Paul asks…
Can I do a Bog Garden ?
I was thinking about doing a bog garden,and i was wondering if I could do a “natural” one as in I could let the plants live outside.I live in central Arkansas,and my climate zone for gardening is 7.Is this suitable to were I could have a a bog garden out side and it be living lol?
GardenersCardiff answers:
A bog garden can be grown in any climate zone. The climate zone would effect which type of plants you would have the greatest success with.
The easiest one to make would involve a large plastic pool or a hole with a plastic liner with the addition on suitable soil components.
William asks…
Tropical plants for zone 7?
what plants look tropical and are good for a tropical garden in zone 7
GardenersCardiff answers:
As you can see according to the link below it doesn’t start until zone 8.
However there are some that give a tropical feel and are cold hardy to zone
7.
Many of these can be purchased at a local garden center for less cost.
Also I recommend Clumping Bamboo unless you want a rhizome barrier to dig 3ft deep. Some of theses ferns can go to zone 3.
Elephant Ears
http://www.elephantearsplants.com/elephantearsvarieties.htm
Cold Hardy Bamboo/Clumping
http://www.bambooheadquarters.com/store/clumping.php
Bamboo Plants
Bamboo Green Panda
Bamboo Green Screen
Bamboo Green View
Nandina Dwarf Firepower
Nandina Harbor Dwarf
http://www.greenwoodnursery.com/page.cfm/36757
Some of the Ornamental grasses.
Http://www.paradisegarden.com/shop/searchresults.php?category=grasses&aff=ov07
Tropical and Subtropical Plants by Hardiness
Order Seeds – Tropical Fruit Database – Tropical Ornamentals –
List of Plants With Pictures – Fruits Around the World – Vegetable and Fruiting Annual Database
http://www.tradewindsfruit.com/fruits_ornamentals_by_hardiness.htm
*********Ferns
http://www.gaiser.org/RidgeTop/ferns.html
*********Cold Hardy Palms/zone 6 & 7
http://www.seedman.com/coldhard.htm
David asks…
I have bad gardening hands?!?
I have had terrible gardening experiences, no kidding.
Just recently I tried to plant this seed, but it was cold outside (Really cold). So.. I place the seed ( in it’s planting pot) by the window to grow. A few days later (could have been weeks ), the damned seed grew mold and nothing sprouted! Absolutely nothing! Okay, so I through the mess away and this time the weather was fair. I placed the seed in a nice soil out side (GREAT soil I know many seeds would like the opportunity to be in that kind of soil), two months had gone by and not a damn sprout, not even a root (one seed I let nature do it’s thing and the other I took care of and nothing happened).
I have many experiences with this bad gardening hands of mines, but those are the most recent ones that I had.
How can I resolve this problem? What do you are these bad gardening hands? And what causes of them?
GardenersCardiff answers:
First – find what gardening zone you’re in . And it sounds like you’re planting too early outside. The cold will kill the plant before it gets to sprout.
Also – when planting in a pot and it’s cold outside, don’t put the pot too close to the window….the cold can still get to it.
Get yourself a gardening book – something basic – it will help a lot!
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Mark asks…
How to start a Vegetable Garden?
Hey! I plan on starting a vegetable garden soon, I’ve never done any gardening before. Would an experience gardener like to offer some advice? I’ve got a few basic questions!
1) Do you test pH levels of the dirt in your garden? If so, can you have different pH levels in each row of plants?
2) I read that you can’t plant strawberries close to peppers because they spread diseases. Have you tried this before? Is it better to have 2 gardens?
3) What do I need to do to the soil beforehand? Obviously I need to loosen it up a bit, maybe get some nice healthy dirt in there. Make it moist. Anything else?
4) What tools should I buy to start off with? I’m thinking a shovel, a trowel, some gloves, and a cultivator.Would you suggest anything else?
5) I know I’m a bit late on the spring season. What are good items to plant at this time? (I live in Tallahassee, FL) I would really like peppers, strawberries, spinach, and butternut squash (or pumpkin). Possibly blueberries or raspberries. Are these ok to plant at this time of the year?
6) Where is a good, local, informative place to shop for plants, seeds, tools, etc? I’d like an organic garden.
Any other advice you’d like to offer? Thanks a bunch for any help!!! I really appreciate it!!!
Any other advice???
GardenersCardiff answers:
You are gonna love gardening, don’t try to do it all in one year. Get to know where the sun shines the most, and where the shaded areas are. Veggies need at least 6 hours of sun per day. And lots and lots of water everyday if you do not get rain.
Since you are a beginner, this year start your garden with plants that you get from a garden center or nursery. They are called bedding plants and come in a six pack. Look for a little tag sticking in the six pact showing directions on how to grow the plants. If the tag is not there, ask for one or buy something else. Directions are VERY important.
Seeds are not always easy to grow.
Two good things to do for yourself is to call your local County Extension Service and ask for all the information that they have about home gardening in your area. They usually have a packet/kit of things for the home gardener.
And number two would be to pick up a couple of beginner books. You really do need to know about soil, compost, mulch and etc.
To keep from over watering or not watering enough, buy a water analyzer from a nursery or garden center. Be sure to read the directions. This will be one of your best tools.
Send for some free gardening catalogs and get use to the different types of plants, colors, and when to plant. They are filled with good informtion and pictures. And they will keep you company during the long winter months. Here is a list of just a very few. There are hundreds more:
http://www.waysidegardens.com
http://www.dutchbulbs.com
http://www.jacksonandperkins.com (Roses)
http://www.parkseed.com (vegetables and flowers)
http://www.burpee.com (vegetables and flowers)
Other catalogs:
http://www.leevalley.com
http://www.gardeners.com
http://www.GardensAlive.com (pests and insects)
http://www.deerbusters.com (all types of animal control)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You can grow vegetables in large containers too.
All need holes in the bottem for water drainage,
Vegetable potting soil that comes in bags,
Slow release fertilizer for veggies, OR liquid fertilizer that will need to be used more often-read directions,
Water crystals to be mixed into the soil for holding water,
Bedding plants or full grown plants.
William asks…
I want to plant a flower garden im SE Missouri.?
I just need some help picking the best ones to stay around all spring and into fall… Are there any like that? Or you can just tell me some good flowers for SouthEast Missouri.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Checkout Springhill Nurseries. Their catalogs have “planned gardens” that are designed to compliment each other in color and bloom, with plants that bloom continually with plants that bloom at different times.
I don’t know if their website offers the same feature — but they’ll be more than happy to send you a catalog and a discount coupon.
These planned gardens — some for shade, some for sun, some for around a fence, next to the house, etc. Etc., will give you lots of info and inspiration. The catalog — as well as the site — will indicate the zone-hardiness for the plants they sell.
Your local garden center will also be helpful, as they will carry plants that are suitable for your locale.
Perennials will offer blooms only once, unfortunately. Annuals will continue to bloom through a season. The ideal is to create a garden with a mix of perennials and easy-to-deal-with annuals. The “exception” to this rule are roses. Hybrid bush roses will bloom intermittently from early summer to the first frost, but rarely will they have blooms continually.
All that aside, look into Columbines. They are billed as “biennials,” but are actually perennials — blooming their second or third year after planting from seed. You can get mature plants from the garden center, and they will reseed themselves, often creating offspring of unusual color. Generally, Columbines start blooming early-to-mid-May and continue through mid-to-late June. Columbines are beautiful, graceful, medium tall, and attract butterflies and humming birds, so I am always eager to suggest a gardener to get a few established in their yard.
Good luck and happy gardening.
ADDED: Laney made a good suggestion, but they are called Purple Cone Flowers, otherwise known as Echinacea. They are perennials, medium tall, and bloom from mid-summer to mid-to-late fall, so they do have a long blooming season. Another is bee balm. This is a perennial that spreads rapidly and comes in various purple to red flowers, is very aromatic, and true to its name, attracts bees and often hummingbirds. This also blooms from early-to-mid summer to late-fall. (Makes great potpourri also).
Http://springhillnursery.com/default.asp?t=xx&eid=081506&sid=411065&gclid=CNTH0aKUxZECFQUolgodJDiJ3Q
Chris asks…
where can i buy some decollete snails for my garden ?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Http://gardeningzone.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=64&osCsid=2dbabafdee18f0c0b17cccea0265601c
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Richard asks…
Gardening??
So my mom & I want to start gardening this year..well she always used to and does know a lot about it.but i want to know some things for myself too.
like when is the best time to start planting flowers..even ones to come up in the spring if i were to just plant them this coming spring? is that even possible.
and we were going to do vegatalbes and things too. whens the best time to plant those
any ideas on what sorts of flowers or foods to plant this year..
i want flowers that come back every year too.
for foods we planned on ..
potatoes
tomatoes
peppers
green beans
Cucumbers
peas maybe
Oh and huge pumpkins for fall!!!
anything you would suggest..i know im forgetting some things!
thanks!
GardenersCardiff answers:
I like what Cat said, but would like to add a few things.
First, flowers that grow from bulbs: I never thought much about bulbs, but my stepmom just LOVES them, and has them planted so that once they start blooming in the spring, there’s an ongoing and dynamic display in the flowerbeds! Crocus’ are the first to peek through the snow, so when we see them, we know we’re past winter! There are lots of different bulbs, and some will do better in various parts of the country than others. (We’re in Texas, so we have to make sure our bulbs are out pleny early or we miss the cool weather bloomers.) You can plant them so you get a variety blooming simultaneously, with shorter plants in front and taller in the back. There are also a lot of bulb plants you can put out for color and foliage, like caladiums and elephant ears.
Perennials are great, but don’t shy away from annuals or biennials!! I’ve let many of my annuals “go to seed” in the garden, and then just let them come back the next year. This doesn’t always work exactly like I want it to, but I usually end up with plenty of the flowers from the previous year.
And don’t forget edible flowers!!! I can’t remember them all now, but there ARE flowers you can actually eat! My favorite are nasturtiums–both flowers and leaves are are edible, and have a bit of a “peppery” taste. They can really dress up a summer salad, in more ways than one! And they prefer soil that isn’t very good, although I’ve heard others say their nasturtiums grow in rich soil I haven’t had luck with that. I can’t remember right now all the flowers that you can eat, but there are quite a few. Start with nasturtiums, and you can expand from there.
When you plant vegetables, plant lots of marigolds with them!! I don’t know for sure if they drive the bugs (bad ones, that is) off, or if they attract them away from the vegetables, but wherever I’ve seen or planted marigolds with vegetables, I’ve seen and/or had very few but problems. And if you grow tomatoes and hot peppers, make sure they’re not close to each other! We planted them side by side one year, and ended up with tomatoes that burned like the peppers! (Trust me, I was NOT expecting that when I popped those cherry tomatoes into my mouth!)
We’re planning on growing pumpkins ourselves this year, because my boys want to grow their own jack-o-lanterns. I know they take a lot of room, and you’ll need to make sure they stay well watered so the skins don’t split.
Something else to consider is container gardening. One thing I did a couple years ago was planting kitchen herbs (basil, chives, thyme, rosemary, etc.) in a strawberry pot. That’s a pot that has little “pockets” on the sides, and most people use them to grow strawberries, but I really enjoyed my “kitchen herb garden”! Unfortunately, I didn’t have anywhere inside that got enough light when I brought it in for the winter, but you might!
Like Cat said, your local garden center or nursery can help you know when to plant in your area, and a lot of seed packets have a zone map on the back to help you out. Also, you can start some seeds indoors before the last freeze of the season in your area.
Good luck and happy gardening!!
Robert asks…
Zone 3 gardening ideas?
Not sure I’ll get many responses here, but I figure it doesn’t hurt to ask 
I’m very new to gardening (as in, have never had one before…)
I have a very nice garden space in my yard that I’ve just let go as I had no idea what to do with it.
Does anyone have any ideas of plants that might be good for me?
I’m in hardiness Zone 3 (Winnipeg, Canada)
The garden faces north – partial shade.
I’d prefer something low maintenance, but I’m open to anything really.
I’m not sure what the soil type is. (How do I find that out?)
And whether you have some ideas for me or not, are there some helpful sites you can recommend for a beginner? Anything is appreciated – thanks!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Http://www.localgardener.net/pages.php?lang=en&page=mbhomepage
Quite a bit of gardening up there. While lilacs and the like will work, I like the more unusual shrubs like snowberries, maybe a Redoisier Dogwood shrub for great winter bark color. Currants are good, not only golden current but also wax currant. I like things the birds will come in a nibble.
Lots of perennials but you might have to give them a little extra mulch over winter. That’s why it is best to find the family owned nurseries, not the big box store nurseries, as you’ll get far better gardening advice.
David asks…
Winter container garden options zone 5b or colder?
I live in Brooklyn and recently started a roof garden.
Current plants will die or move inside as the weather changes, but I want to keep things growing up there, so I need to find plants that can survive being grown in containers in full sun through the fall and as long into winter as possible.
Internet tells me NYC is zone 6b and to go colder for containers. Suggestions found are mostly trees, not practical here. I’m guessing ornamental cabbage and ivy, but is there anything more interesting or colorful I could plant that might survive?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Leucanthemum ‘Highland White Dream’ PPAF Summer to Early Fall blooms
Paeonia lactiflora x lemoinei ‘Yellow Crown’ Spring to Summer blooms
Aster ‘October Skies’ — Mid fall blooms
Here are a few plant options, the hardest thing with container plants is to remember to water regularly.
You can find these plants on the Wayside Gardens Web site.
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John asks…
What’s a great blog or other site which shows fun activities you can do at home with kids?
I’m trying to get my 4 & a half year old niece off of electronics 
I’m trying to introduce her to the type of fun I always had as a kid, not the standard stuff like tea parties & dollies, but actual things that would engage her
So we’ve designed cardboard boxes and turned them into things (like a house, a train, a plane, etc.), we’ve made play-doh together, we made paints just a few days ago (and we’ve been exhausting all types of activities we can do with that, such as Rorschach style paintings or finger painting), we also play games outside like hopscotch, always do a type of cooking activity and, sometimes, we’ll play water fights in the garden.
Do you have a blog that you frequent or really recommend which comes packed with fun activities & ideas for kids?
Do you have any ideas you can share?
Lots of hands on stuff preferably, rather than simple pretend play or anything pc/tv related (I don’t want to see her get hooked on this stuff).
Thank you!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Forget the blog -it’s an electronic format & reading it will make you a poor role model. Go outside for a walk or to play, meet with other children of the same age, use your imagination to create fun experiences & let the 4 year old play an active role in the activities, go to the library, clean the house, cook a meal…. The 2 of you are limited by your creativity & imagination.
Richard asks…
What are some designs for an on ground tree house?
I want to make an on ground tree house so I can put all my gardening tools in. It needs to be at least 6 feet high. The problem is, I don’t know any designs for it. Any ideas? It has to be wide enough and big enough so I can fit in it and put ALL my stuff in it.
GardenersCardiff answers:
A big room with a slant roof would be a great idea as it will give you the 6 feet height that you want int your tree house, make it a big room and divide it with arches or divisions so that it will offer you sections to store things as well as make its interior beautiful and nice
you can also put in some cabinets to put your tools in it, the reason being that tools are somehow dangerous and can cause injury to not only yourself but also other people who use them or anyone who comes to your tree house, thus it is advised that you install a set of cabinets where you can place the tools safely out of reach and keep them tidy instead of people falling on them, storage cabinets are a necessity for your tree house to make it a safe and happy place
see http://www.aboutcabinets.net/blog/storage-cabinets/ for more ideas on a tree house and how to come up with a great tree house
Ruth asks…
How would i get my bonsai trunk thicker?
I have a bonsai ficus, it seems fairly young. I have seen a $300 bonsai ficus at a local garden center and the trunk was inpressive. It had roots coming down from different heights of the trunk, very beautiful. How would one go about increasing the diameter of the trunk and helping it to create these root systems that form out of the trunk?
Thank you.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Trunks are grown. To quickly increase trunk girth you should allow the tree to grow unrestrained. Trimming will only slow the growth. Once you get the desired thickness you can remove overgrown branches and regrow finer, more delicate branches with newly sprouted growth closer to the trunk.
Here’s a link to help you get started:
http://www.matsubonsai.com/blog/post/2008/05/How-to-Get-Started-in-Bonsai.aspx
Here’s a great resource about ficus:
http://bonsaihunk.us/
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Susan asks…
I want to grow my own herbs?
Where can i find seeds or starters, for basil, rosemary and the such?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Your local garden center or nursery. And come spring, often even home improvement stores that have “home & garden” section will have both plants and seeds.
Ken asks…
Growing herbs in upstate new york?
I’m looking to grow my own herbs this year… I cook a lot and I don’t like having to pay $5-$10 for flavorless dry herbs when I can grow them at home.
I’m looking to grow basil, parsley, cilantro, mint, sage, and lavender. I intend on growing them in their own individual containers hanging over a railing, as we have a family of rabbits living underneath our deck.
Where can I buy the seeds? When should I start growing them?
Any advice and suggestions are greatly appreciated!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Walk into any hardware store, or a Target or Wal-mart. They all have those seeds. You’ll need containers, soil, and plenty of sunlight. It is still a bit cold to start the seeds outside, so use a sunny window for now. Then when it warms up, move the herbs outside.
If you get too many herbs, and need to trim the plants, go ahead and trim the extra herbs, then hang them upside down to dry. Fresh dried herbs taste better than store bought.
Sharon asks…
Help with growing herbs?
I want to create a herb garden but I don’t know what herbs to grow. Also, does anyone know anything about herb to herb companion growing?
oh. right. sorry. I live in Australia, in the Central West part of NSW
GardenersCardiff answers:
Hi; Why not grow herbs you may use in cooking? Rosemary, Thyme, Parsley _Italian and curled, coriander.
They can all be grown now. Herb to herb companion planting I dont think is a big issue, but alot of herbs are used as companion planting with vegetables. Eg, garlic with roses (to keep aphids away), wormwood in the vegie garden to keep white moths at bay, etc. Go to your local nursery and see what herbs they have in stock, im sure you will find plenty that you just MUST have and goodluck. Im sure you will love growing your own herbs.
Cheers
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Susan asks…
When is the best time to start an herb garden?
I want to start an herb garden and don’t know where to begin. Where is the best place to get the starts, when is the best time to start it and should it be indoors or outside?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Most garden centers will sell common herbs at the appropriate planting time in the spring. If you have a tighter budget but want to start bigger, assuming you live in a part of the country where it freezes in winter… Start seeds indoors in a sunny window in Early March – April, then set out in the garden after danger of frost passes. Start the seeds in a peat-pot, in commercially available potting soil. The peat pot can be set right into the ground and the roots will grow through the sides into the ground. Any seed catalog (Burpee,etc), or local garden center will usually sell a broader variety of seeds than they sell plants. Starting too early may result in leggy plants that may be difficult to transplant (won’t stand up well). Some herbs will root in water from cuttings(Fresh Basil as sold in some grocery stores) and can be started any time, and used as they grow. Most seed packets have clear directions on starting times, according to your part of the country. Most herbs love full sun, and will not do as well indoors.
Carol asks…
How much to install a garden water feature?
I want a small pond and wall waterfall in my garden but no idea of costs, inc. plumbing etc.
I know it will differ depending on the details f exactly what i want to do but at the moment i just need a guide on pricing.
Has anyone had this done in their garden? How much did it cost?
Thanks
GardenersCardiff answers:
I did it many years ago so prices different and I don’t remember. Go around to pond places and price the various things you want then see what you can find elsewhere. I will explain. I wanted an old fashioned water pump to spout water into an oak barrel. I found a plastic “oak” barrel on clearance at Home Depot for 11 dollars. I found the pump in a farm catalog for 39 dollars so this part cost 50 dollars. If you get it at a pond place 125 dollars or more. Some things you need to get at pond places like pond tubs/liners and pumps but other stuff you might find elsewhere much cheaper.
Joseph asks…
How do you plan and grow an organic vegetable and herb garden?
I want to have my very own organic vegetable and herb garden for my family and my consumption. Please share with me how to do so. Thank you in advance.
GardenersCardiff answers:
To get a good organic garden going takes years of soil building. Start small as a big garden will get overwhelming come the hot part of summer. I would say a garden no bigger than 10 feet by 20 feet the first growing season.
Now is the time to start garden prep by choosing where you want the garden and opening up the sod. Smothering the area where you will have the garden is a good first step or you can plow the sod open and till it in next spring. Plowing is a lot more effective than tilling for killing grass.
You will also need some tools. Get a couple of hoes, my favourite is the shuffle or stirrup hoe. You can find these at any box store. They are lighter and easier to use than the standard concrete hoe most people think of when they think about hoes. You will also need a wheel barrow or garden cart, a potato fork (looks somewhat like a pitch fork but fatter), a shovel, a spade, a couple of trowels.
You will need seeds. My favourite place to get seeds is Johnny’s Selected Seeds in Maine. Http://johnnysseeds.com
Start with easy things to grow and pay attention to the fact not everything grows in every season. Lettuce for example is best planted in the spring, it likes cool damp conditions. Tomatoes and peppers like it hot. A good seed catalogue will tell you such information. You will likely want to use seedlings for a lot of things such as tomatoes. Do not buy these at places like Wal-Mart. Go to a local nursery and tell them you are just starting out and you will get a lot of advice. One caveat, most nurseries (and box stores) are NOT organic and do not know much about organic growing so ignore all advice to use chemicals. But you will find healthier seedlings at most local places than box stores.
Good luck
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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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Susan asks…
Which herbs and plants are easiest to grow for someone that is not familiar with gardening?
I live in New Orleans, Louisiana and have been wanting to grow my own herbs and small plants. I don’t have experience in gardening whatsoever and I’d like to know what I should start off with and what plants/herbs are good for this climate (hot and humid). I would like to plant something within the next month. What’s good to plant at this time of year?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Oregano is such an easy herb! The benefit is that is can be used for such a wide variety of things, and it is a perennial so it will come back every year!
Other no brainers (and I know this from my own personal experience) is lemon verbena, thyme (lemon thyme as well) rosemary, mint, and lavender, and basil.
I have had some troubles with sage, but maybe it doesn’t like Ohio weather, so the humid/hot might be good for it! Pretty much any herb is workable, just buy from a good source (preferably a farmer’s market) and read any labels. I know having them indoors vs. Outdoors makes a difference as well, so what I share is just from having outdoor herbs. (I just dug up the ground, plopped them in, and they lived!)
Good luck!
Charles asks…
How do you grow Herbs?
I love to cook and have started using fresh herbs in my dishes. The negative to that is they are expensive in the grocery store and dont last long in the refrigerator. I would like to grow my own herb garden, but i have no green thumbs. What are the best and easiest herbs to grow and how do i grow them?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Herbs are fairly easy to grow. Take a look at what spices you use in cooking and where you live. No need to grow what you won’t eat. Many herbs can be grown indoors in pots and set outside when the weather is appropriate. For the first time Gardner, I would suggest pick your favorite three herbs. Go to your local garden center or plant market and buy small plants rather than starting with seed.(Farmers markets are great places for this.) Get some small pots (appropriate size for the plants you have purchased) and some potting soil. Put a few rocks in the bottom of your pot for drainage, then put your plant in the pot and cover with dirt to just above the dirt on the plant. Give it a little water and a sunny window and wala you should have herbs. Water about once a week. This is a great starting point that should get you familiar with plants and move you on to a larger herb garden.
There are lots of great herb growing books out there to help you expand your garden. My suggestion is start with the pots, find a good book and make a plan for your garden. Many herbs such as oregano, mint, Thyme and sage, all spread, so thought needs to go into your space allotment for each. Spices like cilantro and basil are annuals in some regions and have to be brought indoors for the winter or planted new each year. So a lot to learn and think about. Hope this helps.
Michael asks…
what good information is availabe on herbs and herbal remedies?
I am looking to eventually to grow and use my own herbs. I am also looking for good reliable information on herbal remedies, safe daily doses adn potential side effects.
GardenersCardiff answers:
Tons of good sites. Here are a few I keep bookmarked for such questions. You might also check YA! For more questions like yours, I’m sure not everyone answers the same ones all the time, you might pick up a gem or two looking back at old ones.
Http://www.altnature.com/
http://www.herbs2000.com/
http://www.herbaleducator.com/index.html
http://www.vitaminstuff.com/herbs.html
http://www.localharvest.org/ (not as much about herbs, but more local network stuff, could be useful to you)
Something else to consider – you may not have to grow your own so much as locate natural sources. My favorite, and wild growing, http://www.botanical.com/botanical/mgmh/m/mulgre63.html
You just need to find and protect the source and process properly.
My mother-in-law used to collect and process her own chamomile, and a good friend and herbalist found St. John’s Wort growing freely on her property and did that same, making salves and other products with it.
That should get you started. Best to you in a very healthful, herbal education!
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Richard asks…
Seniors, do you grow your own vegetables? If so, what have you planted?
so far and what is now beginning to show through the soil?
I have planted very many things but, so far, I have onions and garlic showing and the first potatoes which I put in much earlier than my second lot (which are not showing yet). Some things I put in and expected to be showing by now are not so either the frost got them or I’m just being impatient. I’m quite a novice so will be making notes of what has worked for me and what hasn’t and trying to find out where I went wrong and what suits my soil and what doesn’t etc.
I’ve planted a second batch of certain things in case it was the frost that was the problem so I hope to get some tomatoes and cucumbers, cabbages and lettuces and have decided to forget the peas and beans this time round as I’m running out of garden. I only have a front garden and want some flowers in there also – nearer to the road.
Sophieb, it is not a large garden by any stretch of the imagination but I have dug up half of the lawn which was there when I moved here so I now have the borders AND the space where half the lawn was. Next year the other half of the lawn is coming up. I am just utilizing the space I have as best I can. This year is a learning curve and will determine what I grow next year. I have put in only small amounts of each veg I mention to see how they cope with the soil here (which looks as if it will be much better than my previous one which had a lot of clay in it).
Lynn, my mobility is not all that good really. I have very stiff knees and back problems (dating back to my teens) but, like many people, I have good days and bad days and I just utilise the good ones. If I don’t feel able on some days I don’t do any gardening but it’s coming along in much the way I envisaged it but next year might be quite different. Digging up half of my small lawn was a challenge and had to be done spread over many days. I’m still trying to find a way of getting rid of all the clumps of grass now which are in a large heap.
GardenersCardiff answers:
We have asparagus,cabbage carrots, broccoli,beans, radishes,potatoes,lettuce,spinach,Swiss chard,tomatoes and peppers growing now. Also my favorite….strawberries. I will be planting corn and okra soon.I may have room for sweet potatoes too.
Linda asks…
Vegans- do you grow your own fruits and vegetables?
If so, what do you grow at what times of the years and do you think it’s better to?
GardenersCardiff answers:
Tomatoes, raspberries, oranges, lemons, apple, peach, blueberry, jalapeno, bell peppers
Thinking of growing green beans and potatoes
I try to grow the stuff on the “dirty dozen” list, or things that’s better to purchase organic. It’s just plain cheaper, plus it’s usually fruit, so it’s better fresh. As for what and when to grow, it depends where you are. If you look up “master gardener” and your major city, and use some search skills, you can find some guides on what, and when, to grow seeds, when to transfer into the ground, etc. All the brain work will be done for you. I tend to buy plants, though.
This is for my area (Los Angeles County): http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/Common_Ground_Garden_Program/Garden_Tips_for_Los_Angeles_County/
And here’s some general tips: http://celosangeles.ucdavis.edu/Common_Ground_Garden_Program/Gardening_Articles/
There’s no sub for research. You can also go to your local garden center and ask them for advice. Go to a good one, though.
Jenny asks…
What was the song used grow your own drugs episode 6 vegetables.?
It is a loop of violin i think then drums come in
sorry the television program is called “grow your own drugs “
GardenersCardiff answers:
Must be a weird song :s
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John asks…
How do i know what zone im in for gardening?
i live in kansas city missouri
can anyone tell me what “ZONE” im in
everything keeps telling me to plant during certain ties depending on my zone… but i dont know what that means?
GardenersCardiff answers:
You are in zone 5a – 6a. Here is a Hardiness Zone Map to look at and also a site that shows what will grow in your zone. Happy gardening!
Http://www.thegardenhelper.com/hardiness.htm
http://www.veseys.com/ca/en/learn/reference/hardinesszones
Lisa asks…
What does “zone” mean in gardening and how do I know what zone I’m in?
We just bought a house and I am starting to plant. I’m new to this and I was researching on how to care for Verbena’s and on a site their talking about it depends on what zone your in. What does it mean and how do I find which one I am. I live in southern CA.
Also can anyone recommend a good gardening forum. Thanks.
GardenersCardiff answers:
The US Department of Agriculture established hardiness zones based on how cold the average winter is in each area. This information is used to determine whether a perennial plant can usually survive from season to season, and some plants can not thrive without a cold season.
Southern CA is mostly in zone 10.
David asks…
Anyone from Montana? I have a gardening question for our zone?
What kinds of perennial flowers do the best in the North Central area? Fairfield, Choteau, Simms, Great Falls, that area? I want to plant some beautiful flowers that will return every year without having to re-plant them each time!
GardenersCardiff answers:
Check out your local garden center, they’ll have great advice, and lots of hearty plants to choose from. My garden center also guarantees it’s plants for one year from the purchase date, so if you do have a hard winter you can replace any losses. Here in Colorado, Day Lillies do great, and my Roses come back every year. I’ve had good luck with Shasta Daisies, and Echanesia too. Good Luck
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