Gaia Community

My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jun 4, 7:09 AM:

I finally have a garden!
It's on my back porch!! I was able to get a book on container gardening and now I have some very healthy peppers, cucumbers. tomatoes and eggplant going.

I guess all the chi and yoga unlocked the creativity in me and I dared to do something that I thought impossible.

Soooo I am really excited about having REALLY FRESH produce and saving money by not having to go to the farmer's market so often. I am going to try some spinich too.
Liz

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Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jun 4, 8:03 AM:

oooh sounds deliciously wonderful! I've grown kale in a pot on my balcony in the past and presently have some herbs struggling through the winter… Do you have a photograph to post for us?

love

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Jun 4, 10:09 AM:

Lizzy!

What great news. There is nothing like the garden whether on the window sill, patio, yard or acres of land. Enjoy all of the food. You have helped encourage others to do this. I would love to see a photo too. Here's a pic of my friends back yard. I will write him to come post here and if you have any questions on gardening he will gladly answer
To health,
Kathy

Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jun 5, 3:30 AM:

oh what a lovely pic, Kathy! It would be lovely to discuss balcony and window sill - ie pot veggie\herb gardening in this thread. I'm all ears - I'm mean eyes - glued to the screen!

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jun 8, 7:38 AM:

I would love to send a photo but I am on a libuary computer and can't do a lot.
My “babies” are thriving so far. I am going on a hunt for “wild” food today. There are some wild strawberry patches in my area and I am going to be on my bike to go to them.
I do this every year. I am glad I have a bike now because that means I can go farther afield to gather things that most folks don't think of. Of course, I leave enough for the birds and rabbits too.

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Jun 8, 10:27 AM:

Hi Lizzyl… you describe the perfect pleasure day. I can see the sun shining all around you and visualize the pictures from your words just fine.

HumminbBird… I wrote to Lee and he is also shooting some patio gardening which I will post soon. Every time I come to this group I feel as though I had my daily dose of vitamins but it is a great reminder to eat well and make it everyone's hobby to grow something from just a little pot on up to the big things.

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jun 17, 8:00 AM:

I've got the start of some tomatoes and if my pepper plants all produce I will have more sweet peppers than I will know what to do with! Well. I will find something to do with them. My neighbors are sure to accept some, with the price of produce being what it is.
My eggplant is showing some signs too. The cukes are still a bit shy as are my cherry tomatoes.
well, time and paticence….

Re: My garden is in!

JOYOUS said Jun 17, 8:51 AM:

This is such an uplifting and inspiring thread. I was signing in and something came up and mid-page I saw: “My garden is in.”
Last summer I created a container garden. I lived in a corner apt, 2nd floor and wanted something pleasant to see, when I looked out. As the summer went on, other residents appreciated the sight too. My son said he never saw it and didn't think it would happen but … . I grew Bell Peppers in wooden crates, 4 plants per crate. Every color of Bell Pepper that I could find. First I lined the crates with fabric, then put in some space filler like aluminun cans or packing peanuts.   And topped it all off with some good fertile Miracle Grow soil.
(I did all of that so when watering, the soil would not wash away. The fabric kept it in the crates.) I had lots of beautiful Bell Peppers.
One-by-one as they matured, I cleaned and sliced them into narrow strips. Layed them flat on cookie sheets and froze the strips. After frozen I threw them into plastic bags and kept in freezer. When cooking and wanted peppers, All I did is reach in and grab a handful.
What I prepared was colorful, I had fun all season and considering the price of Bell Peppers in the groceries, I felt rich. I sometimes stuff and cook the peppers and then freeze them.
This year I am growing peppers and tomatoes in the yard and I'm participating in the community garden.   There I have a plot of Sunflowers.  I will probably contribute pepper plants (we are short on those) and help tend other plots and put in plants that are donated.
Next year I will be back to apartment living but I will have a third-floor patio and join the community gardeners that are nearby. I'll be in Madison, WI.

I also line baskets and use them as containers to grow flowers.

Thanks Lizzyl for starting “My Garden Is In”.

Joyous Mary
1937

Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jun 17, 9:10 AM:

Kathy thats sounds so promising!

Lizzyl I am enjoying this journey with you!

Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jun 17, 9:38 AM:

Joyous Mary, I am all ears - I mean, eyes! I can just see this and am hoping you will post some pics too. Sounds so wonderful!

Re: My garden is in!

JOYOUS said Jun 23, 8:13 PM:

Oh my, HummingBird!

This is so funny. I am thinking “Ears of Corn” and “Eyes in the Potatoes.”

Perhaps we should be careful what we say and do when there are Veggies nearby.

Joyous Mary
1937

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jun 18, 9:04 AM:

Mary–that sounds wonderful and I know what you mean!
My 'garden” is on my “balcony” which is about the size of a large janitor's closet, but it is great to look out on. We got a nice soaking rain today and it was good to see my 'babies” perk up.
I have started to do my daily evening meditation in my 'garden” . It is so refreshing.
It is also good to have something to nurture, being an “empty nester” .
I feel healthier and less lonely some how.
and –I talk to my plants too.
I don't think this is weird-after all they are living things and we are all connected right?

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Jun 24, 12:16 AM:

When is did a vegan convention for Whole Foods alot of people told me they talk to their plants. Those that are talked to thrive and grow bigger. They really do like it. You can give them names too :)

Talk On!

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jun 25, 7:28 AM:

I read a really good article in May's Yoga Jouranal about “Permaculture”.
What I want to know is this–in the article it was mentioned that marygolds are a natrual bug repellant. Does anyone know of any other natural bug fighters.
Also, does any one know of any incects that are good to have in your garden.
I have had some dragonflys visit and they seem to be doing no harm.
I don't object to the birds either because they seem to be enjoying the little bug snacks they pick off the plants. any one know of anythine else?

Re: My garden is in!

Lee said Jun 26, 6:28 AM:

The best natural bug killer is corn meal.
For example, ants - sprinkle a little around the plant they are feeding on, or around their ant hill. The ants bring it back to the queen. After that there are no more ants.

Coffee grounds around a plant kill slugs & snails.
Bacillus Therungensis is natural spray for gardens

Ladybugs are good to have and blue jays are good for pest control. Lee

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jun 26, 7:06 AM:

Thanks Lee
I will get the cornmeal out of my cupbord–I have had some things feeding on my eggplant leaves. No problems with snails or slugs though.
Maybe I am up to high.

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 1, 9:20 AM:

HELP!!!! MY CUCUMBER VINES ARE TAKING OVER!!!!!:))

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 2, 7:23 AM:

Just thought I would share a poem by Muso Soseki from “Sun at midnight”

Kind of fits the garden

Among the rocks and valleys

Among the rocks and valleys
deep in the folds of this mountain
The Dharma does not go
up or down
Having seen through
old Huang-lung's mind
I plant vegetables
around my meditation seat.
Nameste
Liz

Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jul 2, 7:52 AM:

ooh so nice - brings a Zen garden and Zen mind into mind

love

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Jul 4, 10:38 AM:

With poetry that beautiful no wonder the cucumbers are out of control.
Plants love to be talked to and share zen moments with us.

Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jul 4, 10:54 AM:

I must share that I have a miniature lawn on my balcony for my cats - they love their little green square and lie on it frequently and sometimes nibble the leaves.

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 6, 7:44 AM:

My peppers are blossoming now and my cumumbers have flowers. My tomatos are getting round–my eggplant is still a bit poky-but I am nutureining it along.
There is something deeply satisfying about seeing living things that you grew from small seeds, blossom and grow. It really enhances my meditation too, just to sit amoung the plants and feel one with them.
Not in a weird way, but then I have been thinking, all things grow better when they are cared for.
Last summer, I planted some herbs in my kitchen window, but they did not thrive. Last year I was in the throes of a very deep depression and I basicly did not give myself the care I needed, let alone the plants, so naturally they died.
When you nurture yourself, it can't help spill out to things around you.

Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jul 6, 7:53 AM:

this sounds deeply satisfying, Lizzyl - and wonderful that you are in this nurturing space now with its rewarding spin-off happening all about

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Jul 6, 8:08 AM:

Oh Lizzy! So profound. When you nurture yourself, it can't help spill out to things around you. Laurie Buchanan just blogged on this and the next thing I find is your comment. Such serendipity!

If you have a digital camera, can you post pictures of your beauties in the garden for us? Enjoy!!! I can just imagine yoiu carrying some salad dressing outside and eating in the garden… [one of my dreams]

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 7, 10:06 AM:

Unfortunaly I don't have a digital camara.
I am hoping to get a picture phone soon so then I can post some.
I already meditate in my garden.
and today I got an eggplant blossom

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Jul 7, 10:17 AM:

Hi Lizzy! I have footage from my film to show what the flower looks like. I like eggplant parmesaen

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 8, 9:37 AM:

KES my dear
I wish I did have a camara–I just saw a tomato this morning too.
Things have been a little slow because we have had a cool and rainy summer so far and the growing season started late.
I like eggplant parm too and I can't wait to make pakora with my fresh eggplant.
I am looking into what I can grow indoors this winter.

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 9, 8:30 AM:

My neighbor gave me a lovely Tibeten pray flag the other day.
It just completes my garden space to a “T”

Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jul 9, 8:45 AM:

how precious!

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Jul 9, 8:50 AM:

Hi Lizzy!

I found what they look like on search.

This is a picture of tomatoes that posed for me.

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 10, 10:30 AM:

what kind are they? I am growing some beefsteak and some cherry tomatos.
I found another eggplant blossom this morning and my cukes and peppers are going like gangbusters. This is my first time out as a gardener and it's just so exciting to see my stuff doing well. I used organic soil and plantfood.
I also have some merigolds, which are supposed to be a natural bug repellant.
so far its working.

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Jul 10, 12:29 PM:

Hi Lizzy! ~ You have proven the merigolds are working. I am thrilled to hear how your garden is doing. When I first became a virtual gardener by filming one for 9 months then editing - then doing my own… I see you are doing everything right. Feel free to ask Lee any questions at his profile and he will write back but you are experiencing a flourishing garden. I was at first queezy about worms but when I new how good they are for the soil and the universe they dwell in along with the micro-organisms, I put on more alfalfa for them on the top to feed them. Very cool… Let us know what you have harvested and eaten.

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 13, 6:52 AM:

I found my very first cucumber this morning and I've got five tomatos on one plant now. Just a few weeks I think.

Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jul 13, 6:00 PM:

this garden journal thread is so inspiring!

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 14, 8:50 AM:

Glad you are inspired Hummingbird!
As my garden grows and ripens I get inspired too. This is my first time out and I am so proud of how good my babies are doing.
My neighbor commented that my balcony looks like a jungle.
I don't know why. I mean, all I did what put the seeds and plants in the dirt, give plant food(organic) and keep them watered.
Just common sense. Like my life change. It just made sense to start yoga, chi and meditation. It just make sense to become a veggie/vegan. I like to think that the veggies are responding to the positive energy. I love my little greenspace.
It enhances my life in so many ways.
It has awakened the nuturing spirit in me. The other gardener in my building puts a lot of nasty chemicals on his veggies. They look good,but the white powder scares me. I think I will stick with my marigolds.

Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jul 14, 9:06 AM:

Ooh I can just picture it - and your look of pleasure at this jewel flourishing on your balcony

Re: My garden is in!

Jenny said Jul 15, 1:22 AM:

Hi,
I love reading your garden posts, Lizzyl, I'm totally excited with you. I've always lived in small apartments without balconies (and never cared much about the garden when living with my folks - except for playing in it or eating whatever it would bear), so I've never enjoyed growing a garden of my own but I hope I'll be able to one day. Your posts are definitely inspiring! :)

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 15, 7:38 AM:

I just put something on my blog today that really moved me when I was tending my plants this morning.
go over and take a read.

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 16, 7:14 AM:

My peppers are coming in!!!!!

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Jul 16, 3:12 PM:

Thanks for directing us to your blog. Very cool. Yeaaaaaa on the new peppers.

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 21, 7:46 AM:

Question for you more experenced gardners. Does any one know about cucumbers. I have been getting alot of blossoms, thing is some turn to cukes and some don't. This being my first time out, it's alot of trial and error.
Any one know?

Re: My garden is in!

Lee said Jul 23, 6:19 AM:

The cucumbers will keep producing for a while longer. Enjoy~reads as if you are doing all the right way. Your garden must be beautiful & tasty!

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 23, 6:39 AM:

Thanks Lee!
Two of my eggplant blossoms opened this morning, one is about to and I have three more on the way!
I saw another cuke this morning too.
and my tomatos and peppers are just burdgoning. It was a slow start but now it just seems to be explodeing daily.

Re: My garden is in!

Lee said Jul 23, 6:59 AM:

It is so much fun to harvest! I have to share with friends & neighbors and love to do that because it is so abundant. At the end of the tomato season when some of them stay green, just wrap them individually in newspaper and put them in a cool cupboard and they will turn red… or you can make fried green tomatoes or tomato relish. Your yard is mouthwatering. Feel free to read my blogs on gardening and hopefully some of them may be of help… my favorite thing to do.

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 23, 7:10 AM:

I dug out some green tomato pickle recipes. My aunt used to make a green tomato pickle to die for! Unfortunaly for me, I never got her recipe.
I am also going to be trying my hand at making relish and sweet pickles.

Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jul 24, 3:29 AM:

wishing you all a wonderful gardening experience this weekend. Enjoy the 'fruits thereof'

Lzzyl, this thread is a journal on your Garden - I'm loving it and even though I don't always leave a comment, I keep looking forward to the next installation. It reminds me of the Journal Room in the Meeting Love group. Unfortunately too many people don't realise love can be found in unexpected places! You are having a full on love affair with your garden, bravo!

love

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 24, 7:37 AM:

tell the truth hummingbird, It's more like being a hands on “mom” again.
My daughter left home when she was 17 to join the Navy. she is out now and going on 24 using her GI Bill for graduate school.
Like when my little girl was home, my “babies” aways need something- food, water, pruning-Just this morning I had to retie the peppers so that they would not fall down.
I kind of feel like a Ralph Finnes movie( The Constant Gardener).
Thanks to the containers, I don't have to worry about weeds.
OH and Lee—I could not access your blog–I have to be friended first.
But thanks for the tip on the cukes.

Re: My garden is in!

Lee said Jul 24, 12:09 PM:

Hi Lizzy!

I just learned how to set my settings :-)

I am going to invite you to also be a friend. Thanks for letting me know here.
Happy gardening,
Lee

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Jul 24, 12:20 PM:

You have brought up such a good point HummingBird… on love. I look forward to reading your posts on your site. This is like a journal from the garden here and all of the nurturing and love keeps sprouting each day we read of a new veggie that is ready to be harvested and turned into energy for the body. I am lovin' it too. Keep journeling…

Re: My garden is in!

HummingBird said Jul 25, 3:56 AM:

It's more like being a hands on “mom” again

How precious that this stirs your nurturing instincts - the Mother is probably the most loving of beings

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Jul 28, 5:54 AM:

Ok, “momma” has to brag again. My eggplants are really taking off!
I counted this morning–there will be nine of them! and my cukes are popping out too. I don't want to go on ad nausum, but I get alot of deep satisfaction out of my little 'green space”.
It has added something to my life that I really can't define. It lifts me up and makes me just glad to be alive!
I hope that I am not boring anybody, but I have struggled with depression for most of my teen and adult life.
I wish I had discovered the uplifting qualites of watching things grow a long time ago.
It brings a sort of peace and calmness.

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Aug 3, 7:28 AM:

Had my first taste of cucumger this morning.
Actually it was a small one, I gleaned it out because I am hoping that it will urge the others to grow.
It was sooo gooood!

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Aug 4, 5:35 AM:

sounds so yummy Lizzy! I look forward to lee's answer when he's here.

Re: My garden is in!

Lee said Aug 6, 4:19 AM:

Hi Lizzy!
Thanks for writing! The blossom drop could be an array of things, but my first questions would include:

* Is the plant in a pot, or in the ground?
* Do you have bees around and have you seen any in the blossoms?
You'll always have far more blossoms than will set fruit–natures way of making sure that at least some will get pollinated. You probably wouldn't be able to knock off any blossom that had been pollinated, or was even going to able to be pollinated, so I'd have no concern about that.

The plant, no matter what vegetable, will only set as much fruit as that particular plant can support. You can have a thousand blossoms, but if the plant will only be able to grow and develop one fruit, that's all you'll get, regardless of pollination.
Eggplants are a warmth loving plant, and if the nights are too cool, say in the mid-50's to low 60's or colder, they just won't produce well. For the first time in 25 years, my Japanese eggplants–really big beautiful plants, simply set almost no fruit at all. It's been a very cold spring and very cool early summer for us-and my worst eggplants ever. I finally considered them a waste of space and pulled them out to plant something else. The Black Beauty in the same bed as always, has produced only 13, which were a month later than usual. I've had 45-75 Black Beauties from the one plant for over 20 years.

I'd still think it was me, but I have two gardening clients in our location. We had Ping Tung Long, Japanese and Black Beauties from different seed, different nursery starts, etc., and all have had the same dismal eggplant production this year.
Of course if you're soil isn't well balanced with nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium and calcium, minimally, that could be part of the reason–or all of the reason.

Cucumbers always have loads of male blossoms. The only way to tell is to watch and see which have tiny fruits behind them–and I can never tell that until the blossom has been pollinated and the tiny cuke starts to grow.
Let me know how I might help further?

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Aug 7, 6:37 AM:

I forgot to put in my other e-mail that it's in a pot.
The summer has been rather cool this year.

Re: My garden is in!

Lizzyl said Aug 24, 7:26 AM:

Hi all! have been busy helping set up another site. Just an update.
My tomatos and peppers are going well, my cukes, so-s0.
the eggplant-not so good. but I am looking forward to next year.

Re: My garden is in!

~KES said Aug 24, 4:46 PM:

Thanks for letting us know Lizzy! That helps to know. Yum on the veggies. Any advice on preparing this food or ways that you eat it sort of ideas, I am interested. Good luck with the site… it seems we are always tweeking our sites to help keep them in present time, hm!