i have a small vegatable garden in my back yard, but even still to this day i seem to plant the wrong amount. what is the rule of thumb of how much to plant of tomatoes, potatoes, onions (spring)green pepper, etc for two people for as much of the year's use as possible. Also, how could i easily preserve potatoes if i have to many for just refrigeration. thank you for you help. i so enjoy and use your magazine.

-- mrs kathy roberts (sflec902@allstate.com), April 19, 2002

Answers

Do you have a root cellar or a cold area of your house?

Two books I recommend are:

Root Cellaring by Mike and Nancy Bubel. This explains how to preserve your vegetales even if you do not have a root cellar. Potatoes need a dark cold area with some humidity. Can't remember how much off hand.

The Self Sufficient Suburban Garden by Jeff Ball. In here he says:

"Figure out the frequency with which you eat a particular vegetable by times-per-week or times-per-month, and multiply by 52 or 12 to get an estimate of your weekly or monthly consumption... Once you have estimated the frequency of use of each food, then multiply that figure by the amount your family consumes at each meal".

He then has a chart in the back of his book with listings of vegetables and how much yield you can expect from a 24 sq ft bed or a 25 ft row.

For white potatoes he says to expect 30-40 pounds from a 25 foot row.

-- R. (thor610@yahoo.com), April 19, 2002.

I have canned lots in our 12 years of marriage and one of my favorite things is canned new potatoes. They make a very quick meal and taste so good....you should try it! There is directions in the Ball Blue Book. Hope your garden grows well this year! Cara in OR

-- Cara Dailey (daileyd@agalis.net), April 19, 2002.

I agree...canned potatoes are excellent!! And there's so much you can do with them. I use them for a quick potato salad right out of the jar...just add mayo, eggs and onions!! They make wonderful hash browns, too.

-- Marcia (HrMr@webtv.net), April 19, 2002.

50 tomatoe plants give me all the tomatoe juice (I drink several pints a week), whole tomatoes, salsa and a few other things. We are a family of 4. I will plants a dozen green pepper plants and then chop up and feeze. There good to throw in, I do not buy fresh peppers in the winter unless its a pepper type dish. Every other year I go crazy with the beets and that last two years. I do not pickle our beets just pressure can them, when we have beets we warm and add a dab of butter, salt & pepper. I always have way too much squash as I guess everyone does, but anything over 6 inches in length goes to the chixs so I guess it is not a throw away. Actually all the greens, like tops of the beets and lettuce brocolli leaves, etc., goes to the chixs. So..during the summer and fall months I do not have to buy much chix food. This year I will do the dill pickles, that is something done everyother year too. As for fruit, we have a Blueberry U-Pick so most of my syrups and jams are blueberries. Tell us what you do plant and how much, this could be interesting to all now that planting season is here.

-- debbie (bwolcott@cwis.net), April 20, 2002.

You might check with your Extension Service. Montana has a guide with a chart listing crop, how much to plant/how much to expect. I'd hope most states have something similar.

-- Marcia in MT (marciabundi@myexcel.com), April 20, 2002.