Gardening and seed exchange

cindaroses

duplicate post

fitnesspirateninja

I love gardening! Awesome thread!

My biggest issue is that we are unable to grow tomatoes. We live on the coast and it's overcast and foggy in the summer. Last year, our plants were doing amazingly well and then turned black and moldy. I asked a friend of mine - he's a garden coach - and he basically said that you can't grow tomatoes here. My mom lives about 40 miles south of us and she has trouble growing tomatoes, but hers don't up and die completely.

Our strawberries, artichokes, bell peppers, lettuce, beets, and squash all did really well (we are in artichoke and pumpkin country). I don't know if tomatoes are a lost cause, or if I should try growing them in big pots. We're on a watershed so I think that could have contributed to their untimely deaths last summer.

melkneec

Bump. Getting my seeds out today.

cindaroses

I love gardening! Awesome thread!

My biggest issue is that we are unable to grow tomatoes. We live on the coast and it's overcast and foggy in the summer. Last year, our plants were doing amazingly well and then turned black and moldy. I asked a friend of mine - he's a garden coach - and he basically said that you can't grow tomatoes here. My mom lives about 40 miles south of us and she has trouble growing tomatoes, but hers don't up and die completely.

Our strawberries, artichokes, bell peppers, lettuce, beets, and squash all did really well (we are in artichoke and pumpkin country). I don't know if tomatoes are a lost cause, or if I should try growing them in big pots. We're on a watershed so I think that could have contributed to their untimely deaths last summer.

There are so many varieties of tomatoes now. Many are suited for different areas, even colder ones. If there is a co-op extension in your area they may be able to tell you varities that grow better in your area. But if tomatoes don't do well at all and you really want to try them, you can give them a micro environment and put lights on them if you grew it inside. It'll be a lot of work though since you'd need to hand pollinate all those blossoms.

fitnesspirateninja

Yeah...I tried San Francisco Fog last year - we are an hour south of SF and have similar weather. I think the watershed is the biggest issue.

tenessaa

I'm going to be starting my tomato seeds this weekend! I can't wait for a big ole juicy tomato from the garden! I'll also be doing beans and peas, maybe some broccoli and lettuce. Strawberries are still in place and I'll be adding to my herb bed this year!

nikki8marie

I had a garden when I was in high school and I miss having all the veggies available. I rent a little apartment now and plan on moving in a few months but I could do a very potted veggies. I heard lettuce as a good suggestion, what else can grow in little pots?

cindaroses

I had a garden when I was in high school and I miss having all the veggies available. I rent a little apartment now and plan on moving in a few months but I could do a very potted veggies. I heard lettuce as a good suggestion, what else can grow in little pots?

Lettuce, Kale, peppers, strawberries, herbs, tomatoes...those seem to do okay in pots. Make sure that you are not letting them get too dried out and that when they are watered they are also fed, maybe with compost tea, fish emulsion, or another organic fertilzer since they are in pots and can't draw nutrients from the ground.

Caffeinewitch

Okay, so I'm a bit ambitious it seems. I have a window box. One. And last year I managed to grow a sugar pumpkin vine - the ONE pumpkin it grew went right into my thanksgiving pumpkin pie! Delish!

So this year I bought some sugar baby watermelon seeds, sugar pumpkin seeds, and some birdhouse gourd seeds - ambitious again!
What I would like to know, is since I am growing these in a pot, what kind of soil should I have? how often should I fertilize them? and what kind of material should I use for a climbing cage?

I've seen instructionals for growing watermelons in a pot at an apartment, but I wanted to know if you all have any other advice!

Thanks!

cindaroses

Okay, so I'm a bit ambitious it seems. I have a window box. One. And last year I managed to grow a sugar pumpkin vine - the ONE pumpkin it grew went right into my thanksgiving pumpkin pie! Delish!

So this year I bought some sugar baby watermelon seeds, sugar pumpkin seeds, and some birdhouse gourd seeds - ambitious again!
What I would like to know, is since I am growing these in a pot, what kind of soil should I have? how often should I fertilize them? and what kind of material should I use for a climbing cage?

I've seen instructionals for growing watermelons in a pot at an apartment, but I wanted to know if you all have any other advice!

Thanks!

Take a look at this blog http://www.mybalconyjungle.com/watermelons.html I've never grown the melons in a pot, but I know they will need a lot of water!

kathysherman

I use those huge toy box type (big round plastic tub with rope handles) put holes in the bottom and a row of gravel or rocks for drainage and have been very successful in growing strawberries, tomatoes and actually potatoes. My garden is a patio garden. I work 16 hours a day and out of town most every week-end, so I had to have something with no hoeing and easy access to a water hose. Lettuce and carrots are on the agenda for this summer.

dnpamorgan

I would love to start a garden but don't even know where to begin. I don't have alot of space but would like to plant the veggies we eat the most like green beans, peas, and lettuce.

melkneec

I have some white half runner bean and greasy bean seeds up for exchange.

kayemme

i have up for exchange (off hand)

taken from last year's harvests, grown organically, i believe them to be open pollinated, heirloom varieties.

Long Island Cheese Squash,
Asian Pumpkin,
Poblano peppers
White wax peppers
Actually, a lot of pepper seeds of different types. They don't grow very well here in general, or if they do, I don't have the knack for them.

I am interested in lettuces... really good, cold-hardy lettuces or any cold hardy, winter varieties of anything for winter. i have found this year that i need ore greens in the winter and will be building a hoop house fall 2011. zone 6b

koulan

Hello
about tomato
Must be dried tomato juice surrounding the seeds
The juice prevents germination

cindaroses

i have up for exchange (off hand)

taken from last year's harvests, grown organically, i believe them to be open pollinated, heirloom varieties.

Long Island Cheese Squash,
Asian Pumpkin,
Poblano peppers
White wax peppers
Actually, a lot of pepper seeds of different types. They don't grow very well here in general, or if they do, I don't have the knack for them.

I am interested in lettuces... really good, cold-hardy lettuces or any cold hardy, winter varieties of anything for winter. i have found this year that i need ore greens in the winter and will be building a hoop house fall 2011. zone 6b

I'm growing asian pumpkin (kabocha) this year. I'm in zone 6. Most lettuces seem to do well for me. Last year oak left or salad bowl did really well in the cool weather. The buttercrunch also did well, but I didn't save the seeds last year b/c the rain got to them before I did. Thanks for putting up the seeds you have available. I might want some of those poblano seeds...yummy.

live2smyle

I have no idea what your talking about with the seed exchange...Do you keep the seeds out of your veggies to plant the following year???

Ohhh and our broccoli has little itty bitty brocoli head on them and the squash is just sprouting looks so cool! Were going to be planting all the rest of the stuff within the next couple of weeks but this is way just way to cool to see our stuff growing!

kayemme

I'm growing asian pumpkin (kabocha) this year. I'm in zone 6. Most lettuces seem to do well for me. Last year oak left or salad bowl did really well in the cool weather. The buttercrunch also did well, but I didn't save the seeds last year b/c the rain got to them before I did. Thanks for putting up the seeds you have available. I might want some of those poblano seeds...yummy.

"my" asian pumpkin is much bigger than kabocha i have seen, though it's similar. It's a very pretty squash and did i mention enormous?

you wanna trade some lettuce for some peppers/squash? i'm also looking for radicchio, cuz i understand it will grow in a hoophouse until feb, or at least mid jan. and god, wouldn't i kill for some local greens come jan.

kayemme

I have no idea what your talking about with the seed exchange...Do you keep the seeds out of your veggies to plant the following year???

yep... pretty much. some of them you have to look for, but in fruits, they're inside the fruit! it's a pretty fun thing to do!

live2smyle

OK so been keeping this thread close at hand :happy: This is my first garden ever, 2500sq ft thought I would upload some pics of where we stand as of right now!

cindaroses

Looking good. Such a big first garden!

lklein

I'm planning on doing a container garden this year since we have very little yard space but plenty of room on the deck. Any suggestions on what works well in containers and what doesn't? I was planning on tomatoes, bell peppers, green beans, peas, onions, and hot peppers.

FitJ1210

I am new to gardening, found out Organic Brandywine's are the the best tomatoes we grew last year. I tried saving seeds but didn't have much luck.

fantomette

Wow this is such a great thread!!! I love gardening, have been doing it for years.
My favorites have been Sweet 100 tomatoes and Jalapenos peppers.
I'm in Zone 5A so the last frost bite are around may. I cannot wait!

This year I want to try planting: watermelons, pumpkins, corns and stevia.

People in "shorter-season' zoning (5, 4....), I've been wondering, should I try planting those indoors first?

atomiclauren

Bump!

Zone 9a here - we have had a little (literally) success with bell and banana peppers and spinach, and just planted some onions. We just started sprouting too, which is fantastic and easy!

clw_888

I am also a patio/container gardner and live in Zone 4. I have had great success with bell peppers, cherry tomotoes, green onions and chile peppers. I intend to do a garden again this year and will probably do some of the same items. One thing I am looking to add is a blueberry bush to my planting! Any recommendations? I need something that will survive in a pot and in negative temps during the winter. I am not sure how large of a pot to use and could use any other tips from successful blueberry gardners! Thanks

koulan

Hello for all
to clw_888
Tifblue Rabbiteye there is a lot of varieties but you can ask
if you like to plante blueberrys
you should mix organic matter with peat, you can put a few cotton
During the winter
1- put a round the plant 6 or > small bag of mulch as 1kg, caver all with some of mulch or grass cutting to keep the temperature ( I know its not good design but the necessity)
2- if you have pot do as N°1 but place some mulch under pot or you can keep it undercover in your house.
3- for the branches cover with sail special plants.

if you like to grow from seed you must have hydrofarm germination seeds because the seeds can takes 1year to grow in morocco
if you don’t have germinator set seeds in piece of a clinex put it on few cotton below small glass jar from you kitchen a drop of water in it, cover then put it on old screen pc or next to heating

ATTENTION
DON’T FORGET IF YOU PUT PLASTIC JAR IS INFLAMMABLE
AND WATER INSIDE THE JAR YOU MAST FIX THE JAR

Thanks

koulan

Sorry for my english
I forget you can see Seed Germination after few weeks

koulan

For lklein


All work in pots or containers but the problem was maturity size of (plant, tree) & water with peat + organic matter
then you should know about what's size of pots you need

the pepper should be located away from the sun to cold drafts
tomatoes, green beans and peas with metal bracket should be located sunlight
onions you should break the leaves to obtain large bulbs
all in pots if you like