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The gardens all sound great! Here is my problem: I don't have a yard. What I do have though is a very large porch w/ 1/2 sun and 1/2 shade and some really big planting pots. Any suggestions for that?
Thanks!
have you tried the pots that you grow tomotoes and peppers and other small fruits upside down? You can grow lettuces, and greens in pots. Herbs are great too. Small peppers, eggplants, work well in pots too. Give them as much sun as possible. You can grow tons of stuff in pots if they get enough sun and water. You have to fertilize more often too.
thanks for the tips! more are always appreciated!
Just a follow-up:
The late James Crockett (of PBS's Crockett's Victory Garden back in the 1970's and 80's) recommended growing certain herbs--like mint--in pots dug in the soil. The rationale? Mint plants are really vines and will take over your garden patch if you're not careful.
Most libraries probably still have his book by the same name in their collection. Much of what he wrote 30 years ago is still valid today, and I find myself consulting it every summer.
I am really expanding this year also. So excited!!! Got a new Asian
seed catalog. Am trying: Bokchoy, Burdock, Collards, Brussel Sprouts. Then the tried and true: tomato, zucchini swiss chard, kale
and chinese cabbage. I definitely am going to have to expand the bed
this year, but it will be so worth it.
This the my first year to get seed catalogs. What a treasure trove of ideas! We want to try the black cherry tomato, said to be a bit more acidic but also very sweet. We will be trying out a new bean this year, dark red with a 7 ft vine so it will need a tower with beans growing 20" or more long. Also we're going to try what's called 3 sister planting. That is too plant corn, let it grow some, then plant pole beans next to each corn stalk. The beans will grow up the corn using it as a pole. Then we'll add squash, pumpkins and guords to the area under the corn to be used like a ground cover that will hold the moisture in the soil. Planting in this manner is supposed to help make use of less space while producing a hearty crop. We're also doing peas, tri=colored chard, bush beans, multi colored carrots, reg, carrots, plum tomatoes for salsa and spaghetti sauce, and lots of other veg. I've already gotten most of our seeds bought. Still need to order some of the new ones. Seed companies are easily found on the net and have alot of specials going on right now.
Forgot to say we're doing two moveable feast tables. These are tables made of 2x4's window screening and mesh wire. The tables set on saw horses. The use is for lettuces and other greens. when the temps get really hot you can move your table into shady areas stopping the greens from bolting or going to seed early or just plan dying off from the heat. I have the plans from "Sean Conways cultivating Life" book which I got from the library. We're going to use 2 for salad items, scallions, collards, turnip greens, spinach, and so on. It gets so hot and humid here in summer and if this works then we can have those items all summer and fall. plus it frees up our garden space for more in veg and for a winter planting of things like turnips,parsnips and carrots.
Hi. I live in an apartment with no balcony. I can open my windows though! Is there anything i would be able to plant? Thanks!
knoxville_girl, you may be able to have a few herbs growing in your window. Is there any open space on the ground in a sunny spot? You wouldn't need too much to get something started. Try it, you never know.
I erased all this by acccident::
This week we planted: spinach, pak choi, carrots, beets, swiss chard, potatoes and cilantro. Oregano is coming back from last year.
When its warmer next month we will plant basil, tomatoes, peppers, cukes and string beans.
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