When do you plant your veggie garden...and how?

[Raven]

I know I can't even consider planting up here until Memorial Day weekend. When do you get going?

Also, I'm thinking about doing a raised bed garden and I'm also worried about deer and other critters. Any advice?

[hippywife]

1. We put our first cool weather crops in

almost a month ago out here in the middle of the country. We should have done it sooner but had an unusually cold March with a couple of freezes so we couldn't plant sooner. The rest of the seeds were planted this last weekend.

We are also doing sustainable organic gardening in raised beds using a biointensive method and companion planting to repel pests and weeds naturally. We are loosely using tips from the book "How to Grow More Vegetables Than You Ever Thought Possible" by John Jeavins.

As far as critters go, we live in the country and have lots of them. Having dogs outside helps deter them from the garden as does the rabbit fencing around the perimeter.

This is our third year and it's a learning process. Each year gets a little better. It just takes some patience and a willingness to learn by trial and error.

Good luck with yours! :hi:

[Omphaloskepsis]

2. We planted ours a few months ago...

We have raised beds. Things are coming in well. It doesn't really get that cold in Oregon. If I can find the damn camera I will post picks. Our peas are about 18" tall.

[GenDem]

3. Not safe here until Memorial Day

Peas and lettuce can go in early (we haven't put anything in yet), but everything else must wait till the danger of frost has passed. We've lost all our tomatoes before when a late frost hit, and it's a bummer starting over.

We may have enough asparagus this weekend to cook up a little, and the Rhubarb is starting to shoot up. :bounce: