"Cinnamon" wrote in message
om...
Hi everyone.

I recently purchased my first home and will be moving in on May 27th.

It has a very large, slightly sloped backyard and I live in
Cincinnati, if anyone is familiar with the climate and strange weather
we have here it may be helpful I guess.

I haven't had a garden since I was a kid, so there is a lot I don't
remember.

Can anyone give advice on what to do to get a start on a garden for
next year, and how to plan my garden now?

What I would like to grow is:

Carrots
Lettuce
Tomatos (cherry and plum)
Corn (couple staulks)
Green Peppers
Green Onions
Onions
Banana Peppers (can you grow those in the US?)

You sure can.


I would also like to try some strawberries because in the back portion
of my yard is a pretty good slope in a shady area and I remember from
being a kid that they grow best in the shade and on a hill.

I've read that Strawberries require full sun. Mine seem to do well in full
sun. Word of advice on them: plan ahead because they like to send runners
out and will quickly overgrow an area. Space them apart and use landscaping
fabric and straw in-between rows to prevent the overgrowth. And prune the
runners.


I would
also like to try to grow some blueberries and maybe some blackberries.


I believe blueberries require acidic soil.

In addition to all that (as if that's not enough) I would like to try
a little herb garden with some garlic, mint, cilantro, ginger,
parsley, and bay leaves. Would the herbs be best off in the garden or
should I try that in a window box?

Maybe you could try those on the hill.


I do plan also on starting a compost pile for use next year.

I guess one of my biggest hinderences to the yard preperation this
year might be that we have 17 year locusts, and this summer is the
17th year so they will be swarming. Does anyone know if this is really
a hinderence or just an annoyance?

Well... I guess I have written a long enough post here. I will try to
shorten them in the future, I am just pretty excited about it I guess.

It's fun to garden and try new things.


Thank you in advance for your assistance everyone!

Cinnamon L - Cincinnati Ohio