Donald asks…
container garden…what’s best?
I have a small patio area and would like to start a container garden. what is the best plant to plant that will provide me color and look really nice. I’m thinking impatients….I think there is more out there. I live in zone 6. Where is a good place to buy large pot inexpensievly…other than big lots
thx
GardenersCardiff answers:
Fine gardening magazine may be a good place for you to start. They put out a special edition each year about container gardening and a fool proof method of designing fantastic planters that will WOW your neighbors.
As far as large pots go, search your local garden centers. Stores in my area are trying to get rid of last years containers and have some for 1/2 off or better.
Try thinking outside the box or container and look for things that could be used for containers, but are not typically thought of as a container i.e. A bushel basket, an old wooden wheel barrow, a cart on wheels and old child’s wagon. Once you get a feel for what you want you could hit the yard sales and pick up some neat stuff for cheap.
Http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/plants/articles/10-plants-for-year-round-containers.aspx?nterms=74896
David asks…
Decorating magazines?
what are good decorating magazines?
modern theme
to give ideas for the home.
thanks
GardenersCardiff answers:
K.C. Home and Garden
Florida Interiors (anything with “Florida in the name is a popular one with the folks in the high end properties here in Kansas)
Architectural Digest
Boston Interiors
Charles asks…
Is Better Homos and Gardens a good magazine to subscribe to?
I’ve been considering learning about gardening lately. My yard is beginning to look really bad since my sorry husband has stopped taking care of it like he used to. As a matter of fact he took the wrong medicine the other day and fell into one of our bushes. Now the poor bush is all ruined!! Plus the dogs in the neighborhood always come over and poo in the grass. I guess they are attracted to old man pee.
So would that be a good magazine to start reading and learning from or is there a better one for gardening? Thanks and blesses!!
-F U
GardenersCardiff answers:
High Times has some great tips on getting your garden back to its full budding potential.
Welcome back (((FU)))!
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Michael asks…
Will ‘garden safe’ insecticide soap harm a marijuana plant?
I’ve been hearing any store bought pesticide will kill a plant. But I found some that says garden safe, better for you and your garden. And blogs say soap is good to use, is this safe?
GardenersCardiff answers:
I always like to go as organic as possible… Vinegar and hydrogen peroxide work well.. If you must use a insecticide, make sure it states that it is ‘food-safe” on the label. Try to find an insecticide that is formulated for tomato plants.
Susan asks…
Where online is the best place to order gardening plants seeds etc?
I would like to order bulbs seeds and ready to plant plants into my small front garden. Does anyone have experience of good ones with good service.
Thank you for all replies.
GardenersCardiff answers:
I like http://www.plantdelights.com/ for live plants. They may seem expensive, but the plants arrive in good shape.
Baker creek generally sends good vegetable seeds. Http://rareseeds.com/ in decent amounts.
I’m not impressed by their herb and flower seed.
If you start reading garden blogs, garden forums, many have seeds available for sase, or trade.
Jenny asks…
How to grow the garden plants?
I have just established a small garden in my terrace and collected soil from building backside open space but it’s not a good to grow plants well.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Hi,
I can’t tell from your question, but here is a good article on how to build soil. It won’t happen overnight, but getting your soil healthy is the first step to having a fantastic garden or lawn. If this area does not get at least 8 hours of sunlight daily, you will be limited as to the types of vegetables you can plant, though there are TONS of flowering or foliage plants that will thrive in partially shaded areas. If you are growing potted plants on a terrace, you can probably search this site’s Latest News (blog) for Container Gardening & come up with some really good information as well. Good Luck and enjoy!
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John asks…
If there was an imminent food shortage, what would you stock up on?
Really want a list of suggestions as to what can keep well for 4-6 months frozen or in a cupboard.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Dried beans and grains (rice, quinoa, amaranth, oats, buckwheat, rye, etc) and a food mill or food processor or coffee bean grinder to grind the grains and maybe grind the beans so they can cook quicker. Different types of nuts or seeds too. You can make soups or even “milks” with nuts, grains and beans. Just cook, puree and seive them or don’t seive them if you don’t mind the pulp.
Potatoes can be peeled, cut into chunks, cooked to just done, put into quart jars with fresh hot brine (salt) water and a little bit of lemon juice for acidity and processed 1 hour in a water bath canner. They are handy for making fried potatoes, mashed potatoes, potato salad, parsley buttered potatoes, etc. They are quick to use (although it is work to can them) and versatile and they keep better than in the refrig or in the basement.
Grow a small garden if you can and can some tomatoes (whole or as sauce with a food mill) for vitamin C and maybe some potatoes and whatever and can whatever you can so it will be handy without refrigeration. Buy used mason jars and canning equipment cheap at thrift stores and get the lids at the grocery store new. You can re-use the lids if you are gentle at prying them up when taking the food out. Save glass jars from food bought at the store when you can to use when canning, esp if you can add a two part Mason lid to them.
Vegetable soup is good to can. Peanut butter can be made and canned and other nut butters…just have to work with it…Most things can for 1 hour in a water bath canner. Or use a pressure canner, but to me that is scary. Jelly or jam does not take as long to water bath can.
Keep the canned goods in the basement on a shelf. Mark dates on them with tape maybe to keep track of when they were canned.
Dandelion greens and dandelion flowers can be canned or just eaten if needed. They are high in iron I believe. Usually need to add vinegar or cook in a soup like you do with kale or chard with beans. They grow on their own, just don’t get them from any grass that has been sprayed or treated with pesticides or herbicides.You can even make a coffee from the toasted ground roots.
Rhubarb is easy to grow and can be canned if you like rhubarb.
I would stock up some on sugar and flour, esp strong/bread flour or whole grain flour (more protein and bread making) or vital wheat gluten flour (can make pretend meats) and baking yeast for bread making (keep the yeast jars in the freezer to keep them fresh longer). Honey would be a canned sweetner that would keep well even if you open the jar and keep it at room temp.
I have started canning myself recently because of the way the economy is going. Got a pressure cooker (small) and pressure canner (for quart jars), but still too chicken to use them. They claim low acid foods must be pressure canned, but I have had good luck so far with using a water bath canner for 1 hour with white potatoes and vegetable soup and pistachio butter and dandelion jelly (from flowers). Dandelion jelly tastes like honey. The pistachio butter I made by soaking the nuts for 24 hours and grinding in an electric meat grinder, but a food processor might do nut butters just as well.
I myself like nutritional yeast too…the kind marked “good tasting”…not the baking kind. It has lots of vitamins.
You could try growing mushrooms in the basement, but I do not have a green thumb or any idea on this…I think they grow on manure, so that would smell.
Spices and salt and pepper is a good idea. Lemon juice or lime juice in the little squirt bottles to keep in the refrig to aid in canning low acid items and for drinks. Frozen canned juice concentrates.
Cooking oils or shortening. Mustard. Vinegar (cider and white).
Some bottled water jugs or bottles. Some toilet paper and paper towels.
Maybe a small gas grill with ways to cook pots or bake on it if necessary…or as an emergency heating source. A kerosene heater as an emergency heating source maybe too.
Mary asks…
I have a yard what type of vegetables can i grow in it and how? don’t know where to start?
no soil here at all – concrete all the way and high walls. No problem with animals really except for the odd cat!
GardenersCardiff answers:
No problem. You’ll need either a variety of pots/tubs, or construct yourself a DIY vegetable bed – make a timber/brick outline up to whatever height is wanted, and fill it with soil/compost – but not above a damp proof course, make sure it is away from walls of this nature.
Light/shade may be an issue if you have high walls… Check out what areas get the most sun, and which are in shade. There are vegetables which will grow in shade… Start off a pot of radish seeds, or lettuces.
Library will give you some books to get you starteded on which plant for what sized pot, and vegetable container gardening. Joy Larkcom’s ‘Grow your own Vegetables’ is indispensible and will talk you through what each vegetable ‘likes’ and that is easily translatable to pot growing.
Googling: vegetable container gardening… Will bring up many helpful pages. Also look at square foot gardening
An easy place to start (so you can get something growing while having a cuppa and reading further) might be some cut-and-come again leafy greens…. Grab a packet of mixed leafy salad seeds e.g. Oriental spicy mix, mizuna greens (there are others) and take a container that’s got about 3″ of depth and some drainage holes in the bottom – even better if it’s deeper than 3″). Compost in container, not quite to the top, scatter some seeds about, add some more compost to cover the seeds(say another 1/2-3/4″). Gently press down. Water from the bottom, if possible (by standing in a bigger container of water), otherwise sprinkle gentle from the top, and then let nature get on with it. Once the seeds have germinated, leave them until they are about 3″ tall, then you have a couple of choices… Pick individual salad leaves as required, or let get bigger before taking a pair of scissors and snipping off the required amount about 2″ above soil level… The remains will sprout again! You can do the same with pea seeds… To get pea sprouts, which are a lovely delicacy, just let them grow a touch bigger before taking the first cut, then eat raw, or do in a bit oil/butter/garlic. Mmmmm.
A tomato plant will grow in a 9″ pot (minimum)… Head off to Woolworths (or equivalent) and buy their cheap 99p buckets (much cheaper than big pots), drill a couple of drainage holes in the base, fill with compost (tape some of the empty compost bag’s light excluding plastic around the bucket, if it’s see-through), add 1 tomato plant, plus cane for support (if it’s a tumbling tomato, no need for a cane.
Pak Choi is easy to grow from seed, and should do well in pots (I’ve grown it in a grow bag, just made about 12 slits, and shoved 1 plant into each hole)… This would be a good one to consider, since we’re getting into the right time to sow the seed to avoid bolting. (Larkcom will tell you more, or have a read of the back of a Pak Choi packet of seeds).
Beetroot, potatoes (for next year, just use buckets or an old dustbin cut in half), Kale, chilli peppers, carrots, strawberries, cougettes etc can all be grown in pots. If you like chillis, just get a plant from a garden centre, stick it in a bigger pot, and it should quite happily survive the summer outside and give you a good crop tghat can be frozen/pickled for later consumption.
You like baby carrots? Get a deeper container and put some seeds in it… Delicious. Courgettes? One plant could provide you with a couple a week (if not more). French beans? A bucket up against the wall with some string/trellis arrangement, try 3 plants in a bucket and get climbing french beans, or, without the wall, stick a couple of bush bean seeds in (still time this year). Cucumber? Get an OUTDOOR variety (heritage… Ring up garden centres and ask if they have Crystal Apple/crystal Lemon cucumber)… And shove a plant in a pot up against a wall, or let it sprawl along the ground.. Tastes wonderful, just ignore the odd shape. If you are in the UK, try Alan Romans – good seeds, minus the packaging blurb = excellent value for money.
Feeding? To start off with, any tomato liquid feed should be enough to get your plants through. Just read the instructions, and follow through. Watering? Yes, important with container gardening where things can dry out quickly. Tips? Collect old 2l soft drinks plastic bottles. Fill them up with water/liquid feed (as required). Pierce base somewhere with a pin/needle, stand bottle on soil/rig up in suitable place, water will slowly trickle from bottle to soil… Stops the water pouring straight down the sides of the container and out the bottom.
Enjoy!
Linda asks…
What causes brown spots on the leaves of my lilacs?
The leaves start out healthy and green, but now have lots of little brown spots, then turn yellow and fall off.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Your lilacs are suffering from Bacterial Blight (pseudomonas syringae). You’ll need to spray your lilacs with a fungicide to control this damaging bacterial disease. The best on the market, one that I have used for over 20 yrs, is a product made by “Ortho” called “multi-purpose fungicide” which contains “Daconil” 2787. This fungicide controls over 130 different diseases on trees, shrub, and lawns. It can be easily purchased in the garden centers of Walmart, Home Depot, or Lowes. Follow the directions on the mixing rate which is easy to follow. This fungicide will only control any “further” infection and will “not” reverse the leaf spotting already done. Here is a link with the product info… Hope this answers your question.
Http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/1996/6-7-1996/lilac.html
http://www0.epinions.com/content_105989770884
http://www2.yardiac.com/long.asp?tgs=3402432:42635163&cart_id=&item_id=976
… Billy Ray
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Charles asks…
Lasagna gardening (layering), any tips?
Hey.. Has anyone ever did what is considered “Lasagna Gardening“, aka the “No dig garden”, or “Layered Garden”?
I’m planning to try it… …and am wondering – anyone here ever have success with this method? Any tips to share?
=)
GardenersCardiff answers:
I was fascinated when I first heard of this…. So I tried it… I hate to till!!…. I did a large bed in my backyard…. Covered it first with newspaper and compost, then started building my layers…. Started early fall….. Built layers until the weather turned really cold, then covered it all up with mulch and waited till spring….. When I started planting, there were already changes to my red clay soil.. And more worms than I’d ever seen in there before!…. It’s now a happy and great-growing part of my garden….
For layers, I used anything and everything EXCEPT the listed peat moss…. Here in the south, that’s not used much since when we dry out, the peat dries out, too and it’s miserable to try to rewet that mess…… So in mine there was
compost, shredded newspaper, soil, fall leaves (shredded or whole) …old potting soil, straw, grass clippings from the neighbors….coffee grounds, egg shells, black cow bagged manure, soil conditioner (bagged, shredded fine, pine bark and additives)… Leftover granulated fertilzers…. Kitchen goodies… Etc…
Every time I went to Lowe’s I grabbed a bag of something to take home and spread on it…. That way it didn’t cost me much at one time….. And the layers don’t have to be THICK, just ‘there’…. So coffee ground were broadcast each day…. And anything that showed up like grass clippings and bags of leaves , same deal….
This is basically just ‘sheet composting’… So to keep it working, add water when it’s dry outside… Rain usually takes care of it, but it will ‘cook’ best if kept on the moist side…. Just like a compost pile…..
Since learning of this, I’ll never dig and till again…. And no more scraping off grass, either!!… I’m hooked!…
Donald asks…
Newbie Gardening tips and warnings?
I have just bought marigolds, gerbera daisies, petunias, asiatic lillies, rose bushes, strawberry plants, and a tomato plant.
But any who, could any garden expert give me tips on gardening, and warnings and what not?
GardenersCardiff answers:
I suggest finding some basic gardening books you like the looks of and reading them. If you’re short on funds, try the library or thrift stores, which are an abundant source of cheap books.
I specifically suggest as a beginner you do some of your reading on companion planting, some plants like each other and some plants don’t. Some plants have beneficial effects for other plants. For instance, you’ll want to put your marigolds near your tomato, as marigolds exude something that nematodes (microscopic worms that are a scourge of tomato plants) don’t like. Other plants, like the onion family, are disliked by many other plants and plants planted near or with onions will often do poorly.
Also, if you plant to plant them in the ground, it will be helpful for you to read up on building your soil with compost, mulching the top of the soil, pest protection. Asiatic lily’s are especially attractive to gophers, so I’d keep those in a pot, although if you have gophers, they’ll eat almost anything if they’re really hungry.
If you plant to keep your garden in pots, which is not a bad idea for a beginner, read up on container gardening. It’s basic but knowing that black plastic pots can absorb enough direct sun on a hot day to effectively cook and kill a plant, and that you’ll want a loose soil that retains water are among necessary tips you’ll get in a container gardening book.
I’m in California, and for me the Sunset Western Garden Book is a bible. It’s specifically written for the western states, if you are outside that area I’m sure Sunset has a publication that covers your area. Use it and read it and explore it, it will have pretty much everything you will need to know, although if you are really interested in gardening there are lots of other wonderful books as well.
Above all, don’t be afraid to try new things, to learn from your mistakes and don’t give up if something dies or fails, you can always start again. Have fun!
Oh, and a wonderful way to learn about gardening as well as gourmet cooking is to have some potted herbs. Herbs started a lifelong interest for me in gardening and also in cooking! Even if you don’t have the room or inclination ro grow your own food, growing your own herbs to use as seasoning is very rewarding. Basic herbs you’ll want to start would be rosemary, oregano, tarragon, thyme. Those are all perennials, meaning they live through the year. Your annual herbs would be basil and chive. There are lots more, be sure to taste a leaf of the plant before you buy, I find some oregano and marjorams much more tasty than others. As 4″ pottted herbs will take a while to get to where you can regularly take cuttings, you might want to start with a larger plant. I won’t usually take cuttings from any herbs til they’ve been in my garden getting overhead water for a couple of months, that way I know any junk on them from the growers has washed off.
Lisa asks…
Gardening Tips, Advice, anything helpfull for a BEGINNER starting a new garden?
Need advice from you at YAhoo Answers.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Water early in the morning. Avoid strong fertilizers until your plants are mature. If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again. I’ve personally murdered many a good plant through neglect, ignorance, and stupidity.
Read the little cards that come with the plants, there is a lot of use-full information there.
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Donald asks…
Which of these magazines should I choose a free 1-year subscription to?
Good Housekeeping
Esquire® Magazine
Harper’s BAZAAR® Magazine
Traditional Home
Better Homes and Gardens
Details Magazine
I’m a male in my 30s. I was thinking of choosing either Details or Esquire. However, I’ve read Better Homes & Gardens in the past, and it was actually interesting.
Uh, I guess I should’ve mentioned that these are the ONLY choices available.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Ehhh, those are kind of gay choices there sir. So I’d go with Esquire because thats the only one that isn’t.
Ruth asks…
does anyone collect the “my garden ” magazines that were published in the uk from 1930,s till late 1950,s?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Those are famous magazines. And there is still a magazine called “my garden” and the stories are funny just like the original.
Http://www.mygarden-magazine.com/resources/index.php
Betty asks…
Help with gardening please im a beginner?
I’m 23 and suffer from Alcoholism and Depression and I’m on medication but my dr also wants me to get a hobby something to focus on and I thought I love walking round my granddads garden so maybe I could start that. But I haven’t got a garden so thinking about getting a patch at an allotment. Only problem is I don’t know the first thing about gardening lol so are there any magazines or anything for beginners? Thanks 
GardenersCardiff answers:
You might consider container gardening which would make it easier to see your plants close at hand. You can go to the library and check out a book or two on how to do it-or google the type of plants you want to grow and see what their specific needs are. I just got a agrotower which I’m going to grow strawberries in-in the first couple of layers-then I’m planning on growing herbs in the next layers. I can’t wait to see the results. Gardening can be very rewarding-and it does occupy time and brain matter which certainly helps with depression! Good luck.
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Mandy asks…
What items from the grocery store can be planted to grow your own food?
I’ve planted some watermelon seeds I had on hand to get some sprouts that I may cut and use for salad greens or in a stir fry like bean sprouts – but what other things can I do easily, especially in an apartment with only light from a window ledge?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Well, right off the top of my head, I know for a fact that you can grow ginger-root, because I grew it in my living room, putting it out on the deck in the summer.
My sister has presented me with kiwi vines, pomegranate trees, orange, grapefruit and lemon trees, and grape seedlings. Heaven only knows what sorts of fruit we will harvest from these, but we will have fun trying.. We grow the vines right up the living room walls. Yes, they are deciduous–so?
I did Thai peppers from the store bought ones and they did fine, in my dining room window. .
You can grow many spices from the dried-herb section of the grocer’s. Dill, Fennel, anise, Coriander (cilantro), Poppyseeds (just watch out for the feds—it’s opium!!), and others readily germinate.
William asks…
Ever tried growing your own food?
GardenersCardiff answers:
When I was young, we always had gardens, and so did all of our neighbors. We canned lots of food. We had fruit cellars. We had chickens. We had milk cows, beef cows, pigs, and sheep. We always had apple trees, cherry trees, pear trees, and plum trees. We didn’t have any money, but we didn’t know it. We did eat well and had a lot of fun. It is time to get back to those days. Bring back the 40’s and the 50’s.
Lizzie asks…
What are some ways to grow your own food without having a full fledged farm?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Try container gardening. It does not take up alot of space and can be alot of fun.
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George asks…
What kind of information do you look for when you go to gardening sites?
I want to start gardening next spring/summer or maybe do container gardening so Im trying to find some good gardening sites that have tips and information for gardening, things like tools, design, flower tips, and that kind of stuff. It seems that all gardening sites i go to have garbage information, or they are really repetitive. What do you search for in gardening sites to find good information:
GardenersCardiff answers:
If you’re planning on growing vegetables in containers, check out the container gardening suite at http://www.grow-it-organically.com/growing-vegetables-in-containers.html . There are pages on the pros and cons of different containers types, sizes, and shapes, information on container gardening drainage and organic potting mixes, and matching the root depth of vegetables to container size. There are also profiles on how to grow different vegetables– http://www.grow-it-organically.com/how-to-grow-vegetables.html –and information on improving garden soil, composting, and natural garden pest control.
Susan asks…
How do I find gardening instructions?
I recently learned how to turn on a computer and I need advise of where the best gardening tips are for my yard gardening.
I am trying to grow tomatoes, squash, peppers, melons, onions, etc.
GardenersCardiff answers:
These sites might help –
http://www.gardenguides.com/how-to/tipstechniques/vegetables/veggie.asp
http://www.ehow.com/how_110539_start-vegetable-garden.html
You could also try google, and either search starting a vegetable garden or how to grow…(an individual plant like tomatoes or peppers, etc.)
Lizzie asks…
I’m new to gardening and looking to set up a low maintenance garden…?
My mom and I would like to plant a garden in front of our house. We have plenty of plantable space, but very little knowledge of gardening! We want a flower garden that is low maitenence. We both have busy schedules, and though we’re planning on putting in effort, working on the garden daily would not be possible for us. We are looking to plant perenials and not have to replant every year. We just want a pretty but simple garden that will not require us to spend excess amounts of time working on it. I don’t know anything about different flowers with different climates, but we live in central Ohio.
Experienced gardeners: do you have any suggestions for what to plant and how to start?
GardenersCardiff answers:
I live in central Ohio also. Go to Oakland Nursery either in Dublin or in Delaware and talk to someone who works there. They have a huge variety of plants, on sale last I saw. The employees are very knowledgable and will be able to help you.
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Sharon asks…
Do you have a book recommendation about Container Gardening for Vegetables?
I’m a novice gardener and I’m interested in starting a vegetable garden next year, but would need to do it in containers. Do you have any book recommendations for container gardening? I’m also looking for suggestions on how to get started and what would be easy to grow in containers. Thanks!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Lowe’s sells a great book on container gardening published by Sunset and that is how I got started. Although now I live on about an acre, I started gardening in containers on an enclosed condo patio. I still have over 200 plants growing in containers in my yard, including herbs, citrus and veggies. Tomatoes, peppers and herbs are great to grow in containers. I grow 5 different varieties of tomatoes, 3 pepper varieties and a host of herbs like thyme, sage, chives, basil, 2 kinds of oregano, tarragon, dill, mint, chamomile…and some others I don’t remember right now. I found growing vine plants like cucumber, pumpkin and squash is a little tricky in containers, but they do show you how in the Sunset book. For free advice on gardening in containers in your zone, you can contact a master gardener or the county agricultural extension.
Joseph asks…
What are the best books on gardening and houseplants?
I’m wanting a new book or two on gardening, and one that has a bit of focus on houseplants and overwintering plants indoors. I’m also thinking about one with details on starting from seed and propagating. Which books are the most informative, with in-depth information and tips? I need something that will be useful to me in a cold climate.
Any links to good sites are also appreciated. I’m looking for a book, a hard copy, something that I can read in bed or when the internet’s out.
GardenersCardiff answers:
All New Square Foot Gardening is a great book for outdoor gardening including seed starting. I also second the suggestion for Rodale’s Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening. As far as houseplants it depends what you want to grow. I think Taylor’s Guide to Houseplants is good but if you are like me and prefer growing more unusual stuff like lemons and herbs it won’t be very helpful.
It is a good idea to find some at the library so you can look through them thoroughly and see what you think.
Ken asks…
What are the best plants for gardening in Arizona?
I want to start gardening but I am not so sure what is best for the climate here in Arizona.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Agave, cactus, ephedra, nolina=bear grass, many types of yucca, our Lord’s candle, chamise, manzanita, desert holly, red barberry, ceanothos, Texas ranger, hollyleaf cherry, catalina cherry, lemonade berry, California buckwheat, needlegrass, sage, coffeebery, columbine, dudleya, fescue, iris, snowberry, desert marigold, chocolate daisy, pink fairyduster, and many, many more!
Try the Arizona Native Plant Society, P. O. Box 41206, Sun Station, Tucson, AZ 85704
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George asks…
What are some topics you like to read on?
I’m writing articles for some blogs and I’m running out of content. If you are online what would interest you? Do you like human interests stories, news, family, business, gardening etc.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Ancestry history, Current events (David Carradine, flight 447, etc), Web site building, Space Aliens and Paranormal, Archeology finds, Little Sweetie Estate vs. Feng Shui Master court case, Cloning, Trade news letters……yes, I live on the computer!
David asks…
Organic container gardening (vegetable and herb) 101?
Hi everyone,
I am completely new at gardening. Ive never even planted a seed! So I need things explained in detail step by step. I have searched all over the internet on this topic and all I find is “Container gardens are great for cities, its so easy, just get a container and fill with potting mix…etc” But they all say the same thing and dont go into any detail.
What I would like to do is start this first year with cherry tomatoes, parsley, green beans, thyme, maybe some other things. Ill see how it goes and make adjustments next year.
Does anyone have any good resources for me? I dont know when to plant the seeds, how many seeds to put in, how far down in the soil, or even how often to water them. I dont know anything and really need some help. Any comprehensive websites or blogs would be amazing. Thanks!
GardenersCardiff answers:
As a newby, I would buy starts at the garden center for most things, especially tomatoes and thyme. Once you have more experience go on to planting tomatoes from seed. Parsley is pretty easy to start from seed, and depending on your region/hardiness zone, you should be able to plant parsley seeds now. You need to wait for the soil to warm up for beans. Do you want bush beans or pole beans? I would suggest bush beans for containers. The seed packets should tell you how deep to plant and their spacing. Plan on putting at least twice as many seeds in a pot as you would think, some won’t sprout and some will be weak. Then once they have a few true leaves, thin out the weaker plants to have one or two plants per pot depending on their size.
Some kinds plants need another plant for pollination (ie, they can pollinate themselves), so you may need two. Tomatillos can self pollinate, but are more productive in at least pairs, manzano and rocoto chilis cannot self pollinate at all. Beans do better if they pollinate each other.
Ask at the garden center for determinate types of tomatoes. Indeterminate types get huge and lanky; you probably won’t have enough space. They may even have “patio” tomatoes. That make a small bush and for their small size put out a lot of fruit if they have sufficient light.
If you are planting seeds indoors, you have to be careful of damp off disease. Really, wait until next year for planting indoors from seeds and ask about that here then. You will probably need to get a lot of things to buy, such as lamps, something for bottom heat, cells, fine seedling potting soil, etc.
Lizzie asks…
What kind of things do you usually read in your spare time?
Examples: Tabloids / Celeb magazines (People, Seventeen, Rolling Stone, etc.); English literature; Poetry; Blogs; How-to books (ie. cooking, gardening, atuorepair, etc.); Fiction; Fun magazines (ie. The Advocate, Science for Teens, fashion magazines, cars, etc.); Magazines (ie. National Geographic, etc.); Newspapers ; Academic peer-reviewed university journals or university texts; Self-help books; Websites of interest
GardenersCardiff answers:
Fiction, poetry and newspapers. I don’t read any magazines or tabloids.
Fiction I read is literary realism, transgressive fiction, absurdism and existentialism.
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