Wart
Banned
I'm in North East Ohio, just in case anyone is curious.
Last year I made some hefty mistakes but thats Ok because I learned and the garden still paid off.
What I learned:
1) They say a minimum of 2 feet between tomato plants. What they leave out is that 2 feet would barely be enough if the plants are staked from day one and tended every day.
1A) Stake or basket/cage the plants the day they are planted. LMAO at waiting till they need staked. All I can do is, in retrospect, is wonder what the hell I was thinking.
2) Start trimming herbs as soon as they take hold in their new pot. Think Bonsai. Things like thyme need their growing directed for max output and even for ease of harvest/ stripping leaves from stem.
3) Boxwood basil for garnish and liquids where you want to remove the basil after its done its work, sweet basil for about everything else.
4) Oregano. Don't let oregano fool you. Even if it's output was disappointing last year if it survives the winter , be ready for it this year.
5) Chamomile. My God what was I thinking!!! Chamomile is one of those things needing its own patch, off in the corner of the yard, where it ccan be controlled with a weed whacker or mower. God! What was I thinking!
Chamomile is growing in every pot that was near the chamomile pot.
6) Strawberries are about as bad as Chamomile. At least strawberries spread by runners. They go in their own spot too. I have3 so many berries to transplant this year I have to give some away. And theyre so prolific I plan to use them as ground cover on a slope (with ground cloth).
7) Plenty of things survive the winter fine without care.
End of last season I looked at the garden and just figured I would start over this year.
Last year my friend told me of a substance that would kill all organic matter and in one week would go inert making it safe to plant. Problem is I didn't count on anything surviving. Between the weather which has been unusually wet, school and finals, I now have to deal with flourishing plants.
- The potted chives are getting ready to flower.
- I already addressed the chamomile ... What was I thinking!
- The catnip never seemed to stop growing even when it was covered with snow. It was doing just fine till Kozmo the Cat was left out this spring and found the pot.
I was under the impression that potted plants, when exposed to zero temps on all sides, were suppose to die. I know chamomile is from seed but everything else?
>>>>>>>>>>>
I learned a bunch more, I think.
The suns shining, the ground isn't mud, I had best get out there and get to it.
The window on getting this stuff done is closing.
Last year I made some hefty mistakes but thats Ok because I learned and the garden still paid off.
What I learned:
1) They say a minimum of 2 feet between tomato plants. What they leave out is that 2 feet would barely be enough if the plants are staked from day one and tended every day.
1A) Stake or basket/cage the plants the day they are planted. LMAO at waiting till they need staked. All I can do is, in retrospect, is wonder what the hell I was thinking.
2) Start trimming herbs as soon as they take hold in their new pot. Think Bonsai. Things like thyme need their growing directed for max output and even for ease of harvest/ stripping leaves from stem.
3) Boxwood basil for garnish and liquids where you want to remove the basil after its done its work, sweet basil for about everything else.
4) Oregano. Don't let oregano fool you. Even if it's output was disappointing last year if it survives the winter , be ready for it this year.
5) Chamomile. My God what was I thinking!!! Chamomile is one of those things needing its own patch, off in the corner of the yard, where it ccan be controlled with a weed whacker or mower. God! What was I thinking!
Chamomile is growing in every pot that was near the chamomile pot.
6) Strawberries are about as bad as Chamomile. At least strawberries spread by runners. They go in their own spot too. I have3 so many berries to transplant this year I have to give some away. And theyre so prolific I plan to use them as ground cover on a slope (with ground cloth).
7) Plenty of things survive the winter fine without care.
End of last season I looked at the garden and just figured I would start over this year.
Last year my friend told me of a substance that would kill all organic matter and in one week would go inert making it safe to plant. Problem is I didn't count on anything surviving. Between the weather which has been unusually wet, school and finals, I now have to deal with flourishing plants.
- The potted chives are getting ready to flower.
- I already addressed the chamomile ... What was I thinking!
- The catnip never seemed to stop growing even when it was covered with snow. It was doing just fine till Kozmo the Cat was left out this spring and found the pot.
I was under the impression that potted plants, when exposed to zero temps on all sides, were suppose to die. I know chamomile is from seed but everything else?
>>>>>>>>>>>
I learned a bunch more, I think.
The suns shining, the ground isn't mud, I had best get out there and get to it.
The window on getting this stuff done is closing.