Help - help - help

[Lady_V]

Living in Massachusetts, I think the growing times here are short but I am already trying to plan for the garden this year. Seems as if every other year I am going too early, too late, or I have the black thumb of death...

What should I plant?

Garden 1 - (limited sun, building in the way) 3'x5' plot of dirt on my patio. It gets a ton of sand from the winters. I use to dig out and replace 200 pounds of dirt every year, but I don't think I have the back, let alone the money, to do that again this year. I didn't have much luck last year with the tomatoes and peppers. I got 1 tomato and 1/2 pepper (yes, half of one, it never really grew, it was more of a pimple )

Garden 2 - (limited sun, same building in the way) I can put some containers on the brick patio, parallel to garden 1. I can hang some containers from the porch frame, but not sure what to put in there.

Garden 3 (good sun, decent soil) 6'x10' grassy area, between 3 stone walls, but near the road. Water sprinkler (every other day) is located at the end of the alcove. Over watering may be an issue. Belongs to the ex, so a lower maintance garden would be ideal because I won't be able to tend to it every day.

Our tummies thank you!

[KFinTX]

I'd consider using containers in Gardens 1 & 2. That way you don't have to break your back moving out sand & in potting soil. And maybe you'll get a whole pepper this time, not just a half.

I feel your pain with the black thumb of death. I've had some really pretty tomato PLANTS the last 2 years, but no sign of any tomatoes.

[frugal-fannie]

I would put tomatoes, peppers and squash, pumpkins beans and broccoli in the large garden. Make sure you water them well for the first 2 weeks and then taper off.potatoes would also do well and are low maintenance.These are larger plants that can with stand some sun. Sometimes you have to pinch off the suckers on tomatoes or the plant wastes all it energy making green rather than tomatoes. I would put lettuce and other small quickly harvested plants that rabbits and deer like in the containers. Corn would also be good for the larger garden, but you have to watch out for raccoons when it gets close to harvesting.

[Laurie in Bradenton]

Before I did anything I would take a jar of dirt from each area to my local extension service and find out the make up of the soil. This will help with what you can grow in each area. In our town the agent will come out to your place and look at your area and give suggests. Sometimes they even have free seedlings and seeds. ASK!!!!Your taxes help to fund their offices and they are a wealth of information. They may also be able to suggest the best place to get free mulch helpful holding moisture in once you plant, they can id pests, etc... See if there is a master gardener program in your area these folks are required to do a certain amount of volunteer hours for their certification Check the almanac for the last frost day for your area. Start seeds inside in a sunny warm area. Use a plastic table cloth to protect floors in that area.

Laurie in Bradenton

[Buckeye5]

Peas like cooler weather, you plant these earlier in the beginning of the growing season. Pumpkins, zuchinni, tomatoes, need a good bit of sun, if not you will get a lot of vine with no veggies grown. You could buy the starter plants this year, also, and see what happens. They are inexpensive rather than buying the seeds. Good luck.

[Ceashels]

I believe lettuce and spinache can do well in partial shaded areas. And it is something you can plant every 2 weeks to have an extended harvest season. They also do well in colder weather for germination.