I want to try a garden....

**Kellili** · 08-11-2011, 06:50 PM

DH is getting $500 bonus on his check tomorrow. The VAST majority is going toward replenishing the BEF but I really want to use a little to start a small raised bed garden. (need to update siggy, had a murphy water heater emergency) Anyone have tips on what to plant in August in East TN? Virgin gardener here....fairly black thumbs but enthusiastic! Would it be too late for tomatoes? Strawberries? Green Onions? We use a lot of those things... DH wants some jalepenos... thoughts anyone?

**craftypam** · 08-11-2011, 06:55 PM

I live in a colder climate than you do, but I do think it is too late for tomatoes and peppers; both require alot of heat and alot of time to grow. You can possibly grow cucumbers and beans, they grow pretty quickly. You can also grow cold weather crops such as lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, cabbage. You should check online to see how long your growing season is because it will definately be longer than mine.

**Kellili** · 08-11-2011, 07:02 PM

From what I can tell we are zone 6 and the first frost averages around Oct 31st....but I have no idea what I can plant to meet that criteria. The only other time I have ever attempted a garden (not raised bed and an epic disaster) we had crazy bitter lettuce. It was so awful. We grew some AMAZING weeds though lol. I'm going to try for a *real* garden this time. We have horrid dirt/clay and our backyard gets floody in the rain. I have only ever tried to grow lettuce (disaster), tomatoes (fail) and squash...the squash plant actually did pretty good. That was about 4 years ago though...

**craftypam** · 08-11-2011, 09:59 PM

If you have access to a library and are wanting to do raised gsrdening, you might want to look up square foot gardening. I am trying it for the first time this year and it's going pretty well. I thought I was the same zone you are stating that you are, but you are farther south than I am. If you plant letttuce when it is too hot, it will be bitter. Tomatoes love heat, water everyday and take a long time to grow. I have been gardening for 30 years and the best pepper plants I had I started in the house in January. You can grow all of the above cold weather crops, but I wouldn't wait too long to get them in.

**mndtrp** · 08-12-2011, 10:49 AM

The GardenWeb Forums - GardenWeb

Post your question in the appropriate forum there. You'd likely get far more specific answers.

**forHISglory** · 08-12-2011, 11:54 AM

Hi, I have a small raised bed garden, just 8 by 6 feet. It is wonderful! We made it of 2 by 10 treated lumber, and filled with topsoil. Then we keep adding grass clippings to it. It's so easy to take care of. And being that small, I don't have to step in it to get the produce. Weeds don't have a chance with all the mulching that we do, and the mulch also helps conserve water. I had 7 tomato plants, 3 hills of beans, 4 peppers, zuchinni. The tomatoes and beans went onto frames, so that they grew UP and not OUT. You might want to investigate square foot gardening; I think you can google that and get several hits.

As far as what to plant now: go for lettuce, cabbage, spiinach, chard, peas, onions. Those do better in the cooler weather. Not sure if any root crops such as carrots or turnips would work for you now or not. As far as strawberries, I would suggest a separate bed as those will winter over. You only need to plant them once and then maintain the bed.