I have a small organic vegetable and fruit garden in my yard. I don’t want to hurt any animals, just keep them out of the area and from eating my small crop.

I have a couple of old aluminum saucepans and wonder if I can use these in my veg. garden to put plants in or any advice would be helpful.

Can you plant vegetables just into the ground or should you buy special dirt?
If the soil at your home is poisonous should you create a garden for vegetables with purchased dirt in a box with a base?
thanks in advance
sorry! goodness i assumed dirt and soil were one and the same.
things do grow on our SOIL but testing has shown it is poisonous and i dont want to eat infected vegetables from the SOIL/dirt

Hi Folks,

We recently moved to a property that is populated with lots of deer. We are planning on a nice big garden this year. Next to putting a 6 foot fence with angled barb wire at the top like a prison, what is the best way to keep the deer out of our cherished garden this year?

I look forward to some great answers, thank you!

I want to start a small vegetable garden…what is a basic list of supplies that I need?

do you have a toad house?
a pond?
how many toads?
are they helping with the garden insects?
i have about a dozen toads, 3 toad houses, a pond, and they seem to be keeping the garden free of pests. i am not using pesticides, i prefer the toads. tell me about your garden toads.
i love them. i take great care of them.
we used to have lots of crickets. even inside, but not anymore. there’s one big toad that sits on the welcome mat like she’s guarding the house from them.

I live in a huge suburban area. I am thinking of planting a veggie garden, but I am wondering it it is safe. Who knows what kind of chemicals people use on their lawns.. does it get into the ground water?? Anybody have any experience with this?

I’m in Southeast Tennessee, it doesn’t rain much. My garden is in direct sun for most of the day. It has 7 inches of a compost/manure and is mulched with straw. I have a soaker hose.
About how many inches should it get?
Should I water every day, every other, or once a week?

now its rainy season and temps lowering, could coastal hay be ok in the garden. gulf coast in southeast texas
this stuff is pretty clean and dry, looks like 100% straw. the feed store kept bails inside a trailer. the garden has been amended with mushroom compost mixed with sand and pine mulch last spring 2009. should i let it sit for the season and compost for next year?

My garden vegetables plants are not growing well this summer. I have tomatoes, squash, hot peppers, basil and oregano. The plants are very short and less developed as compared with other summers. I’m wondering if it could be the high UV index we’ve been having. It’s also been cooler than usual and much rainier than usual. The soil is fresh and all else seems to be in order. Should I move them into the shade or it more likely that it’s the cooler temperatures and too much rain that’s the cause of their underdevelopment? Many thanks.

My garden vegetables plants are not growing well this summer. I have tomatoes, squash, hot peppers, basil and oregano. The plants are very short and less developed as compared with other summers. I’m wondering if it could be the high UV index we’ve been having. It’s also been cooler than usual and much rainier than usual. The soil is fresh and all else seems to be in order. Should I move them into the shade or it more likely that it’s the cooler temperatures and too much rain that’s the cause of their underdevelopment? Many thanks.

Planted in my garden are eggplants, zuccini, yellow crooked neck squash, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, cayenne peppers, green onions, and sunflowers. Not all of my plants are changing colors, and the ones that are turning colors are not next to each other. Some are on opposite sides of the garden, that’s why I think it is something in the soil. I can’t find the answer to this problem ANYWHERE!!!!!

I am starting a garden want to find out what plants are not susceptible to aphid infestation. Many of my outdoor potted plants have had problems with aphids. Rather than trying to fight them, I would like to grow plants that are just not susceptible to aphid attack. Any suggestions?

I have a nice boxed off area that used to have a hot tub from a previous house owner. I would love to plant a garden, but after tilling the soil I noticed that it is kind of sandy. I live in Ohio. I plan on growing (hopefully) Tomatoes, Japs, Cucumber, Romaine, Bell Pepper, Okra, Squash, Strawberries, Watermelon, Onions, Carrots and Green Beans. Will these plants grow in sandy soil?

I have a nice space in front of my house that I would like to start planting vegetables and herbs in that I can use for cooking. I have never worked in or grown a garden before so I was wondering if some experienced gardeners can help me by giving me some tips on how to start….Thanx!

I know that compost is generally added to the soil, and then tilled in, but would a garden grow in only compost? And would it grow well?

I’ve got tomatoes, bell peppers, beans, cucumbers, squash, hot peppers, lettuce, etc. maturing in my garden now. Is there a trick to saving seeds? I’ve never tried it before.

I am making a 6′ 8" garden bed, and I know how to make it and how to garden and all that stuff. But, there’s one thing I don’t know. How do you keep animals like Deer, Raccoon, and pesky animals like that out of your garden?

I live and garden in the desert Southwest. I’ve learned how to garden around killer hot summers and super alkaline soil. So, far the places I visit most are the Garden Web Arizona forum and the University of Arizona agricultural sites. What about you? Where do you learn about growing herbs and veggies?

Every year its the same old thing, We have our vegetable garden ploughed and a ton of rocks reappear. We take them out every year, and next year its the same thing again. Whats up with this>

There is a run down used-to-be garden in the corner of my property, and i want to turn it into a functioning garden again. Trouble is, I have never had a garden before. I need to know what kind of things I can grow considering where I live, how soon I should start, and how to get everything ready to plant. Can anyone help?

for some reason, my vegetable garden slopes this year…we have had alot of rain, I still have transplants waiting to be put in ground. so about 1/4 of my garden is holding water. two rows are already black eye peas. I still have a good empty spot there. It will dry, but knowing this, what might do good there? any veggies or melons at all that would work, please. I have too many seeds and transplants to list.. thank you

We recently moved into our first home (lived in apartments before). I have always been sort of a frustrated gardener- I’ve had lots of container plants. Now that I have a HUGE yard, I want to start a vegetable and herb garden. The problem is, we have lots of rabbits that visit our yard every day, and there are mice in the field behind us (they come into our yard sometimes). I am an animal lover and do not want to poison, trap, or otherwise "get rid of" these animals, but I don’t want them to eat all my veggies (or make the mouse problem worse). Is there anything I can do to protect my garden or discourage these animals from coming in my yard (I have a dog and a cat, but they still come in).

Any serious ideas would be appreciated.

I’ve got a nice vegetable garden, but grasshoppers and other insects are going after my broccoli plants something fierce. I’d rather not use chemical insecticides to stop them. Does anyone have any advice on how to protect my plants without resorting to Raid? I’ve heard of making solutions with dish soap and other household items; that’s the sort of stuff I’m looking for.

I just planted my garden about two or three weeks ago and I have noticed something has been eating my strawberries lettuce and all the other herbs
so how can I keep whatever is eating them away so I can enjoy my herbs and vegetables without pieces of them being bitten off!!