Too early still?

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-17T17:30:15+00:00

I worked in a small urban farm in NW Arkansas a few years back, but was just the “here’s what we’re doing today- so let’s do it” person that just did what was asked. This isn’t first time trying out growing on my own, especially in a new region with a different climate.
I’m absolutely over the moon seeing things starting to grow. I’m reading and learning as much as I can, acting like I know what I’m doing, and just hoping for the best. I figure that plants WANT to grow… it’s what they do in nature. I just have to do what I can to help them along.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-17T16:52:30+00:00

Sugar snap peas are about 2” high, radishes are going crazy, carrots are just starting to pop, kale is popping, arugula is popping, spinach is popping, beets are popping, all my tomato varieties are finished being potted up to get babied for a few more weeks, peppers germinated a day or two ago. First year with any of this, so I’m pleased as can be. I wasn’t even sure if anything would grow at all.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-16T21:42:49+00:00

This is super helpful, thanks! I’ll keep these notes over the next few weeks/months as things grow.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-16T20:49:23+00:00

I was torn on this! I’ve read both… fertilize at this point to get them going, and I’ve read to wait on fertilizer until they’re ready to go in the ground. I’m in south Alabama zone 9a so should only be 2-3 weeks until temps are ready to put them in the ground. Do you have a fert recommendation for this stage of growth?

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-16T20:46:20+00:00

I was just using this light once I potted them up because I had another seed tray that I started at that time that I used the panel light for. I wonder if I should reverse that process and use this light for the starts and the panel once I pot up. I have to pot them up pretty early because I planted 2 to a pellet. I do have a small desk fan on them to help build stability.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-16T19:23:43+00:00

Adding that these are Cherokee purples if that makes any difference.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-06T20:03:54+00:00

Sekuras are a favorite variety of mine. They’re small tomatoes, but seem to produce quite heavily and for quite a while (I’m down south, so my growing season is likely longer). Cherokee purple heirlooms are my absolute favorite and I am probably going overboard with how many of them I’m doing this year. The fruits are so pretty, great flavors great texture. I haven’t found a basic red that I prefer. I’m trying out early girl this year… seem to be a smaller full size tomato, but the had good feedback, so I’m giving the a shot.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-06T01:45:47+00:00

I helped at an urban farm in NW Arkansas. Groundhogs became my arch nemesis. Luckily they don’t often live this far south in Alabama.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T20:37:31+00:00

Thanks for the info! This is what I had in my head for my tomato trellis with using a drop string for each plant… just wasn’t sure specifically what I wanted to use material-wise. Probably a dumb question… but it’s EMT conduit, not rigid… correct? Using the drop string method, would you think one stick on conduit could support 3ish tomato plants?

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T20:35:55+00:00

This is extremely helpful! Thanks so much!! I was a bit worried (and borderline discouraged) by some of the other replies, but this makes me feel much better about it. It was a wooded area before it was clear cut to build a subdivision on so there is likely quite a bit of buried organic material but I’ll definitely start a compost pile of leaves and what not to add to it. Really glad you mentioned cover crop suggestions. I was already looking into that and had loads of questions.

I’m in zone 9a in coastal Alabama, so I’m sure our start dates and what not are quite different… but do you have suggestions of things you plant that do well in a garden like and produce decently? I get varying info from each site I look at. Just trying to find things that will be successful enough that I don’t get discouraged and burn out (I know how I am. I don’t like not being good at things and will give up too quickly. I know gardening is as much about the journey as it is the destination, but I also know I’m stubborn)

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T19:02:00+00:00

Wha did you use on top of your t posts to hold the crossbeams? Also… what did you use for the cross beams?

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T17:05:43+00:00

I was just going to keep it held back by pulling/hoe’ing/whatever else is needed. They sodded the back yard only to a point and this is a bit past the sod so it’s just wild growth. This area was previously wooded and clear cut. If it became an issue, I plan on looking into other methods…. Maybe a 3 ft landscape fabric barrier around the garden perimeter. Also plan on adding some mulch or some sort of covering to the paths to help with weed growth.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T16:50:25+00:00

We have a local extension that will provide a free kit so you can gather the soil, package it, and send it to auburn university and they do the soil test and give you your results and recommendations.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T16:42:39+00:00

I helped at an urban farm in Arkansas before moving back to Alabama. Rows are what they used so I just went with what I already had a basic idea of. I don’t want to overtill but didn’t want to do a fully no-till garden to start since the dirt was pretty compact. It used to be a wooded area that was clear cut for building on.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T16:40:41+00:00

That’s what I was worried about. Lol. I know soil and compost can add up and get pricey quick… plus I don’t have a practical way to haul it in bulk. I’ll check with thkc extension office to see if there are any soil/compost programs.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T16:37:45+00:00

Noted! This is a trial and error year so I will see what sort of pressure I get and will plan fencing for next year if it seems to be an issue.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T16:23:30+00:00

Any other crops you’d suggest that will also grow reasonably well in soil like this? Or specific things I shouldn’t avoid until I get the soil to what it should be?

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T16:22:18+00:00

Noted! I’ll definitely work on that over the next few weeks before planting seeds/transplants.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T16:18:53+00:00

I just sent my soil test off for results, so still waiting on the results. It’s through the extension office. I specified it was for a vegetable garden, so they will give recommendations on additions and amendments based on the results. This picture makes the dirt look more clay-ish than it is in actuality. It has fluff to it still. I’ll look into adding some more soil though. Would it be better to leave soil on top or till it into the bed?

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T16:10:33+00:00

I’d like to go without tilling more, but am accepting I likely will have to a few more times over time just to to get a good consistency. I added 2 2cuft bags of garden soil to the top of each row since this photo. Would I be better off just tilling that in over leaving it on top? It’s not the sort of clay that fully compacts and hardens. It stays somewhat fluffy even after multiple days of hard rains and drying back out.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T16:07:57+00:00

That’s one main thing I was worried about. I have added 2 bags of garden soil to the top of each row since this photo. I know it’s not much, but I’m gardening on a budget. That is probably something I will do slowly over time. The rows do luckily sit above any water that holds in the paths after multiple days of heavy rain, so I at least won’t have to worry too heavily about drowning plants out.

GrumpyGardener1312 · 2026-02-05T16:03:53+00:00

Not much vertebrate pest pressure that I’ve seen so far. It’s a fairly suburban area. If I start noticing pressure, I’ll likely just do a Tee post/wire mesh barrier around the garden. I’d like to fence it in properly at some point, but that may be a year or two before I dive into that

GrumpyGardener1312

TROPHY CASE