Now I've done it...

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

I had a landscaper come out and till a big part of my lawn because the "grass" was in terrible shape, mostly weeds, and I wanted a nice vegetable garden this year. I think I got carried away. So now I have a cleared area that's about 25' x 80' -- 2,000 square feet! That's not a garden, it's a fucking *farm*. So far I've planted beans, snow peas, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, cucumbers and pumpkins. Corn goes in later this week. I also planted a cherry tree for pie cherries. And there's still space left.

I'm overwhelmed. And I know I planted way too many zucchini seeds. I will regret this by the end of August.

The raccoons will eat the corn anyhow.

[Lil Missy]

1. You can send all your overload zucchini to me!

:D

[Chan790]

2. Plant more fruit trees.

Apples maybe? Tree Nuts? Not peaches though. MN is too cold, I think.

When the crap hits the fan over peak oil, you can live off the garden.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

3. My dear ocelot!

Well...

How about a road-side stand, where you sell the excess???

You could also plant herbs and flowers for color!

It sounds wonderful...

Will you post some pics when it gets going?

:hi:

[harmonicon]

4. that's what slip some zucchini onto your neighbour's porch day is for

well, it is.

[Richard Steele]

5. That's a common "rookie mistake" with the zucchini, so don't feel bad.

My folks did the same thing when I was a kid- had a 35'x40' garden
and put in two entire ROWS of zucchini.
I ate so much zucchini that year that I couldn't even stand
to look at it again until I was 25 or so.

This year, for Sweetie and I, our little container-based "garden"
has 6 zucchini plants. That should be plenty to provide the two of us
a few "fresh-picked zucchini" suppers, with plenty left over for canning
a few quarts of zucchini-based "this and that".


BTW, have you dropped by the DU "Gardening Group"?
It's a great place to share and learn, Itellyawhut!
You should check it out.

[MissMillie]

6. I'll take some of that zucchini off you hands

yummy!

[TZ]

7. There's a growing season in MN?

Funny I thought it was tundra 11 months of the year...KIDDING..It sounds like you would be the envy of my stepfather who would make my mothers yard one giant vegetable garden if he could...:)

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. Very funny.

Actually, the weather is still sucktastic. It's 50F and raining, so I didn't get my corn planted. At this rate nothing will sprout for a month. x(

[grannylib]

11. I haven't gotten any of my veggies into the ground yet either, and

doesn't this spring in teeny bits just SUCK? I want SPRING dammit, SPRING because it's going to be FUCKING SUMMER soon and we haven't had SPRING yet!!! Dammit!!!

[TZ]

15. It was 70 degrees here today

and 70 degrees when I was up there a few weeks back..In fact that was probably the nicest stretch of weather you guys had in awhile from what I can tell

[grannylib]

22. Today was lovely; too bad I had to be indoors for most of it!

At a conference today and the rest of this week. But I did get out into the woods and the garden for a bit when I got home after a 12-hour day :-) Hoping it will be this nice when I get home tomorrow after another one!

[krispos42]

20. No, not really

Heating season, mosquito season, road-construction season, and waterfowl season just about covers it...

:hide:

[Elidor]

9. Good for you! But don't overdo it

I used to spend close to an hour a day on something much smaller than yours. The maintenance on that size garden is a lot of work.

[bicentennial_baby]

10. Keep that corn well weeded until it gets big

Trust me. :)

[hippywife]

12. How about

some onions, potatoes, and sweet potatoes? And lettuce and spinach? Melons? Mmmmm! :hi:

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

13. I HATE onions. But I might put in some watermelons.

[hippywife]

14. Musk melons, too? n/t

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

16. They don't grow well here -- the growing season is too short.

And we are having a very cold, wet spring this year. I doubt I'd get much of a crop.

[rurallib]

17. Don't forget the mulch, dude. Easier than weeding!

See if your city has some wood chips for free. Stops weeds, keeps in water and enriches the soil for next year.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

18. The city parks give away free wood chip mulch.

I'm going to try to get some this weekend.

[rurallib]

19. I use tons of it all over the yard

ground underneath is like a sponge. Get it a good 3" deep.

[Rhiannon12866]

21. This sounds incredibly cool, and it's eco-friendly and it'll save you money,

even if you're overwhelmed with zucchini, LOL. If you like ratatouille, try planting eggplant, too... ;-)

You might also consider planting some fresh herbs, basil, oregano, parsley, rosemary, thyme and the like, to season your veggies. I've been meaning to do this for a long time, but we have a short growing season. And good luck with the corn! There's nothing like fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes or corn!:D

And the cherry tree will be beautiful in the spring.:loveya:

[Lady Freedom]

23. You will be happy that you planted that much!

With the way gas prices are effecting everything. I would suggest that you start learning about canning! As for the raccoons, go to your local dog groomers and get a bag of hair. then spread it around your corn.

[Callalily]

24. You need a lot of room

for corn, so you should be good.

Also, concerning excess. You can always donate to your local food pantries (or me).

Good luck with your new adventure.

[Pierre.Suave]

25. That is awesome

Fresh veggies are the best veggies!

[applegrove]

26. Sounds gorgeous!!