First time planting a garden.?
If you can find a used copy of Square Foot Gardening it shows you how to have the greatest reward for the smallest area. When dealing with clay, start small. It's a tough job to convert it over to good garden soil.
Right now be digging in manure.....farm animal, not doggies or cats. Spread no more than 1-2 inches over the top and dig in well.......a full shovel if not more. You can also add perlite to loosen the soil, but not sand!!! Sand and clay make a wonderful natural concrete. If you can find good compost, wonderful that's good too. If all else fails, use sphagnum peat moss. Of course you should have a soil analysis, but it's getting too late for that, next year you'll have time.
It's nearly time, or actually is time to be planting peas, lettuce, the cool crops. Wait until your last spring frost (mid April) to set out tomatoes, peppers, sow or plant squash, etc. I'm a coward, I wait an extra few weeks. Also have a couple of basil and parsley plants for some flavor. In the future you can plant more permanent sage, thyme, etc.
This first flower garden you can sow the easy things like zinnia and cosmos, but may want to get a jump by planting starts of petunia, marigolds, etc. I'd stay with the annuals this year to see if you like gardening. Next year you'll have the chance to further work the soil before adding the perennials, those that don't need replanting every year.
Start small, plant what you like to eat and flowers you can bring indoors to enjoy.
Reply:In regards to the clay use lots of compost and well rotted manures eg cow. and dig in with gypsum (gypsum is the most successful clay breaker, and recommended in horticultural courses. It does not change the PH and only needs to be used annually up to 3 times). Prepare your bed early before planting, now if possible.
In regard to planting times, most plants are planted in spring, autumn, or winter (dormant trees and shrubs). As you are going to have a garden from now on buy yourself a good gardening book that suits your area, and has good advice regarding planting times for annuals and vegetables, as well as important matters such as frost. If you spend a bit and get a good book you will never regret it and it will save you plenty of time and money in the long run. Good luck, once you get the gardening bug you won't look back.
Reply:fluffernut has a great answer but i highly recommend peat moss It will help loosen your clay soil Compost and manure is also great. without a soil test it is hard to guess but you will probably need some lime Pellitized lime works fast but don't last but about 6 months 8-24-24 is a good fertilize for your veggies then use a water soluble fertilize like miracle grow by the directions. when you spread your granule 8-24-24 sprinkle it on your soil like your salting your food not to much THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS MULCH. for your veggies and flowers it saves you water and time dealing with weeds weeds can be such a nuisance that you may think its not worth it but if you mulch good it can take alot of work out of it and you can enjoy the results
Reply:I highly recommend you to read this. It helps you somehow rather for new garden starter. A Complete Home vegetable Gardening Guide.
Reply:Try visiting www.burpee.com, they have the zones and times for planting and can give you a lot of information on how to do this.
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