What to Plant Now: 
CENTRAL & MIDWEST

Hi Rusty Sheley,

Are we related?? You can email me at RunnamuckFarm@aol.com. I'm in northern Indiana.

Richard "Babe" Sheley

There are different types of gardeners, just as there are different types of people. There are gardeners who consider gardening a chore, and want to know the fastest and easiest way to do everything, and are in a rush to find the expert who can tell them exactly what when where and how to do everything. Then there are the real gardeners, who are like big kids who enjoy discovering things and experimenting. They like to talk to other like-minded gardeners and sometimes consult "the experts" also, but primarily they take great joy in trying different things and discovering what works. They enjoy watching things grow and doing their own observing and thinking in their own gardens. For them, planting guides, definitive how-to advice, etc actually sucks the joy out of gardening. I believe Thomas Jefferson was this kind of gardener, because he said, "I am an old man, but a young gardener." Be this kind of gardener. The other kind is just a technician, and probably wears knee pads and those little gloves and an apron so he won't get dirty.

While my mom is a MSU Master Gardener, this summer will provide me with my first opportunity to begin my own veggie garden and compost. How do I find a local gardening group? Are there sites out there?

Gardening is made easy if you start with a few items like tomatoes, beans, peas, cucumbers. The back of the seed packet will give you the info on when to plant and how.

Some like to just buy plants and put them in which is good, but make sure you have the right soil for your plants. Container gardening is the best way to control your results.

If you really want to learn the easiest gardening methods go to your library or websites that are designed for children. They explain gardening with cool pics and easy to understand info. That is how I've learned.

Every State has an agricultural extension office. Here in Michigan it is The Michigan State University extension. They train Master Gardeners too.

If you have a local gardening club or community garden join it.

On National Public Radio there is a show out of Pennsylvania called, "You Bet Your Garden." Mr. McGrath has many helpful, organic ideas for how to grow your garden,plus you can always call in!

HAPPY GROWING!

I am a wannabe gardner who needs a lot of advice. I hope I can get some help from other more experienced gargners on this site. Thanks