me too. The gypsy peppers, cubanelles and italian sweets have survived the summer, and my laziness of not weeding them, and are covered up with fruit, so much that two main beams on the italian pepper split and broke from too many peppers on it.

Tomatoes are pretty much shot, but I've got a watermelon plant still going nuts.

Today I am harvesting Zuccini, Okra ,and Anahiem , Banana , Mexi Bells and an Eggplant. I too have one Tomato that make it thru , all strung out, but covered in blooms, so if I can spare the room I am going to leave it and see if it puts out as well as it did before the heatwave. I can't wait to see my Cherokee's start makin.

Does anybody have anything going out there for fall right now...I lost all my armenian cukes to some little black bug that doesent care about pesticide too much , but put out 15 tomatoes from seed , purple , pineapple and a solid dark green, hoping I get enough before the first freeze, to put some up ...hope you all are having luck.

I'm getting some great peppers and have some tomatoes showing up. I also have okra growing and producing. However, I didn't replant anything...it all either survived the summer or has popped up on it's own. I have had a few volunteer pepper plants this year which was a surprise.

Pleasant surprise as the cool weather and a little rain have made their way her. I had planted 3 broccoli plants earlier this year that have struggled. The one that actually started to produce a crown was overtaken my some type of caterpillar. Thought the plants were done and they only rec'd watering every 4-5 days when I watered my yard. Oddly enough, 2 of the plants survived the summer and both have new crowns on them now and they are really starting to grow, lol. I guess we might get something off of them this year afterall.

I thought I'd ask here while the Mrs & I read up on the subject (again).

Suggestions please...

I've failed at growing vegetables 5 years in a row now. I'd like to get away from raised garden beds/boxes (my hens occupy the area now anyway) so I have a fresh start. I'd like to move away from the raised garden beds unless yall pros feel differently. I have 1100sq ft or so to work with. The rows could be 50' x 3 rows. I don't even know how to garden really.

I figure the first step is turning the ground (tell me if I'm wrong). I've seen used tillers from $75 to $1000 on craigslist. What manufacture makes the best for the money out there? I've used a small joker tiller and they were a beating.

If it would help, I can take pictures of the area. Its 50'x25' + or -.

I'd appreciate suggestions and help.

Thanks

Mark (the discouraged guy that has sucks at growing vegetables)

You have the best resource (barnyard) available to ya for growing a garden. Till that chicken poop in the ground during the winter and you'll have enough to sell at the local farmers market.

CM, the first thing you need to do is mark off the area you want your garden. Now, some people will say to use Round-up, or some other grass killer, but I would say not to. I would either use black plastic bags held down with bricks or something to kill the grass or leave it be. Then, you'll need to till that soil. I have a Craftsman 17" dual rear tine tiller with the 6.5 hp engine. It was purchased new in 2006 for $650. The Craftsman products used to a be a beast, but not sure about the last 5 years. When you're tilling the ground, you're going to want to go as deep as you can and use the reverse till feature. This turns the tines in reverse while you're walking forward. If you do get a Craftsman, the handle can be raised if need be (I figured out how to do this after leaning over so much it killed my back).

Once that's done, you need to get the soil tested. You can send it to A&M http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/ I would try and get some sandy loam soil, some horse ****, or that chicken **** and till it in to the ground. This would be a good time to add some red worms or night crawlers as well.

While you're waiting for planting season, determine what you want to plant and see what will grow in your area and soil type. Then, after you get your rows plotted and planted (remember to leave room to get the tiller in after the plants or planted (36"-42" between rows). Collect as many leaves as you can this year so that you can cover the rows in late spring to control weeds and hold in the moisture.

That should get you going...Remember water can be your friend and/or your enemy. So use it wisely. Most plants will do well with .5"-1" water per week.

You've got a nice size garden plot there. I've been experimenting with container gardens ( never tried raised beds) but nothing beats a good wide-open in-the-ground site (IMO).

Test your soil with a kit or by taking a sample to your local extension agent or master gardener.

Chicken poop is fertilizer par excellance but you can overdo it and burn your plants with too much nitrogen. Try burying all your fish carcasses in the area you're going to plant.

Tillers are great ( got a 6.5 hp Craftsman) but you don't need to till really deep unless you're amending the soil. Use them on the cultivation setting ( 1 to 2" deep) during the growing season so you won't disturb the micro-flora / fauna that help maintain a healthy garden environment.

Look up "Mother Earth News" for excellent advice on small-scale gardening . It's kinda hippyish but they know their stuff.

The only reason I'm going to disagree with you about the not tilling deep is those tap roots can go FAR (I've had some over 4' long on tomato and pepper plants). With the drought we've had, that dirt is hard and needs to be broken up. Otherwise, I'd agree that he could go a bit more shallow.

Great info so far and I'm very thankful. Let me sort through the above posts and reply with thoughts and questions.

Thanks again.

Well yeah , as far as amending ( adding stuff to ) the soil goes but I wouldn't try to till deeply around established plantings . There's a lot of delicate feeder roots near the surface.

I would hope he wouldn't have many established plants near this area, unless it's trees and those taproots tend to go straight down, or at least within a foot of the outer trunk.

I decided to do a 10x40' section. I can add to it if needed.

So I guess my first step is to kill the grass or weeds in my case. Do yall think cardboard will work?

I'll start to fence it in soon. I was only planning on using 36" tall fence material because I have a lot left over.

You can spray the grass and weeds with 9% vinegar and a touch of soap in a pump up sprayer. That's the quickest/cheapest way I know of killing it.

I'm sure that'll work Derek but I'd like to stay away from spraying anything.

How harsh is it on the soil or clay in my case?

The vinegar starts breaking down right after it is sprayed and leaves zero lasting effects to your soil.

Just get it tilled soon. Going to be onion planting time before long. If you can get some mulch or compost till it in.

Looking at all those trees I was wondering, will your garden get plenty of sunlight?

He doesn't have anywhere near the amount of trees I do and mine gets plenty of sunlight. Shade actually helps in the summers we get around here.

my raised beds have done well. In your case, you're gonna have to till it up pretty soo, and get some poop and dyno dirt there. If you don't buy a tiller, and decide to rent one, let me know, and I'll split the cost and till mine with it.

If it wasn't so far, I'd drag my tractor up there and till it for him...However, the gas would kill me. If I were up there, I'd probably be willing to pay some crazy dude with a small 4 foot box tiller to turn the land the first time.

Pickled Green Tomatoe Relish;

Leaving Monday for 3 weeks in Arizona so I didn't want to loose anything to a frost....spent the day doing this....

That looks good! Well done sir.

Nice work don't
Got a bunch stll forming here plan on o similar green tomato canning before first frost peppers eggplant still kicking butt