George asks…
Can I grow herbs indoors in a basement apartment?
I am very interested in growing my own herbs for cooking. I used to have a herb garden where I grew dill, parsley and a few other plants but that was when I lived with my parents and had a house, and my garden was on my deck.
Now I am living with my fiance in a basement apartment. I was wondering, if I put the herb plants on the window sills, would they get sufficient light to grow? I should also say I live where we have very cold winters and very hot summers.
Thanks!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Yeah you can grow herbs anywhere you will find that they grow better on window sill and rotate them around so they get some light and keep moist and when you find right places for each herb you will have great selection ..i have lots types herbs growing and there scatterd around garden and indoors on window sill and all have taken well ..just water when the sun low not at its peak ..but its basically get the water, light and temperature.right and you will have great selection off herbs …
David asks…
Do you grow you own herbs?
GardenersCardiff answers:
LOL. I have a black thumb. I killed a cactus.
Maria asks…
I really want to grow my own veggies and herbs but there’s a problem?
We moved to an apartment a while back and we have no sunlight anywhere other than my mom’s room, my room, and the patio. Problem is, my mom smokes a buttload outside and I think it’s one of the reasons why our last plants died. We had two basil plants, mint, parsley, oregano, rosemary, and two strawberry plants. All died a couple months after we bought them. Yes they were container plants, but how can mint die!? Mint used to be a weed in our backyard!
What the heck do I do here? I don’t want to have to keep spending loads on fresh tomatoes and cilantro 
Probably could be from weather. It started getting hotter as they started dying. Florida heat is a mofo.
I know the lighting was perfect. They all drained well, but overwatering could also have been a problem.
lol I actually was using Miracle Gro potting mix and their container plant fertilizer. They also coincidentally started going when I started using it
Maybe I just can’t grow things.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Divert course from Singapore to Florida. Initiate program ‘Never grew a thing before this’.
First attempt failed – try again! Don’t look for attention on the Internet! Speak to the people at the Garden Center or join a group. Trust ME! Old icky men are seeing a confused simple Asian with a command of the English language and you might not even get dinner.
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Thomas asks…
Best potted plants to garden with?
My backyard looks absolutely dreadful, and I wanted to start a garden. I don’t have much experience with gardening, except raising a tomato plant from seed. I want to use potted plants, because it will be faster. So which plants are best for this? (Plants that are low maintenance, but very nice looking)
Canada/US border.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Approx where do you live (growing zone)? Full sun or part sun or shade? Flowers or veggies? How big of pots are you willing to get?
Flowers that are super easy, good in sun and in pots are french marigolds, petunias and zinnias (and many others)
Flowers good in shade easy in pots are coleus, hypoestes, impatiens which they will all take a little sun.
Veggies that do good in pots are tomatoes, peppers, herbs, eggplant, lettuce, green beans (not worth it for squash, pumpkins, cukes – too big, and grocery store stuff is almost as good) All need full sun, although if it’s a hot day, you can move that lettuce to a shady spot so it doesn’t bolt (produce seeds and get bad tasting)
Linda asks…
I want to start my own garden in Southeast Texas and I am wondering what are the best vegetable and herb plant
I want to start my own garden in Southeast Texas and I am wondering what are the best vegetable and herb plants? Its hard to find a website with a defined region in the United States.
Also what type of shading the plant would require would be nice!
GardenersCardiff answers:
In the first link, a similar question (about growing veggies in Dallas) was asked in April.
Scroll down the page to a post by suze9 – she’s from S.E. Texas – She’s got more than one post that might offer some helpful insight.
The second link is to the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone map for zones 4b through 9b which includes Dallas, Austin, Houston and Brownsville, each of them somewhat different.
Other link goes to Gurney Seed and Nursery…menu on left of screen is for their veggie plants – above that is the link for their vegetable seeds. I didn’t go through each link for the zone info so you’ll have to do that yourself 
Also, Betty’s Bloomers Nursery is in Silsbee, TX. In the article I read, it’s mentioned that the nursery is in S.E. Texas, so may be another resource for you! Phone: 409-385-4892 – email; kay@bettysbloomersn ursery.com.
Hope you find this helpful!
William asks…
Does anyone have any great ideas on gardening a gravesite. Flowers, small bushes and such?
I have been tending a family plot for several years. Then my grandmother passed last August, and all my gardening was upheaved. But now the plot is full, nobody else will be buried there any more, and I would need to start from scratch. Any ideas on planting flowers that will come back next year and maybe a small type bush?
GardenersCardiff answers:
You left out what growing zone you are in. One very awesome ground cover is roman chamomile … It’s perennial, not to be confused with German chamomile which is an annual. It’s beautiful … Covered with little daises in the summer, and stand up to walking on. When touched it gives off the smell of apples.
A small tough, but very fragrant shrub I like is a type of fragrant rose that needs no care an stand up to harsh conditions … Rosa rugosa.
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Lisa asks…
Where can I buy Vermiculite for gardening other than online?
Does anyone know where I can buy Vermiculite for gardening other than online?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Try your local garden center or greenhouse.
Charles asks…
What is the best way to get rid of a garden full of weeds, before I plant flowers?
I plan on beginning my gardening this weekend. My garden currently consist of a large patch of soil loaded with weeds. What is the best way to get rid of these weeds and make sure they don’t come back this summer? There is nothing planted in the garden right now, so anything goes in getting rid of the weeds.
GardenersCardiff answers:
If you have a few days or a week to wait, lay a sheet of black plastic (available in rolls at home centers or just use trash bags) over the garden when temperatures are warm.
Any weed seeds under the plastic will “cook” and become unviable when temperatures are in the 70+ degrees F range.
Otherwise, boiling water works great or you can spray Roundup if temperatures are warm enough for it to work (when weeds are actively growing).
Good Luck.
Sharon asks…
When is the best time to start an herb garden in Florida?
I hear gardening is very theraputic,And I love to cook with fresh herbs.What should I do to get started?
GardenersCardiff answers:
I am in southwest Florida, and I usually wait until after the middle of february to plant new things. That gets me past the risk of a hard freeze. You have a chance of frost for a month after that, but you can cover new plants to protect them from frost. Depending on how far you are north or south of my location you can plan accordingly. That gives you time to prepare your garden for planting. Herbs do not take alot of space, so you can use part of an existing flower bed. I find that herbs do best in partial shade here in Florida. The summer sun and heat can be too much for them.
So just get started. Clear out the grass and weeds from a section of garden, till or mix in some organic matter, and get some mulch. Then you can shop for herb plants, which are readily available. Try as many types as you want. Some will do better than others.
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Lisa asks…
What are your reasons for practicing herbalism and the herbal arts?
I do it for medicinal reasons (alternative medicine), aromatherapy, kitchen (cooking) and spiritually (use in spellcraft). I have my own herb gardens, growing and harvesting for my own use mostly, but I do share when I can.
GardenersCardiff answers:
I studied aromatherapy when i did my massage training, i use it every day, essentail oils are wonderful for many purposes, from a few drops of tee tree down the drain, to a more creative blend for a ritual, and i love using them in the bath of course! I have used home made herbal teas/infusions quite a lot in the last year as i have had some health issues. Cooking as well,we grow quite a few here, but my hens do damage them..and i do buy some.
Donna asks…
Pagans – To grow or to buy?
For those who work with and use herbs do you grow your own, buy or both?
Right now I buy, but I have been thinking of buying an aero garden or two and growing some of my herbs more so because having moved from vegas I can’t grow things outside year round.
GardenersCardiff answers:
I love to garden so my answer is “Grow”. Many herbs attract butterflies, are good in cooking as well. Some butterflies use particular herbs to lay their eggs on (such as the Black swallowtail and parsley). Two of my favorite places to buy herb plants are:
http://www.richters.com/
Great selection!
Good selection and nice to deal with.
With both companies you can request a free catalog.
I’m in zone 5b and there are some herbs that will overwinter or reseed themselves here. Some cultivars of Lavender do fine here but need to be in a raised very well-drained mound with no mulch. To learn about your growing zone, just click on your state:
http://www.growit.com/zones/
Chris asks…
is it worth it to dedicate a room in my house for growing my own food?
me and my family were thinking of turning a room inside into a garden . for one my mom is getting sick of the kitchen having plants everywhere lol ( its where i keep my herb collecton but i have like 30 pots in the kitchen and a couple aerogardens so it gets in the way of everything ) and the prices of vegitables are skyrocketting . and if you produce your own food you know everyhing thats in it right , but my question is … is it worth it to burn lights 24 7 to have an indoor garden , like will i save that much money from the grocery store when i start growing my own … i am doing a garden this year out doors but we wanna have fresh stuff all year round and im making a herb garden somewhere regardless lol
GardenersCardiff answers:
I’ve dedicated one room in my house for growing my own pot. It’s working out really well, so go ahead and give it a try!
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