New Garden Grower seeks advice?

I have a Rotor Tiller, I have the spot I want to plant my garden and I have the veggie plants ready to go. However I have never had a garden and I would really like for it to grow. I have cucumber, zucchini, iceberg lettuce, jalapeno, banana peppers, if anyone has any do's or don'ts I would really appreciate it. By the way my soil is kind of a sandy mix, my flowers seem to grow ok in it, hoping my garden will too. Thanks!New Garden Grower seeks advice?
Welcome to our world of wonder and frustration. It is great that you have the rototiller. Do you have anything else? For example have you purchased a Sphagnum Moss, a granular fertilizer, Gypsum, Bone Meal, markers, etc?





Soil, soil, soil! That and irrigation make a garden. Are you prepared for the pest that will invade your garden? Do you have the stakes and cages for the zucchini, cucumbers, and pepper plantings? It is a truth that you must begin before you begin.





Having a rototiller and determination is a great beginning. It can also lead to frustration and quitting. Planning is more than a word and more than 50% of success. While time is short now action is a must. With the exception of the Lettuce all you plants require a similar soil. You are about two months beyond planting the lettuce for any success.





Get thyself to a Box Store and purchase Sphagnum Moss, screened topsoil, granular gypsum, granular bone meal, 10-10-10 with minerals granular fertilizer, and the stakes, ties, cages, etc. Do Not Rototill until you have the soil additives on hand and ready to use. These materials can be bought in the generic form as they are actually better.





Rototill the area giving yourself enough area for the plants and yourself to work at it. This means that you need a minimum of three foot from the base of the outside plants. Till, as best you can for three inches in depth. Remove the debris you bring up. Leave it alone for at least two days to a week to allow the air to work into the soil.





Not knowing the size add the medium amount of Gypsum, the Max of 10-10-10 with minerals, and till again at two to three inches. Let that set for an hour (have a beverage of your choice.) Spread the Sphagnum Moss at one half bag per 1,000 sq ft. and the topsoil at one bag per 1,000 on top.


Rototill that at the two inch level, then, till it deeper (4';) for a few minutes.





Use a heavy rake on the tilled soil to make the beds for your plants. Rake into mounds about two or three inches high. This will leave the watering gullies you need. Plant you seedlings or seeds in the center of the mounds. Every one of these plants need 1' in seperation in the row!





There is dispute as to what to do now. I would prefer to put the cages into the ground around the plantings while the soil is both pliable and the roots not developed. This is your choice. Regardless of the dispute, what is not in dispute is to stake the rows for content and deeply irrigate the plants.


Do Not Do This By Hand. A small movable overhead sprinkler is best.





The Lettuce should have been started in a GreenHouse in Feb-Mar. Try it. It may wilt and actually attract insects and disease. If you see any just junk it. In the meantime prepare yourself for both insect and disease. You can purchase a conventional spray, an organic spray, and all all good products. I will tell you that a combination of Ivory Liquid Dish Detergent at 1/4 tsp per quart, sprayed on the plants will kill most pest. Everyother week you do need to spray the stems and underside of the leaves.





Good Luck and do what you will. Remember it is the soil and not my determination that dictates the success. Sorry about the Lettuce. I am at gjgjobs@yahoo.comNew Garden Grower seeks advice?
Jalapenos and banana peppers will cross pollinate if planted together. Sandy loam is a good soil. Work in some good compost before you plant. Enjoy!
add a bunch fo peat moss or garden dirt when you till..
Buy as maney gardening books as possible watch as maney gardening programmes speak to Horticulturists It is also important in your garden to attract the right insects as this will benefit you in the long run. also to un-attract the wrong insects plant flower beds in between your vegetable beds this will attract the insects to the flower bed rather then your veggie beds.