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 Can You Hear Me Now?
  
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | I'm planning and got to thinking. For those of you that grow a garden what size do you normally make it? I've always had a rather small garden for fun and a pumpkin or 2.
I am thinking to help feed 2-3 people for the summer to lower the grocery bill, plus some canning? I always start my seeds indoors when I can so I get a head start. Basically doing just the basics, carrots, beets, cucumbers, pumpkins, a row of potatos, peppers, zucchini, salad, a couple tomato plants for him....
I'd say a row of each of the root veggies and salad, and 5-6 plants of each of the others (I get tomatoes and stuff out the wazoo with that number anyway). I won't be doing a lot of canning just a few cans here and there.
Do you think 1/2 an acre would be enough??
ETA: Carrots would be my only downfall... I need lots I spoil my guys.
Edited by ndiehl 2014-04-01 6:44 PM
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 984
Location: Southwest Minnesota | 1/2 an acre seems huge to me. My garden is about 30' x 30'. I had zucchini, watermelon, eggplant, peppers, several varieties of squash (probably about 12 hills), and about 40 tomato plants. I also planted one row of sunflowers and left them in the garden for the birds. I froze eggplant, zucchini, and my mom canned tomatoes. I still have 9 gallon bags of tomatoes in my freezer and my mom and I just canned 26 quart of Spaghetti sauce. I originally froze 40 gallon bags of tomatoes (approximately). When it was fall and I knew it was going to freeze I picked about 5 more bushel of tomatoes and brought them to work and gave them away. If you are wanting to sit at farmers markets and sell stuff that is one thing. I think if you are new to gardening, I would start with a smaller patch. I also start my tomato seeds early but zucchini, carrots, beets, squash, etc. will do just fine directly sowed into your garden. |
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 Tried and True
Posts: 21185
 
Location: Where I am happiest | I agree. A 1/2 acre would be daunting to take care of and produce enough for 20 families. . |
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10D Crack Champion
| Better higher some workers if you plan on keeping up with a 1/2 acre garden.  |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 357
Location: Florida | I have a little garden that is 64' by 4' and broken up into 8 8' beds. Last year was the first year and it was way too much food for two people and was a lot of work when everything was ready almost at the same time. This year I have started with planting each bed at approx. 25% and every 3-4 weeks I will plant more seeds. That way it will keep producing longer and I won't be stuck at the garden every evening picking veggies. |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | That is a big garden.on a good note the plants will thrive with the space. Be sure to plant green beans .peas and corn. If you going to can some or a lot if done right it will keep. Prices will soon sky rocket into Pluto so plant and can as much as you can! |
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Can You Hear Me Now?
Location: When you hit the middle of nowhere .. Keep driving | Lol ok maybe 1/2 an acre is huge. I tend to space my things out a lot, I've never had to worry about the land for it. Also where I live right now I have to start things like cucumbers and squash indoors my growing season is very SHORT. Last year I barely got a few items out of the garden before we had our first frost. Mind you it was super early.
Depending on where I end up it may be different. I guess I'll have to wait and see with this. |
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boon
Posts: 2
Location: 17751 Boca Club Blvd | ndiehl - 2014-04-02 10:21 AM
Lol ok maybe 1/2 an acre is huge. I tend to space my things out a lot, I've never had to worry about the land for it. Also where I live right now I have to start things like cucumbers and squash indoors my growing season is very SHORT. Last year I barely got a few items out of the garden before we had our first frost. Mind you it was super early.
Depending on where I end up it may be different. I guess I'll have to wait and see with this.
That's so great of you. Land is not any issue. It's totally opposite to me. We live beside garden maintenance north shore company and not really having a huge land to grow. My daddy took few portion of their land in lease which is about 10 to 15 meter square and we grow tomatoes and few chiles over there.
I wish I would have such a huge land.
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