Pardon my ignorance with my topic. I am Very new at the gardening thing, But I am serious about getting into it in the spring. I want to plant some veggies, ( Letuce, TOmatos ) and some herbs, ( Mint, Sage, basil). Stuff like that. What is the best time and the best ways to set started.

Should I start growing this now, Being OCtober 8, 2005 in pots under special light or wait and is there anyother special preperation that is needed to the ground that I plant to grow with?

I guess I need alot of help. Anything will bw greatly appreciated.

Thank you for all help that is sent. It is deeply appreciated.

Blackshep,
Welcome to The Garden Helper's Forum!!!
We are very glad you found us...

Stick around, ask LOT'S of QUESTIONS,
we love to help the new gardener,
we were all new gardeners at some point...

What I would suggest is for each plant you'd like
to grow, ask questions on them... *start new posts for each* and that way we can address each plant to it's specifity....

If you are in Pa., I wouldn't start any of your
plants until end of March/ beginning of April..
I usually try to have my garden in by Memorial Weekend... so your plants should be hardened off during the month of May like, and in the ground by that weekend..
****This is just a ball park schedule, we've had blizzards' here on Mother's Day, so there's no set rule, but it's just a guide line I go by...****

And do you have a spot for a garden already?
Previously there, or one started this year?
Will you do the garden in the ground, or raised beds???

Stick with us, don't be hesitant to ask, and KEEP ASKING, don't be discouraged, and remember with each year passing you'll become a better gardener than the year before...
And don't go too big the first year, stick with
some basic plants. and see how you like it, vs.. the time you have to spend in the garden, and what not... If you undulate yourself too fast
some get discouraged...
but we're all here routing for you..

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Weezie

Don't forget to be kind to strangers. For some who have
done this have entertained angels without realizing it.
- Bible - Hebrews 13:2





http://photobucket.com/albums/y250/weezie13/

Hi Blackshep
I've raised veggies all my life & never paid much attention to flowers until recently. But, guess what?... I found out that I can have BOTH & I'm loving it! I'd suggest that you start out with something easy (and rewarding) for your front yard, like tulips, daffodils & Gladiolas for bursts of color in the spring, which you can buy now... but pay attention to your planting zone advisors because I don't think you can plant them in the fall, where you are. (?)
(I said front yard, but I used to plant corn under my living room window... That's where the sun shone all day long, & it also discouraged the neighbor kids from sneaking over to snatch fresh corn at night! My husband said I was nuts, but he ate well, so I told him to get his OWN garden!)

For your veggie garden, as Bill mentioned already, you can plan it out now & start getting your soil ready for succesful results next year. (It's not hard at all, & you'll never be sorry for taking a little time now, to prevent big headaches & save time, later!) Bill has given you links to excellent info that I'm sure will be terrific help (DO click on those links...I do believe he knows his stuff!). Weezie & tkhooper also have great advice & ideas, so I'm glad you found The Gardener's Forum, too!
Stick with it & HAPPY GARDENING!

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Excellent point Comfrey. I am so guilty of that. This year I bought all kinds of seeds and only got a very few planted out of the total. Fortunately for me the seed exchange was able to absorb my overstock lol. So I have nice fresh seeds for next year and I've been parceling those up so that I'll keep a few for my small space and can share the rest with the friends I have made here. Also with the information and ideas I have gotten from other members we have been able to whittle down my wish list from over 400.00 of goodies down to basically nothing. There were still a few things I bought but they were very few. I got a bug killer, a root stimulator (before I found out about honey) lol, epsom salts for the roses, bone meal for the bulbs and a general purpose fertilizer for everything else. I also invested in a small bag of polymer crystals because it was around 3 weeks between rains this summer and I have to hand carry water to my garden. I can't wait to see how they work out.

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