RE: Container Gardening Help (Full Version)

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hjemerson -> RE: Container Gardening Help (5/29/2008 1:36:12 PM)

Hi I have planted a few totmato plants in a large pot and then I planted some in tire place them on the gruond and fill half with potting soil wanted to try this year because of the prices!!
Now here is the question? my frist plant now about 18inch have two small totomas But the bottom leave are turning yellow? any help I water eveother day if it doesnot rain! A alos trying cucke in plante boxes next to a fence . I had wondefu time withthe grand kids planting! Even living in a rural farm area of nc the small farmers ship and the prices are just to much for people on a fix income!



HisCovenant -> RE: Container Gardening Help (5/29/2008 2:46:58 PM)

I wish I could answer your question. It sounds just like one I would ask. [:)] I'm keeping a watch on my basil. When it looks wilty, I water.

I took a picture of my little garden. On the left is Jalapeno Peppers, Yellow Squash, and an eggplant that is too small to make out. In the middle are the herbs (peppermint, basil, savory, lavendar, & parsley) tomatoes, and sweet potatoes. On the right are bell peppers, another tiny eggplant sprout, and zucchini.

I packed everything in as close as I dared. Everything seems to be growing. I need to get supports for the peppers. I didn't realize they needed them. My tomatoes are about to bloom (I think.) I was so excited that my tomatoes are putting out what I think will be flowers and fruit eventually. It stuck me that this year is (probably) the only time I will have this kind of excitement and wonder. The thought that I will get used to this miracle makes me sad. Kinda silly of me to mourn that!!

Any advice on using fresh lavendar? I love lavendar scent, but am not quite sure what to do with it.

I also need advice on how to know when a root veggie is ready to pick. The sweet potato is the only root veggie I have, if that makes a difference.

Thanks in advance for help me find those answers as well as all the help you all have given me previously. It's so nice to have others to speak to about these things.



agapetos -> RE: Container Gardening Help (5/29/2008 3:30:01 PM)

quote:

Now here is the question? my frist plant now about 18inch have two small totomas But the bottom leave are turning yellow?
I read this the other day (which is how I know!) The book said to cut off the yellowing leaves so that the plant puts all it's energies into growing tomatoes. Have you started to feed your plants now that it has set fruit?

quote:

I took a picture of my little garden.
I love your garden! I did pick up on you had peppermint ~ you know that mint will often take over completely if given the chance don't you? I keep mine in pots (means the roots can't spread).

quote:

Any advice on using fresh lavendar? I love lavendar scent, but am not quite sure what to do with it.
You can make a lavender sugar by putting some chopped flowers into sugar and letting it sit for a week and then sifting it (but you don't have to) and using it in recipes. Also, try these recipes. I confess I haven't tried them yet, but I want to soon.
Lavender shortbread
Lavender ice-cream

Found this about sweet potatoes. Hope it helps. I don't have the room to grow them, but I'd love to because I love eating them![:D]

quote:

It's so nice to have others to speak to about these things.
I agree[:D]



HisCovenant -> RE: Container Gardening Help (5/29/2008 4:32:08 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos
you know that mint will often take over completely if given the chance don't you? I keep mine in pots (means the roots can't spread).

Does it spread by roots? Or by runners? Maybe I should put it in a pot and plant oregano or more parsley in it's place. Thanks for the heads up on that.



agapetos -> RE: Container Gardening Help (5/29/2008 4:53:23 PM)

I think by it's roots, though I'd say anything is possible. I gave a friend a couple of cuttings and they put it straight into a pot and it took. I had a planter on a pedestal and I put 4 herbs in it (about 5 years back), including mint. I decided to change things round last year and had some difficulty getting the herbs out of it. When they'd been removed, I tipped the planter 'compost' upside down and it was full of roots! I opted not to recycle that somewhere in my garden! I've got 3 different mints now ~ all in pots, in different parts of the garden and they seem pretty happy[:D]



agapetos -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/1/2008 11:52:20 AM)

I have blisters on my toes because I spent yesterday walking between 2 diy stores and a supermarket in new sandals[:(]. I did, however get what I wanted (and something I wasn't planning on!). First stop was a diy store to see if they had any veggie plants. They didn't, but I did get a gadget that raises and lowers a hanging basket to make watering easier! I also saw the cost of some of their compost.

Second stop was to the supermarket. I picked up some salt (for the slugs/snails) and a few bits, including some tomberries! I was going to keep some of the seeds and try growing them next year ~ until I read a forums site that said they grow fast and I'd get fruit this year! So I'll give it a shot.

Last stop was the other diy place. I picked up and aubergine plant there.

In the afternoon I put my garden arch together and it's up now[:D]

My neighbour looks after a little boy and I was talking to his dad the other day and was offered some pea plants. I love peas. Mark (the dad) said he was growing his in containers so I accepted the offer (as I had 2 containers. I may grow them up the arch though. My neighbour told me that Mark would be happy to pick any compost or anything I needed from the diy store, which was really lovely.

My father and stepmother are coming down to visit for the day on Friday and I'm hoping that we can fit in a visit to the garden centre. I have set my heart on some climbing fuchsia but want to pick the plants myself (instead of ordering online) really. I have a voucher for the centre too. If I get those, they will go around the arch. Otherwise, I may just get them next year and grow the peas up it this year.

My beans are all growing and one strawberry plant has berries on it, another has flowers (closed at the moment) on it and the rest don't seem to be doing much[&:]

I set some cucumber to germinate in my airing cupboard, and took them out the other day because it had done it's job! The pepper seeds aren't doing much it seems. They will be joined by my tomberries soon though! James (the little boy my neighbour looks after) had some the other week and really liked them, so I will give his parents some seeds for next year if this works (and they want some!).

I've got 5 really healthy tomato plants and 2 that are hanging on in their. Not sure if they're going to make it or not, but I'm prepared to give them a chance! I'm giving one of the healthy tomato plants to my father and stepmother ~ not sure what will happen to it then![;)]



HisCovenant -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/2/2008 12:17:36 PM)

Did you know that: The tomato is classified as a vegetable thanks to a Supreme Court ruling in 1893 that subjected vegetables to import taxes, however technically a tomato is a fruit and part of the berry family.

What's a voucher? A coupon or a gift certificate?

It stormed yesterday amnd we got hail!! [:@] All of my garden is muddy from the splashing and I think the hail got a pepper plant. I'm not sure if it will revive. I did replace my peppermint with oregano. Don't tell me that will spread, too!! [;)]

I made that Lavendar Ice Cream. It's way too rich to eat and the honey overpowers the lavendar taste. I'm going to use it as coffee creamer. I tried it yesterday afternoon in coffee and it was good. I'll look for a different Ice Cream Base and put lavendar in it some other time.



agapetos -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/2/2008 12:25:09 PM)

quote:

What's a voucher? A coupon or a gift certificate?
Yep!

We've got storms predicted this week too[&:]



Mrs.Wifey -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/2/2008 12:49:49 PM)

My tomatoes are doing superbly, they have about 8 itty bitty green babies and TONS more flowers. My only problem is that they really need a cage and possibly a bigger pot[&:] I don't really want to divide them up though and risk losing fruit. Maybe I'll move them to a bigger pot and just separate the root ball a bit but not separate the 3 plants.



ajidil -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/3/2008 7:31:28 AM)

If your tomatoes are mature enough that they have fruit on them, so not try to split them! It's recommended to never split tomatoes, but to plant more than you need and clip off the small ones to let the big ones grow. I have split them before, but when they were seedlings. Even then, they didn't like it and it took a lot of time for them to bounce back. The roots will be so intertwined that you'll shock and possibly kill them if you try to separate them, or even spread them out. If you HAVE to transplant them, put them in as big of a pot as you can, but don't mess with the roots. But, even transplanting them could shock them this late in the game. Do you REALLY need to? Definitely get a cage. They'll need the support. Just make sure the holes in the wire are big enough for you to get your hand through and back out holding a big tomato!



lexie -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/3/2008 9:57:18 AM)

So, I have a question.

I tried going some herbs from seeds, in pots. My parsely came up but the marjoram and the basil didn't. A gardener friend of mine said that I shouldn't even try to grow herbs from seeds, I should just buy them already grown at the market.

Any suggestions? I still have some seeds left over to start again. Or should I just take my friends advice?



Mrs.Wifey -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/3/2008 10:17:41 AM)

Oh, I know not to split them now but I am considering moving them, intact rootball and all, to a larger pot. I bought them when they were rather large and then promptly went on vacation for two weeks, but I think even that when I bought them they were to big to separate, they were already flowering.

Lexie, I have a hard time growing herbs from seeds so I just buy baby ones.



agapetos -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/3/2008 12:38:49 PM)

quote:

Any suggestions? I still have some seeds left over to start again. Or should I just take my friends advice?
I kinda laughed at your post, cos I sowed some basil from seed and have bucketloads of it, and I sowed parsley and so far nothing has happened (but apparently parsley is slow to germinate).

It's not really going to cost you anything to start over is it as you've probably got a bit of compost somewhere so give it a shot.

With both my parsley and basil, I filled a pot with compost and then scattered the seeds and covered them with vermiculite, which I kept moist at all times. I've used vermiculite to cover a lot of my seeds in this way, I don't know if it helps or not[&:]

I use canes to support my tomatoes. I've never heard of using a cage. Interesting[:D]. I shall have to try and remember that. I think that some of the tomatoes I'm growing are going to be quite big and will probably do with something extra.

I knocked the container that my tomberry seeds are in yesterday and a lot of vermiculite and some compost came out. I've poured it back into the containera but I don't know how that will affect them growing[&:]



agapetos -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/6/2008 8:13:57 PM)

I saw a friend the other day and she gave me 2 courgette plants and some sweet pepper and chilli plants[:D].

Today I bought some herbs, bay, rosemary, sage and a curry plant. I was out most of the day and when I came back and went outside, I had some pea plants[:D] I've got to get them all into pots tomorrow. Mark (I mentioned him a few posts back) picked some compost up for me (150 litres!) so I'm not going to run out real fast (though I could do with a few more cos it makes a handy seat!).

I've got 2 tomberry seedlings[:D]. I'm so excited about it. My peppers and chillies have germinated too, but I don't know if I'll try growing those on as I've been given some.

Didn't get my fuchsia today because we didn't get to the garden centre.



HisCovenant -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/7/2008 3:47:37 PM)

Ohhh! I'd love to have some bay! I don't ever see it around here. I wonder if it doesn't do well?

I had a glass of mint iced ted this afternoon, and it was wonderful!!

^ That's on topic because I used my peppermint herbs to make it, just in case it looks like a random thought. [:D]



agapetos -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/7/2008 5:47:35 PM)

quote:

just in case it looks like a random thought.
LOL! It didn't!

I bought my climbing fuchsia today[:D] I saw a friend by chance today in a charity shop and it was his son's bday so he invited me along. The party was at 'granny's' house. Granny lives opposite the garden centre (and owns it) and my friend gave me a lift there and back. I ducked out at one point and went shopping with another lady I know who was at the party. It's 30"+ and apparently grows real fast (6' in a season!).

I didn't do any gardening today because of going to the party. I did water some plants though. I saw my neighbour and she told me that she hoped I didn't mind, but as she hadn't seen me, she'd watered my pea plants! I laughed cos I'd watered them too[:D] We decided that if they died it would be because we'd drowned them[&:]

Going to have LOTS to do tomorrow[;)]

Oh and my parsley seed has germinated[:D]. I think my chives have gone to seed so I'm going to redo them if I can find my chive seeds[&:]



agapetos -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/22/2008 6:10:13 PM)

I ate my first home-grown strawberry yesterday. It was wonderful. In reality, I think it was 2 strawberries (simaese twin strawberries?[&:]) as it was huge (and looked as if it should have been 2).



creationtalk -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/22/2008 9:14:16 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: agapetos

I ate my first home-grown strawberry yesterday. It was wonderful. In reality, I think it was 2 strawberries (simaese twin strawberries?[&:]) as it was huge (and looked as if it should have been 2).


Sounds great. My strawberries (a gift from my dad) died a few years ago when I was gone for 5 weeks (for my dad's funeral and to help mom after) and it didn't rain much. I haven't replaced them yet.

My son wanted a garden this year so we planted zucchini and pole beans in pots. We also planted carrots, but they didn't survive (either over watered or dug up by cats, not sure which). I've been surprised at how well the zucchini is doing. It grew very fast and has produced 10-12 (more to come) good sized zucchini--6 plants in 3 pots. Of course, my son (7) won't eat his own produce. The beans just started to bloom. They are growing up an arched trellis and look beautiful.

I also have grapes, blueberries, and a peach tree (not in pots). This is the first year I got a pretty good crop from both. I've harvested over 200 peaches from the tree and several handfuls of blueberries. The first cobbler I made was peach, apple, blueberry, and blackberry, with all but the apples coming off my property (blackberries grow wild). The grapes are not ripe yet--probably another month...and only on one vine. The other grew big and beautiful like the one with fruit, but never even tried to bloom this year.



HisCovenant -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/23/2008 10:35:28 AM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: creationtalk
Of course, my son (7) won't eat his own produce.

That's funny!! I'd think gardening might make him want to try it? I've seen helping with cooking do that to some children.

I've had two zucchinis. My basil is growing out of bounds, which is funny because I'm finding that I really don't like basil. There is a fennel salad I make with it and that's about it. I have a couple of jalapenos that aren't ready to pick yet. I found a tiny tomato, but can't find it now. Two of my tomatoes have blooms all over the place, but no fruit. The other tomato, the eggplant, and the bell peppers are barely growing and showing no signs of producing fruit. They are all from seeds I sprouted. They are strong, but small.

I'll bet that strawberry was delicious, Aga!



agapetos -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/24/2008 12:25:45 PM)

quote:

I'll bet that strawberry was delicious, Aga!
Yeppers and I'm looking forward to a few more too[:D]

I was just in my garden and my tumbling tom has flower buds on it (has had them for a few days now) and my broad beans are flowering. I've also got peas on the plants I was given.

My courgettes are flowering wonderfully, but the flowers are opening and dying within a couple of days ~ and they all seem to be male flowers so not sure what's going on there[&:]. The chilli and pepper plants I was given don't seem very happy though.

My aubergine and cucumber seem to be growing well (though I have not flowers or anything on them yet) and my beans seem to be beating the slugs this year. Everything else is doing pretty well to it seems.

I can't wait to dig my potatoes up and see how they've done. It's too early yet though[;)]



agapetos -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/26/2008 6:15:53 PM)

Ok, I did some checking and discovered it's normal for the male courgette flowers to appear first ~ I just hope they're still alive by the time I get some female flowers opening! I've also found out what I'm supposed to do with my aubergine and cucumber plants!

My runner beans have hoards of flower buds on them, as do my broad beans and tumbling tomatoes[:D].

I bought some cheap cabbage, cauliflower, beetroot and turnip seeds today. I sowed them all, some in the ground, some in trays. I'm getting another raised bed so I thought I'd give the cabbage and cauliflower a head start in the seed trays ~ they both can be sown until the end of July so I will get some more in before it's too late.

And I ate another strawberry today[:D]



HisCovenant -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/27/2008 5:49:53 PM)

I'll bet that one was good, too!

How about sharing what you need to do to your eggplant? Mine is tiny (like 1.5 inches tall.) It's still strong, but not growing at all.

I took some pictures yesterday. Then I picked those squash and zucs!



uponeagleswings -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/28/2008 4:30:55 PM)

DH and I are starting to think about container gardening since we're spending so much on produce. I've been googling about gardening in AZ, but not coming up with much. I do know that when we tried to grow herbs a while back they were dead within a week from the heat. I've also been told we can't grow anything inside because we have sun-shades on the windows that block out the uv. We do have a covered patio but I still wouldn't call it shaded. I'm wondering if maybe it would work better to wait a few months and plant during our "winter" since it would only be in the 80's or so then. It very rarely frosts here.
Does anyone know of any websites that would tell me the growing seasons for things here in AZ? We'd like to do tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, and herbs.



HisCovenant -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/28/2008 5:12:24 PM)

Try this. Pages 2-4 are charts of vegetables with dates. Odds are you're not in that county, but it may still be helpful. I googled "vegetable growing season in Arizona" to find it.



agapetos -> RE: Container Gardening Help (6/28/2008 5:33:52 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: HisCovenant

I'll bet that one was good, too!

How about sharing what you need to do to your eggplant? Mine is tiny (like 1.5 inches tall.) It's still strong, but not growing at all.

I took some pictures yesterday. Then I picked those squash and zucs!
Sorry[&:]

quote:

Transfer plants to 23cm (9in) pots of good compost in April (heated greenhouse) or early May (unheated greenhouse) or the end of May/early June if growing outdoors. Aubergines can also be grown in the ground, spacing 60cm (2ft) apart. Warm outdoor soils with polythene or cloches two weeks before planting out and keep young plants covered with cloches or frames for a further two weeks.

Stake and tie in plants as they grow.

Remove the main tip/growing point when plants are 30cm (12in) high.

Water regularly and feed with a high potash liquid fertiliser once the first fruit has set.

Mist the foliage regularly with tepid water to discourage red spider mite and to help flower set.

When five or six fruits have set, remove any other flowers as plants are unlikely to be able to support any more fruit. However, cultivars producing very small &/or round will be able to produce reliable crops of further fruit.


From here. It's a UK site, but it has useful information on how to grow plants that isn't location specific. My pepper plants are still tiny but I'm still keeping them growing as they're in small pots. I just want to see if it's worth my growing them next year (maybe buying a more mature plant).

HC ~ I guess unless you need the room for something else, it'll do no harm to keep your aubergine plant going.

We had 'French day' today so there was a lot of stalls selling different things. I bought some Brussels sprout plants pretty cheaply so I'm really pleased. I've put them in small pots for now ~ have to wait for my new raised bed to come but they should be ok. I think I am getting a little paranoid about slugs and snails because I put my copper rings around the plants and petrolium jelly around the pots (something else they're not supposed to like going over!). So over winter I'm hoping to have cabbage, cauliflower and sprouts (at the moment). I do have some seeds that are for winter sowing but can't think of that offhand, other than rainbow chard.

quote:

Does anyone know of any websites that would tell me the growing seasons for things here in AZ? We'd like to do tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, lettuce, and herbs.
Do you have garden centres where you are? It may be worth you going to one to see what you can and can't grow. Container gardening when it's as hot as it is for you will take a lot of water though as containers dry out far quicker.



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