Rashell's Blog

Well I started, ready or not!

After asking soooooo many questions, good ones bad ones & embarrassing ones, I think I'm read to dive into the seed and vegetable world.  I tried before but with no success thanks to ground squirrels. 

If I'm not ready, Oh well, I'll just visit the GG forum and ask some more questions.  Everyone here is so great I know I'll get answers from the experts.  : ) 

Thanks to DanS's "Plans for 2008" post, it got me into full speed question mode! : ) But I stepped on that brake real quick when I realized I can't plant until I do something about the crazy squirrels!  Well, I took care of that problem by reading other GG members advice on how to keep them away (@ the forum under Garden Animals).  Since I've tried practically everything, I think I'll try out Ronsgardens way next. 

Then I started to worry about Zones.  All the information out there in cyber space did not make sense to me.  So I asked my zone question here and thanks to MamaBear and Ronsgardens I think I understand how it works now.

Well off to soybean, oh boy did I have a lot of quesitons on this one & still will have I'm sure.  While asking and waiting for answers (Growing Fruits and Vegetable section of the forum) I saw Larrystewarts and Angelsgarden Photo Albums.  WOW! Did there veggies, planters inspire me to move on?  Sure did!  Put me back into full speed V8 I can do it power!  LOL Raised my hopes again and I'm not going back I tell ya!  No time for getting nervous now. : )

I ordered a couple of packets of green soybeans seeds (Soybean Shironomai and Soybean Early Hakucho) on the 17th from Park Seed.  Supposedly I'll receive them when It's time to plant 'em.  I could not resist the beautiful Angel's Trumpet Ballerina Collection (purple-tipped white, pure white, and warm primrose-yellow) so I bought those too.  How could I not, I ask you? lol

The waiting will give me time to read up on HOW TOs for other veggies.  I looked up Vegetable companion (@GG) after I read Shiukopuppy's "companion planting for fruits" and I found a great chart which will help me out.  I'll start reading about the companion plants ASAP.

I also visited a bunch of sites on line and found a couple places which have tons of information.  So these will help out.  (links at Growing Fruits and Vegetables).

Looks like Meska, CarolineC a few others have some great advice about growing veggies/fruits in containers.  Now that will help a lot.  I'll have to plant most of my veggies in containers 'cause of all the trees in my garden I don't have enough Sunny spots in my planters.  Most likely the veggies will be planted in containers and I'll put 'em out in front of my house.

I bought a seed starter today!  I planted Danvers Carrots (Jan-Sept), Black Beauty Eggplants (April-May) & Chives (Feb-April).  Dates are for our section of California.  I got the list at Home Depot next to the seeds (Stover-Vegetable & Herb Planting Guides).  BUT, I remember seeing a similar list on line yesterday...so it wont be hard for others to find it.  The list I have is for California and Arizona.  Also, I bought strawberries and planted them in a hanging basket.  I don't think they will survive 'cause of the wind/cold but it's ok, they look so pretty hanging in my back yard.  Eggplant and Chives was mostly for fun.  I'm hoping they will grow but I started them a bit early.  At the end of this month I will plant Tomatoe and pepper.  : )   At least I read we should plant them at the end of the month.  But I saw lots of tomatoe plants @ Home Depot!  hmmmmmmmm 

Well, that's all for now ....believe me I can go on forever I'm so excited. : )  Off to read some more now.  Thank you guys very much for the information.  I really appreciate it.  I hope no one minds me mentioning them in my blog.  Sorry if I missed anyone.  I know I'll still make lots of mistakes but at least this time I'll try to do things right.  & I have GGers to help!  Heehee, I think I'll get a bumper sticker with the words "GOT GardenGuides?" on it.

PS.  I'll post pictures of my seed starter and strawberries in my 2008 Album  : )  Just as soon as my figures relax after the long long blog....SHEESH!