I can't keep a cactus alive- now vegetable garden?

[megalicious]

I have a black thumb, but for some reason I really want to start a little vegetable garden. I have a little patch where the COA just cut down a large bush and I suddenly have an open and decently lit space. It's maybe a little bigger that 4x4, currently open and mulched over. One patch gets 2-4 hours of direct sun. Another 4x4 patch next to it gets about 4-6 hours of bright sun. What can I plant there? Do I need a fence around it? How do I keep it alive?

[treedimensional]

Water is the most important thing. Most people grossly underestimate a plant's water needs, and grossly overestimate what they are giving it.
They can't talk, so you have to pay attention!

[gardengal]

a place that only gets 2-4hrs of sun isn't a spot to encourage success for a vegetable garden, especially a new, inexperienced gardener. Even 4-6hrs is borderline (6 is kind of the minimum). So, I would stick to smaller fruiting vegetable (think cherry tomatoes vs. slicing tomatoes) or vegetables where you eat the leaves. Or even bush/pole beans. But only in the spot that gets more sun.

Whether or not you need a fence depends on whether or not you have animals around.

As far as how to keep it alive, treedimensional is right: check for water, don't water on a schedule. water deeply when it needs it (so, only like 2x/wk vs. everyday just a little bit) and keep an eye out for pests.

[FoxInFiji]

That much shade is going to make growing veggies hard. I've tried multiple times to grow veggies in a part shade portion of my yard (4-5 hr of sun) to no avail and I don't have a black thumb. Do you have a patio or balcony that gets more sun than that? Container veggie gardens are very popular right now and easy to grow (no hauling water down to water a bed).

[mouse]

I can do lettuce and chard in part sun (4-5 hours). Is it filtered light for the rest of the day or is pretty solidly blocked? If its filtered I think beets, carrots and radishes would work. I've got snap peas in part shade too, they just take a bit longer. My broccolini did fine until the heat made it bolt.

If you really want tomatoes, peppers or eggplant, go with smaller varieties (ie cherry tomato, oriental eggplant) that say they're early or short season. Then stick them in the spot that gets the most light. Or eggplants and tomatoes do well in containers, if you have a spot for that.

How warm is it in your region? That can make a difference too. You can get away with more shade when it's hot because at least the soil is warm. Still might not get much fruit, but if it's something where you eat the leaves, you might do well.

[treedimensional]

Jun 12, 2012 10:14:36 GMT -5 mouse said:

I can do lettuce and chard in part sun (4-5 hours). Is it filtered light for the rest of the day or is pretty solidly blocked? If its filtered I think beets, carrots and radishes would work. I've got snap peas in part shade too, they just take a bit longer. My broccolini did fine until the heat made it bolt.

If you really want tomatoes, peppers or eggplant, go with smaller varieties (ie cherry tomato, oriental eggplant) that say they're early or short season. Then stick them in the spot that gets the most light. Or eggplants and tomatoes do well in containers, if you have a spot for that.

How warm is it in your region? That can make a difference too. You can get away with more shade when it's hot because at least the soil is warm. Still might not get much fruit, but if it's something where you eat the leaves, you might do well.

Very true.