2011 Garden Planning

I'm planning to plant mostly flowers this year. I may plant a tomato plant or two in the actual yard (as opposed to containers). I'm considering a cucumber plant in the biggest container I have (I think it's about 7 gallons). The squash and the cucumbers seemed to do pretty well, even though they never produced any veggies and they seemed to have some wilting issues in the summer heat.

I haven't completely decided what I will do with the garden this summer, though. Unfortunately, all of the plants from last summer died prematurely. The picture from June is the best of the plants. The tomato plants never grew normal sized tomatoes in the containers.

So, here's my thoughts:
(2) 7 gallon containers: squash & cucumbers
(4) 5 gallon containers: tulips and other flowers
(2) 3.5 gallon containers: herbs and flowers
Tomato plant in the yard
Maybe a blackberry bush in the yard

Here are my questions:
Will tulip bulbs survive the winter in our basement in the 5 gallon containers?
What are the best flowers for my 5 gallon containers?
What herbs do I want to grow?

Overcoming Tragedy

After starting this blog and all of my excitment about the growing baby plants and flowers, someone pulled up my baby cosmos and baby sunflowers.
Baby Cosmos Alive & Dead:

I've decided to believe that it was a wayward child walking home from school whose curiousity got the best of them. It was a very sad discovery which left me feeling dejected. After a few suggestions from friends and family to plant poision ivy, I withdrew from my planting expedition.
Sunflowers Alive & Dead:


But, now I'm back! I planted a new sunflower for my office and continued to water my precious plants. The new sunflower poking through the dirt on Friday, 4/30, was enough to renew my excitment.


Now the spinach is barely peeking up through the dirt. The cucumbers sprouted up and today the squash popped up! I'm so happy to see the sweet little sprouts barely above the dirt. I might just grow up to be a farmer!

Plantin' in the Rain, Just Plantin' in the Rain!

Oh, what a wonderous feeling! I'm happy again! Today was an amazing day. I planted some geranium, cucumber, squash, and spinach seeds. I also transplanted tomato, cherry tomato, blackberry, and strawberry plants. All in the rain. The rain really added to my planting experience today and made the rainy day even better.


I bought plants in these "easy transport" pots. No plastic waste and easier on the plants. Sounded like an amazing idea to me.

Organic soil to grow organic veggies!

Rocks in the bottom of the planters to help drain water. I read that was helpful somewhere.

I can't wait for delicious fruits and vegetables sans the farmer's market! I might need some better gardening shoes, though......especially for the rain. These little tennies left my feet frozen!

The Beginning - Every Story Has One

I love a good challenge, especially when it is a particularly difficult challenge with reasons that I may not succeed. Several months ago when I began a new cooking quest, I had to overcome some seriously daunting family genes. My mom is known in my family for "burning water." She really only allowed it to evaporate and burned the pan, but it's more fun to say she burnt water. Despite, my horrible cooking genes, I have been baking amazing cupcakes (including Christmas cupcakes shaped like penguins) made "from scratch" pumpkin pie, and several of Aunt Lynda's good 'ol fashion Southern Cooking dishes.

So, I'm not going to let the fact that my wonderful mom never kept a plant alive during my childhood keep me from trying! Luckily, I have some family genes on my side. Grahma had tomato plants throughout the summer. I remember eating them right off the vine (Just don't tell Grahma!).

The other challenge I am facing is that my husband and I live in a rental place, and we have no idea when we move. I want to be able to follow these new plants and not have to worry about moving. So, everything has to be planted in containers on our south-facing deck. Also, I'm on a tight budget.

Here are the solutions so far. Luckily the last challenge has already taken care of itself. Home Depot had a buy-one-get-one-free sale on seeds yesterday. And, Lowe's had a sale on organic potting soil. Walmart had seven gallon buckets for five dollars and some fun summer bowls for one dollar. I also got some three-and-a-half gallon buckets for two dollars. I also got some seeds and flower pots with some gift cards to Target that I got for my birthday. Now the only challenge to overcome is the genes from my mom. I think I'll be fine. After all, I have the Internet and the friendly people at Lowe's and Home Depot. What else could a girl need to plan a container garden slightly late in the planting season?

Well, here goes nothing! Let's see if my thumb is indeed green.