garden 2021

[cellio]

Last year's container garden was reasonably successful, so I decided to try again this year. I'd wanted to grow more vegetables, but didn't find container-suitable ones for the most part. If I find cucumbers that can grow in a pot I'm still up for adding that; I'd need to get another pot but I have potting soil left over so I'm good there.

This year's seedlings are: one cherry tomato (down from two last year, but with better planning for growth from the beginning), one banana pepper, two basil (larger pots than last year), two rosemary (in retrospect probably only needed one), and one each of oregano, cilantro, dill, and mint. The mint is in the substandard pot because my understanding is that mint will eek out a life in a mere patch of dirt and then try to take over the world from there. So I figure it can handle the not-as-good drainage in that pot -- maybe it'll see it as a challenge! -- and if not, I'm out three bucks. I've already made back the cost of the cilantro, basil, and dill seedlings (though not their potting soil), compared to grocery-store prices for little plastic containers of fresh(ish) herbs.

When I planted the tomato in the 16" pot with the 54" tomato cage it looked really small, but I told it we were setting a stretch goal. (In truth, I would have bought a cage with one less ring if they'd had one; I probably don't need one this big, but it's what they had.) I have high hopes that the cage will work out better than sticking in half a dozen stakes over the course of the season as needs arise, like last year.

The first picture was taken twelve days ago, the day I planted it. The second was taken today.

And finishing out the crew:

Comments

[ellenmillion]

What a lovely container garden! (Mine is all in repurposed 5-gallon buckets, so not nearly as nice-looking! Also, I think I killed my tomatoes...)

[cellio]

Aw, sorry to hear about your tomatoes! It's early in the season, so you should have time to try again if you want.

The main reason I got those "self-watering" pots was to remove the uncertainty about whether I'm over- or under-watering. Fill up the reservoir and the plant sucks up what it needs -- sounds like the level of idiot-proofing I need.

(Except that light red one, which I got before the others, which just has some holes punched in the bottom. It's positioned so that a couple of those are over the edge of the step, but I should get a couple small bricks or something to give it more egress. On the other hand, it's mint -- it probably doesn't care. We'll see.)

[loosecanon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pvCwJaKUu8 you may enjoy this charming video on bucketing carrots. I find the gardener and his methods both delightful and helpful.

Congrats on your wonderful garden! That's so very pretty.

[cellio]

Thank you -- that is charming! I wouldn't have thought to take that approach -- seems straightforward!

[kyleri]

go tomato go!

[magid]

Congrats on your container garden!

May I suggest you consider chives, if you use them at all? I've had chives growing on my porch since before I moved in (the previous owners left them), and they've survived every winter in not-at-all-large containers without any trouble. They don't get quite as luxuriant as chives grown in the ground, but they're are plenty of them compared to how much I use...

[cellio]

Thanks for the suggestion! I had no idea they were so resilient.

What do you like to use them for?

[magid]

I mostly chop them up for salads, or for a pretty green garnish (on soup or whatever). The blossoms are edible too, and can be pretty in salads, or infused in vinegar.

[cellio]

Thanks! I hadn't thought of salads, and didn't know about the blossoms.