Garden Help!

[Missy]

I know this is probably not the best time to start a garden, but I want to make sure! I don't have time to read books and/or spend tons of time reading articles on how to get my organic garden off the ground in the winter months of the south so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! I have experience with gardening, just not at this time of the year.

I have 2 raised beds, one with full sun, one with full sun now, but that will change once the trees fill back in. I have also covered a super large space with fall leaves to utilize for gardening too. My hope is to fill my .65 acres with as much edible stuff as possible. Lofty goal for sure, but I say, dream big!

Thanks for any help :)

[Anna]

I was going to post about garden soon too! It's almost time to plant but not quite. In February, you can do a bed with cool weather plants, like peas, greens, broc, that type of thing. They will come out of the garden when it warms up so you might be able to utilize the bed that gets full sun now but not when the leaves return. Renfrow's said they were getting their cool weather stuff in Feb 1 so I'd just go browse for things you like when that happens. I will be there.

I have been working on making perennial foods beds here. So I've got a strawberry bed, asparagus bed, blueberries, raspberries, grapes, kiwis and some new fruit trees. I will still have a big veggie garden but it's fun to have things that just come back each year. I'm getting excited about starting again!

You have a great lot Missy, it will be fun to fill with edible treats!

~Anna

[Missy]

thanks anna! I wanted to go to refrow's so bad today, but they are closed today AND tomorrow! I love the idea of perennial beds. are you putting multiple things in one bed or do you and ONE bed for each of the fruits you listed? Kiwi?! no way. That's one of my favorite and I just assumed we wouldn't be able to grow it here.

I'm looking so forward to getting started...it's something I want to do b/c I think it will help me renew my soul and it doesn't hurt that Sadie really likes to help too!

[Missy]

Oh yeah, meant to ask...have you ever grown potatoes? A friend of mine grew some the no dig way in a plastic bin once. I think we're going to have to give that a try, but with a wood bin instead. Don't want to risk the plastic leaching.

[Anna]

We are SO excited about the kiwis! They can grow here and they are a beautiful vine with a big 'passion fruit like' bloom. I can't wait to see how they do. I got a lot of ideas from a place called "Edible Landscaping" http://www.ediblelandscaping.com/ They grow all of their offerings in VA so the climate is similar if not a bit colder. The kiwi does well there. They are a little pricey so I actually ordered from another place but I know people who have used them and loved them. I used it to find out what varieties would work for what I needed.

I added some permanent beds around my garden and am growing the vines (kiwis and grapes) on the back side of the brick pool wall.

I've not grown potatoes. I've had some trouble with root crops but I think it would be fun to try!

~Anna