|
Mon, Apr 16, 12 at 17:57
| Okay, I'm complete newbie to gardening (and this forum), so I have a billion questions, but my most pressing question is how do you have a continuous harvest? For example, if I plant 16 carrot seeds, and get 16 carrots to grow, will I harvest just those carrots and it's done? or will the seed still produce more carrots? just an example. |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| Dear Newbie, For continuous harvest of something like carrots, you need to plant seeds every couple of weeks. One seed will produce one carrot. Some lettuces, you can keep cutting the outer leaves and the plant will continue to make more until it gets too hot outside. My Blue Lake bush beans produce, then take a rest and then produce again. But I usually plant some more seed a few weeks after the first sowing to have beans during the first batch's rest period. Seeds that you only get one harvest from one seed are beets, carrots, turnips, rutabaga, parsnip. Things like tomatoes, peppers, eggplant keep growing and flowering, so you only plant once a season. Leafy greens like kale, chard, mustard will keep producing new leaves as you harvest the outer leaves. Some gardeners will plant cucumber seeds every couple weeks, but I've had good luck making only two plantings a couple weeks apart. They just keep coming. Cabbage is also a one seed, one plant type. The right type of broccoli will produce side shoots after the main head is cut off. Last year I planted the hybrid 'Packman' and it kept producing all summer and even into December. Hope this helps. Keski |
|
| Keski is right on. If you want a continuous harvest with carrots, you have to sow new seeds every few weeks during the planting season. Swiss chard is another vegetable that keeps on giving - cut the outer leaves and more keep growing. Not forever, of course, but for a long time. I don't know where you live, but there is probably a Master Gardener program in the area that can give you specific advice about what and when to plant for your climate. |
Here is a link that might be useful: What's Growing On?
|
| There is a great little book called 'Week-by-Week Vegetable Gardening' by a father-daughter team author Kujawski. Not too expensive, lots of tips. You figure out your zone and last spring frost date and fill them in and then you have the dates and schedule for planting and starting seeds. Keski |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Square Foot Gardening Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.