My Urban Garden (2 Viewers)

[Mr. Yuk]

I'm seriously worried about CC.I also have spouts. I planted 18 seeds and probably 14 of them sprouted. I have inch long stems and two little leaves on each...

Has anyone emailed him?As per his advice...I planted mine a couple of weeks ago. Almost every seed has sprouted (except for one). I also planted other old tomato seed I had..some herbs and some peppers. All in all I have 56 cups with seed in them and probably a couple hundred seedlings already sprouted out of the ground and growing...my kid wants to side walk sell the plants we don't use (and I'll only be using about 12). I also built a PVC stand and have all the plants growing under a shop light (18 hours per day). They seem to be doing well.

I just sent off an email to him, we'll see if he responds. I do really hope he's ok, he's been so involved with this whole process it's weird for him to be gone this long.

 

[TheFanatic]

I just counted. Of the 18 that I planted, 17 sprouted. One of the cups took it's sweet time. Going to move them down to the basement and the florescent light this week....

 

[moleculo]

not sure if this is jsut a tomato thread or not, but I'm doing some pretty big raised beds in the garden this year. I just built two frames - each 4'x24', and about 12" high. Next step is to fill them. I'm gonna truck in about 5" of top soil and 5" of compost, mix in with the native clay underneath, and call that good for preparation.

Last year we had a little success with tomatoes, peppers, melons, carrots, onions, strawberries, and various herbs. We didn't have the raised beds - we planted everything in rows to help with drainage (we have terrible clay here). I also learned that regular watering is definitely key - everything really took off after I installed a drip irrigation on a timer.

Not sure exactly what we are gonna put down this year. If we are gonna grow from seeds, we need to get that started pretty soon.

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

not sure if this is jsut a tomato thread or not, but I'm doing some pretty big raised beds in the garden this year. I just built two frames - each 4'x24', and about 12" high. Next step is to fill them. I'm gonna truck in about 5" of top soil and 5" of compost, mix in with the native clay underneath, and call that good for preparation. Last year we had a little success with tomatoes, peppers, melons, carrots, onions, strawberries, and various herbs. We didn't have the raised beds - we planted everything in rows to help with drainage (we have terrible clay here). I also learned that regular watering is definitely key - everything really took off after I installed a drip irrigation on a timer.Not sure exactly what we are gonna put down this year. If we are gonna grow from seeds, we need to get that started pretty soon.

It's a gardening thread, tomatoes just take top billing with most here it seems. I too built some raised beds this year although not nearly as big as yours to go along with my barrel planters and some self watering planters I'm making from 20 gal plastic bins. Will be growing tigger melons, sugar baby watermelons, beans, beets, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, 5 types of hot peppers, some salad greens that I have been growing all winter and will keep until they start bolting in the heat of summer. Have kept kale, spinach, arugala, mixed salad greens, onions, and sugar snap peas going throughout the winter here (zone 9) and my peas just showed me their first blossoms in the last few days. Have herbs in addition to the veggies, most of which are already going save the basil, which froze off in November. Thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, marjorem, tarragon, parsley, chives, and basil are what I keep in my pots and barrels as far as herbs. Also planted a bay laurel so will have that handy fresh as well now.

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

I'm seriously worried about CC.

I also have spouts. I planted 18 seeds and probably 14 of them sprouted. I have inch long stems and two little leaves on each...

Has anyone emailed him?As per his advice...I planted mine a couple of weeks ago. Almost every seed has sprouted (except for one). I also planted other old tomato seed I had..some herbs and some peppers. All in all I have 56 cups with seed in them and probably a couple hundred seedlings already sprouted out of the ground and growing...my kid wants to side walk sell the plants we don't use (and I'll only be using about 12).

I also built a PVC stand and have all the plants growing under a shop light (18 hours per day). They seem to be doing well.

I've thought about doing the same to defray some of the costs of expanding my garden. Will probably offer a couple of plants to a couple of neighbors and friends.

 

[Nick Vermeil]

I'm seriously worried about CC.

I also have spouts. I planted 18 seeds and probably 14 of them sprouted. I have inch long stems and two little leaves on each...

Has anyone emailed him?As per his advice...I planted mine a couple of weeks ago. Almost every seed has sprouted (except for one). I also planted other old tomato seed I had..some herbs and some peppers. All in all I have 56 cups with seed in them and probably a couple hundred seedlings already sprouted out of the ground and growing...my kid wants to side walk sell the plants we don't use (and I'll only be using about 12).

I also built a PVC stand and have all the plants growing under a shop light (18 hours per day). They seem to be doing well.

I've thought about doing the same to defray some of the costs of expanding my garden. Will probably offer a couple of plants to a couple of neighbors and friends.

If any of you are in NY are have extras, let me know. CC was going to add me to the seed list, but I too am worried about where he is.

 

[moleculo]

not sure if this is jsut a tomato thread or not, but I'm doing some pretty big raised beds in the garden this year. I just built two frames - each 4'x24', and about 12" high. Next step is to fill them. I'm gonna truck in about 5" of top soil and 5" of compost, mix in with the native clay underneath, and call that good for preparation. Last year we had a little success with tomatoes, peppers, melons, carrots, onions, strawberries, and various herbs. We didn't have the raised beds - we planted everything in rows to help with drainage (we have terrible clay here). I also learned that regular watering is definitely key - everything really took off after I installed a drip irrigation on a timer.Not sure exactly what we are gonna put down this year. If we are gonna grow from seeds, we need to get that started pretty soon.

It's a gardening thread, tomatoes just take top billing with most here it seems. I too built some raised beds this year although not nearly as big as yours to go along with my barrel planters and some self watering planters I'm making from 20 gal plastic bins. Will be growing tigger melons, sugar baby watermelons, beans, beets, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, 5 types of hot peppers, some salad greens that I have been growing all winter and will keep until they start bolting in the heat of summer. Have kept kale, spinach, arugala, mixed salad greens, onions, and sugar snap peas going throughout the winter here (zone 9) and my peas just showed me their first blossoms in the last few days. Have herbs in addition to the veggies, most of which are already going save the basil, which froze off in November. Thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, marjorem, tarragon, parsley, chives, and basil are what I keep in my pots and barrels as far as herbs. Also planted a bay laurel so will have that handy fresh as well now.

what are you filling your beds with? top-soil + compost, or are you adding anything else (peat moss, manure, etc)?

 

[FBGirl79]

not sure if this is jsut a tomato thread or not, but I'm doing some pretty big raised beds in the garden this year. I just built two frames - each 4'x24', and about 12" high. Next step is to fill them. I'm gonna truck in about 5" of top soil and 5" of compost, mix in with the native clay underneath, and call that good for preparation. Last year we had a little success with tomatoes, peppers, melons, carrots, onions, strawberries, and various herbs. We didn't have the raised beds - we planted everything in rows to help with drainage (we have terrible clay here). I also learned that regular watering is definitely key - everything really took off after I installed a drip irrigation on a timer.Not sure exactly what we are gonna put down this year. If we are gonna grow from seeds, we need to get that started pretty soon.

It's a gardening thread, tomatoes just take top billing with most here it seems. I too built some raised beds this year although not nearly as big as yours to go along with my barrel planters and some self watering planters I'm making from 20 gal plastic bins. Will be growing tigger melons, sugar baby watermelons, beans, beets, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, 5 types of hot peppers, some salad greens that I have been growing all winter and will keep until they start bolting in the heat of summer. Have kept kale, spinach, arugala, mixed salad greens, onions, and sugar snap peas going throughout the winter here (zone 9) and my peas just showed me their first blossoms in the last few days. Have herbs in addition to the veggies, most of which are already going save the basil, which froze off in November. Thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, marjorem, tarragon, parsley, chives, and basil are what I keep in my pots and barrels as far as herbs. Also planted a bay laurel so will have that handy fresh as well now.

what are you filling your beds with? top-soil + compost, or are you adding anything else (peat moss, manure, etc)?

Are you guys doing organic gardens? I have never gardened before and we are building a 4 X 8 raised bed this weekend. I also want to do one large container for a few herbs so I can give it a try but starting small so I can learn. I really want to do all organic but wasn't sure how to go about filling the bed. Should I just buy organic top soil and compost from somewhere like Whole Foods? I am contemplating buying a compost mixer and doing that as well but I don't want to get in over my head before I know what I am doing.

 

[moleculo]

not sure if this is jsut a tomato thread or not, but I'm doing some pretty big raised beds in the garden this year. I just built two frames - each 4'x24', and about 12" high. Next step is to fill them. I'm gonna truck in about 5" of top soil and 5" of compost, mix in with the native clay underneath, and call that good for preparation.

Last year we had a little success with tomatoes, peppers, melons, carrots, onions, strawberries, and various herbs. We didn't have the raised beds - we planted everything in rows to help with drainage (we have terrible clay here). I also learned that regular watering is definitely key - everything really took off after I installed a drip irrigation on a timer.

Not sure exactly what we are gonna put down this year. If we are gonna grow from seeds, we need to get that started pretty soon.

It's a gardening thread, tomatoes just take top billing with most here it seems. I too built some raised beds this year although not nearly as big as yours to go along with my barrel planters and some self watering planters I'm making from 20 gal plastic bins. Will be growing tigger melons, sugar baby watermelons, beans, beets, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, 5 types of hot peppers, some salad greens that I have been growing all winter and will keep until they start bolting in the heat of summer. Have kept kale, spinach, arugala, mixed salad greens, onions, and sugar snap peas going throughout the winter here (zone 9) and my peas just showed me their first blossoms in the last few days. Have herbs in addition to the veggies, most of which are already going save the basil, which froze off in November. Thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, marjorem, tarragon, parsley, chives, and basil are what I keep in my pots and barrels as far as herbs. Also planted a bay laurel so will have that handy fresh as well now.

what are you filling your beds with? top-soil + compost, or are you adding anything else (peat moss, manure, etc)?

Are you guys doing organic gardens? I have never gardened before and we are building a 4 X 8 raised bed this weekend. I also want to do one large container for a few herbs so I can give it a try but starting small so I can learn. I really want to do all organic but wasn't sure how to go about filling the bed. Should I just buy organic top soil and compost from somewhere like Whole Foods? I am contemplating buying a compost mixer and doing that as well but I don't want to get in over my head before I know what I am doing.

yeah, trying to go organic, but not going overboard.I'm probably gonna buy top soil from a local landscaping company , and compost from the city of Charlotte. If it's not certified organic, I'm not gonna have a cow.

 

[FBGirl79]

not sure if this is jsut a tomato thread or not, but I'm doing some pretty big raised beds in the garden this year. I just built two frames - each 4'x24', and about 12" high. Next step is to fill them. I'm gonna truck in about 5" of top soil and 5" of compost, mix in with the native clay underneath, and call that good for preparation.

Last year we had a little success with tomatoes, peppers, melons, carrots, onions, strawberries, and various herbs. We didn't have the raised beds - we planted everything in rows to help with drainage (we have terrible clay here). I also learned that regular watering is definitely key - everything really took off after I installed a drip irrigation on a timer.

Not sure exactly what we are gonna put down this year. If we are gonna grow from seeds, we need to get that started pretty soon.

It's a gardening thread, tomatoes just take top billing with most here it seems. I too built some raised beds this year although not nearly as big as yours to go along with my barrel planters and some self watering planters I'm making from 20 gal plastic bins. Will be growing tigger melons, sugar baby watermelons, beans, beets, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, 5 types of hot peppers, some salad greens that I have been growing all winter and will keep until they start bolting in the heat of summer. Have kept kale, spinach, arugala, mixed salad greens, onions, and sugar snap peas going throughout the winter here (zone 9) and my peas just showed me their first blossoms in the last few days. Have herbs in addition to the veggies, most of which are already going save the basil, which froze off in November. Thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, marjorem, tarragon, parsley, chives, and basil are what I keep in my pots and barrels as far as herbs. Also planted a bay laurel so will have that handy fresh as well now.

what are you filling your beds with? top-soil + compost, or are you adding anything else (peat moss, manure, etc)?

Are you guys doing organic gardens? I have never gardened before and we are building a 4 X 8 raised bed this weekend. I also want to do one large container for a few herbs so I can give it a try but starting small so I can learn. I really want to do all organic but wasn't sure how to go about filling the bed. Should I just buy organic top soil and compost from somewhere like Whole Foods? I am contemplating buying a compost mixer and doing that as well but I don't want to get in over my head before I know what I am doing.

yeah, trying to go organic, but not going overboard.I'm probably gonna buy top soil from a local landscaping company , and compost from the city of Charlotte. If it's not certified organic, I'm not gonna have a cow.

Thanks, I'll have to see if there are any cities near me that do composting but I haven't heard of any if they do. I'm not going to have a cow if it isn't certified organic either but I'd like to keep it all as organic as possible too.

 

[TheFanatic]

Thanks, I'll have to see if there are any cities near me that do composting but I haven't heard of any if they do. I'm not going to have a cow if it isn't certified organic either but I'd like to keep it all as organic as possible too.

Well, if you had a cow, you would have all the organic fert you needed...I would avoid Whole Foods for organic top soil. You can get it at hardware stores as well and it's got to be cheaper... I went organic a couple years ago. No more miracle grow. Just lots of store bought compost...

 

[siffoin]

Re: Composting.

If you are interested in composting you might want to look into a worm composting bin.

I've talked about mine (maybe in this thread) that I started last year.

I began with a 20 gallon (or so) rubbermaid plastic storage bin. Added leaves, newspapers, a tiny bit of sand and 1 lb of composting worms (about 500 worms). That was last March.

Each week I've added leftover waste to that bin. Things like old lettuce, potato peels, vegetable ends, coffee grinds, tea leaves, shredded paper, egg shells (you get the point). And let the worms do what they do. Compost.

In hindsight the bin started pretty slow...as my first full composted bin was finished about Aug last summer. But the worm population exploded.

Today I have 3 worm bins going, and I'm about to make another one this weekend (I'm giving 1 bin to a friend and another to a school charity auction). I have literally thousands of worms. THOUSANDS! (worm population doubles every 3 months so by my estimation that is 8000 worms)

I've kept the bin in the mud room of my house all winter long...no smells at all.

I'm probably getting 15-20 lbs of compost every 6 weeks from the bins...and I think it could be a lot more but I just don't have as much organic material to feed them in the winter.

Anyway, if you are looking for a way to compost just for yourself...worm composting is a pretty nifty way to go.

 

[FBGirl79]

Re: Composting.If you are interested in composting you might want to look into a worm composting bin.I've talked about mine (maybe in this thread) that I started last year.I began with a 20 gallon (or so) rubbermaid plastic storage bin. Added leaves, newspapers, a tiny bit of sand and 1 lb of composting worms (about 500 worms). That was last March.Each week I've added leftover waste to that bin. Things like old lettuce, potato peels, vegetable ends, coffee grinds, tea leaves, shredded paper, egg shells (you get the point). And let the worms do what they do. Compost.In hindsight the bin started pretty slow...as my first full composted bin was finished about Aug last summer. But the worm population exploded. Today I have 3 worm bins going, and I'm about to make another one this weekend (I'm giving 1 bin to a friend and another to a school charity auction). I have literally thousands of worms. THOUSANDS! (worm population doubles every 3 months so by my estimation that is 8000 worms)I've kept the bin in the mud room of my house all winter long...no smells at all.I'm probably getting 15-20 lbs of compost every 6 weeks from the bins...and I think it could be a lot more but I just don't have as much organic material to feed them in the winter.Anyway, if you are looking for a way to compost just for yourself...worm composting is a pretty nifty way to go.

So when can you start using the compost? Did you have to wait until August then you just put worms and all in the garden? Costco had a compost mixer that I thought about picking up this weekend but I don't think you use worms in it. I thought I had to wait until the fall so I would have our leaves for it to keep the green/brown ratio right. Like I said I really don't know much about it but love the idea of not throwing out the food scraps/tea/newspaper and being able to recycle it for our garden.

 

[siffoin]

Re: Composting.

If you are interested in composting you might want to look into a worm composting bin.

I've talked about mine (maybe in this thread) that I started last year.

I began with a 20 gallon (or so) rubbermaid plastic storage bin. Added leaves, newspapers, a tiny bit of sand and 1 lb of composting worms (about 500 worms). That was last March.

Each week I've added leftover waste to that bin. Things like old lettuce, potato peels, vegetable ends, coffee grinds, tea leaves, shredded paper, egg shells (you get the point). And let the worms do what they do. Compost.

In hindsight the bin started pretty slow...as my first full composted bin was finished about Aug last summer. But the worm population exploded.

Today I have 3 worm bins going, and I'm about to make another one this weekend (I'm giving 1 bin to a friend and another to a school charity auction). I have literally thousands of worms. THOUSANDS! (worm population doubles every 3 months so by my estimation that is 8000 worms)

I've kept the bin in the mud room of my house all winter long...no smells at all.

I'm probably getting 15-20 lbs of compost every 6 weeks from the bins...and I think it could be a lot more but I just don't have as much organic material to feed them in the winter.

Anyway, if you are looking for a way to compost just for yourself...worm composting is a pretty nifty way to go.

So when can you start using the compost? Did you have to wait until August then you just put worms and all in the garden? Costco had a compost mixer that I thought about picking up this weekend but I don't think you use worms in it. I thought I had to wait until the fall so I would have our leaves for it to keep the green/brown ratio right. Like I said I really don't know much about it but love the idea of not throwing out the food scraps/tea/newspaper and being able to recycle it for our garden.

Well the worms are spendy...so don't go throwing them into your garden. You want to keep them in a compost bin. And you want composting worms (Red Wigglers).Once you have compost there are a couple of ways to do this. You can sort the worms by hand. I did this and it is tedious, and by tedious it took about 2-3 hours. You could also dump the entire contents of the bin onto a blue tarp and then separate the worms by thinning small piles next to large piles...as the worms don't like light they'll migrate to the big pile. You continue to do this. Finally there are stackable worm composting bins...as one bin gets composted you just place food scraps into the next and the worms migrate. I'm attempting this right now with one homemade bin. And I have no idea if it is working or not. Here is one ready to go bin...And I may just buy it...

http://www.amazon.com/Tray-Compost-System-...a/dp/B000S6LZCS

Now if you go the route I did and start with a small amount of worms...it is going to take a while to get a full bin of compost. But as the worm population grows the ability to have more compost more often will also grow. I'm 1 year into this...and have cut down a ton on feeding the worms over the winter and I have 3 bins going full bore. If I wanted I could easily 2-3x increase compost production just by feeding them more. With that said...worms will compost everything many times faster than just a plain old regular compost bin...and supposedly...there is nothing better for plants than worm poop. If you fish...you always have worms too.

Here some other tips:

1) Worm Escape. The first night I started the worm bin I had it in the mud room. I came in to check and worms were EVERYWHERE. They were escaping the bin. Now this is not unusual as worms will explore a new home. To prevent this just keep a light on in the room where the worms are kept. In the summer I move the bins outside. And once they are used to the bin...and it is moist, there is food and it is not too hot or cold...they'll stay in the bin.

2) Faster Composting. All week long I save food scraps (any vegi matter is fine...easy on the citrus, and NO PROTEINS). At the end of the week I have a plastic grocery bag full. I put the contents into a food processor and chop it up to fine. Then add that to the bin. This step makes it easier for the worms to eat. In 1 week they will have composted the entire contents of that bag. If I were to just dump it in unprocessed it would take weeks. I rotate where I place the food in the bin each week too.

Everything I learned about worm composting I learned on the internet. It's a pretty fail safe method as long as you feed the worms...keep them moist...and keep their temp between 40-80 degrees.

 

[moleculo]

Re: Composting.

If you are interested in composting you might want to look into a worm composting bin.

I've talked about mine (maybe in this thread) that I started last year.

I began with a 20 gallon (or so) rubbermaid plastic storage bin. Added leaves, newspapers, a tiny bit of sand and 1 lb of composting worms (about 500 worms). That was last March.

Each week I've added leftover waste to that bin. Things like old lettuce, potato peels, vegetable ends, coffee grinds, tea leaves, shredded paper, egg shells (you get the point). And let the worms do what they do. Compost.

In hindsight the bin started pretty slow...as my first full composted bin was finished about Aug last summer. But the worm population exploded.

Today I have 3 worm bins going, and I'm about to make another one this weekend (I'm giving 1 bin to a friend and another to a school charity auction). I have literally thousands of worms. THOUSANDS! (worm population doubles every 3 months so by my estimation that is 8000 worms)

I've kept the bin in the mud room of my house all winter long...no smells at all.

I'm probably getting 15-20 lbs of compost every 6 weeks from the bins...and I think it could be a lot more but I just don't have as much organic material to feed them in the winter.

Anyway, if you are looking for a way to compost just for yourself...worm composting is a pretty nifty way to go.

So when can you start using the compost? Did you have to wait until August then you just put worms and all in the garden? Costco had a compost mixer that I thought about picking up this weekend but I don't think you use worms in it. I thought I had to wait until the fall so I would have our leaves for it to keep the green/brown ratio right. Like I said I really don't know much about it but love the idea of not throwing out the food scraps/tea/newspaper and being able to recycle it for our garden.

Well the worms are spendy...so don't go throwing them into your garden. You want to keep them in a compost bin. And you want composting worms (Red Wigglers).Once you have compost there are a couple of ways to do this. You can sort the worms by hand. I did this and it is tedious, and by tedious it took about 2-3 hours. You could also dump the entire contents of the bin onto a blue tarp and then separate the worms by thinning small piles next to large piles...as the worms don't like light they'll migrate to the big pile. You continue to do this. Finally there are stackable worm composting bins...as one bin gets composted you just place food scraps into the next and the worms migrate. I'm attempting this right now with one homemade bin. And I have no idea if it is working or not. Here is one ready to go bin...And I may just buy it...

http://www.amazon.com/Tray-Compost-System-...a/dp/B000S6LZCS

Now if you go the route I did and start with a small amount of worms...it is going to take a while to get a full bin of compost. But as the worm population grows the ability to have more compost more often will also grow. I'm 1 year into this...and have cut down a ton on feeding the worms over the winter and I have 3 bins going full bore. If I wanted I could easily 2-3x increase compost production just by feeding them more. With that said...worms will compost everything many times faster than just a plain old regular compost bin...and supposedly...there is nothing better for plants than worm poop. If you fish...you always have worms too.

Here some other tips:

1) Worm Escape. The first night I started the worm bin I had it in the mud room. I came in to check and worms were EVERYWHERE. They were escaping the bin. Now this is not unusual as worms will explore a new home. To prevent this just keep a light on in the room where the worms are kept. In the summer I move the bins outside. And once they are used to the bin...and it is moist, there is food and it is not too hot or cold...they'll stay in the bin.

2) Faster Composting. All week long I save food scraps (any vegi matter is fine...easy on the citrus, and NO PROTEINS). At the end of the week I have a plastic grocery bag full. I put the contents into a food processor and chop it up to fine. Then add that to the bin. This step makes it easier for the worms to eat. In 1 week they will have composted the entire contents of that bag. If I were to just dump it in unprocessed it would take weeks. I rotate where I place the food in the bin each week too.

Everything I learned about worm composting I learned on the internet. It's a pretty fail safe method as long as you feed the worms...keep them moist...and keep their temp between 40-80 degrees.

good stuff. worm composting is something I've been thinking about lately, just not sure if it's worth the effort.

 

[DA RAIDERS]

.

 

[E Street Brat]

I tried the worm thing last year and killed them all.

I think they got to warm on the back porch

Has anybody made any containers yet? I wanted to a couple weeks ago, but got a bad case of the lazies.

 

[moleculo]

how do you vegetable gardeners rotate your crops?

Actually, that's a question for TomatoGuys as well...do you plant the tomatoes in the same location/same container, and if so, are you concerned about diseases building up in the soil?

 

[TheFanatic]

how do you vegetable gardeners rotate your crops?Actually, that's a question for TomatoGuys as well...do you plant the tomatoes in the same location/same container, and if so, are you concerned about diseases building up in the soil?

If you lay down a bunch of compost it till burn up the diseases according to CC. I need to do that soon so it can work it's magic for the next 6-8 weeks. Also, he said that adding things to the soil, in my case for maters bone meal and epsom salts, plenty of compost, work the soil well and then at the end a heavy layer of mulch.

 

[FBGirl79]

Can anyone give me some suggestions on the size of raised bed to build for a 1st timer? We have 1/2 acre back yard that has nothing it at all so I'm not too worried about space. A list of the easiest veggies/fruits/herbs would be great too. I don't think in Ohio we plant anything until late April but I want to build the bed this weekend bc it is supposed to reach 50 and have the list of seeds I need so I can start whatever indoors.

Here is what I would like to do but don't know how easy/hard/doable it will actually be for someone who is relatively clueless when it comes to gardening.

Squash

Zucchini

Tomatoes

Green beans

Carrots

Potatoes ???

Cabbage

Spinach

Other salad greens (I thought about doing a big container out back with just salad greens but don't know if that will actually work. Any suggestions for good greens that are easy to grow?)

Strawberries

Blueberries

Herbs (would another large container work for all herbs?)

Basil

Rosemary

Thyme

Lavender (might just do a big lavender bush out front)

Oregano

Parsley

Mint

What am I missing and what might be too much to take on for your first go-round? Any other tips?

Thanks!!!

 

[siffoin]

I tried the worm thing last year and killed them all. I think they got to warm on the back porch Has anybody made any containers yet? I wanted to a couple weeks ago, but got a bad case of the lazies.

Fla...back porch (in the sun)= worm death.It gets hot in Idaho too. Really really hot. Like over 100.I still keep the worms outside...though beneath a covered patio (in the shade). Still that black rubbermade box gets hot. So what I do is freeze a water bottle and place it in the worm bin. That will cool it down, and the worms (if hot) will migrate towards it.Keeping worms alive (or anything) takes some care. But worms are pretty simple. Just remember keep the box moist (like a wrung out sponge), keep the worms fed, and keep the temp between 40-80 degrees.Also note: I will NOT be selling any of the plants from CC. These I'll be using for myself and any extras I'll give away. What I will sell are plants from leftover seeds from last year...well my kid will...as part of having him "help" with the garden this year.

 

[pantagrapher]

OK, I'm officially planning to start a serious back porch garden this spring. The main space I'll be using is under a roof and gets very little direct sunlight. I've had good luck with basic herbs—basil, rosemary, mint. And I had some flowers that handled the lack of sunshine very well (although I can't remember what they were). Any suggestions for some lush greenery that can thrive in lowlight areas and only require moderate maintenance?

Also, I have a lower landing that does get ample sunlight. I was looking to get a pair of small trees for each corner of the landing. These will be in direct sunlight most of the day and exposed to the elements. I'm imagining something in the 4- to 5-foot range. Any suggestions?

 

[zander_s]

Well i ordered up a variety of tomato seeds and quite a mixture of bell peppers. Heading over to the local nursery this weekend to see what else i wanna get. I'm running a bit later than the rest of you it seems. I don't think it will matter much in So Cal though.

Really getting concerned about CC. Hope all is well with him.

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

not sure if this is jsut a tomato thread or not, but I'm doing some pretty big raised beds in the garden this year. I just built two frames - each 4'x24', and about 12" high. Next step is to fill them. I'm gonna truck in about 5" of top soil and 5" of compost, mix in with the native clay underneath, and call that good for preparation. Last year we had a little success with tomatoes, peppers, melons, carrots, onions, strawberries, and various herbs. We didn't have the raised beds - we planted everything in rows to help with drainage (we have terrible clay here). I also learned that regular watering is definitely key - everything really took off after I installed a drip irrigation on a timer.Not sure exactly what we are gonna put down this year. If we are gonna grow from seeds, we need to get that started pretty soon.

It's a gardening thread, tomatoes just take top billing with most here it seems. I too built some raised beds this year although not nearly as big as yours to go along with my barrel planters and some self watering planters I'm making from 20 gal plastic bins. Will be growing tigger melons, sugar baby watermelons, beans, beets, radishes, carrots, tomatoes, 5 types of hot peppers, some salad greens that I have been growing all winter and will keep until they start bolting in the heat of summer. Have kept kale, spinach, arugala, mixed salad greens, onions, and sugar snap peas going throughout the winter here (zone 9) and my peas just showed me their first blossoms in the last few days. Have herbs in addition to the veggies, most of which are already going save the basil, which froze off in November. Thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano, marjorem, tarragon, parsley, chives, and basil are what I keep in my pots and barrels as far as herbs. Also planted a bay laurel so will have that handy fresh as well now.

what are you filling your beds with? top-soil + compost, or are you adding anything else (peat moss, manure, etc)?

Sorry for the lack of reply, haven't been on here much lately. I'll be filling mine with something resmebling the mix recommended in the Square Foot Gardening book, which for FBGirl79, is a great resource for someone looking to get into gardening, especially raised beds. The mix calls for pretty much equal parts peat moss, a mixture of different types of composts (worm castings, manure, mushroom compost, homemade), and coarse vermiculite. Going to be doing this organically for sure but may cheat a little and mix some bags of container mix with compost as recommended in another book of mine. Have them built but haven't filled them yet since it has been raining since I built them. Just got my tomatoes and peppers I ordered in the mail yesterday and will be getting those going inside tonight or in the morning. FBGirl79, making compost is a great thing to do for your garden and very easy with tons of resources online. I have a couple of bins, one made from a circle of wire mesh that is an older pile and a second one that I made from some old baby gates that I wasn't using. I'd love to have a fancier compost bin but you definitely don't have to pay that kind of money for one. You can often find places giving away old pallets which can be attached at the corners and make great compost bins. I put veggie scraps in there, coffee grounds I get from Starbucks or from my office, grass clippings, dead leaves, etc. in there. Have thought about doing worms but haven't tried that as of yet. Don't know how easy to do them it would be for me since the garage would have to be the place for them and it's 90+ degrees in there during the summer. Don't think my wife would want them in the house during that time as she barely wants me in there sometimes. Also still have the containers and mesh baskets for making my self-watering tomato planters but haven't gotten them put together yet as it isn't a big rush since I can't plant them for a while anyhow. Have the makings of 3 of those.

 

[Scarpaggio]

I started a dozen different seeds I order from the site CC suggested in here. I started them 3 weeks ago and I'm looking to put them out at the end of the month. I started too many seeds but between my office and my wife's office we have folks that are interested in them. I'm just struggling trying to find room in the house for them. I'm setting up some lights in the downstairs shower today after work. We haven't used this shower ever except to wash the dog a few months back. I think I'm gonig to have issues with heat down here along the golf coast. I have to keep up with watering because other plants I've had on the back porch have dried out extremely fast. I have a raised bed but I also plan on making a few earth boxes.

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

I started a dozen different seeds I order from the site CC suggested in here. I started them 3 weeks ago and I'm looking to put them out at the end of the month. I started too many seeds but between my office and my wife's office we have folks that are interested in them. I'm just struggling trying to find room in the house for them. I'm setting up some lights in the downstairs shower today after work. We haven't used this shower ever except to wash the dog a few months back. I think I'm gonig to have issues with heat down here along the golf coast. I have to keep up with watering because other plants I've had on the back porch have dried out extremely fast. I have a raised bed but I also plan on making a few earth boxes.

Gets very hot here during the summers and smaller planters, as well as ones of porous materials like clay dry out very quickly. Big glazed or plastic pots don't dry out nearly as quickly.

 

[TheFanatic]

I put seedlings under the light in an old fishtank that was collecting dust in the unfinished part of my basement. Raised them up about three inches and put a timer on the light to go from 8 to midnight. The light really dries the cups out and I find myself having to water every day with a mister. I'm worried that if I let them really dry out with as small as they are they will be dead in a heartbeat. Right now they are two inches tall each with two little leaves.

It seems I planted 19 seeds in 6 cups and have 18 sprouts. In one cup I have four and another only two. I didn't expect a 95% sprout rate. I only have room for something like 6 of those. I'm thinking I may need to expand my planting space and give the rest away...

And I'm severely worried about CC. Anyone save the envelope? I wouldn't be opposed to looking him up in the white pages and giving him a ring...

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

I just put 5 types of chile peppers and 2 types of tomatoes into cups this last weekend. I put about 5 seeds of each in each of the cups so we'll see how many plants I end up with. Will probably start some basil soon as well so it's ready to put in next month and I need to get my beds and planters finished and filled.

 

[siffoin]

I put seedlings under the light in an old fishtank that was collecting dust in the unfinished part of my basement. Raised them up about three inches and put a timer on the light to go from 8 to midnight. The light really dries the cups out and I find myself having to water every day with a mister. I'm worried that if I let them really dry out with as small as they are they will be dead in a heartbeat. Right now they are two inches tall each with two little leaves. It seems I planted 19 seeds in 6 cups and have 18 sprouts. In one cup I have four and another only two. I didn't expect a 95% sprout rate. I only have room for something like 6 of those. I'm thinking I may need to expand my planting space and give the rest away...And I'm severely worried about CC. Anyone save the envelope? I wouldn't be opposed to looking him up in the white pages and giving him a ring...

I'm now in the officially "worried" category. His FBG inbox is full. We had corresponded outside of FBG before, but I can't find his real email address. I threw away the seedling envelope too.Anyone with an update? Can moderators help in finding him?

 

[Mr. Yuk]

I put seedlings under the light in an old fishtank that was collecting dust in the unfinished part of my basement. Raised them up about three inches and put a timer on the light to go from 8 to midnight. The light really dries the cups out and I find myself having to water every day with a mister. I'm worried that if I let them really dry out with as small as they are they will be dead in a heartbeat. Right now they are two inches tall each with two little leaves. It seems I planted 19 seeds in 6 cups and have 18 sprouts. In one cup I have four and another only two. I didn't expect a 95% sprout rate. I only have room for something like 6 of those. I'm thinking I may need to expand my planting space and give the rest away...And I'm severely worried about CC. Anyone save the envelope? I wouldn't be opposed to looking him up in the white pages and giving him a ring...

I'm now in the officially "worried" category. His FBG inbox is full. We had corresponded outside of FBG before, but I can't find his real email address. I threw away the seedling envelope too.Anyone with an update? Can moderators help in finding him?

I sent him an email through his profile a couple weeks ago, no response. It doesn't display his email address but I assume it connects to whatever one he registered here with. If anyone who got the seed packets has his B&M address, should see if you can find a phone number with that.

 

[TheFanatic]

This is not good. Really. At this point I'm thinking best case scenario is he is on an extended stay in the hospital... I don't even want to think about worst case...

 

[ditka85]

I still have an address he had me send my pepper seeds to. I'm pretty sure it's his BIL in CA.

 

[TheFanatic]

I still have an address he had me send my pepper seeds to. I'm pretty sure it's his BIL in CA.

That's a start...

 

[St. Louis Bob]

Well the worms are spendy...so don't go throwing them into your garden. You want to keep them in a compost bin. And you want composting worms (Red Wigglers).

The Cadillac of worms.

ST. LOUIS — Eat your yard. Some young, enterprising St. Louisans are banking on it.

A handful of area farmers and landscape designers have tapped into the growing appetite for fresh, garden-grown produce by launching businesses that build vegetable gardens and transform urban and suburban yards into edible landscapes.

"We're urban farmers for the people who don't have the know-how or the time to grow their own produce," explained Marsha Giambalvo, who co-launched Backdoor Harvest last year. "We install and maintain and harvest gardens for people."

In the past two years, the number of Americans growing vegetables has shot upward. Seed companies have reported sales besting anything in recent decades. But as interest in backyard vegetable gardening has grown, sometimes the gardens themselves have not. At least not very well.

That's where these new enterprises step in. Chris Olliges, 25, a Kentucky native who moved to St. Louis for college, has been working at New Roots Urban Farm in north St. Louis for four years. He sensed that people were looking for guidance.

"There's a growing interest in growing your own food in the city, and people were coming to us for consulting," Olliges said. "They're progressive and into the food system. ... But they're working full-time."

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Olliges put up a few fliers last fall, and now that the soil is warming and spring is on its way, the phone is starting to ring. As of now he has only a handful of clients, but his business, Edible Urban Designs, is young — and in a young field that's expanding as it captures the grow-your-own zeitgeist.

Colin McCrate was one of the first people in the country to see the opportunities in growing food for people on their urban and suburban plots. When McCrate, 31, an urban farmer from Seattle, launched Seattle Urban Farm Co. in 2007 there were no templates for the business.

"Back then, there were hardly any models to look for," McCrate said. "I wanted to figure out a way I could make a living."

And he quickly did. Seattle Urban Farm planted 30 gardens in the first year, and has put in 200 to date.

"We've gotten busier ever year," McCrate said. "It's hard to say if it's because of interest in our business or exposure to the idea. Three years ago people just didn't know this service was there."

Now, as the grandfather of the business, McCrate gets calls from budding vegetable garden installers and edible landscapers all over the country.

"It's been kind of crazy to see how fast this could happen," he said. "... It's cool how many people have said, 'I live in Mississippi, or Florida; how do I do this?'"

Some of these companies design, install, maintain and harvest gardens, putting a basket of fresh produce on clients' tables each week. Others just do the initial start-up. Most offer a combination to suit their clients.

"We tweak it as it goes," Giambalvo said.

For many people, the decision to grow food is motivated by the economy or the spike in food costs. For some, concerns over food safety are the motivation. But for many, the motivation stems from worries over the environmental impact of a globalized food system and large-scale agriculture. Now, in urban and suburban areas, people who are two or three generations removed from farm life say they are trying to reclaim the food system.

"People are taking matters into their owns hands," said Gwenne Hayes Stewart, director of Gateway Greening, which oversees about 180 community gardens throughout the city.

An idealism guides this new generation of small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs who are not only trying to make a living, but are working to get food to low-income areas where access to fresh food is chronically limited and poorly stocked corner stores and fast food restaurants are often the only food options.

Washington University's School of Architecture just launched a landscape architecture program, and although the school does not have a formal edible landscape curriculum, teachers there expect to offer more seminars on the subject to meet student demand.

"Without question it's a topic that's received quite a bit of attention," said Don Koster, a senior lecturer, who explained that more students were doing final projects on urban agriculture and issues related to food inequity.

Shannon Connelly launched her company, My Backyard Market, last year to design, build, maintain and harvest her St. Louis area clients' residential produce gardens. But Connelly, like the other start-ups, also consults with churches and community centers to help them set up gardens, sometimes in vacant lots, and spread the gospel of home grown.

"Our goal from the beginning has always been to support under-served neighborhoods," Connelly says. "We're hoping that those people will take the skills they learn and bring them home."

Giambalvo, and her partner Melissa Mohr, have also added a little twist to their model: They ask clients to participate in a crop-sharing program, which takes a portion of each garden's harvest and sells it to people who may not have their own plots.

Giambalvo says the concept and the business of transforming yards into tomatoes and elderberry bushes is sprouting like weeds.

"We wound up doing 50 gardens," she said. "Our first year blew our socks off. We're booming."

As demand for edible gardens rises, Giambalvo and her fellow garden designers say they're hopeful their list of clients will get longer. The next frontier, many say, is edible landscapes in commercial settings.

"We have all these wonderful corporate parks that have vast tracts of land," said Hayes Stewart. "Wouldn't it be cool if they not only planted orchards, but encouraged their people to eat healthy food?"

These gardens could even provide an added source of income.

"The economics are changing in such a way that in the not-too-distant future, it will be a profitable commercial endeavor to incorporate these (gardens and orchards) into your office parks and hospitals," said Mary Francois Deweese, a landscape architect who specializes in edible and sustainable landscapes, and owner of Acorn Landscapes.

So far, Deweese said, she has had no commercial clients. But she said she believed it was only a matter of time.

"I'm seeing higher demand from people who want to grow their own food," Deweese said.

"But the opportunity for commercial development is just on the cusp of peoples' minds. That's the next big thing."

story

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

I just put 5 types of chile peppers and 2 types of tomatoes into cups this last weekend. I put about 5 seeds of each in each of the cups so we'll see how many plants I end up with. Will probably start some basil soon as well so it's ready to put in next month and I need to get my beds and planters finished and filled.

Have a bunch of sprouts right now as the two tomato cups sprouted 9 out of 10 seeds and I have my fish peppers having 2 seeds currently sprouted. Other peppers have some seedlings looking like they are ready to push through the soil as well. Am a little bit worried that I was gone last weekend and didn't get them under the lights directly when they sprouted and as a result some of the sprouts are pretty leggy currently. Shouldn't be a problem as I should be able to bury them deeper when I transplant them and they'll get more roots as a result but I hope I haven't messed them up. As for CC, I certainly hope he's o.k. and you never know what can keep people from the boards for extended periods of time. It is weird that he's dropped off given the level of effort he put into doing the special hybridization and sending out seed packets.

 

[TheFanatic]

I just put 5 types of chile peppers and 2 types of tomatoes into cups this last weekend. I put about 5 seeds of each in each of the cups so we'll see how many plants I end up with. Will probably start some basil soon as well so it's ready to put in next month and I need to get my beds and planters finished and filled.

Have a bunch of sprouts right now as the two tomato cups sprouted 9 out of 10 seeds and I have my fish peppers having 2 seeds currently sprouted. Other peppers have some seedlings looking like they are ready to push through the soil as well. Am a little bit worried that I was gone last weekend and didn't get them under the lights directly when they sprouted and as a result some of the sprouts are pretty leggy currently. Shouldn't be a problem as I should be able to bury them deeper when I transplant them and they'll get more roots as a result but I hope I haven't messed them up. As for CC, I certainly hope he's o.k. and you never know what can keep people from the boards for extended periods of time. It is weird that he's dropped off given the level of effort he put into doing the special hybridization and sending out seed packets.

This is what scares the crap out of me.

 

[Mr. Yuk]

I just put 5 types of chile peppers and 2 types of tomatoes into cups this last weekend. I put about 5 seeds of each in each of the cups so we'll see how many plants I end up with. Will probably start some basil soon as well so it's ready to put in next month and I need to get my beds and planters finished and filled.

Have a bunch of sprouts right now as the two tomato cups sprouted 9 out of 10 seeds and I have my fish peppers having 2 seeds currently sprouted. Other peppers have some seedlings looking like they are ready to push through the soil as well. Am a little bit worried that I was gone last weekend and didn't get them under the lights directly when they sprouted and as a result some of the sprouts are pretty leggy currently. Shouldn't be a problem as I should be able to bury them deeper when I transplant them and they'll get more roots as a result but I hope I haven't messed them up. As for CC, I certainly hope he's o.k. and you never know what can keep people from the boards for extended periods of time. It is weird that he's dropped off given the level of effort he put into doing the special hybridization and sending out seed packets.

I planted a lot of tomatoes, herbs, and flowers last sunday and it's amazing how fast they've sprouted and grown like crazy already when they are in ideal conditions. IIRC I think it is the cool temp treatment that CC talked about that makes them hardier and less leggy, not the flourescent lighting, that just encourages growth. I haven't put them in cool temps yet as CC said to wait until they get their first real leaves.ETA: Check that, reading back I see the sprouts will grow quickly reaching for as much light as they can get if there isn't enough. So the bulbs should keep them from getting too leggy

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

Well, I have a bunch of stuff with some of them getting their first real leaves. Tomatoes still awfully leggy but that will be o.k. as I can bury them deeper when I transfer them to bigger cups. A few of my jalapenos damped off and a couple of the lemon drop peppers don't look like they'll make it but most of the stuff seems to be doing quite well and will be ready to transplant to bigger cups soon.

 

[Cunk]

I'd appreciate some advice with a newbie question. I've started a bunch of lettuce and tomato seeds. A put a few seeds in each cup. Well, it seems they are all coming up. Here is a link to a bad picture of my dillema Lettuce

I was wondering if I should transplant them now in other containers now so they don't all die or should I keep them there and pinch all but one of them? If so, should I wait longer to see which is the strongest plant (I planted them a about 10 days ago)?

Thanks for the help.

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

I'd appreciate some advice with a newbie question. I've started a bunch of lettuce and tomato seeds. A put a few seeds in each cup. Well, it seems they are all coming up. Here is a link to a bad picture of my dillema Lettuce

I was wondering if I should transplant them now in other containers now so they don't all die or should I keep them there and pinch all but one of them? If so, should I wait longer to see which is the strongest plant (I planted them a about 10 days ago)?

Thanks for the help.

If you used a fairly loose medium for starting the seedlings you should be able to just pull the guys you don't want in there out and place them in new containers to take root. Just be careful that you are not loosening the ones to remain too much. As for tomatoes, we were told to wait until they got their second set of leaves (1st true leaves) and then separate them into separate containers. If they were planted that close together like the lettuce ones it might be fairly difficult though and you might want to do it sooner rather than later though but I'm just going on what I've read and am far from an expert.

 

[Scarpaggio]

So I ordered a planter package of tomatoes from one of the sites cc listed. I put 5 or so seeds of each in 3 cups and ended up with tons of plants. I started them Feb 14th. I'm keeping 2 of each and have 40 to take to my work and I'm giving 40 to my wife for her to take to work. I'd be planting them outside this weekend if I would be in town. I'll have 11 different tomatoes growing in a raised bed and in some earth boxes.

 

[ditka85]

I'm gonna send a letter to the address I have for CC. Hopefully I will get a response in a week or two. Will keep everyone posted.

 

[Mr. Yuk]

Hoping I didn't fry my seedlings, I forgot to water a couple days ago and when I got home a lot of them were pretty wilted and have yet to recover. Was worried about overwatering but the light really drys them out fast

 

[Cunk]

Hoping I didn't fry my seedlings, I forgot to water a couple days ago and when I got home a lot of them were pretty wilted and have yet to recover. Was worried about overwatering but the light really drys them out fast

This happened to me over the weekend but they perked right up.

 

[Cunk]

I'd appreciate some advice with a newbie question. I've started a bunch of lettuce and tomato seeds. A put a few seeds in each cup. Well, it seems they are all coming up. Here is a link to a bad picture of my dillema Lettuce

I was wondering if I should transplant them now in other containers now so they don't all die or should I keep them there and pinch all but one of them? If so, should I wait longer to see which is the strongest plant (I planted them a about 10 days ago)?

Thanks for the help.

If you used a fairly loose medium for starting the seedlings you should be able to just pull the guys you don't want in there out and place them in new containers to take root. Just be careful that you are not loosening the ones to remain too much. As for tomatoes, we were told to wait until they got their second set of leaves (1st true leaves) and then separate them into separate containers. If they were planted that close together like the lettuce ones it might be fairly difficult though and you might want to do it sooner rather than later though but I'm just going on what I've read and am far from an expert.

I went head and made a 3x2 miniature version of my raised bed, filled it with soil, separated the multiple seedling from their existing trays and replanted them.

So far so good but I'm not sure what I'm going to to do with 50 lettuce plants.

 

[TheFanatic]

I'm gonna send a letter to the address I have for CC. Hopefully I will get a response in a week or two. Will keep everyone posted.

Please do. I'm really worried about the guy...As for my maters. I put them outside for about 5 hours today for the first time. Gonna do that a couple more times and then leave them out overnight and plant them. The only problem is that I have 17 plants and generally only plant about 5-6 plants. I am going to try to give a few away. Hate to have some go to waste. I may expand my area to plant them but even then I will only be able to plant a dozen...

 

[Mr. Yuk]

Hoping I didn't fry my seedlings, I forgot to water a couple days ago and when I got home a lot of them were pretty wilted and have yet to recover. Was worried about overwatering but the light really drys them out fast

This happened to me over the weekend but they perked right up.

Did you do anything differently, like extra water or cut back on the light for a day?

 

[Cunk]

Hoping I didn't fry my seedlings, I forgot to water a couple days ago and when I got home a lot of them were pretty wilted and have yet to recover. Was worried about overwatering but the light really drys them out fast

This happened to me over the weekend but they perked right up.

Did you do anything differently, like extra water or cut back on the light for a day?

I just added extra water.

 

[Men-in-Cleats]

Really need to get mine into separate containers now as the maters are getting the second set of leaves now and I'm betting they could use the nutrients that the starting medium I used isn't giving them. Basil plants that I started later are now up and taking off, although a couple of the cups have some mold growing across the top, which probably isn't good.

 

[E-Z Glider]

So I built the 2'x2' potato box that promises 100lbs of potatoes from earlier in this thread, but it doesnt say how many plants to put in it. Any ideas??