Questions and General Gardening Advice!!

[ECO FRIENDLY]

Hey all starting a garden in Kentucky this Spring!
Stumbled upon UK's "Agricultural guide to growing Vegetable's in Kentucky" and as I'm sure that will prove most useful I have some general questions...

What are some essential tools I will need to get started?

Here is my list for what I want to grow:
Asparagus, Lima Beans, Green Beans, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Celery Cucumbers, Lettuce, Onions, Peas, Peppers, Potatoes, Pumpkin, Spinach, Corn, Tomatoes, Watermelon, Sweet Potatoes.

I was thinking of having a 1 acre garden, is this enough to plant all of these?
Briefly skimmed an article in the guide about planting different things at different times of the year, would that be wise to do so?
What about raised beds?
I had planned to plant directly into the earth....

 

[FarmerJamie]

Things do well at different times of the year. Having a consistent flow of fresh veggies is always a good thing. Your cold weather crops (lettuce, peas, spinach, carrots) can be planted fairly early. Here in Ohio, I tried to have them in the ground by end of April. Warm weather crops (cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, corn, watermelon, pumkins) need to wait for warmer weather (assuming you will be transplanting plants for the maters and peppers). Some of these (broccoli, brussell sprouts, cabbage) can be planted in both spring and late summer, giving you two crops per season.

A one acre garden enough? Depends on how much of this you plant. The viney plants (melons, pumpkins, cukes) really don't need to be "in" the garden, any fertile mound of dirt out in the property can grow them. I often planted pumpkins in the compost pile that was slated to be added to the garden that fall (I had several piles in various stages of decomposition).

Raised beds or not? Your call. Opinions on it can get almost religious at times. Try a little of both. I typically just use a regular flat open garden since I like moving things around, but my asparagus was in a raised bed since they stay put year after year.

The best advice I can give is to try a little of everything and see what works best for you in your situation.

Tools? A good general purpose shovel, wheelbarrow, hoe, and bow rake. I would throw in a small, hand-held 3 tine metal hand rake (I do know they sell sets of hand rakes each with a slightly different purpose, but the one is all I would get to get started).

 

[baymule]

Since this is your first garden, an acre might be a little overwhelming. I garden in small beds in my front yard and grow a LOT! I order from several heritage seed catalogs versus the hybrid seed catalogs. If you plant a saved hybrid seed, it won't grow true, it will revert back to either of the parents and most of the time, be very disappointing. Heritage seeds can be saved and planted over and over.

http://www.rareseeds.com/

http://www.seedsavers.org/

http://www.bountifulgardens.org/

http://www.southernexposure.com/

http://www.potatogarden.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=PG&Category_Code=NSP

You might want to check out SS sister site, www.theeasygarden.com
Lots of friendly people there and we'll be glad to help all we can.

 

[ducks4you]

You already bought a great tool, a book specific to your state and part of the country. Even where I live, in IL, there are two distinct growing areas: Where the glaciers where and where the glaciers were not, and the soils are different.
Locally, I have heard it said NOT to till deeply and turn the clayish soil into powder bc it dries and hardens up. If you have clay pay attention to this. Better to use a shovel, rake and elbow grease. Also, amend the soil everywhere that you can. Get online and look for articles on compost. Go to a local stable and fill used grain bags with manure and stall leavings. I keep my horses in the back yard and it takes about 4 months for the manure to be useable, so you can pile it up in the corner of your yard or garden and let it sit before using. If I pile it up and leave it for a year, I have the very best compost and did very little work. If you use compost and manure you NEVER have to buy fertilizer.
The more you prepare your soil, the better your crops will grow. Read up on double digging. I've done it for 4 beds of mine and will be double digging 5 more this year.
Keep your garden simple or you will be a slave to it. Certain seeds are really easy to grow. Certain plants are harder to start and best bought and put in the ground.
Tomatoes, onions, lettuce, radishes and peppers are about the easiest to grow in your garden. Lettuce and radish seeds are the easiest to sow, onion sets, tomato plants and pepper plants are easier to buy and put in the garden. You save more on growing your own sweet or hot peppers more than any other food.
Go to our sister site: The Easy Garden and become a member. We'll help you along!