This is the first year that we don’t do raised beds. We’ve always had rabbits, but I don’t remember them eating all of our stuff.

I was about to give up and go back to raised beds next year but had a change of heart this weekend. In three beds, I planted (all plants) roma, sweet 100s, cherokee purple, lemon boy and better boy tomatoes; jalapenos; cayenne; okra (two varieties); bell pepper (two varieties) and cantaloupe. We also picked up a Brown’s select satsuma tree and a blood orange tree.

It’ll be interesting to see what transpires. We’ve never had much luck with regular tomatoes, bell peppers and citrus trees…

The new neighbor would get a new plant AND some time spent with an experienced gardener; the old neighbor would get some help in the yard; Both would get to enjoy the company of a neighbor while working together to achieve a goal – sort of like the old barn-raising parties.

We planted flowers for the first time last year – yeah! (Prior to this past year we’ve always lived in cities and/or we were on our 18 month round-the-world trip.) Thankfully the flowers thrived and bloomed, and our fingers are crossed the perennials will have lasted this winter. This year we want to expand to container gardening with herbs and maybe some varieties of peppers. If we manage not to kill everything, than we’d like to expand to a proper garden in our side yard next year.

Speaking of trying not to kill everything, does anyone have any favorite places (books? websites?) for tips and tricks to container gardening (or just growing nummy herbs and spices)?

I have a black thumb, but my mother-in-law has a thriving garden and it seems to have rubbed off on her son. Let’s hope so. I really am enjoying learning by doing.

I was always told you could start beets and peas in April. You start peas in January? They survive?

@#3: Yes, last year we had a freak hailstorm at the tail end of April. This spring, I started my tomato seeds a couple weeks later than my usual habit so they are just right for transplanting into the garden in early May.

@#12: I do end up buying potting soil each year. This year I got 2 cubic feet and that should be plenty.

@#10: Transplant your seedlings into their first real pot when they have two set of real leaves (ignore the first two leaves that don’t look like all the later ones). You may find the GRS post helpful: http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2009/03/06/starting-seeds-indoors-jump-start-your-garden-today/

We are finally going to build some terrace gardens to make use of our horribly hilly land. That will make this year expensive, but in the long run will more than triple our growing space.

I am amazed at how many rose bushes you had and still have, Kris. Wow! I bet they are gorgeous. Just four for us and with our VA summer heat, they are really only at them being at their best early and late in the season.

Thanks for sharing your garden info with us! I always enjoy the info.

Shirley