Virgin Gardener

[tripleryder]

This is a great thread! Thanks to you all for all yoru input, especially z-prep and p7. (cool kid nicknames!!)

I am launching into my first garden this year. I will be planting in a couple weeks, and am in the planning stages now.

I am located in SE WA state. We are in a great growing area, and I have (I am told) excellent topsoil.

Here's a quick sketch of where I plan on putting my raised bed. I that wall of the house is 24 feet long until the fence (6' cedar), so potentially the bed could be up to 24 feet long. I am thinking 3 feet wide? this allows for some room, but still able to weed/tend the whole thing.



How deep should I make these? I was planning on stacking 2x6's, making it about 11" off the ground.

Do I put weedblock underneath?

My panned planting list:
Cucumbers
Carrots
Tomatoes - large
Tomatoes - Cherry
Green Beans
Brussel Sprouts
Lettuce
Peas
Onions
Garlic
Spinach
Basil
Cilantro

I was planning on planting shortest to tallest, with taller plants to the north end (towards fence), so as to not shade the little guys.

Watering either by hand or with a soaker hose down the center.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks everybody! I'll be sure to post pics of the whole process, to inspire others who have no idea... like me!!

[zombiepreparation]

<snip> Results: Seedlings did not like this recipe and appear to be leaving this life for a better one in the sky.

Sorry to hear that. It's disheartening for something you worked on to totally fail like that. Been there done that.

Reading the rest of the thread it looks like you've got a good handle on getting started again so I don't have any other advice to offer beyond what already was given. I hope it works out much better next time for you!

Still a few weeks away from getting started here, the temps are up but there's still a lot of snow on the ground

Well, hello, slannesh. How does your garden grow? (gardening salutation I just thought of. ) Snow on the ground, huh? And what are 'the temps'? I am not familiar with that terminology. Oh wait... you mean temperature don't you. Duh. And may we assume you will have a regular (in ground) garden? Ahhh, such is my dream though not my reality. oooo, and will you have tomatoes? To have tomatoes growing, another dream.

Today I disposed of the last of the moldy soil (in tightly tied bags of course). I was still mentally whining about soil having to go to the dump, but for the safety of the gardeners in my area it had to be done.

All the containers and gardening items of any kind have now been soapy washed in Dawn and cloroxed to death. (as are my haaaannds because my gloves have sprung a leak so I just said what the heck)

The balcony has been swept and swept; first wetting everything with my clorox/water mix, letting that dry, then sweeping. Then using the water/clorox spray on the broom, dustpan, again wetting everything down, then another sweeping. And repeat again.

The asparagus has been re-potted in the big round sanitized container and the tub it has been growing in for over two years was placed in a garbage bag and disposed of. I fear there will be no more asparagus this year. Drat. I was getting used to having some everyday. This was the first year it yielded so nicely. C'est la vie, n-est pas?

Just for 'comfort' until the company's refund of the contaminated soil arrives, I have set in place the other containers that will begin my second round of beginning balcony gardening. It makes me feel better somehow. Now I wait.

Say, P7, what are you growing on your balcony? Did you post that already? I'll go back and re-read to check. How's it all doing? I have been so involved with me for the last over-a-week but am now caught up and interested in hearing how everyone's gardens are growing. Teach me some more!

[zombiepreparation]

This is a great thread! Thanks to you all for all yoru input, especially z-prep and p7. (cool kid nicknames!!)

I am launching into my first garden this year. I will be planting in a couple weeks, and am in the planning stages now.

Now this is exciting news. I've just met slannesh but think he may have gardened before and P7 is years ahead of me. It is a bit of a comfort to have someone as new to this as I am. Soooo glad you showed up.

I am located in SE WA state. We are in a great growing area, and I have (I am told) excellent topsoil.

Ya know, a close friend of mine has been lobbying for me to move out to SE WA so we could actually see each other now and then. I keep repeating the earthquake thing, but I may have to rethink my hesitation. Excellent topsoil, that would be so nice. We here in my part of tornado land do not think in terms of 'excellent topsoil'.

Here's a quick sketch of where I plan on putting my raised bed. I that wall of the house is 24 feet long until the fence (6' cedar), so potentially the bed could be up to 24 feet long. I am thinking 3 feet wide? this allows for some room, but still able to weed/tend the whole thing.



How deep should I make these? I was planning on stacking 2x6's, making it about 11" off the ground.

Do I put weedblock underneath?

My panned planting list:
Cucumbers
Carrots
Tomatoes - large
Tomatoes - Cherry
Green Beans
Brussel Sprouts
Lettuce
Peas
Onions
Garlic
Spinach
Basil
Cilantro

I was planning on planting shortest to tallest, with taller plants to the north end (towards fence), so as to not shade the little guys.

Watering either by hand or with a soaker hose down the center.

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Thanks everybody! I'll be sure to post pics of the whole process, to inspire others who have no idea... like me!!

Seriously impressed with your organization. Pics! Yes! Inspiration! Especially when I'm trying to recover from the mold-rums. I look forward to hearing how slannesh and P7 (and others I hope) answer your questions. As Dr. Frasier Crane says "I'm listening."

[zombiepreparation]

I began my own microfarm (balcony garden ) in January and have learned enough to know some of what I don't know. Researching things such as potting soil mixes was surprisingly interesting and I have found a high-quality, OMRI-listed organic "bargain" soil at $5/1.5cf (Kellogg's Patio Plus) that I can mix with a "premium" potting soil (Gardener & Bloome's Blue Ribbon Blend) to maximize my investment.

I found non-GMO flower, herb, and veggie seeds at the Dollar Tree store. I also picked up a nice transplanter, some hanging basket frames and coco liners there.

I'm growing bibb and mesclin mix lettuce and some bright lights chard--over which I am engaged in a death-battle with aphids--growing well and have started dill, sweet basil, sweet marjoram, and roquette from seed and they're being hardened-off in preparation for transplantation to the balcony.

In addition to having it in a pot, I'm inter planting the dill with the lettuce, as it's said to be a best friend to lettuce. Flowering dill is also said to attract beneficial insects (as are the nasturtutums-- in addition to being an "aphid trap" and a repeller of whitefly, the flowers and leaves are edible--, mint, cilantro, and sweet alyssum, I've started for the garden.

Chard shouldn't be grown w/ herbs, so for it, I'm inter planting scallions / green onions I've sprouted in water.

I found it.

Oh geeze, remember when I posted this? Under "naive" in the dictionary you will see my picture:

<snip> I got so excited with all there was I could do, then overwhelmed at how much I won't be ready for this year, and had to bring myself back down to "I've got the balcony, I've got the buckets, I've got the soil, I got some old seeds, I have running water" to give me some reachable goals for this summer.

What a rube.

Good heavens, and this too:

I know what you mean. I get excited about cutting one stalk of asparagus out of my "garden" every day or two, washing it and walking around munching it. I know I'll get lettuce to grow. I just know I will. And I will put it on some bread I made in the skillet that day and will be thinking I'm having so much fun!

Seems like an eternity ago. Good gawhds. No more excitement for me. How quickly my pipe dreams were popped, like dropping a lovely pumpkin from the seventh floor. Splat!

[tripleryder]

Now this is exciting news. I've just met slannesh but think he may have gardened before and P7 is years ahead of me. It is a bit of a comfort to have someone as new to this as I am. Soooo glad you showed up.

Well I'm glad to be here! I grew up on a "farm" so I'm not completely foreign to aspects of growing, but I've never planned and implemented a vegetable garden by myself. My hippy parents grew organic gourmet garlic

I am located in SE WA state. We are in a great growing area, and I have (I am told) excellent topsoil....Ya know, a close friend of mine has been lobbying for me to move out to SE WA so we could actually see each other now and then. I keep repeating the earthquake thing, but I may have to rethink my hesitation. Excellent topsoil, that would be so nice. We here in my part of tornado land do not think in terms of 'excellent topsoil'.

I am in a town famous for it's sweet onions, and recently, wine. We have an amazing growing environment here. It's also an awesome place to live. Within a few hours drive, I can be in rainforest, beach, cascade mountains, high desert, low desert, dense conifer forest, beautiful deciduous forest, etc. Truly a great place.

Seriously impressed with your organization. Pics! Yes! Inspiration! Especially when I'm trying to recover from the mold-rums. I look forward to hearing how slannesh and P7 (and others I hope) answer your questions. As Dr. Frasier Crane says "I'm listening."

Thanks, I tend to over-research and under-execute, so I'm hoping I can even that out with this project. Tight finances and upcoming financial pressures this summer are a big contributing factor. Pics a-coming! After I get back from my work trip next week.

Another thing I know nothing about is the "perfect partners" as I've heard them called. In other words, veggies I can plant side-by-side that will protect one another. Anyone have a list?

[Roger Brough]

Use the weedblock. Also, look for some Jelly Bean Hybrid Tomatoes, Ferry Morse for instance. 10 days to germination, 70 days to harvest. I got a bowl a day last year off of each plant.

[zombiepreparation]

Tight finances and upcoming financial pressures this summer are a big contributing factor.

Exactly my motivator, tight finances and upcoming financial pressures looming. Then when I joined ZS last October and began learning prepping I found this is knowledge that is invaluable in longer term "zombie" survival situations. That is the reason I didn't give up when I had the wind knocked out of me with this mold total failure. I'm motivated. The metaphorical zombie Events of some kind, from tight finances to weather events to those extreme scenarios that I don't yet think about in my planning are too evident to not realize the need to learn skills... like growing food you'll need if you're in a place you can.

Another thing I know nothing about is the "perfect partners" as I've heard them called. In other words, veggies I can plant side-by-side that will protect one another. Anyone have a list?

P7 has done research on this very thing for us. She/he may have more too. She/he is also an avid researcher:

How to Garden Advice has a wealth of useful information. For each vegetable, fruit, or herb, they offer not only the standard growing info, but tips on using, preserving, storage, and even recipes. They have a "companion planting" section that is essential for someone looking to design the best garden layout. The companion planting chart in that section is a wonderful reference. They also solicit and display tips from their readers.

[zombiepreparation]

Use the weedblock. Also, look for some Jelly Bean Hybrid Tomatoes, Ferry Morse for instance. 10 days to germination, 70 days to harvest. I got a bowl a day last year off of each plant.

A bowl a day?! Whoa! Do you remember if they grow well in only partial sun?

[edit: Bugger. They are full size vines which I can't grow. But maybe someday........]

[Roger Brough]

I do remember. 12-18 hours of fluores light daily, 6-8 inches above plants before replanting outside. Tomatoes need sun all day, and I was careful to pick areas that not even shadows from trees bothered them. I also rotate locations each year a slight bit. I had some problems last year with mosaic, but then I realized I had tobacco on my hands when I was removing leaves. Seems the Levi Garrett residue was causing the leaves to mottle. Those jelly beans you can just pop right into your mouth like a starburst. The flavor explodes.

[zombiepreparation]

I do remember. <snip> Those jelly beans you can just pop right into your mouth like a starburst. The flavor explodes.

[zombiepreparation]

Another thing I know nothing about is the "perfect partners" as I've heard them called. In other words, veggies I can plant side-by-side that will protect one another. Anyone have a list?

Here is a Wikipedia incomplete List of companion plants I found. Do not know the accuracy of the information listed though.

[slannesh]

I'm not really sure what my plans are just yet as we're moving into a new house in a couple of weeks (April 20th) I've seen the yard in the summer and the grass is beautiful as is the current flower garden out front but there isn't an in ground garden at the moment.

Eventually I'll do a raised bed as well as many containers but I think for this year I'll have to settle with just the containers (which I have yet to acquire) Thankfully one of the ladies that works at one of the local nurseries lives just up the road from me and I have access through her shop to heirloom seeds and decades of advice.

So for this year I will most likely stick with what I have some experience with and add a couple of new things.

Containers:
Tomatoes: Probably Roma for sauce and salsa and beefsteak for general use. Maybe some sort of cherry tomato for salads if I have enough space

Peppers: Salsa peppers if I can find them here and Giant Marconi peppers. I tried Bell Peppers before and they didn't turn out well. Perhaps I will again when I get a greenhouse up and running.

Cucumber: I haven't done these before, but I understand they do well in containers

Strawberries: Who doesn't love strawberries? Again, i've not worked with them before so I'll start my experiment this year and hope for the best next year when it comes time to bear fruit.

Herbs: I'll try several assorted varieties.

Raspberries: These I'll obviously put in ground, probably along one of the fencelines.

I think that'll be it for this year. Once I get the raised bed going i'll look into potatoes, beans, peas and carrots as well as onions. I'll also be starting a compost pile this year as well since I have the space for it. I'm quite excited about finally having the necessary room to do all of this but don't want to bite off too much my first year either.

[tripleryder]

Great info guys!

Z-prep - Which way does your balcony face? I saw the pic with the overhang and the reason for limited light within, but is it possible to let things hang over the rail? I'm thinking like the upside-down hanging tomatoes you see. Like these: http://justlive.us/physical/make-your-own-upside-down-tomato-planter/

Plants absorb light though the leaves. Could you somehow put the plant (any vine type) on/in the balcony, and allow the vines to fall over the edge, to gather much more light? Could even hang a net or piece of trellis for them to grow on. Not sure if that's clear, I'm just thinking out loud.

*edit to add: Using a net would allow you to "reel it in" for harvesting the tomatoes/peas/green beans. Only problem I see is the container would need to be secured (so your bountiful harvest doesnt pull it off the balcony) and possible issues with opsec/apartment code

[Roger Brough]

Slan, take a look at this bed. http://blog.lifetime.com/article/356234/raised-garden-bed-winner-and-30-discount-announced
I am not ready to get started outside because of some scheduled travelling but I should be able to set up and provide some photo's around Mother's Day.

[tripleryder]

Neat concept. Could probably duplicate the same idea much cheaper with wooden raised beds, and a canopy of bent pvc (wouldn't even need fasteners) and plastic sheeting

[Roger Brough]

I did do a cost analysis and determined that purchasing the wood supplies I wanted would cost nearly the same but would last less time. Then, someone gave me two of these beds as a gift.

[zombiepreparation]

Strawberries: Who doesn't love strawberries? Again, i've not worked with them before so I'll start my experiment this year and hope for the best next year when it comes time to bear fruit.

STRAWBERRIES!! Strawberries need only partial light! Holy balcony container gardening, Batman! Strawberries as a container crop! The apartment dweller on the other side of my balcony partitioning wall is going to try strawberries. I'm off to investigate and also need all info you gardeners here have and are willing to offer. Strawberries! My tomato disappointment would be somewhat diminished if I could get strawberries to grow.................

[zombiepreparation]

Great info guys!

Z-prep - Which way does your balcony face? I saw the pic with the overhang and the reason for limited light within, but is it possible to let things hang over the rail? I'm thinking like the upside-down hanging tomatoes you see. Like these: http://justlive.us/physical/make-your-own-upside-down-tomato-planter/

Plants absorb light though the leaves. Could you somehow put the plant (any vine type) on/in the balcony, and allow the vines to fall over the edge, to gather much more light? Could even hang a net or piece of trellis for them to grow on. Not sure if that's clear, I'm just thinking out loud.

*edit to add: Using a net would allow you to "reel it in" for harvesting the tomatoes/peas/green beans. Only problem I see is the container would need to be secured (so your bountiful harvest doesnt pull it off the balcony) and possible issues with opsec/apartment code

Super useful tip. I face east with only three full hours of daily sun.

I like where you are going with this. If you think of more ideas please post them. Maybe not this year for me, maybe not even ever for me, but maybe for someone else who shows up here!

[tripleryder]

Hmm... apparently people disklike tomato bombs. who knew.

Here's another idea. I've heard of using mirrors and reflective plastics to reflect light in greenhouses and such. Go get yourself a cheap space blanket. Unfold and tape/tack/glue/boogers it up on the walls of your balcony. Especially the North wall. Theoretically, that should reflect more light into the balcony, right?

[zombiepreparation]

Hmm... apparently people disklike tomato bombs. who knew.

Here's another idea. I've heard of using mirrors and reflective plastics to reflect light in greenhouses and such. Go get yourself a cheap space blanket. Unfold and tape/tack/glue/boogers it up on the walls of your balcony. Especially the North wall. Theoretically, that should reflect more light into the balcony, right?

ooooooo.... researching now. What an idea!

[zombiepreparation]

I don't know if I can do it this year but it looks like it is being done. Look at this! Dig This: Gardening in the Shade--Challenges and Opportunities

(an excerpt)

You can grow some summertime crops, such as tomatoes, cucumbers and squashes, despite the lack of direct sunshine. Shade doesn’t have to prohibit you from growing lots of your own food.

<snip>

(P7, I have underlined something about aphids you might find interesting)

Reflective mulches: Reflective mulches, including metallic mulches, are a great aid for gardeners growing in shady conditions, as the benefits can be huge. Reflective mulches—such as the red plastic mulch some tomato growers have become fond of — reflect light up onto the leaves of the plants. Under partial shading, reflective mulches have been shown to provide the following advantages: increased amount of light in the plant canopy, increased air temperature in the plant canopy, increased photosynthesis, reduced incidence of certain insects (particularly aphids), and increased produce yield and quality. Metalicized reflective mulches (which look like aluminum foil) will have the greatest impact on increasing photosynthesis and, therefore, growth, because they reflect the entire light spectrum. You can buy these reflective mulches but you can make them cheaply out of aluminum foil and cardboard painted white.

<snip>

Reflective surfaces: Creating other bright, reflective surfaces near your garden will also benefit plants. A bright-painted wall or fence that faces the sun for any period of the day, particularly south-facing, will reflect a great amount of light and heat, speeding up growth rates and compensating for some of the shade. My past life as a photographer taught me the impact of reflectors, such as a flat board painted white or covered in tin foil and positioned to reflect the sunlight at the plants under leaves or trees.

<snip>

Choosing what to grow: Less sunlight means it will take longer for plants to grow and produce. Therefore, you should consider choosing plants that mature early for short seasons. Shady gardens have the advantage for growing great greens and lettuces longer than full sun gardens, but they may have trouble growing heirloom tomatoes and hot peppers. Take tomatoes, for example: Select tomatoes that mature early in 50 to 65 days from date of transplanting

<snip>

If your tomato gets only 3 hours of direct sun per day, it may turn a 60-day tomato into a 105-day tomato.

Three hours of direct sunlight? That's exactly what my balcony gets. You have given me hope for balcony container tomatoes, tripleryder. Thanks!

[prepper7]

This is a great thread! Thanks to you all for all yoru input, especially z-prep and p7. (cool kid nicknames!!)

Glad you've decided to join us to make it better, Tripleryder.

I am launching into my first garden this year. I will be planting in a couple weeks, and am in the planning stages now. <snip>

Excellent!

Do I put weedblock underneath?

Your planting list is mouth-watering (and ambitions). What I know about gardening wouldn't fill a thimble, but this I can answer... Absolutely--and use the best you can afford (you don't want to have to be digging up and replacing this stuff every season). DuPont’s 15 year landscape fabric is said to be a good product. According to a Better Homes & Gardens raised bed article, you should also staple hardware cloth across the bottom of the bed before filling it with soil to keep animals out.

I'll be sure to post pics of the whole process, to inspire others who have no idea... like me!!

Looking forward to sharing your journey.

[prepper7]

Say, P7, <snip> How's it all doing? I have been so involved with me for the last over-a-week but am now caught up and interested in hearing how everyone's gardens are growing. <snip>

Pretty well, thank you. Over the past few days, I got cilantro, basil, dill, oregano, and sweet pea (flower) and seedlings in their pots. I also replanted the only nasturtiums to germinate (from the two $1.40 packets of seeds: nada. The seeds I bought at Dollar Tree: 100% germination (and some hardy-looking seedlings, too) into a hanging basket (they are a "trailing" variety.

[prepper7]

<snip> Oh geeze, remember when I posted this? <snip>

Really? You're giving yourself a hard time to being willing to take a chance? For persevering in the face of setbacks? From learning from your experiences?