This is a garden?Since then, I've used all the older greens except those on the far left. One looks suspiciously like a cabbage, so I'm going to let it mature. Most of the other seeds germinated and are finally showing some growth, having done almost nothing for over a month. Others, more recently planted, have nearly caught up to the earlier seeded plants.
Rather pitiful when compared to my home garden, isn't it?It looks as though January 1 might be the optimum date for starting these cool weather crops. Nothing was gained by planting two months earlier. In fact, I had dumped out the contents of a planter of lettuce seedlings last spring when we were ready to head north. Last week I noticed some tiny lettuce plants sprouting in the dirt where I'd emptied the container! They had laid dormant through the hot summer, fall and most of the winter. They must have sprouted around January 1. I moved them into one of the containers, and they're looking quite happy! Maybe when I'm ready to go back home I should sprinkle some of my leftover lettuce seed out in the back and just see if it sprouts and grows in January of 2010.
You won't believe this, but I was just sitting down to write you to ask how your transported plants worked out. How funny!!! You'll get back to your garden soon enough, don't you worry. At least you've gotten to see something green!
ReplyDeleteRibbit
Ribbit, Cookie did enjoy having those fresh greens we transported down, but the plants were too mature to keep them going very long.
ReplyDeleteI think the reason I don't enjoy container gardening is that the plants are all on the south side of the trailer, where I can't see them. I can always see my entire garden from my kitchen window back home. It's kind of like out of sight, out of mind with these. Too bad my best view here is to the north where nothing would grow well.
I was going to say seeing something green growing is better than nothing, but I understand what you mean with the out of sight, out of mind. We just have to wait...and wait...and wait for spring.
ReplyDeleteCheryl, the weather will soon get warm enough that the south facing location will be much too hot for the greens. At that time, I will move them in front of the house (east facing) where I can see them.
ReplyDeleteGranny - I think your container garden is quite nice. I'm hoping to grow some things in containers this year, myself.
ReplyDeleteEG
Looks like you have some greens growing there. Now all you need is a cherry tomato plant. Will they grow there this time of year?
ReplyDeleteThanks, EG...it's just that I expect things to grow faster here than they do because it's such a perfect, sunny location. I imagine the shorter winter days slow it down a bit.
ReplyDeleteDan, I think it's too cold at night for the tomatoes just now, but as soon as I see them in the nurseries down here I'm going to try one. A patio variety would stay small enough that I might be able to transport it back north in March. I have a friend who is trying to grow one, but it just sits there with its little green marbles...not dead or dying, but not ripening.
I'm super jealous that it's warm enough to grow ANYTHING outside! lol
ReplyDeleteI'm really curious to know what you have in the long window-box shaped planters. I'm especially interested in growing herb and veggies in containers, because that's the only way I can provide full sun.
ReplyDeleteI have picked up some great window box planting ideas from a photo contest at www.Hooks and Lattice. I think there might be some great decorative plants to use with herb to create a great-looking window or patio box.
Thanks!
Holly25, I had beets in one of the long boxes and spinach in another. The third had some more beets and some carrots that I tried transplanting from another container that got broken. The beets did fine, the spinach didn't grow well at all, and the carrots were J-shaped because the container wasn't deep enough for them. I'm not a very good container gardener, so all the plants have been moved into a regular square foot garden where they are growing much better, except the carrots...my puppies ate those!
ReplyDeleteHi Granny! I am a novice (NOVICE) gardener and taking my first stab at container gardening on my balcony. I recently found your blog and am in awe of your beautiful garden. I've been reading back from your first post and I was going to add a comment when I was all caught up...but when I saw this post, I couldn't resist commenting. If my balcony ends up looking as good as your "small" container garden, I will be ecstatic!!
ReplyDeleteI am really enjoying your blog Granny! All the pictures are so beautiful.
Wow, Charmcity! That's a lot of reading! I'm glad you are enjoying my blog, but I'm afraid I'm not a very good container gardener. This one did turn out quite well, up until I had to move everything out of the hot, hot Arizona sun. I found most things grew better in semi-shade down there! I love balcony gardens and potager gardens though. I'm looking forward to following your blog and watching your garden take shape!
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