I am excited to change zones!

[krbshappy71]

I found out that when I move to Delaware (this spring/summer) I will be in a higher zone! Zone 7 instead of Zone 4. I'm very excited for all the plants that opens up to me! Decisions, decisions, what on earth will I plant??

I am thinking food. Lots of food, not lots at one time but variety. I don't know if I would get into canning, but I might look into freezing instead. I need to start reading up, I don't know a thing about gardening but I had ok luck this year with my kiddie pool garden in Colorado. I told the BF that I would like raised beds or containers next year but not kiddie pool again.

Ok anyone from that area that gardens? How do you like it? Anything you don't like about your area?

[vigilant20]

Woot! That is awesome!!!

I would suggest contacting the local extension office. They usually have a helpline staffed by master gardeners who have training and experience dealing with the climate. They'd have lots of great tips for you and it's a good way to start networking with local growers. Maybe even see if they are offering a class you'd be interested in taking.

[KeithBC]

When I moved from zone 2 to zone 7, the gardening challenges totally shifted. Instead of trying to encourage stuff to grow, I now have to beat back the jungle!

Congrats on your move!

[Libby]

Congrats on your upcoming move

We have both raised beds and containers for gardening. Containers are MUCH easier to maintain and for me, are actually preferred. Maybe one small-med raised bed for squash/cucumbers and like things. I guess it depends on what you like to grow?

[krbshappy71]

I found an almanac link and subscribed to that so I can have some reading material beforehand.

Oh and I'm making a list (and checking it twice?) on what I think I want to grow.

Cherry tomatoes (mine is doing fine so I know I can grow that)
Carrots (again, the baby ones were kinda cute)
potatoes, red in a container or raised bed
berries, I have had terrible luck with raspberries here in Co starting them, but I have friends with established ones and no problem. I even tried transplanting some of their established ones. Maybe its me, ha!
Yes to cucumbers, I'm trying them now but so far flowers but no plants yet.
Pumpkins, just a few for cooking up and decoration
whatever else the bf would want to eat.

I guess most of what I want to plant is already in my zone, but from what I understand I'll have a longer growing season? Which means more yield, right?

I'm such a newb I'm embarrassing myself, time to go read some more of that almanac!

Here is the link although most of you probably already know this stuff, ha! Gardening advice, best planting garden dates, transplanting gardening tips

Um, I can't decide after that but I am definitely going to have a garden.

[sinopa27]

I live in zone 7. I have that red clay soil so it is hard to grow some things. Well......my grandparents didn't have problems. Or maybe they did but dealt with it since it was the way of life.
I do container gardening and soil bags to grow. I have had lots of success!
I used to live in Dover Delaware. Lots of flat beautiful land. There are lots of Amish people there so you will have access to a lot of things in that area.
Have fun!

[Jeanna]

Isn't red clay wonderful. I remember on one of our trips to Iowa--where my mother if from--and I guess I was just old enough to realize how black the dirt is there and I just couldn't believe it. I have been jealous ever since. Red clay can be dealt with but it does take extra amending to get much to grow.

[madhen]

I have decent soil, but it is buried under large granite boulders and a slate top-shelf, so digging ANYTHING is a challenge. Even if you get through the top foot or so of slate, you have to dig through another couple of feet of smaller boulders before you hit dirt, at which point you typically have tree roots to chop through.

[krbshappy71]

I've been reading about potatoes and even pumpkins growing in a container, I think container or raised bed gardening will be where it's at for me. I could go beserk picking out flowers, I love flowers!! But I really want to produce something that will help the budget, not drain it.