kidsmoke Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 So are you getting overly ambitious out there? Hundreds of tomato plants, way too many zucchinis? I am puttering around slowly myself, with nothing yet in the ground other than an artichoke from last year, which is getting huge quickly. I noticed today that my Red Flame seedless grape vine, planted last year, has its first tiny clusters of grapes. Elsewhere around the yard I've got loads of sweet, sweet oranges and more Meyer lemons than I can keep up with. Oh and one overwintering Marconi bell pepper, which I just realized has 3 almost full-sized peppers! That's way at the back of the yard & I hadn't been paying attention. All our time has been going into pruning the trees and bushes around the garden so that they won't shade the garden area too much, and re-nailing the garden's wooden boxes as needed and repairing the lattices out there, of string and wood. The compost is all sifted and ready to use. I'm just about ready to sink plants into the ground and stand back & watch them take off. The fun part! It's been so warm lately that I'm feeling seriously behind schedule. What about you? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
smells like flowers Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 My daughter and I planted a bunch of flowers and herb seeds several weeks back. We've got zinnias, cosmos, and several kinds of basil! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted May 9, 2012 Author Share Posted May 9, 2012 I just bought this cool stacking planter from my local 99-cent store....each level is about 8" deep, shaped like a 3-leaf clover. The layers interlock with the leaves going alternate directions. I bought 6 which makes it a nice height, with 18 planting pockets. I plan to plant it mostly, if not completely, with basil. I love my fresh basil! I got one of these sets for my dad too, and we've planted it with "Lady's Paintbrush", a wonderful little flower that has a wander-y growth habit and these brilliant little vivid red-orange flowers. Little tufts. Just gorgeous. Want some seed? They are my new favorite flower because they are just so bright & cheerful & spunky. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PopTodd Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 I would love to be a good gardener: eat things that I have culled from the ground, myself. Sad thing is, I have killed cacti. A total brown thumb. I envy you. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
calvino Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Since I live in a 5th floor loft space, I have a plot at my mom and dad's place. Didn't plant a garden last year, but this year I look forward to planting some tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, and various herbs. I should have gotten the spinach and broccoli in already, but didn't get to it, so I might pass on those this year. Should be fun this year - my 2 1/2 year old loves vegetables and dirt. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Queen Amaranthine Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 We have a big backyard but this year haven't done anything yet and are hoping it's not too late. We're kind of amatuers at all this but enjoy it. Two years ago we had lots of earth boxes and those hanging tomato plant things with all kinds of herbs and veggies--basil, oregano, tomatoes, parsley, green peppers, just a few strawberries, etc., etc. There's nothing like fresh herbs in a recipe! One night, deer jumped the fence we thought would be enough to deter them, got into our backyard, and ate practically EVERYTHING save for the onions, spinach, and carrots (they munched the green tops but didn't dig up the actual carrots). Last year we didn't do as much because we were remodeling the backyard and it was pretty torn up (in fact, still not finished!). We have flowers around the tree in our front yard, mostly petunias that flourish every year. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
LouieB Posted May 9, 2012 Share Posted May 9, 2012 Smallish back yard, but I turned half of it (instead of a smaller fraction before) into a veggie garden. I usually grow easy stuff like tomatoes, beans, onions, chard, cucumbers, herbs, okra, eggplant and maybe a few other odd things if I have room.LouieB Quote Link to post Share on other sites
alison the wilca Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 tonight i planted a new native perennial garden in my back yard. I have a pine tree with acidic clay soil underneath and chose prairie plants native to the area to live under it. They are supposed to do well in a spot like that. I chose a mix of prairie grasses and flowers and I have one spot that never gets sun so I picked some shade plants and ferns native to area forests to live in that plot. I'm also growing strawberries for the first time. I bought an everbearing variety so that I can have them the entire growing season (fingers crossed). I will also be planting mini boo pumpkins to grow up a trellis. I grew pumpkins on my lawn before but they spread like crazy and are susceptible to lots of diseases- they were a pain in the butt but i loved the end result. i've got 2 large pots- one on either side of the front door. I am growing a bunch of herbs in one and peppers in the other. my back freezes up like crazy when i garden- i can't stand straight for a while after. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Heart full of holes Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Our garden is mostly flowering plants and groundcover. We did away with lawn years ago (and the lawn mower). There's a thriving clump of cactus we started from a single pad (a gift from and a reminder of an old friend). I augment the already giant patch of Black-eyed Susans with a few new plants every year; the gold finches love them once they bloom later in the summer. There's a tiny pond just off the tiny deck, off of our tiny house, populated by goldfish and the local frogs, and occasionally a turtle will show up. There are three or four water lilies in there that will bloom all summer, an iris, and some floating plants. My little bit of paradise in the suburbs... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
froggie Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 its getting close to winter, but europeans say, "if you cant eat - dont grow it!" Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted July 7, 2012 Author Share Posted July 7, 2012 Right on schedule, the white peaches are ripening to bright yellow and pink and red. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Queen Amaranthine Posted July 7, 2012 Share Posted July 7, 2012 Those look delicious, Donna! In our new backyard flower garden, roses blooms are opening this week. We were told not to expect any flowers the first year, so we're happy to see some so soon. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted July 8, 2012 Author Share Posted July 8, 2012 Every yard should have a few roses! The queen of flowers...and so nice to bring indoors. I have to recommend a favorite of mine, called "Ingrid Bergman". It's a very deep scarlet-red, with dark glossy leaves. The bud is long and stately, and opens to a huge, strong flower. Just gorgeous. And they last wonderfully as a cut flower, too. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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