How much time committment does a backyard garden take?

I'm considering starting a vegetable, herb, and small fruit garden in my backyard, but I'm not sure if I'll have the time to tend to it like I should. I have a professional job that some times requires me to attend evening and weekend events, as well as working out and having a social life. What much time per week might I have to put into the garden if it had about 15 plant varieties? What else should I consider when managing a backyard garden?

How much time committment does a backyard garden take?
In your case I'd do some kind of raised bed with a simple quick irrigation system, and a top layer of mulch to eliminate weeding. Inquire are a landscape outlet about a quick connect system which is what I use. All I do is hook the hose up to , turn it on low, and walk away for a about half an hour to do something else, come back and turn it off and everything is watered and there is no water waste. The time would be spent in setting it up, which is something you'd do a an hour here, and hour there, in the early spring. When planting season arrives you put down a landscape fabric or black plastic and your weeding for the season is done. What I do is burn a small hole in the plastic which has been place over the drip irrigation quick connect system careful not to burn the irrigation line and that is where I plant my plants. I place the wholes according to the size and shape of the mature plant. I stake or cag my tomato's right away, allow ample room for my bush varitey squashes. I like to plant basil too and I'm careful not to put them too close together so the air can circulate preventing mildew or mold. Fruit trees are something that can be planted once and babies for a year but most of them require sprays for pests and that can be a real pain. I don't really like chemicals.





So, in other words, the set up can take time but once there it will last you years with minimal care.
Reply:15 plant varieties that's got to be one really big garden depending on how much of each you will be putting in. Gardens take a lot of time, you will need to make sure that you have enough time to water it really well at night or early morning, pulling weeds takes the longest time though you will want to do that every couple days to make sure you get them all my suggestion is do half the garden one day and half the next, I had a pretty big garden last year and i was out there almost every day, checking on everything pulling weeds watering it all takes time if you want really good vegetables. It takes a lot of time so if you do this and don't have time try making a smaller one and see if you can handle it first.
Reply:A lot of time is spent watering - many people find that to be restful meditative activity, but it does require a near daily committment - may be even twice daily if yoiu live in a hot dry area like the southwest or California. You can eliminate the need to be present for the watering by putting in an automated watering system, that uses a time clock like a lawn irrigation system. You can get the clock at any hardware or garden store - it just pugs into a electrical outlet. You'll need a control valve, and probably drip irrigation. This is certainly within the capability of the average homeowner - but does take time to install - plan on it being a weekend project, or hire a local landscape person.





You should plan on spending at least 15 - 30 minutes every other day for weeding, fertilizing, bugs, snails, pruning, tying up vines, etc. It may take more depending on what you plant.





Once again, think of this as your meditation or quiet time, not as another task on your to-do list.





You'll also find that you will need to spend time in the kitchen once you start getting fruits. It takes more time to prepare fresh food. Make sure you are willing to spend the time to enjoy them, or have neighbors and co-workers arranged who will.