2013 gardening attempts

I'm trying once again to be a successful gardener. I usually start with the best intentions and get conquered by weeds. So far, this year is starting the same. Enthusiasm is high. Let's hope I can keep it through the hot, buggy, weedy summer.

You can do it. Start small. Raised beds. Pots, I'm pretty good at pots and
window boxes.

on the 6th floor of an apartment building I don't really have space for gardening, although I noticed someone is gardening in a patch of the grassy area surrounding the building. I'm thinking of putting some pots out on the roof but I would get approval from the super before. I don't want to end up like the poor shlub who plated tomatoes and had the landlord freak out and call the cops when he thought it was pot.

Oh, LK, how funny! I planted some basil seeds just this evening in a clay pot on the deck, and I challenge you all to get a pot and plant something. Get a packet of seeds next time you're at the grocery store and grow a pansie or a carrot!

Good luck, Becky, you've got a great start!

I just transplanted the catnip into a hanging basket. One of the Rodent Patrol
has already checked it out.

Haahaa! Our state cops landed a helicopter in a tomato patch because the plants look a lot like pot from the air. I expect the farmer was a bit upset. I can understand your landlord's mistake, LK.

I need to get those basil seeds. Tomatoes love basil, and the herb keeps some of the icky bugs away.

I've got 3 full size tomato plants and am growing some Sweet 100s from seed. We also picked up two basil plants, a cilantro and an oregano plant yesterday too. Of course, they're all still in the kitchen because there's a frost warning for tonight in these parts.

FROST WARNINGS!!! It's Mother's Day for pity's sake

Ugh! Well... If you have the pots/plants outside, and it gets too cold, put a light sheet or tee shirt over the plants. It'll keep the frost off the leaves, which is what damages the plants. Crazy weather!

Sue Short wrote:

FROST WARNINGS!!! It's Mother's Day for pity's sake

We've had hard freezes on Memorial Day weekend in past years. I really need to move...

I know you want to move South, BC, but this has been one chilly Shpring, you wouldn't have liked it much. I'm typing this in a sweatshirt.

How long 'till my basil seeds sprout, my gardening gurus?

I don't know, I just buy the plants and replant them in
pots.

Give them about a week, Suzzzz.

Suzzzz wrote:Oh, LK, how funny! I planted some basil seeds just this evening in a clay pot on the deck, and I challenge you all to get a pot and plant something. Get a packet of seeds next time you're at the grocery store and grow a pansie or a carrot!

Good luck, Becky, you've got a great start!

I've got some plants on my windowsill that are over 30 years old. I've got to do some replanting on one of them as it's bursting out of the pot having multiplied so much. I don't know how well they would do outdoors but I'm thinking of replanting some of the rootlets around one of the trees in front of my apartment building.

I'll take up your challenge, Suzzzz. got some seeds I'll plant in a pot on my windowsill

I have planted some lettuce, basil, Swiss chard, and potatoes. The chard, lettuce, and potatoes are up. No sign of the basil yet. There are some mystery seedlings that I think are parsley. I normally would have put tomatoes in by now, but with the late freezes and no wall-o-waters at any local retailers, I've had to wait. They'll go in at the end of the week.

My lettuce and spinach didn't sprout. That is really weird around here. Those are usually guaranteed crops. The other things seem to be doing pretty well. The warm weather this week should help the tomatoes get a good hold.

Well everything sounds good except the Swiss Chard. Sorry to hear about the lettuce and
the spinach, there is nothing better than home grown lettuce and spinach. I found sprouts from
last year's catnip in the window box today. The crop in the hanging basket is doing well. The cats
cant' reach it.

Tomatoes are weeded, mulched, and staked. They should be happy for a little while. Score 1 for the weeding! That's usually my downfall.



Potatoes and leeks and shallots continue to do well next to the barn. I have learned how to tell when potatoes are ready to check. More

Beautiful!

The basil seeds I sprinkled in the clay pot on the back deck have sprouted!

Alright Suzzz!! Becky, I'm impressed, leeks are so good sauteed with all sorts of
things especially potoatoes.

All this talk of fresh produce has me wishing I had a patch of ground to turn into a garden. My attempts with huge plant pots on the balcony have all failed....for the past 13 years.

Try herbs. I've always had good luck with
them.

Can you get a grow light from the dollar store? They make a TON of difference if you don't have the best sun. Also, check to see if anyone in your town is doing a community garden. Lots of places have started doing it on not-so-great public land. The gardens improve the land, and often help the communities where they are. Even people in concrete NYC have some community gardens.

Forgot about community gardens. That's an idea Fif.