I know I live in "Zone 1" (Super harsh/cold winters, super short growing season)
I'd like to grow:
*corn
*tomatoes
*sweet and hot peppers
*basil
*cilantro
*onions
*potatoes
*sunflowers
*cukes
*cantelopes
*watermelon
*strawberries
*leaf lettuce
*zucchini
Question 1: I've bought seed packets, some of which say to plant directly into the ground instead of starting indoors. But then online I read conflicting suggestions about that because due to our short growing season, if not started indoors our plants will never reach maturity and fruit because they didn't have time. So I guess this question is start indoors? Or outdoors? And why?
Question 2:
We are a family of 8, and we have only chosen veggies and fruits we actually enjoy. I'd rather have too much harvest (allowing us to share) than not enough. So - with my goal being to have plenty of fresh veggies to enjoy through the season, and also enough to freeze/can/dry for the off-season, how many of each of the above named seedlings/seeds would I need to plant to ensure a bountiful harvest?
Space isn't really an issue, I've got appx an acre to work with.
Please elaborate as much as possible with your answers! I've always been great with houseplants, but this will be my first attempt at gardening, so I will appreciate ALL the help I can get...
As it is I've already had to reinvest in seed, because I started them 3 weeks ago and the chance of frost isn't past until mid - may, so my lovely little seedlings starved and stretched for sun and will not likely survive transplanting. I bought more appropriate pots, have a more appropriate light source, and am prepared to wait now, until the right time to plant. I just need to know when that is, and how much to plant.
Thanks for reading my rambling!
I'd like to grow:
*corn
*tomatoes
*sweet and hot peppers
*basil
*cilantro
*onions
*potatoes
*sunflowers
*cukes
*cantelopes
*watermelon
*strawberries
*leaf lettuce
*zucchini
Question 1: I've bought seed packets, some of which say to plant directly into the ground instead of starting indoors. But then online I read conflicting suggestions about that because due to our short growing season, if not started indoors our plants will never reach maturity and fruit because they didn't have time. So I guess this question is start indoors? Or outdoors? And why?
Question 2:
We are a family of 8, and we have only chosen veggies and fruits we actually enjoy. I'd rather have too much harvest (allowing us to share) than not enough. So - with my goal being to have plenty of fresh veggies to enjoy through the season, and also enough to freeze/can/dry for the off-season, how many of each of the above named seedlings/seeds would I need to plant to ensure a bountiful harvest?
Space isn't really an issue, I've got appx an acre to work with.
Please elaborate as much as possible with your answers! I've always been great with houseplants, but this will be my first attempt at gardening, so I will appreciate ALL the help I can get...
As it is I've already had to reinvest in seed, because I started them 3 weeks ago and the chance of frost isn't past until mid - may, so my lovely little seedlings starved and stretched for sun and will not likely survive transplanting. I bought more appropriate pots, have a more appropriate light source, and am prepared to wait now, until the right time to plant. I just need to know when that is, and how much to plant.
Thanks for reading my rambling!