starting a garden, late i know...

[sweetirishCT]

any suggestions for starting a garden this late? being in new england, i should have planted warmer-weather plants around Memorial day, as i understand it... so far, only have the location of my yard broken up.. now i need to pull out rocks and condition the soil...

anyone have suggestions to get it ready for late-summer plants?? i need to add fertilizer etc, but would like to stick to the natural, organic stuff... (no miracle grow for me, thank you!! )

and then what for plants? I am looking for veggies mostly... thanks!!

one more thing! what is the best for natural pest control?? in the past i used k-neem on my flowerbeds, but somehow i killed the flowers... don't know if it was the spray or my very-not-green thumb...

[lhowlett]

I don't mean to intrude on this thread, but I was going to write the exact same question, except I live in Utah, so a different climate. Any help with heat loving vegi's would be great!!!

[Annemarie4]

I would look into getting compost from an area nursery-- you can get organic kinds. Or you can order from fedco, which has very good prices even with the shipping.
One thing you can do to "confuse" pests is to mix up your plants-- flowers, herbs, veggies together. There are also some plants which attract beneficial insects-- a list (from fedco's beneficial seed mix): alyssum, bachelor button, borage, gem marigold, dill, fennel, Phacelia tanacetifolia or fiddleneck, caraway, parsley, golden marguerite, ajuga, basket of gold alyssum, and Rocky Mountain penstemon.
As far as plants go, for most veggies you will probably want to look into getting starts since it is getting a bit late. But you could probably start lettuce and some herbs from seeds (cilantro, basil, dill should all do well for you).

[sweetirishCT]

Originally Posted by Annemarie4

I would look into getting compost from an area nursery-- you can get organic kinds. Or you can order from fedco, which has very good prices even with the shipping.
One thing you can do to "confuse" pests is to mix up your plants-- flowers, herbs, veggies together. There are also some plants which attract beneficial insects-- a list (from fedco's beneficial seed mix): alyssum, bachelor button, borage, gem marigold, dill, fennel, Phacelia tanacetifolia or fiddleneck, caraway, parsley, golden marguerite, ajuga, basket of gold alyssum, and Rocky Mountain penstemon.
As far as plants go, for most veggies you will probably want to look into getting starts since it is getting a bit late. But you could probably start lettuce and some herbs from seeds (cilantro, basil, dill should all do well for you).

wow... thanks!!!
i have alot of calls to make... gotta go!

[sweetirishCT]

Originally Posted by Annemarie4

I would look into getting compost from an area nursery-- you can get organic kinds. Or you can order from fedco, which has very good prices even with the shipping.
One thing you can do to "confuse" pests is to mix up your plants-- flowers, herbs, veggies together. There are also some plants which attract beneficial insects-- a list (from fedco's beneficial seed mix): alyssum, bachelor button, borage, gem marigold, dill, fennel, Phacelia tanacetifolia or fiddleneck, caraway, parsley, golden marguerite, ajuga, basket of gold alyssum, and Rocky Mountain penstemon.
As far as plants go, for most veggies you will probably want to look into getting starts since it is getting a bit late. But you could probably start lettuce and some herbs from seeds (cilantro, basil, dill should all do well for you).

wow... thanks!!!
i have alot of calls to make... gotta go!

[countrymom]

I am in New England too, and starting late due to all of the rain we've gotten. We've been unable to rotatill beds--just too wet & mucky.

I am going to all that we usually do and hope for the best. Radishes are quick--easy gratification--great for children to grow.

We have always planted basil with the tomatoes since it works as a natural repellent--one bug that likes one doesn't the other.

We do yellow wax beans and snow peas--even when we start late--though this year I think we may be later than usual...but I expect they'll do well as would zuchinni or summer squash.

Good luck!!

[EricaLeigh]

All of the things that you would replant through the season to keep a supply going, would work. I'm new at this but I know for sure that I will be planting mesclun mix $ carrots every few weeks.