Flower and Vegetable Gardening

[Jason Williams]

Evening all,

 

Over the last few years, I've had the pleasure of growing a small back garden into a productive veg patch whose progress has been documented on my Instagram account

 

The main reasons for starting this was the availability of growing space and as a means of therapeutically occupying my mind.  Now the initial benefits of this has been felt, my mind is now focussing on developing my knowledge and green-finger skills in readiness of the Paradise.

 

Do any of you grow vegetables as a hobby or as a means of self-sufficency? I'd love for this conversation to develop into something....

[hatcheckgirl]

Great topic Jason. I’d like to learn too. My own embarrassing attempts yielded one zucchini (though there are many flowers). And I can grow herbs ok. So, plenty to learn 🌺

 

Also, can I see pics of your garden here? This is mine, grown on a very small patio size block.

 

 

 

[Ishaya]

Thank you Bro Jason for starting this topic on cultivating a garden.

Some three days ago I began to really consider it for self-sufficiency and maybe as a hobby when the produce starts turning out well.

 

We received a letter from the branch office that encouraged us to start a vegetable garden using sacs and containers as a way of coping with the rising cost of food here in Nigeria.

One of our sister related how helpful that idea has been for her family,she now grows alot of sweet potatoes all year round and she wants to even experiment with planting yams in her small garden.she told us that in a vegetable garden you can plant almost any vegetable plant all year round,I really like the idea of that.

 

I will be very grateful if brothers who have skill and experience on this topic can enlighten us more on how it is done for beginners.

 

With time I  am hoping to get a greenhouse tent but the ones I browsed on the Internet seen very expensive,I'm not sure how I can improvise that because the sun here in northern Nigeria Is very hot,so I will need to find a way to screen it so that the plants can grow well.

 

I'm looking at having a greenhouse tent like these ones or alternative to them if possible.i have enough space in my compound to accommodate it.

 

 

[Jason Williams]

Morning both,

 

This is what I've got to work with my garden....

 

The first picture shows the overall layout after I increased the amount of beds from 5 to 6no after having difficulty effectively reaching into the middle of the beds for maintenance. Although I practice no-dig (UK) or no-till (USA) gardening (were an annual amount of compost is applied to the top of the beds and not dug in), I systematically rotate the crops in my beds (Potatoes > Onions > Garlic > Root Vegetables > Legumes > Brassicas) for the first planting (March - July) and then whatever and wherever for the second sowings from July until November.

 

I overwinter my Onions, Garlic and Broad Beans as seen in the second and third pictures (we had a little issue with covering for the Broad Beans that should be resolved by the weekend) and other than these vegetables, I put the other half of my garden to sleep until March.

 

I also grow tomatoes and potatoes in tubs.

 

I've had failed crops and currently due to the wet and mild winters in the UK, we are suffering from slugs destroying everythinf

[Jason Williams]

9 hours ago, Ishaya said:

Thank you Bro Jason for starting this topic on cultivating a garden.

Some three days ago I began to really consider it for self-sufficiency and maybe as a hobby when the produce starts turning out well.

 

We received a letter from the branch office that encouraged us to start a vegetable garden using sacs and containers as a way of coping with the rising cost of food here in Nigeria.

One of our sister related how helpful that idea has been for her family,she now grows alot of sweet potatoes all year round and she wants to even experiment with planting yams in her small garden.she told us that in a vegetable garden you can plant almost any vegetable plant all year round,I really like the idea of that.

 

I will be very grateful if brothers who have skill and experience on this topic can enlighten us more on how it is done for beginners.

 

With time I  am hoping to get a greenhouse tent but the ones I browsed on the Internet seen very expensive,I'm not sure how I can improvise that because the sun here in northern Nigeria Is very hot,so I will need to find a way to screen it so that the plants can grow well.

 

I'm looking at having a greenhouse tent like these ones or alternative to them if possible.i have enough space in my compound to accommodate it.

 Ishaya,

 

I believe it is a worthwhile hobby to pursue and one that will have lasting benefitis.  The following Meeting Workbook item reminded us of the times we live in and of practical steps to alleviate problems by "maintaining a vegetable garden" Click Here

 

It would be impossible here to provide lessons, but it is as simple as preparing the ground, planting the seed according to the instructions given, watering regularly and protecting the growth from weeds and pests.

 

As for a greenhouse, the only time that I use a basic one is to protect seedings as everything I grow is outdoors. Greenhouses and polytunnels are used here in the UK to extend growing seasons due to the cold and inclement Northern Hemisphere weather.

[ChrisW]

Hi.  Love this topic.  I grow in containers but am planning on making cinderblock garden beds for next year. (See pic below)   I have grown peppers(green bell peppers and jalapeños),   tomatoes, and herbs. Basil, thyme, oregano, and dill. I have been using the dill in a recipe for fermented cucumbers.  I plan on growing cucumbers for myself next year, because the mini ones I use are too expensive for me.

[Jason Williams]

Chris,

 

There is a sister in our congregation who has started container gardening, at least it allows for the plants to be move as the sun moves.  The only thing I find with it is refreshing the nutrients in soil once it is spent. How do you do it?

 

I like the ideas of cinder block raised beds as the holes in the blocks allow for individualised plantings.  The cinder blocks are also very sturdy.

 

You grow a lot of herbs, are you a keen amateur chef?

[ChrisW]

3 hours ago, Jason Williams said:

The only thing I find with it is refreshing the nutrients in soil once it is spent

Yes.  That's a concern of mine too.  I do compost so I try and add back to the soul as much as i can.

 

3 hours ago, Jason Williams said:

You grow a lot of herbs, are you a keen amateur chef?

Very amateur. But I do enjoy it. 

[daydream]

On 11/27/2024 at 12:35 PM, hatcheckgirl said:

yielded one zucchini

I see beet plants in the foreground.

 

 

Spoiler

Good for you.

 

[hatcheckgirl]

Actually they are Swiss chard. And they are a colourful addition both in the garden and for salads. Excepts, I didn’t like the taste at all when I put them in my salad. I’m going to try steaming them instead. (Anyone have any other recipes for Swiss chard, I’d appreciate it). They are related to silverbeet.

 

By the way, I do have another zucchini nearly fully grown, tucked in behind all the foliage. I thought we’d have a bumper crop because of all the flowers, but apparently they need cross pollination, and it is possible to hurry it along and do it yourself. But when I tried, one of the flowers broke off! 😢 So, leaving that to the bees.

 

All of the gardens so far look very promising! 🌺🥒🥬

[Jason Williams]

On 11/29/2024 at 1:27 AM, ChrisW said:

Yes.  That's a concern of mine too.  I do compost so I try and add back to the soul as much as i can.

 

Very amateur. But I do enjoy it. 

I've got three homemade compost bins for all the kitchen and garden waste generated.

 

I buy Poultry Manure and Seaweed Pellets as a localised boost for the soil and compost bins (Click Here).  Do you have something similar?

 

I also did a bit of trench composting after watching a few videos on Youtube, but got lucky in that I deposited it at the end of a path where on several occasions potatoes started growing.

[Áine]

6 hours ago, Jason Williams said:

I've got three homemade compost bins for all the kitchen and garden waste generated.

 

I buy Poultry Manure and Seaweed Pellets as a localised boost for the soil and compost bins (Click Here).  Do you have something similar?

 

I also did a bit of trench composting after watching a few videos on Youtube, but got lucky in that I deposited it at the end of a path where on several occasions potatoes started growing.

Evening Jason… I’m in South West Ireland, I’m also totally no dig… I started this garden here in 2020 before that it was a field, I laid cardboard and sourced manure… planted straight away with great results

 

 These days I have a three bay pallet system for making compost and make enough now for the garden.. I’ll try and find some photos, I also document things on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/greenwaysliving/profilecard/?igsh=NmI0bnVwdGhnN2Uy

Edited Saturday at 10:45 PM by Áine

[Jason Williams]

Annie,

 

It looks a vibrant set up there and I'll look forward to checking out more of your posts over the next few days 💚

 

I read Dowding's lastest book on composting and the bit that intrigued me was how much homemade compost innoculates your garden. Contrasting the difference between buying farmyard manure and your own.

 

It's quiet in my garden atm with only the onions, garlic and broad beans growing. Roll on February, whoop whoop!!!

[ChrisW]

23 hours ago, Áine said:

Evening Jason… I’m in South West Ireland, I’m also totally no dig… I started this garden here in 2020 before that it was a field, I laid cardboard and sourced manure… planted straight away with great results

 

 These days I have a three bay pallet system for making compost and make enough now for the garden.. I’ll try and find some photos, I also document things on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/greenwaysliving/profilecard/?igsh=NmI0bnVwdGhnN2Uy

Following you on insta.   @wearewise1s

[Áine]

20 hours ago, Jason Williams said:

Annie,

 

It looks a vibrant set up there and I'll look forward to checking out more of your posts over the next few days 💚

 

I read Dowding's lastest book on composting and the bit that intrigued me was how much homemade compost innoculates your garden. Contrasting the difference between buying farmyard manure and your own.

 

It's quiet in my garden atm with only the onions, garlic and broad beans growing. Roll on February, whoop whoop!!!

Yes I read the compost book as well, it’s so good! 
my garden is still full but it’s winter veg now, sprouts, kale, broccoli, spinach, chard, cabbage etc

 and in the tunnel it’s lettuce, spinach sprouting broccoli 

I’m also really looking forward to next spring! 

[BLEmom]

On 11/28/2024 at 10:58 PM, hatcheckgirl said:

Actually they are Swiss chard. And they are a colourful addition both in the garden and for salads. Excepts, I didn’t like the taste at all when I put them in my salad. I’m going to try steaming them instead. (Anyone have any other recipes for Swiss chard, I’d appreciate it). They are related to silverbeet.

I would only use the small leaves in a salad. 
For sautéing, I like to do the stems first and add the leaves towards the end. 
Very nice over mashed potatoes. 

[BLEmom]

On 11/27/2024 at 2:33 AM, Ishaya said:

Thank you Bro Jason for starting this topic on cultivating a garden.

Some three days ago I began to really consider it for self-sufficiency and maybe as a hobby when the produce starts turning out well.

 

We received a letter from the branch office that encouraged us to start a vegetable garden using sacs and containers as a way of coping with the rising cost of food here in Nigeria.

One of our sister related how helpful that idea has been for her family,she now grows alot of sweet potatoes all year round and she wants to even experiment with planting yams in her small garden.she told us that in a vegetable garden you can plant almost any vegetable plant all year round,I really like the idea of that.

 

I will be very grateful if brothers who have skill and experience on this topic can enlighten us more on how it is done for beginners.

 

With time I  am hoping to get a greenhouse tent but the ones I browsed on the Internet seen very expensive,I'm not sure how I can improvise that because the sun here in northern Nigeria Is very hot,so I will need to find a way to screen it so that the plants can grow well.

 

I'm looking at having a greenhouse tent like these ones or alternative to them if possible.i have enough space in my compound to accommodate it.

 

 

Does it get cold where you are?  If not, then you don’t need a greenhouse. 

You could always use the seed sowing methods of overwintering if needed. 
 

https://theamplegarden.com/winter-sowing-a-cheap-and-cost-effective-way-of-starting-seeds/
 

You may benefit from screening or shade cloth though. I’ve seen lace curtains used as screening in a pinch. Or using your vining plants grown upright and then plant crops in the shade of that.