First time gardener

[Domdabears]

Ok, so I just picked up some seeds, and I have a few questions.
I've never done this before. I don't even know if what I bought is too late to start planting.
I'm going to get the garden going ASAP.

These are the seeds I bought.

• Garden Bean (Tenderpick) (Bush Snap)
• Spinach (Giant Nobel)
• Cucumber
• Sweet Peppers (California Wonder)

Is it too late to start planting any of these?
Remember I'm in the Chicago area, so it's not even close to being a year round warmth.
Any advice would be appreciated.

[TennOutdoors]

look on the back of the seed back, and see how late you can plant each type. distance between seeds and rows. and how much sun they will require.

Id recommend buying plant food and top soil. spread the top soil and plant food over the ground youve laid out then till it. that way its mixed in with the regular soil.

water only when the ground is dry, at least thats how I do it. if its moist I let it go another day. keep the weeds out.

most beans are good to plant with other things, since they create add nitrates to the soil.

good luck with the garden. Im still learning myself. but so far my garden is blooming its butt off LOL.

[Domdabears]

Thanks man.
I think its too late for the spinach. I can plant them late summer / early fall. It says they like a colder soil.
Everything else should be good. I'm going to make a raised bed. 12x4

[Domdabears]

Also, if I don't use all the seeds in the packet this year, will it still be good to use them next year?
I see they have a sell by date.

[Skyowl's Wife]

most beans are good to plant with other things, since they create add nitrates to the soil.

Except tomatoes. They don't much care for each other.

Also, if I don't use all the seeds in the packet this year, will it still be good to use them next year?
I see they have a sell by date.

If you seal them (must do! keep out moisture) and stick them in the refrigerator or even the freezer, they'll be fine next year.

[Domdabears]

Except tomatoes. They don't much care for each other.



If you seal them (must do! keep out moisture) and stick them in the refrigerator or even the freezer, they'll be fine next year.

excellent!
thanks. just what i was looking for

[10eckid]

Also, if I don't use all the seeds in the packet this year, will it still be good to use them next year?
I see they have a sell by date.

We have used unopened seed packets that were 2 or 3 years past their sell by date and they worked just fine. We usually just plant a half package of corn each year and just roll up what is left in the package and sit it on top of the refrigerator till next year. No problems there either, but I wouldn't want to store it somewhere where the humidity was too high though.

[Domdabears]

Ok... So this is phase 1.
I just built the box today. It's only 8x4 because those were the only boards I had. It's big enough.
Dug up all roots, vines, and rocks.
Turned everything by hand, since I don't have a tiller.
Tomorrow I'm going to home depot to get some top soil, and gardening soil to mix with the natural soil.

In the box I'm just going to start off with some cucumbers, and snap beans. They grow in bushes, so I'm glad they don't get so tall.
I think I'm gonna see if home depot has some seed potatoes and dig a trench along the right side of that box and do some of those. Hope they have em.

[Domdabears]

Also, I kind of hope the squirrels, and rabbits mess with my garden, so I actually have an excuse to shoot em with my air rifle. I won't feel as bad then. :D lol

[Skyowl's Wife]

Keep in mind, I planted a 4X8 bed of green beans last year (9 plants per sq foot IAW the square foot gardening book), and ended up canning 85 pints, freezing about 5 lbs and dehydrating a bunch more. We still have beans, so this year only planted 6 plants per square foot, SO wants some pickled, or I wouldn't have planted any.

[Domdabears]

Alright, bought the top soil, and fertilizer. Got it all mixed in good.
Planted the seeds, and added water. Now just sit back and watch it grow.

[Domdabears]

Question.
Now how often do I water the garden?

[TennOutdoors]

my rule of thumb is if the soil isnt damp, I water. during the spring I watered every other day, sometimes less with all the rain we got. but now its so hot Im having to water every day.

[Domdabears]

my rule of thumb is if the soil isnt damp, I water. during the spring I watered every other day, sometimes less with all the rain we got. but now its so hot Im having to water every day.

That's pretty much what I was gonna go with.
Thanks dude.

[Tailgate]

We don't water in the heat of the day. Evening works out pretty good.