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spryte · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 6:21 am Post subject:

I looked through some of last year's garden pics to try to find a little size perspective.

It's kinda jungly.. and hard to tell but here goes...

For size... that's a standard sized bike rack we installed...
Growing up taller than the window is the grape tomato plant... to it's immediate right is a yellow pear tomato plant...at the very right edge of the pic is part of a chile plant... either poblano or habanero or jalapeno, I can't remember.

This is a better pic of that chile plant... to it's right is broccoli (very easy to grow w/nice harvest)... My bell pepper plants were this size or bigger... but the fruit was on the small side.

I can't remember what's right next to the white pipe... but the next one, smallest in the back is the chocolate habanero, the one next to that is a lemon drop chile (these ROCK for adding heat to Asian dishes!)

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BiscottiQueen · Executive Chef Joined: 25 Nov 2008 Posts: 461

Careful with the strawberries... the liked well drained soil up until they get berries. Once the berry they need lots of moisture to keep those fruits going healthy and strong. Making sugar is important for them.

I found some awesome hanging bags with 10-20 openings in them that are great for vining veggies and strawberries!!! They have them at Parkseed.com

Gurneys.com also has some wonderful mini berry bushes that are great for pots on decks... like blueberries and raspberries!!!

You can do a lot more with pot then you think. With Tomatoes get DEEP pot rather then wide ones for them to do good. With peppers, try self watering pots and put on some really thick mulch on top (or black plastic) it helps keep the roots warm which peppers like to produce more fruits!!!

I know someone is trying peas with a mini trellis in long pots... snap pea only need to be planted 1" apart with a simple trellis to grow up. Some sticks and string will work well.

It sounds dumb, but check Martha Stewarts website... lots of good ideas there!!!
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CulinaryAlchemist · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 2:04 pm Post subject:

OK, at least I did one thing right... Wink

I have all Self watering Pots... well except for the urn one in the background (I was going to plant Chervil in that one) you just fill the bottom tray and it wicks up.... I figured with as hot as it gets it would help me regulate the moisture better...

I still need mulch though... Haven't found any that it's Bark dust or chopped up rubber yet...

The green pots are 20 inches across.. and about 14 inches deep. Those were the deepest of the self watering ones I could find... I do have 2-16 inch pots (beige) that I was going to plant my Beans in... But the beans haven't sprouted yet ( 1 purple bean has, but it doesn't have true leaved yet)...

I will have to go get more pots on Friday... Hopefully my tomatoes will be here tomorrow..
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Babette · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 2:08 pm Post subject:

I have a two year old tomato plant that I hear it's a miracle to have one last that long... is that true? I have no idea. All I know is that it juet keeps spitting out tiny yellow ones that are pretty tasty. My rose bush in a container is doing great on it's second year.. only one flower is about to bloom, but there are a ton of red leaves. I finally planted my jasmine in the ground and it's obvious it prefers the ground and the space. I have a a lot of luck with succulents. They just keep going. My grass on the other hand.. second time I've planted and it's about dead... again. Would love to know more about container gardens too. Thanks for starting this thread.

spryte · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 2:09 pm Post subject:

Oh! They didn't look that big in the picture... they should be ok... but even though you have self watering... containers dry out way faster than plants in the ground... so you might still have to water.
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CulinaryAlchemist · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 2:17 pm Post subject:

Yeah... The pictures are really misleading cause there really isn't a point of reference...

I am hoping though that it allows me to do it every other day... especially since we are on water rationing down here...
I was trying to use the water to it's best ability... This should be interesting... Laughing

I REALLY need to get that mulch to slow down the evaporation loss...

Does Sphagnum moss make a good mulch, or does it harbor vegetable diseases and bugs?

I just found out that the Crumb Rubber mulch leaks zinc & other heavy metals into the soil, thus killing the plants.

I cannot use Cocoa bean hulls cause they are poisonous to dogs
and Pine needles are poisonous to Cats and dogs all though more so to cats.. Which I should have figured out for myself already, duh...
Cause I already am aware that I cannot use household cleaners with Pine oil in them because of the pets... ie Pine sol and such....

Cant seem to find straw anywhere at this time of year... Hmmmmmmm
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coldhitz · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 3:23 pm Post subject:

Hey man , how have you been ? The solution is.......Ta da! pea sized lava rock . You only need about a 1/10 ratio . Although I noticed you are using potting soil .If you are worried about allergies or other respritory problems , those potting soil products contain silica ( the white rocks ) . You can google silica to see whats up . PLain old top soil with lava rocks or pea gravel is the best medium .
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CulinaryAlchemist · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 3:37 pm Post subject:

Excellent...!! Thanks Larry, I will pick some up on my way home....

I did change my potting mix at the last minute... I purchased a bag of organic garden soil and mixed it 50/50 with moisture control potting soil... Smile

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coldhitz · Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 3:43 pm Post subject:

You're welcome . Cool

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CulinaryAlchemist · Posted: Wed May 06, 2009 8:17 am Post subject:

YAY! One of my beans (the Burgundy Romas) finally grew it's true leaves!!! (it's the only thing that has sprouted so far... Hmmm)
So I planted it last night, in a 16 inch pot, just as it was getting dark so it could have all night and early morning to get acclimated before the sun beat down on it this afternoon... Smile

And THEN I forgot to take a picture this morning... Sad

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