Container, Balcony, Patio & other urban "small space" gardeners - Page 8

[CariOfOz]

I just remembered this thread was here.. I stumbled across it ages ago before my first attempt at container gardening (just over a year ago I think?), which failed miserably btw. I tried a small in ground bed when we moved here and had rather dismal results... even putting a heap of compost and using seasol every week I got a few cherry tomatos and that's it .. aside from chives & parsley which are doing ok. I think it's the incredibly LARGE mock orange bush (more like TREE, it's 3 meters tall.. wanna thwap the owner for letting it get that enormous ) stealing the water/nutrients from the bed.. it's only about a metre away from the garden so I figure it's the culprit.

So I'm back to containers, and having MUCH better luck thus far at least . In my containers I have 3 roma tomatos, 3 or 4 peppers, some cute ball carrots for fun for the kids , lettuce's galore, and some green & yellow button squash. Thus far everything is growing like MAD. It's allegedly spring here, but our daytime temps are running upper 20s (celcius.. which is mid 80sF) and my pots have been planted for about 2 weeks now. I started some seeds today as well, grape tomatos, cucumbers, zucchini and something else that I can't remember and really hope I labeled or I'm in for a surprise OH, it was 'jap' pumpkin... the grey skinned beauties :

SO while most of you mamas are heading to the end of your garden year mine is just getting started. I'm an utter novice and have had like zero success until now, so wish me luck!

[Indigo73]

Good Luck Cari. Sounds like you are on the right track.

My garden has pretty much gone to bed. All my animal repellant flowers are dead so I am letting the squirrels and other critters enjoy the last of my tomatoes (mostly green) and frost bitten peppers.

As for bringing my garden inside. Unfortunately I only have one "good" window in our apartment, in the kitchen. So I am going to attempt to either enlarge my window sill (three windows wide) without damaging the woodwork or use the top of the dishwasher for several herb pots. I really liked using fresh basil, dill, cilantro, etc. this summer and want to continue that even though all the plants on my porch are dead.

[CariOfOz]

Wow, chilly weather comes early to CT I guess! I'm fairly lucky in that we don't really have much in the way of winter (I'm in subtropical Queensland Aus, although it feels pretty darn tropical to ME come December lol). I don't think my area has had a true frost at all this year, although we got down to about 2C a few times which isn't much above it. There are apparently quite a few things we can grow year round here .. although I think I need to work on just getting stuff to grow well at ONE time of the year before I look to the next

[Theia]

Cari, do you have any rosemary planted? I don't know much about Queensland but it sounds like a good climate for rosemary and maybe even lavender. They grow year round in my area of and we do get slightly colder than you do. i'm a zone 7 I think.

My container garden was limited to one container of herbs that got a late start but have done really well. I have rosemary, lavender, thyme, and lemon balm. I expect the lemon balm to die back, but I'm not sure about the others? The thyme is still scrawny so it maybe a bit more questionable than the other two. I'd really love all three of the others to be around come spring, whats the best way to do this? We do have periods of freezing and some snow,but it's brief. But I'm guessing it'd be too much of a shock to move the plant(s) between indoor and outdoor environments during 40ish day temps? Last winter I only needed a long sweater or coat if I was out during the day.

My sliding glass door is on the south side so lots of winter sun, but I'm not sure how it'd work, and if I could even convince DP. We are in a small space, its a BIG pot, and DD will be walking and able to get into it. I know that being in containers means that they won't be able to keep the roots from freezing when we have cold weather. So far overnights have only reached into 40's so I expect my container has another month outside?

[CariOfOz]

Originally Posted by peace_laughing

Cari, do you have any rosemary planted? I don't know much about Queensland but it sounds like a good climate for rosemary and maybe even lavender. They grow year round in my area of and we do get slightly colder than you do.

I do have rosemary no lavender though. Rosemary grows really well here. Keep in mind that while I said we drop near freezing... it's not terribly frequent Most nights even in midwinter we don't drop below about 45-48F : So most places on earth, equatorial excepted lol, are cooler than us. Which is already starting to drive me nuts.. I hate heat :

[beansricerevolt]

Im going to start our medicinal herbs in the next few days indoors. An odd time to start but I think the lavender will do well with the fluctuating temps during our autumn months. So would early spring but I need plants in the winter. It keeps me happy With out them, im a mess, especially when cabin fever sets in.

Id really love to grow a few veggies indoors this winter. Im pretty sure I could get greens to grow but would love an upsidedown tomato plant to hang in the window. It would be a wonderful space saver. Im a little concerned that it won't be warm enough and might feel the drafts. it gets really really cold here in Chicago. Anyone have any luck with tomatoes in doors?

[Indigo73]

Thinking about next year, especially since my landlord liked my "garden" so much he is putting in a spigot for me so I don't have to lug water for my apartment. w00t!

[Indigo73]

Bump :

Starting to get my seed catalogs. Woohoo!

[CariOfOz]

Hehehe and I have about 8 roma tomatos (still green) growing in my containers. My lettuce bolted from the heat, my spinach has just about given up from it as well. But my little ball carrots (for the kids) are doing pretty well and my herbs are INSANE! I've got some seedlings i'm hoping to get into bigger pots this weekend...grape tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini & butternut pumpkin I think (could be jap pumpkin, can't remember). I have a couple of green button squash planted (started from seed) but they got a bit abused by slugs early on, they seem to be picking up the pace and attempted to grow again now though

[paphia]

My dh and I just set up a small raised bed for veggies next spring. We might start lettuces with a cover before the frosts end. I'm thinking of starting from seeds, I will look into ordering some.

I'm also going to start some herbs in large containers on my patio. Dh wants to add blueberry bushes, raspberries and maybe a couple of fruit trees along the side of the house where there is currently just mulch.

We live in a very dry climate so we have to plan the drip lines accordingly to the fruit bushes/trees. But the small garden and patio containers I can get with the hose. I'm very excited because we have a small lot, and had a good amount of grass put in for our children to play on, and I thought we wouldn't have much room for produce gardening. But once I started looking around, there are actually lots of places to tuck plants away.

[1littlebit]

we have an apt with a teeny balcony... doesn't get much sun. i am going to try really really hard to grow some veggies this year though! last year i got 2 semi ripe tomatoes that never ripened .. just rotted no idea what happened lol.

so when do you start planting seeds? i am pretty sure its early right? does anyone do stuff indoors?

[Bluebird9]

1littlebit I think when you plant inside it depends on where you live, because that determines when you can move them outside. Hope that helps. Looking up what grow zone you are in should help.

I'm new to this thread, it doesn't seem to be too active but hopefully it will pick up as it gets warmer. I live in an apartment, I'm thinking of having some pots out in front of our building, which gets full sun from the south all days. All I have to worry about is frying my plants, which is kind of nice compared to my last place which was very shady, but of course had more room. Trade offs.

I may also get a community garden plot, but that's a separate thread.

[Indigo73]

Yes, we are quiet because the bulk of the folk here are in the middle of winter. But we have a couple people from down under and other warmer climes that pop in.

[Indigo73]

[Biscuits & Gravy]

Thank you!! :d

[beansricerevolt]

Originally Posted by 1littlebit

does anyone do stuff indoors?

My whole garden will be indoors this year.
Im very lucky to have big wonderful windows with lots of sun during the morning and afternoon.

I, myself, haven't had much luck with tomatoes indoors. In the past, I have experimented with different breeds. Haven't found the right one yet but I know it can be done.

[CariOfOz]

Well, a day or so after I last posted on here I got a phone call with horrible news (my son was in a very serious car accident, the 'notes' smily below has the story if anyone wants to read it) and I spent from the 11th of December until the 4th of January in the US. My dh took the kids & stayed with his parents so their nana could watch them while he worked, and despite his coming to water every 2nd or so days, the 40C days we had in there just smashed my garden flat :

SO, I've started pretty much all over again I have put in 4 heirloom tomatos (black russian, mortgage lifter, green zebra and tigerella I think) a few capsicum & some zucchini to start with.. plus new basil and chives as well. I went with seedlings since I'm starting late... although if they're established well, most of these will live till midwinter where I am

[CariOfOz]

Updating It's been just about 2 weeks since I replanted and things are going great guns in the garden! The tomato plants seem to be at least 4x the size they were when I put them in (they were in one of the little 4cell punnets and about 4inches high maybe.. now they are about a foot tall at least!). The capsicum are growing, just a little slower.. although I bought one larger plant in a pot of it's own and it's doing amazingly and has got a little capsicum on it (I guess I missed pinching that flower off or it was sneaky). Zucchini plants are happy and growing... do zukes climb in general? or are they bushier? Total noob gardner here

[Polliwog]

They will climb if there is something around to climb on. Mine climbed up my bbq grill one night. In my Earthboxes, I like to put a trellis for my zucchini and cucumbers.

BTW, is there any change in your son's condition. My thoughts are with your family.

ETA, I just looked at your son's Caring Bridge page. He is making progress. I'm so happy for you.

[CariOfOz]

TY Beth, yes he's making progress and is expected to make a FULL recovery (although he may have some mobility issues with his right arm yet, only time will tell)

I thought I might take 3 or 4 of the garden stakes I have and make a teepee type support and run twine around it or get some garden mesh. Think that would be strong enough for them if they are good producers? (trying to think positive lol)