Beginning gardening again- advice needed
 

I grew up helping tend a vegetable garden which was but a thorn in the
side of a young boy wanting to do other things with that free time. Now
in my forties I'd love to get my hands back in the good earth & watch
life spring from something I've planted & tended. At last I have a large
back yard where I can do just that. I thought I was a country boy at
heart & knew something about this sort of thing, but I'm finding I'm
ignorant on several points.

For one thing I grew up back East where it was taken for granted that
every seed or plant of any sort needed a bit of fertilizer under it at
planting. 10-10-10, or something like that comes to mind. Manure compost
was also popular. I now live in northern Oklahoma where needs may be
quite different. Can anyone tell me whether I should use the supplement
or just drop 'em in the ground?

Since I love fried green tomatoes but can never find them for sale I've
decided to grow my own. I'm thinking of starting with maybe a couple
dozen tomato plants & some cucumber seed, probably little else for now.
I know Spring comes earlier here, but I think it isn't too late to get
these started?

Any other suggestions would also be appreciated. Thanks much & happy
gardening.

bill

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Beginning gardening again- advice needed
 

Steve Calvin wrote:

williamd wrote:
For one thing I grew up back East where it was taken for granted that
every seed or plant of any sort needed a bit of fertilizer under it at
planting. 10-10-10, or something like that comes to mind. Manure compost
was also popular. I now live in northern Oklahoma where needs may be
quite different. Can anyone tell me whether I should use the supplement
or just drop 'em in the ground?


Contact your local government cooperative society and they should
know. They most probably would do a soil analysis for a modest fee.

Thanks for the suggestion. I may just try it out. I don't suppose anyone
out there is from northern Oklahoma who might have more first-hand
experience with local conditions?

bill

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Beginning gardening again- advice needed
 

Beginning gardening again- advice needed
 

williamd wrote:
For one thing I grew up back East where it was taken for granted that
every seed or plant of any sort needed a bit of fertilizer under it at
planting. 10-10-10, or something like that comes to mind. Manure compost
was also popular. I now live in northern Oklahoma where needs may be
quite different. Can anyone tell me whether I should use the supplement
or just drop 'em in the ground?

I don't know about putting fertilizer *under* plants. Compost and
manure are pretty good soil ammendments anywhere, I think. As someone
else posted, you local state university extension office may have some
hints as to common soil composition in your area.