Introducing your regional Co-Host!

Hello Everyone,

This is Llama Momma (Gina) and I am your new Co-Host for the Northern and Central Mid West Region. I'm very happy to be here, to help and encourage all of our gardening friends. I've been married a few decades. We became empty nesters this year. Disturbing at first but now I really like it! I recently switched to a part time at-home job and look forward to devoting my free time to my passions of home, gardening, composting, writing music jingles, working with and enjoying my mini herd of llamas. My location is a 40 minute drive southeast of Columbus, Ohio and about an hour and half drive east of Cincinnati.

My Square Foot Gardening adventure began with a 2010 autumn garden starting with one 4 x 8 bed. There were many wild and domestic critters around that I quickly became very fond of my critter cages that Mel Bartholomew describes in his All New Square Foot Gardening Book. I added 2 more boxes and a trellis this year and claim 100% plant protection from raccoons, dogs, deer, cats, etc.


Frost and freeze information for this area : Please these are approximations for this Zone 5b area!

Risk of Frost: Roughly Oct. 15 through May 1

Almost Certain Freeze: Oct 27 through April 14

No Frost Almost Guaranteed: May 9 through Sept. 30.

This loosely translates into about a 170 day growing season.

To start a spring garden -- tomato seeds can be started in Feb. and broccoli in March. For your own micro-climate variables, I would suggest to call your nearest and dearest garden nursery or cooperative extension service and pick their brains for individual planting times.
For any season -- you can browse the information on the seed packets and use the incredible helpful appendix in Mel's book to help you plan your garden any time of the year.

Happy Gardening, please don't be a stranger, these forums are for you and a wonderful place to hang out!

Llama Momma

Let me be the first to say Welcome Aboard!! It's going to be a very fun year here on the forum. With you and your energy, and our huge region, we will certainly have a lot to talk about as a group. Let's get this party started!!