Garden Harvest August 20, 2012

I came back from a two week vacation and the new neighbor had apparently forgotten about our arrangement. The one where I looked after her can and then she would water my plants. Hurrumph!!!

They are pretty much all dead, though we are trying to rehab the jalapeno. This is the only thing I was able to pull off the plants when I arrived home Friday... Le sigh, it's a San Marzano, in miniature.

Hop on over to Daphne's Dandelions to see what others are harvesting this week.

I Have A Garden Itch

I know, every year, just about this time, I get an itch to start growing things. I think it's because of a few things; I have yet to try my hand at fall and winter gardening so I feel a ache to get my hands back into the dirt and get something from it. The other problem is that darn it, its cold and grey and looking at seed catalogs reminds me of Spring and 78 degree days.

This an orange geranium seedling

This year we are doing it on our small, Midtown Nashville balcony. My fingers and toes are crossed for luck. I think to help me feel a sustained sense of satisfaction I am going to keep up with the numbers from this years spring harvest and see what I accomplish. maybe I will even spur myself into a fall garden.

This is an orange geranium seedling all grown up

To get started lets look at what I have spent and what I received for that amount.

$23.73 for seeds (I highly recommend generic seeds, so far great germination rates)
$8.00 for seed starting flat and box of extra pellets
$31.73 total expenses

I have:
Veggies:
Cucumber seeds
Tomato seeds
Peppers seeds (4) varieties

Herbs:
Thyme seeds
Rosemary seeds
Cilantro seeds
Basil seeds

Flowers
Geranium seeds
Coleus seeds
Bells of Ireland seeds
Impatiens seeds

thereapy in the dirt

I have been putting most of my short attention span into gardening. Its been going pretty well. After my father passed I was overwhelmed with a desire to return to the "normal". I wanted to be back on my routine schedule, going to the same places, seeing the same people. And for the most part that meant getting back into my classes. Well, oops! That ended last Thursday. What is a girl to do?

She breaks out the cute tools and gloves and starts playing in the dirt. I haven't got much of a spot for gardening. In fact I only have a second story balcony. You know I would let something like physics or two flights of stairs get in my way (errrm, the fellas way). I have been putting my extra energy in flowers and herbs. Nurturing is therapy right now, thinning out plants is therapy, enjoying nights on the balcony surrounded by my creations is therapy.

This has actually been more of a challenge than I thought. Most of the balcony is in complete shade. A small corner is full sun. Practically no in-between. I am attempting to grow mint in complete shade. I think it might just work because the summers are so hot here. Other than that, just winging it every single day.

Wondering what to get me for my Birthday?

Well, this is what I want. I want it really really badly! I hope the fella notices this blatant attempt at subtly. He-He!

I just think it would look fabulous in the planter with the English Daisies. If you want one it can be found here on ETSY. I think its $8.00 USD.

*No, I wasn't offered a free one for posting this or advertising for the shop owner. I just like sharing the goodies I find across the inter webs.

Balcony Garden day 7

Its day 7. I was starting to worry that my petunias would never pop up from the dirt. I'm pathetic. I actually grabbed the tweezers last night and began gently digging for signs of life. somehow I thought, maybe they are too deep and need my help? Yeah, I need to get out more.

Well, feeling like a fool I noticed that 5 of the 10 petunia seeds had broken the surface. I am giddy. I keep walking over to check on them, and see if anyone else has joined the party.

UPDATE: WE ARE NOW 6 OF 10! 2.23.2011

Balcony Garden day 5

Some of the seeds have popped up from the soil and it gives me such a zeal for gardening.

These are the English Daisies. I am practically giddy at the thought of them blooming up in the planters. I actually went to the big lots today and bought window boxes on the cheap. $5 a piece with dish. They were $16 at walmart. So if you are trying to garden frugally I highly suggest checking out your local Big Lots or Dollar Tree.

And since I was in the garden section I had to purchase a new packet of seeds. I had to, the Vandy garden gnome made me!!! Bet you don't have him growing in your garden, do you?

I purchased mint. I am going to grow it (fingers crossed) in the window in the kitchen. It gets about 5 hours of sun a day so we will see. I wasn't willing to take it outside after reading stories of it taking over everything. Well here is hoping I have this in a few months.

Starting the seeds for my garden, Day 1

I had my first garden last year. It was a container garden given that my only outdoor spot was a 2nd floor balcony. One bit gets full sun, another gets partial shade and the back corner is full shade. Last year a learning curve to say the least.


I went to the farmers market and simply picked out flowers I liked the look of. Unfortunately they were almost all full sun flowers. The lasted about a month before giving up and dying. This year I went online and studied what worked well in Shaded areas and container gardens. I have one of each variety this year. I have some cascading petunias for the full sun rail. I bought English daises for the partial sun rail. And the sad back corner will gets lot of color (fingers crossed) with inpatients.

I purchased them as seeds because 1) its cheaper and 2) I like watching them grow and peak through from the dirt. It gives me a real sense of ownership. I should see the first signs of life in about 7 days and the last of them by day 14. Wish me luck that my garden is full of these wonderful flowers this summer...