gardening

New to Gardening

“I’m a new but enthusiastic gardener and am interested in seeking the advice of some master gardeners (official or otherwise) out there. I’m fortunate enough to have yard space to grow a garden but it has fun challenges with it being north facing, having 3 resident dogs, and various other shading issues. I’d be interesting in soliciting advice regarding garden planning for the next year (placement and which plants to choose). I had some success with a garden last year but am looking to improve and be more strategic this next year. Any suggestions of where I can find help? Thanks!”

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Dupont.

A reader sends from Pleasant Plains:

“My mid-January harvest: some not too impressive carrots and the biggest lemon I’ve ever seen.”

OK this has to be the last the one!

“Forgot to go to the market after the holidays and realized we had little food in the fridge- thankfully we had enough kale, cilantro and a few types of lettuce to start a salad for two for dinner…and then the frost came…”

Thanks to a reader for sending from Riggs Park:

“January chard and the last of our tomatoes and habanero peppers.”

Another December Garden Haul – container garden in Takoma

“Dear PoPville,

In the back yard of my house in Park View, we have two square planters constructed of wooden boards sunk a few inches into the ground and packed with top soil. This past season (our first in the house) we had modest success growing basil, rosemary, cilantro, heirloom carrots, green onions and mint. We had planned to be a bit more ambitious in the coming season, thinking peppers, cherry tomatoes, garlic, onions, greens and more herbs.

But last week a garden specialist with RiverSmart Homes did a survey of the backyard at my house with an eye to helping us design some improvements. With respect to our planters, she warned that the soil quality in DC can get so bad in terms of lead and other contaminants that we were putting ourselves at risk by eating what we grew and could potentially cause significant harm to our not-yet-born children should we feed them from it.

Does anyone have any advice for soil testing and possible mitigation? I know how widespread backyard gardening is in this town, so I can’t believe we have to just give up. We want to eat what we grow, but not if we’re poisoning ourselves.”

From Columbia Heights:

“Spinach, Squash & Diakon radish. Chard & Arugula still going strong.”

“We’re still getting very sweet sun-gold tomatoes and a few others in November. These were picked yesterday. We’re right off H street NE.”