Thursday, April 25, 2024

Reminders for This Garden Year - It is Almost Time!!!!!

 Good morning on this Thursday.  Hope you are all well.  It appears our temps may start an upturn as of later today - which is fine.  We have rain coming in at some point - boy it sure does make things grow!
I went out to clean the bird bath this morning - you should have seen how muddy it was!  Yesterday robins came and bathed one after the other!!!!  I bet they felt better - as them birdies were dirty!

Today just a few charts that list compatible planting partners.  Yes, some plants do NOT like being net to others and will not grow well!!!!
Also a chart that tells you what you can plant in pots of various sizes, for your garden.  Pretty much anything can thrive in a pot - if it is big enough!  I have planted most every garden veggie I plant in pots at some point in time.





                I always plant my zucchini next to my tomatoes - they both always thrive.

Click on the above picture to enlarge for easy reading.  You will find most goodies can go in a pot.

Now if planting in a pot or container - you need good drainage.  You also need to keep watered and add some fertilizer during the season - since it can't absorb from the ground. Good soil is important as well.
I think I have grown all leafy veggies in pots as well as most root veggies (including potatoes).  I have grown beans, pepper, tomatoes, cukes, and squash in pots as well. 
They may not get as big (or they may) but you still get lots of goodies!
Do your research when planting.  It will save your work, your plants and possibly your funds!

I hope you all plan on growing something.  Greens and root crops and herbs can easily be planted amongst flowers and no one would know!
Hope this helps someone plan a little.

Have a wonderful day to all!!!

28 comments:

  1. Thx for the pictures. I think I might print those out. My goal this year is to plant vegetables & herbs in containers around my house. One of the reasons I garden at a community garden is my lot is pretty shady but there are a few small areas that get enough sun I think for me to put a few pots there.

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    1. That would be nice if you could get some pots around the house - you could move them if nec. I love you have a community garden to participate with!

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  2. There is a companion gardening book, available at libraries and as an e-book, "Carrots love Tomatoes", that is very helpful.
    I always plant marigolds in the same pot as my tomatoes as well. Marigolds keep many bugs away.
    I'm not certain what I'll be planting this year, but it is nearly time!

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    1. Thanks. I have many garden books around here that were daddies. Yes mam, I do the marigolds too around tomatoes.
      Time is almost near!

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  3. I'm hoping for peppers, zucchini, and cucumbers, the big three ( along with tomatoes) I crave and devour from summer. I've never been a gardener but hoping to get a few pots and a planter with a few veg at least. I might just throw some pumpkin and squash seeds to the side yard, cover with dirt and compost and cross my fingers. Yes, I'm not a gardener, but giving a few things a whirl.

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    1. Glad you will be giving it a try. It is truly fun too. Nothing better than a fresh picked tomato - my mouth waters thinking about it!
      Your pumpkin and squash will probably do fine. Vining things seem to take over and grow like mad. Shoot some people have plants grow from compost piles! Have fun!!!!

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  4. Excellent gardening advice! A person may be a longtime gardener but there is always something new to learn. Actually that is true no matter what the subject might be. We have potatoes coming up in the piece of garden where they were last year. The variety will be a surprise! Oh, BTW, Philip the fig tree appeared to be DOA but it is beginning to show signs of life. Nothing like fresh figs.

    Enjoy this sunny day. Next week will be warmer. See you Sunday!

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    1. Yes mam, there is always something to learn. No matter our age or education level - we can all learn new things.
      YAY for Philip!!
      It is sunny - but still windy and chilly. I look forward to some warmer days!

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    1. It turned out pretty here today, but awful breezy and chilly. I hope you get some times out of doors! It helps the soul!!

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  6. A friend of mine has a banana tree growing in a pot that her parents got when they were on their honeymoon, I guess back in the day banana trees were considered exotic. I has never fruited but grows happily inside her house in a sunny spot and is an attractive plant. It has outlived both her parents, so I guess that proves that bananas can grow in containers.
    I didn’t comment on yesterday’s post, but loved it!!! You are a real blessing Cheryl.
    Louise.

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    1. I have heard of people having banana trees. That is cool, that she has kept it all these years.
      Thank you - I appreciate it!

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  7. We have about 4 weeks left before we can plant. Hoping the weather stays just the way it is.

    I do grow all my herbs in pots, as well as some of my salve and lotion making plants. Hoping to get lots more growing this year.

    God bless.

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    1. Truthfully I probably won't plant for 3-4 more weeks here either. It always pays to be sure!
      Good for you - hope you get a nice garden in this year.

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  8. I've heard that my Planting Zone has changed from 6 to 7, so I can plant earlier. Hmmm. Not taking chances here - the rule of thumb has been no tender veggies planted until Mother's Day. I'm sticking to that, but I do have lettuce, spinach, and parsley seed all coming up in pots.

    Every day I'm in the yard, it's so much fun to be down in the dirt digging and pulling and planting stuff, moving things around. Makes me want to sing and dance, except all my muscles are So Sore! I'm not used to all this activity. ;)

    MaryB

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    1. Mother's Day has always been a standard here too - even then I wonder sometime. I just go May - Daddy always planted closer to the end of the month of fragile things - it seemed to work well.
      You are cute - singing and dancing. Yep, those muscles tend to ache more now days!

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  9. I had a few hours in the garden today. Hubby tilled for me and before he did , I moved some plants that survived the winter to a different spot ( kale, chard and mustard greens). Turned up some veg.....carrot, potato and turnip which we had for supper. We have had freezes overnight lately but I still have radish, lettuce, broccoli and cabbages sprouting. Dug some perennial garlic and walking onions. Tomorrow I will plant potatoes. The garden is my favorite room!
    I have been in the city for several days but thought of you on Tuesday when you remembered your lost dear one. As one ages, the calendar in one's brain fills up with the dates of dear ones gone from our lives. It is best to be thankful for what we had than lament the loss, I think.
    Nice that you have so much wildlife in your yard. I saw robins high up in a tree this morning, just catching the sun's warming rays.

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    1. I love that. "The garden is my favorite room". Indeed. Nice that you have gotten started and are on your way. We have had a freeze and frost lately too.
      Yes, I agree on our loved ones. Remember the good times and be grateful for the time we had. Thank you.
      I just have so many birds and other critters. I love it. Gives a lot of joy and smiles.

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  10. I have got the container gardening under control. I can control the bugs. However, the critters that wander along, stand on all fours and pick the newest ripe tomatoes are the problems and the reason I now just grow flowers!

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    1. I meant stand on all fours or hind feet

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    2. Glad you can get your flowers planted easily. I rarely lose a tomato anymore - as I leave plenty of water around for animals. Once in a while it happens. My brother has a lot of animals bother his garden, but he is in a real woodsy area.

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  11. I just cleaned out one of our pots on the back porch. The plant had died over the winter, so I dug it out of the dirt and saved all the dirt I could save. Things are already growing here so much! We've already had to weed eat a couple of times. It's time to start planting for sure!

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    1. Glad you have the pots cleaned and ready. Oh gosh, the weeds and grass are growing like crazy here. Mowed and used trimmer many times. Too bad we can't cross-pollinate weeds and veggies!

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  12. Question for those who container garden -- how often do you fertilize? My yields are not as good as I'd like them to be, and I'm pretty sure it's due to plants needing fertilization. But I'm unsure of how soon to begin after planting, and how often to fertilize. Advice, anyone????

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    1. Lori that is a good question. I use the liquid fertilizer that I make - posted the recipe earlier in the week. (homemade Miracle Grow). I try to use good soil too. You can add compost if you have it.
      My pots get a good dose of fertilizer about once a month. Others here may have a different method.

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    2. Lori, it all depends on what type of potting soil you're using. If you use a potting soil that is new and already contains something like Miracle Grow or other fertilizer you're good for about a couple of months. If the soil is some you've used before, I usually remove about a quarter of the soil from each container and lay down either liquid or a powdered fertilizer then put the removed soil on top and it down. I then wait about a week before I plant. Then the seeds or plants go in. When the seeds have germinated and are a few inches tall I start fertilizing every 3 weeks. I use either fish emulsion or homemade Miracle Gro. Both are diluted with water so easy to store and handle. If I'm putting in veggie plants I let them get acclimated to their new home about a week week and a half and then start fertilizing as with the plants grown from seed. I also dehydrate my kitchen scraps and store them in a Ziplock. At the end of the growing season I dig them into the containers and let them compost that way. I also give all my containers a watering with an epsom salts solution about once every 6 weeks during the growing season. Doing it this way I haven't bought potting soil in years and have a lush container vegetable garden. Hope this helps. Cookie

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  13. So much good information - especially for a novice grower/city slicker like myself:) I tried peppers in a pot last year. Dismal failure but think I might give it a try again. Happy gardening!:)

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    1. Try again. Some years are better than others. Maybe a bigger pot! I hope you give it another try and have fun with it. Glad this may help!

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