I'd like to grow my own fruits and vegetables in the Fredericksburg area...what can I grow? (Front Royal: sale)

[va_lucky]

Let me start off by saying that I know very little about fruits and vegetables but would like to learn what I can grow easiest in this area year around for starters and what I can grow seasonally. I'd like to know what I can grow from easiest to hardest. I don't have much space around my house but could reserve a small area to grow stuff. Want to take a hand at self sufficiency just in case.

You all have taught me how and when to plant grass seed when I had trouble, so I'd like to try my hand at this too.

Thanks

[VRE332]

I have had great success here with all kinds of peppers. I am not sure what the deal is with the dirt in Nova but peppers love this dirt and the summer heat. One thing to consider; we have so many deer in this area that we grow things deer cannot eat. Apples are bad because the squirrels and deer love to eat them too.

[HokieFan]

My husband and I had a small garden patch in our backyard this summer. It measured approximately 6' x 4'. We grew tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers and squash. We will likely skip the squash next summer - the plant ended up being too large and overwhelmed the space, so we took it out early. Tomatoes are our favorite. We had four "Early Girl" tomato plants, and they produced tomatoes from July well into October.

Most veggies are planted in the spring (after the last frost), and you should be able to begin harvesting in late June or July.

Mostly leafy green and root vegetables (such as beets, turnips, & radishes) can be harvested through the winter months.

Virginia Fruits and Vegetables - Guide to Virginia Seasonal Produce

[oneasterisk]

I've had good luck with tomatoes, peppers, egg plant, beans. I've also tried my luck this past year on herbs and did really well with dill, basil, cilantro etc. This has just been in containers as well as a small 8'x4' raised bed in my backyard. I also bought this year a Meyer lemon tree and have it in a pot. It has already produced some fruit during the summer and I'm waiting for them to ripen. I've moved it inside and it's producing a second set of flowers already.

My Sister out near Front Royal has a few fruit trees. She's got figs, apples, pears and jujube.

The fall time would have been a good time for you to buy some fruit trees on sale and get them in the ground. People think fall time is a bad time to buy so the nurseries have them on sale. Fall is the best time to plant IMO.

[HarryLou]

My advice would be to get those peas in early. Before St. Patrick's Day for sure.
Green beans grow well.
At my old house across town I had a nice apple tree.
I grow grapes here, but *something*/*someone* ate them all ....

[Fredesch]

Most trees and veggies like lots of sun. If you have lots of sun and add plenty of organic matter to the soil, you should have good luck with tomatoes, peppers, ocra, melons, squash and strawberries. If you are real lucky and get stuff out in earliest spring, you might get some peas or beans or lettuce. Lettuce and peas are cool weather crops, so you have to be lucky get them going early enough and get a harvest before it gets hot. Tomatoes, peppers ocra and some types of beans are warm weather crops that should not be planted early before mid April and the ground is warm.

If you don't have full sun, blue berries might work for you and you may be able to get lettuce or spinach to grow.

[va_lucky]

Thanks for all of the help. I thought this thread was going to float away...but I appreciate you all coming through for me.

Thanks