I would love to grow my own garden, but I am so afraid of bugs (especially spiders) that it's not funny. Also, I have never had much success with growing indoor plants, so I doubt I'll do much better outside. I live in TX (near Houston), so it's always HOT. Does anyone have any advice or suggestions that could help me with:

1) getting over the bug fear
2) learning NOT to kill my plants

Thanks!

The only way I know how to conquer a fear it is to face it head on. Once you deal directly with the thing you are afraid of, you realize that there's really no bases for your fear to continue. I'm not sure how you would do this with bugs though.

Yeah...I sorta have a hard time envisioning myself in "head-to-head" combat with bugs. :D

What makes you afraid?

What will the bugs do to you ?

I think the bug issue stems back to childhood. I know, I know, everyone says it's a childhood thing. Seriously, it really is. I grew up in an abusive household and many unfond memories involve my working in a garden with what seemed like MONSTROUS sized bugs. I don't mind some bugs, it's mainly spiders.

Im scared to death of spiders too, so i know what ur going through! I guess I would recoment a sealed greenhouse or an indoor dreenhouse with heat lamps! :vebo:

I like that idea, VR.

I always wear garden gloves and often long sleeves, partly to make me feel better in case I come in contact with any bugs/spiders, partly because certain plants make me break out and get itchy. Knowing that they won't touch or bite me makes it more comfortable to work out in the garden. I used to have a huge fear of spiders but I got over it several years ago in an effort to help my daughter over come her fear. It's like MsRuthieB said, you have to face your fear head on. It might be the scareyest way, but it's the best.

There are few things more rewarding than growing your own food. We spent a good part of this afternoon shelling home-grown peas for the freezer and dehydrator. Will be putting 35-50 pounds of cabbage into a sauerfraut crock next week. Cider is up and we got enough green tomatoes before the frost that we should have some freshly ripened ones for Thanksgiving. We make our own pickles, jams, spaghetti sauce, salsa, etc. Garlic gets planted in a few weeks.

Don't be afraid. Grab some gloves and a shovel and get out there and dig up the yard! Spiders may scare you but they eat a lot of bugs that cause problems for your garden plants. Garden spiders, toads, wasps and bees are all welcome in our patch.

You might want to visit a neighbor's garden. Perhaps as a child you were much closer physically to the plants in the garden or it was not properly weeded. Having clean, clear rows and well-mulched plants will significantly reduce your encounters with most bugs.

If you really want to get into gardening, start with easy to grow, low maintenance plants. Broccolli and cabbage could probably be started this time of year down there. Both can handle a freeze. So can peas. Tomatoes, green peppers, chili peppers and green beans are all easy to grow. You should be able to start seeds in December in the house for these. Plant them outside in late March or April.

There are some vegetables that don't seem to attract many insects at all. Peppers and peas, from my experience, seem to have the least appeal to bugs. Cabbage and broccolli seem to draw the cabbage moth/worm, tomatoes get horn worms, potato gets beetles, etc.

Another thing to do is to read up on these things you are so afraid of. They are living beings just like us, trying to make their way in the world. Spiders are actually very beneficial. Very few of them are aggressive or dangerous.

Like other posters have said, face your fear and it will disappear. And believe me, the first time you serve spaghetti squash, covered with your own home-made spaghetti sauce you will forget all about the child who was afraid of spiders.

manicrganic - Thanks for your advice. Believe it or not, since taking depression meds, my fear of spiders has gotten better. My husband reminds me that they are a good thing since they kill those other "pesky" bugs. My only fond memories of the garden we had as a child is eating the produce. I remember how much better things tasted and how, unlike most kids I grew up with, I enjoyed trying different veggies. To date, I love things like greens, yet my husband refuses to eat them. Those were things I loved - especially the squash and tomatoes.

I will do some reading and try to educate myself on gardening. Then...I think I will start with something small. I like the idea of the peppers, especially if they don't attract bugs. Perhaps if I face my fears, yet do it slowly, things will improve.

Thanks all for the much needed support.