1) Don’t plant right next to a sidewalk unless you plan to stand guard all night and day. At least not in Petworth (boo hoo hoo, yes, neighborhood does matter all you anti-snobs… ).

2) Try to make them rat, squirrel and bird proof – yeah, even harder to do.

But do do it. Nothing like eating your own tomatoes, even if they are just half ones.

Sun, water, soil… sun, water, soil… sun, water, soil…

Soil is often overlooked. Looking at the photo here I’d say the gardener has added a bit ‘o organic matter, but not nearly enough. The clay-rich soils here basically need to be completely replaced with a mixture of top soil, leaf mulch, and potting soil.

This garden plot is actually right across the street from my house, so Ive watched it go in, and will look forward to watching it come up. As for the soil, ambitiously the ladies actually dug down a bit and filled with some decent-looking soil. They’ve put quite a bit of effort into it, and I hope they are rewarded. We have a small patch of herbs in pots in the back yard, but were always skeptical of eating anything out of the soil around here. But because they replaced/added I bet they make out ok! I hope they wash everythign well though, they are on a bus route, and I know how much soot is on the front of my house! Bets of luck ladies!

Veggie gardens need at least 6 hours of sun each day (ie, “full sun”) and the water requirements vary by the plant. Tomatoes need consistent watering (straight to the roots), but my hot peppers have done really well with less water. I don’t have any fencing or barrier, and haven’t had rats eat anything. Tomatoes and other veggies will also need to be fed and you can even pick up organic fertilizers at most stores with a garden section. And watch for insects/disease!

If you really want to get your garden geek on, you can have your soil tested, which will let you know what to add to the soil and to make sure you aren’t growing edibles in lead-laden soil. I used the service offered by the University of Massachusetts, but there are a lot of other extension services and universities offering soil testing.

lots of water but not during peak sunlight hours or you will burn them.

Dear Sirs and Madams,

I can only hope that you will join with us in condemning Monsignor Poo-Poo for his atrocious and thoroughly unsavory comments regarding Ms. Greenthumb (above). Were I not one of the foremost proponents of free speech, I would urge the Prince himself to excommunicate ‘Johnny Poo’ (as his repugnant associates and toadies are wont to term him) into the fetid dregs of the blogosphere.

Take your misogyny, Sir Poo, and vanish hence; seek the fraternity of likeminded micreants, hide your face – or attendant ‘avatar,’ as the case may be – and bury it in the sands of infamy. (My personal recommendation would be either the barren plains of the DCist or the ragged politicizing of CityDesk.)

Sputum & condolences,

T&B
(Men of Letters)

Shade vegetables? Well, there’s always coffee… PoP could become the Juan Valdez of Petworth.

haha, is it bad if I enjoyed both poo poo’s and Marlboro’s comments

hehehe… i liked marlboro’s comments way better than my lame joke!

I lived in Petworth last summer… had a great garden, unfortunately, it was a bit akin to opening up the free food buffet. No, no the people… the RATS. they would take one bite out of every tomato & cucumber, and then leave it!

to add insult to injury, the soil in dc is abysmal. all my peppers and tomatoes got fungus.

you’re better off planting in pots