 plum tomato plants, 4 Early Girl tomato plants, 8 bell pepper plants, 8 sweet pepper and 8 zucchini plants. I make stuffed peppers and freeze them for later. The plum tomatoes are great for when I make my homemade pizza. This way the crust doesn't get soggy. Plum tomatoes are also good for making homemade spaghetti sauce. If I find I have too many vegetables, I wash them and put them in a zip lock freezer bag. I don't take the core out of the tomatoes. I find they stay firmer in the freezing process. I also pack up a bag of just picked veggies to give to a neighbor
I haven't seen in a while. I also have a few widows and single people who appreciate having fresh veggies, but don't need a lot for one person. This way I'm able to share my bounty with them.

Hope this helps. You can e-mail me with questions if you like at
awesomecancer@hotmail.com and put 'Jeanne's question' in the subject." ~ Christine

I would also recommend organic gardening. Pesticides can be expensive and very unnecessary and they also cost our planet in the long run. Feeding your family chemicals doesn't help anyone. The library usually has some great gardening magazines like Organic Gardening and Fine Gardening and Horticulture. There are some good online sources too.

When it comes to potting soil for containers, don't buy the cheap stuff. You get what you pay for. Potting soil doesn't have to list what is in it and it could have a high clay content that doesn't drain well and your plants will drown or it could have too much bark and then your plants have no nutrients. Buy a nice light, well draining mix. I like to fertilize with Alaska Fish Fertilizer but not too much. Too much fertilizer can equal too much nitrogen and that can show up as nitrites in your food or in the ground water.

I also don't start plants from seed. I think it requires a lot of work for not much return. As you grow in gardening and you want more exotic plants, starting from seed may be a way to go. But for the time being, check in with some local garden clubs and organizations. They often have plant sales with great prices of plants that really grow in your area.

I could go on forever....it is my passion. There is nothing like creating your own little slice of Eden. Remember to garden with the birds, butterflies and all creatures in mind by gardening pesticide-free." ~ Lisa

Editor's Note: Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond.

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