Prep for hard times

[longtooth]

That is really the only thing I am concerned about. I am surrounded by trees in the other folks yrd.

[Kerbouchard]

LT,

That picture reminds me of my early childhood. When I was growing up I thought that the only reason adults had children was for them to weed the garden and pick the vegetables. We even had a pretty large grapevine. There's nothing like fresh vegetables just picked from the backyard.

I miss the homemade zucchini bread too.

That back street reminds me of my childhood, too...But then again, I also grew up in Lufkin.

[NcongruNt]

just curious, but how long could a person survive off of a garden of that size.

would it sustain a family of 2? or just keep them alive.

They are really pulling our leg. Yes the garden in the pic is 75X35 & fi it makes at all I plan to feed the Wife, myself, Mom, Daughters family of 4 & 2 of the aged couples in the church.
I will not raise any corn in that small a place. Beans, peas, squash, potatoes, peppers, onions, cabage, tomatoes, collards, radishes, okra ( a full row crossfire) & even a couple of Zucini plants. Cantilopes, & a few watermellons. Neither of the mellon spots are visible.

We will have enough canned to last through the winter & probably trade some for jellies & some fruit that others have.


TexCompDude:
When it really starts to bear you can work all day there w/ nothing but a 2 galon can of cold water. When you get hungry pull 2 radishes, three tomatoes, a couple of bananna peppers & set down in the shade of the cornbread bush, pull a pone, ask the blessing & eat. When you are through just lean back in the shade for a short nap before getting up & back to work.
That is the truth even if I am the one tellin it.
LT

Looks like too much shade for corn, anyway. I tried growing some here in Austin a few years back (when I was renting a house with an area for gardening), and the area didn't get direct sun half the day. We had only a few ears that ended up edible, and those grew in a patch away from the big pecan tree that got sun more of the day. Zucchini and Yellow squash, on the other hand, grew like weeds, and we had plenty of that. We also had a dozen or so pre-existing parsley bushes that grew so fast and thick that we had to give it away in bulk to keep it from taking all the sun from the rest of the garden. One or two of those is enough for any family, really. Rosemary is also one that grows nice and big - only need one bush for that one.

Pecan and fig trees are also a great thing to have around. Gotta watch those figs, though - the birds will destroy them if you don't watch them closely! Those buggers will chew into a chunk just enough to ruin it for eating, and then move on to another. That and passers-by. Our fig tree was adjacent to a sidewalk, and it seems like everyone that walked by would stop, pick one, look at it, then toss it on the ground! My roommate took to yelling at folks after a while.

I've had great experience with Okra and Thai Chiles around here. If you can find them, Chile Pequin plants ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pequin_pepper" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) yield lots of very tasty tiny little peppers that go a long way for cooking. They like to grow in mostly shaded areas - usually you'll find them very close to structures or underneath big trees. My brother had lots of them under his large hackberry trees and next to the foundation of the house at his old place.

[WildBill]

I've had great experience with Okra and Thai Chiles around here. If you can find them, Chile Pequin plants ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pequin_pepper" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) yield lots of very tasty tiny little peppers that go a long way for cooking. They like to grow in mostly shaded areas - usually you'll find them very close to structures or underneath big trees. My brother had lots of them under his large hackberry trees and next to the foundation of the house at his old place.

When I lived in the Rio Grande Valley, I could buy fresh chile pequins at HEB in McAllen and I had friends in Mexico who grew them. Since I have moved to Houston, I have only been able to buy the dried peppers. I have tried to sprout chile pequin seeds, but have not had any luck. Do you have any suggestions?

For those who haven't had them - Chile Pequins are HOT.

They make jalapenos and habaneros seem like bell peppers.

[pbwalker]

Only once have I tried to start a garden, and it failed. It was my first attempt when I moved to Texas and well, it never worked. Does anyone have any resources or can any recommend any books for specific areas (as to what can grow, what's can't, growing seasons; etc.)?

I've been itching to get back into it again and, well, need help.

[NcongruNt]

I've had great experience with Okra and Thai Chiles around here. If you can find them, Chile Pequin plants ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pequin_pepper" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; ) yield lots of very tasty tiny little peppers that go a long way for cooking. They like to grow in mostly shaded areas - usually you'll find them very close to structures or underneath big trees. My brother had lots of them under his large hackberry trees and next to the foundation of the house at his old place.

When I lived in the Rio Grande Valley, I could buy chile pequins at HEB in McAllen and I had friends in Mexico who grew them. Since I have moved to Houston, I haven't been able to find them fresh. I have tried to sprout chile pequins, but have not had any luck. Do you have any suggestions?

For those who haven't had them - Chile Pequins are HOT.

They make jalapenos and habaneros seem like bell peppers.

It's kind of hit-and-miss. They grow on their own here (seeds spread from birds eating the peppers), and almost all of the time, they're growing in a shady spot right next to a structure (like an inch from a foundation). My brother tried transplanting a bunch from his old place to his new place, and only a couple of them took. They seem to be picky about where they take root. At my brother's place, they only grew along the west side of his house, where there was a lot of tree cover and artificial shade (an area between the house and a 8ft privacy fence - about 6-8 feet wide), and near there underneath large hackberry trees - same side of the property and near a fence to the west. I don't think I've ever seen them in a place that has afternoon sun. At my old place, we had 3 plants that grew along the south side of the house. The house was actually angled with its ends at ESE and WNW, so the structure and tall fence (6 ft privacy fence, also running along the south about 6-8 feet from the structure, and to the west and east at the ends of the building) and nearby trees made for a totally shaded area for the plants to grow. It's possible, judging from the locations I've found them, that they will take root only in places where water is likely to collect. Come to think of it, pretty much all of the places I've seen them were low spots where the water doesn't drain away quickly.

[Jeff B.]

Only once have I tried to start a garden, and it failed. It was my first attempt when I moved to Texas and well, it never worked. Does anyone have any resources or can any recommend any books for specific areas (as to what can grow, what's can't, growing seasons; etc.)?

I've been itching to get back into it again and, well, need help.

For starters, I'd recommed that you take a look at the "Dirt Doctors" website. He is an Organic Advocate who has lived, worked and gardened in Texas for most of his life. A great deal of good information. I'm not 100% organic, but am vastly more than I was ten years ago. My lawn actually has grass (St Augustine is taking over) and my trees and shrubs are very heatlhy and drought resistant.

I'd like to claim to be the king of vegetable gardeners in North Texas, but I'd be watching for lightening if I did... My herbs are pretty strong, I get some good peppers and reasonable tomatoes. I hope to increase my tomato output this year, get yellow and sumer squash and some pole beans. One step at a time, right?

Regards,

Jeff B.

[longtooth]

Books are fine but your best bet will be to ask one of the local truck farmers in your area who has the best seeds around.
Go to that feed store & tell him you are getting started & need some help. He should have a planting chart for your area.
He will also know the specific needs of the soil in your area.

I grew up farming in West Texas. Made a big enough garden while in college to sell enough to pay my Fall tuition each year. I am now 150 miles South & a LOT warmer climate than I have ever worked a garden in.

What I said above is the way I got started this yr. Found who has the best reputation for quality seeds & told him I have been out so long & the climate is so different that I need to be be treated like a 10yr old. We both had a laugh & he has been a big help.
Start small to learn. Get some dirt under your nails. Listen to the old hands.
If you know someone that raises a good garden just watch them. When they plant onions go get some. When they plant tomatoes go get some. The guy I will watch this yr is named JD Keys. If I can do it so can you.

[barres]

Amongs the storing up of arms, ammo, water & MRIs, anyone else making garden & canning it.

If you've been stocking up on MRI's, then you either need lots of prayers for whatever your condition(s) is(are) or, if it's the machines you've been stocking up on, you must be the wealthiest preacher I've ever heard of!















I know you meant MRE's, but I couldn't resist the opportunity to jab.

[longtooth]

2-shey. you got me
Country Baptist Preacher & I am one of the wealthiest folks in all eternity.
Just aint quit pay day yet.

[flintknapper]

LT….if you’ll plant some potatoes and celery..I’ll bring the raccoons.

Lord knows…. I've got ‘em!

[longtooth]

Potatoes, definately.
Backed in the cavity of one of the young ones w/ bacon strips on top of the coon to keep it from being dry is some gooood eatin.

[Liberty]

This thread reminds me so much of growing up, My Mom was widowed with 5 of us kids, and the Vegetable garden played a large part in feeding all of us. The Veggie garden also provided the racoons which would bless our table in a nice fricassee over noodles. We always thought squirrel was pretty special too. We found out quickly that corn just took up too much real estate to bother with in a garden, but while there are a hundred ways to prepare tomatoes , No tomato taste as good as the one seconds after picked.

[barres]

I am one of the wealthiest folks in all eternity.
Just aint quit pay day yet.

That deserves an "Amen!"

[Venus Pax]

My grandmother used to have a rather large garden. She ruined me for store vegetables; hers were always so much more flavorful.

She would go out in the late morning and pick whatever was growing, then bring it in and start cooking.