/diy/ - Do It Yourself

i've benn gardening for years. The best tip I can give you is to look at the ingredients of food and recipes you love. Find the vegetables that go into them and grow those. You like spaghetti sauce or salsa? Then there's tons of stuff right there you can grow; vegetables, fungi, herbs, spices. You'll be able to can your own sauce and salsa.

Second best tip, horse manure. Get some well aged horse manure for your plants as fertilizer and growing medium. The difference between no horse manure and with horse manure is night and day.

Been wanting use this for a while

pic related for northern hemisphere.

Container gardening is probably the easiest way to get started. Potatoes, carrots, cucumbers, radishes are one's that I've grown in a combination of proper pots and/or anything I had lying around. Plants are pretty hardy. Fill something with potting mix, a bit of actual soil if you can find it and keep it fed and watered.

Tbh, the hardest thing about it is remembers to water the damn things. Big containers retain more water, but are a pain to move. A foot wide or a little more is practical.

Berries are pretty easy to grow. I've grown strawberries in hanging baskets before, there's a bunch of guides knocking around on that. I'm guessing most other berries would be doable that way too.

>>265566
>adding
>buy some seeds from local big box store
>maddock a patch of soil
>plant seeds as directed on package
>Water as directed
>use fertilizer if want or go super organic
>neglect
>pull weeds
>neglect
>harvest
>????
>profit
if you don't want to buy seeds then save seeds from vegetables you already have, let them dry and plant as indicated on internets.

>>265566
Nice.

winter squash. when they're ready to be picked, you steam them for a long time and enjoy. mash them up too. they are tasty.

Hi, OP here. Thanks for all the input, I was just wondering how I would go around to setting up a garden like in the picture I posted. Would I need any paticular soil to grow from the ground and not from pots?

Dumping diy food growing info posters

>>265596
AKA "Butternut Squash" Where I live, summer squash isn't what is pictured in that image.

2/?

Make a square frame with four 2''x12''x8's or similar type board (non treated because you don't want chemicals in your soil or treated with safe stuff) Fill with dirt. Dark, rich looking dirt is best, if you don't have a pile you may be able to find some on the free section of craigslist or just go ninja some from the woods. Bam you have a small terraced garden.

To answer your question you don't need any particular soil really, just nothing too orange/clay like. There really isn't much to it your first time. Just try it out and next season you'll have a better feel for what works. OR go ask around at your local farmers market for advice.

4/?

how are you going to start? that raised bed in your photo is a nice way if you got the dough.
just took this today, thread seems like a decent excuse to post it-a garden spider

>>265553
I was thinking of making some raised garden beds out of old couches the other day. Basically what I would do is strip it down to the frame and reinforce the sides with something, plyboard or something maybe. I've got all the stuff laying around already so it's not gonna cost me anything.

Thoughts?

lasagna garden will give you ideas.
jerry bakers back to nature almanac #1 is a very simple month by month guide.
plant your herbs close to your front door so you use them. search google groups. there's great gardening groups that will match whatever level you're at. I do a tomato group, myself growing about 50 different heirlooms.

>>265698
sorta like people using wine barrels? interesting, novel idea you got there. have a pic that might help me visualize it better?

>>265707
Not at the moment, I haven't actually started anything yet as Im waiting to get a pepper tree in my backyard cut down first. I'll make sure to share once I start.

I also thought of making small ones with tyres, I've found heaps in my neighbourhood while out scavenging.

walk into your local extension office. they always have a ton of handouts on all kinds of stuff. And they have workshops. like late winter they will have a getting reading for spring workshop, put on by master gardeners. people that just love gardening.
under your sink you can throw coffee grounds and stuff in to ammend the ground.
the couch thing sounds really cool. pepper tree sounds like a tropical/subtropical. have you gardened much?

sorry, i was just thinking of my country

>>265715
Nah I haven't gardened much before. I did volunteered to help make some raised garden beds at the local primary school when I was in y last years of high school, but nothing much other than that.

The pepper tree is an invasive weed here in Australia and its no good for me when I get hayfever. Apparently its native to Peru. It sits right outside my window so Im glad its going.

carrots can be put in early. berries can take a few years, depending on the berry. i've had many strawberry patches, but they always turned into too much work. i gotta take a pic of my blueberries. i planted about ten in a circle 5 years ago, so in another 5, I'll have a nice private place i can put a bench in. gardening has changed how i think about time.

>>265553
hey how can I get the vines in op's pic to grow somewhere else?
Here they are taking over buildings and I've always thought they would look badass somewhere like wrapped around a abandoned bike rack, hidding the entrance to a abandoned building, on top of ceilings, and on dog houses

Like do I cut off a peice and plant it? or can I just throw it in the grown close to the nearest bike rack

>>265783
There are tons of different types of vines man. I think the one in the very back of OP's picture is a grape vine. Typically vines need to be planted and nurtured like any other plant though some are heartier than others.

The thing closer in the foreground of OP's picture is a squash type plant, not typically considered very viney.
>pic related grape vine

>>265692

I was planning to trying something like the pic I did, hopefully it won't be too difficult. Are insects eating the crops a common problem? I want to try and avoid that because I don't want to have to put chemicals and what not to fend off insects

find a nice vine see if it has some roots and stem you can replant. or put some stuff in in the spring. some types of nasturtiums can easily grow 15 feet a summer( they die first frost)others that are one season-moonflower morning glory that grows like a weed. grapes is cool and lives years. i've had luck with wild ones just growing. what they say about vines that live longer than one season (perennials) first year they sleep, 2nd they weep, 3rd they leap!

and for op, neem oil is a natural fungicide/insecticide, if you find you gotta use something.

>2012
>Not using technology to lower variables.
>Not growing hydro or aeroponically.

Enjoy your bug infested, slow growth, acid rain, nuclear fallout, Monsanto plant.

>>265989
How about I enjoy my companion planted, beneficial insect, extremely fast growth, horse-manure-laden, organic garden instead?

>>265990

>companion planted

Dawww isn't that cute. Within a enclosed enviroment I can stimulate plant growth thru sound waves coming from speakers on a timer.

>beneficial insect

Enjoy the the holes in your food and extra diseases. You probably need that protein anyway, you don't seem to know how to grow it. Enclosed enviroment ftw.

Besides if it's out in the open your most likely using pesticides to weed out the "beneficial" insects. Enjoy your Monsanto non organic vegetables.

>extremely fast growth

Oh do go on about the growth differences from soil compared to a hydro or aero operation. Go find some sources and get back to me. You'll discover what you consider "Extremely fast growth" for you is stunted growth rate for a hydro/aero enclosed design.

>horse-manure-laden

Sounds like more Monsanto bullshit to throw into your food. You probably skip fertilizing with it, and go straight to eating it?

>organic garden instead?

Can easily use organic materials in a enclosed environment. But it all depends on the nutrients your plants need.

Care to go on about your "organic" garden any longer? Your as fake as the horse shit you eat. Hope your not passing that shit off at your local farmers market.

>>266086
>doesn't know what companion planting is
Please do go on about your garden, pics too plz.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Sisters_(agriculture)

>>266089

Would need to scrub the meta data from the pics. To lazy.

>Doesn't know what aquaponics is. Problem indian techies?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquaponics

Do go on about how mass agriculture caused the dust bowl and how advancing our growing techniques has allowed us not to repeat these errors, or not if your to hippie dippie to pick up a text book and understand the advancement of technology.

Hydroponics and other similar advanced forms of growing are at times cost-prohibitive to the new user; not to mention require a certain level of specialized equipment (yes, this is /diy/ and yes, you can make the equipment from spare parts, but the statement still stands.)

Compared to using otherwise unused ground in a a yard to grow food to supplement intake, it is more efficient both monetarily and space-wise; but more finicky and requires a higher start-up cost. So, in short, it's a battle between start-up costs and running costs, in terms of both efficiency and sheer foreknowledge.

In other words, stop arguing and do what you do. It's disgusting that you both spend so much time tearing eachother down instead of actually being helpful. Everyone has their own methodology of going about things, and if it works, it works.

Why don't you both post the running and startup costs of your preferred system, along with detailed plans and Bills of Materials? Then post your average yields of various popular crops. Then the rest of us can compare and contrast the positives and negatives objectively and actually make an informed choice.

>>266086
>Aggressive vegetable growers.

I guess there are insecure dicks everywhere...

>>266091
>Would need to scrub the meta data from the pics. To lazy.
nice gif

>>266091
Take screen shot of picture.

You have no garden.

>>265989
>>266086
>>266091

Do you even grow ?

Not the other anon, but I'm baffled by your fanboyism. Hydroponics are great for many vegetables, especially the leafy ones which is what I use it for, and the enclosed environment does indeed allow for greater control and higher yields with certain crops.

But man, absolutely nothing beats a home- and soilgrown tomato. The same goes for almost every vegetable that's also a fruit (developed from a flower). Pumpkins, zucchini's, tomatoes, beans, aubergines,.. All taste very bland and 'watery' when grown hydroponically. Anyone with taste buds can testify to this. The higher yields when growing these hydroponically do not compensate the loss in taste at all. Quality over quantity for me.

'Rootvegetables' like carrots, radishes, beets,.. are also very very tricky to grow hydroponically compared to soil, in my experience. They tend to split open easily when turgorpressure is high. Also, though the quality is equally good in these cases, quantity tends to be a lot lower in hydroponic grows.

My classic garden feeds me throughout the summer, and my hydroponic garden feeds me throughout winter. They are not equal, but equally valuable to me. Couldn't miss either one.

Also, I'm not afraid to post a pic of my garden (for you OP. Pic is from around late May). Could dump more if interested.
As you can see, my garden isn't that big, but it is cultivated intensely. I could probably fulfill the vegetables-needs of two people throughout the growing season.

>>266124

Yes this is something I'd be interested in starting, what are growing?

>>266137

What are you growing* my bad

>>266124
INB4 radishes aren't rootbulbs. They are thickened stems.

I just started with sticking seeds in the ground and hoping something would grow out of it, because I was sick of buying a ball of lettuce for the same price as a packet of seeds that lasts me two years. As simple as that.
When those tiny seedlings break ground (or rockwool, if going hydro), you'll be overcome by latent paternal instinct and inform yourself on how to make them as happy (and tasty) as possible.

The need for pesticides hasn't arisen yet, and I'd like to avoid it at all costs. But if it's necessary, it's necessary. Organic growing is great, but be a gardener/homegrowman, not a hippie. Nothing is as discouraging as pouring your love and sweat into your plants and not getting returns. Look into bugrepelling companion-planting. Google is your friend. This does the trick for me (for now. 6years of gardening).

The easiest starters imho are spinach and lettuce, whether you are going hydro or soil. Closely followed by pea's, radishes, scallions, onions, most herbs,.. Pumpkins, zucchini's and potatoes are also very easy and low (to no) maintenance, but they do require decent more fertilized soil.

Soilquality and -preparation makes or breaks your gardeningresults in my experience. Google, again, is your friend. Decent information is easily available.
I mostly use just compost and chicken manure. Compost gives my soil a nice 'airy' consistency and the manure adds a lot of nutrients. Plants that like a more nutrient-rich environment (tomatoes, zucchini's, ..) get some artificial fertilizer supplemented with micronutrients (magnesium being the most important one).

Pic semi-related; progress in early may. Decent pics are on my other computer.

>>266086
>not knowing what companion planting is.
>not knowing how to use beneficial insects and lure plants

>Oh do go on about the growth differences from soil compared to a hydro or aero operation.

I worked in a very large tomato greenhouse that used hydroponics. My tomatoes grow far faster than those and produce better. I just canned 18 quarts of tomatoes, onions, peppers, red cabbage, and tomatillos together from today's harvest. The company I worked for had to sign a contract with Monsanto and buy all their seeds from Monsanto. They went out of business after five years, not because they didn't have buyers, not because they didn't have produce, it was because Monsanto's seeds cost too much and the heating and hydro-systems cost too much to maintain.

Something tells me you are a Monsanto meta troll plant.

>>266124
>knotted willow guy

I'm close to having my summer season garden feeding me year round with stuff I've canned or dried. I have tons of pinto beans this year.

>>266155
I've not used pesticides at all this year. This is the 2nd year running not needing it.

I HAVE A HEALTHY CROP OF JAPANESE KNOTWEED THIS YEAR AND FOR THE PAST 7 YEARS

>>266165
>forgot pic

Here's the latest canning done today.

>>266169
Those are great in the spring. The young shoots are a nice vegetable.

my dad has been making his own fertilizer. Basically any fruit peels, seeds, unwanted vegetables like onion skins, used coffee ground with the filter and all, gets dumped into a bucket to rot for a bit then my dad pours it into the soil and mixes it up. seems to work well.

>>266182
It is composting and a good method since time immemorial

>>265789
i remember the name
kudzu, a japanese plant

>>266124
Ahh yes the truth comes out. I also noticed you seem to live in a rural area. Whats all that Monsanto plants doing in the background then? Enjoy cross pollination and if you ever attempt to sell that shit and start to make a profit believe Monsanto will sue your ass.

I treat each of my plants like a lab experiment. Which gets more and more refined each cycle. Less energy / more plant. Oh not to mention I'm able to grow vertically. Do go on about Monsanto's non vertical grow policies ;)

>>266165

I worked in a very large tomato greenhouse that used hydroponics. My tomatoes grow far faster than those and produce better. I just canned 18 quarts of tomatoes, onions, peppers, red cabbage, and tomatillos together from today's harvest. The company I worked for had to sign a contract with Monsanto and buy all their seeds from Monsanto. They went out of business after five years, not because they didn't have buyers, not because they didn't have produce, it was because Monsanto's seeds cost too much and the heating and hydro-systems cost too much to maintain.

Something tells me you are a Monsanto meta troll plant.

Lmfao, trying to compare someones failed business plan for the reason not to grow hydro/aeroponically in an enclosed environment is stupid. You say I'm a "Monsanto meta troll", but I've already pointed out the fallacy to outdoor agriculture which is Monsanto.

>My face when I actually am able to grow year round in an enclosed environment off of a battery bank which supports technological companies in china and japan. Not oil company's trying to get their thieving hands onto everyone's money. Hahaha technology ftw.

Oil dependance can kiss my ass. Mansanto too.

>>266124

Something tells me your to lazy to research,engineer, and construct a proper hydro/aero grow. Also depends on the plants heritage as well as the nutrients your feeding it.

Mind showing us pics of your indoor grow as well?

>>266365
I jumped into this thread for the kudzu.

I live in the southeastern united states. Kudzu is everywhere. It in a very invasive plant. It's hard to kill, and if it isn't kept controlled it can become extreme pretty quickly. There are literally entire buildings covered in the stuff. Once the plant(s) get that large, it's very hard to destroy it and reclaim the land. If you want to troll your community, plant kudzu everywhere. If you want to pass your land on to your children and grandchildren, don't mess with it. It might not be such an aggressive species in other climates.

Look into Heirloom seeds. Those seeds you're probably buying from the garden sections are genetically modified. Heirlooms are real. Though you probably don't care, but whatever.

The important thing is you want to step into self-sufficiency and learning how to grow and preserve your own food is a great first step.

>>265553
All you need to know is water it daily use good dirt mix in chicken shit or cow shit and keep it well weeded (the biggest failure and reason why everyone is shit at gardening)

>>266425
GB2/b/

>>266473
>genetically modified

Yes they are, by selective breeding - sometimes generations of selective breeding - to be as hardy, fast growing and as heavy a cropper as possible.
The downside to this is sometimes the taste is compromised and unusual (sometimes inferior) strains are lost.
Dont derp just because people bandy genetically modified around

>>266508
Incorrect.

"Genetically modified", refers specifically to the manipulation of genes through genetic engineering.

The term you are looking for using selective breeding is called, "Artificial selection".

>>266512
You are right and I apologize, but I think we are taking semantics here. A plant which has been selectively bread over a long time for positive traits has had it genes altered artificially, just not via a lab.

>>266425

I know for a fact that none of those crops are monsanto's. The field is my uncle's and I helped cultivate it. I'm located in Europe and their grip over here is not as tight as they would want it to be.

>>266514
wrong...so wrong. You need to do your research instead of sucking the shit out of alex jone's cumhole

>>266524

Well why don't you mention you live in Europe? You just happen to be on an American website...

That explains your lack of local access to superior growing technology and doing it the old fashion way.

You mentioned you also had a hydro or indoor grow for the winter. Pics or your just some poor euro-fag.

>>266514

>Selective Breeding/Genetically Engineered are fucking completely different, not semantics. Ones forced and ones natural. You seem to be ignorant on the use of pesticides as well as genetic indicators. Welcome to the corporate world of agriculture.

>>266524

Also if their is any other Monsanto crops within the vicinity then yes your crops are fucking Monsanto. Wind + Pollination = Genetic test = Lawsuit for everything you own. Not sure if the law would be applicable in your country. Depends where you live.

I seem to have made a mistake with my garden boxes. They are too close to my raspberry and blackberry run. And my watering of my berry plants has resulted in overwatering and cracking of my tomatoes.

Just started propagating my seeds indoors. Can't wait till the weather warms up.
North hemispherefags, post more pics. I wanna see your plants in all their glory.

Grow durians and Jimson Weed. Those are the only things you need in life.

>>266471
Can I clone kudzu?
like cut off a peice then stick it in the grown somewhere else?