Gardens

[hoosier]

I have NO experience with gardening (and I strongly believe that beer should be taken internally and often and not shared with small slimy creatures. If they want beer, the can buy their own)

I'd really like to try growing some herbs and have a small area in back set aside. Can anyone provide some input as to when they need to go into the ground and whether i need to buy plants or seeds started inside, etc?

Thanks!

Relax, we were not talking about wasting real beer on garden fauna. It was Old Milwaukee or some such abomination.

When to plant very much depends on where you live. If you're in DC then you can probably expect some frost until late April, so don't put anything in outside before then unless you are prepared to dig it up and rush it inside--or bury it. I have always had an aversion to starting seeds inside and have tended to buy plants at the local farmer's market, though as my kids are now emerging from the destructive rages of toddlerdom I suppose they might get a kick out of starting from seeds (and besides, forgetting to water the tomato sprouts for a week is much less tragic than forgetting to feed the pet gerbil for a week...). So my advice to you is, be lazy, forget about the garden for about six weeks, and then go out and buy yourself a few boxes of Thai basil, chili peppers and one cilantro plant. Then stick them in the ground with some peet moss and egg shells.

[MJZiggy]

I have NO experience with gardening (and I strongly believe that beer should be taken internally and often and not shared with small slimy creatures. If they want beer, the can buy their own)

I'd really like to try growing some herbs and have a small area in back set aside. Can anyone provide some input as to when they need to go into the ground and whether i need to buy plants or seeds started inside, etc?

Thanks!

Relax, we were not talking about wasting real beer on garden fauna. It was Old Milwaukee or some such abomination.

When to plant very much depends on where you live. If you're in DC then you can probably expect some frost until late April, so don't put anything in outside before then unless you are prepared to dig it up and rush it inside--or bury it. I have always had an aversion to starting seeds inside and have tended to buy plants at the local farmer's market, though as my kids are now emerging from the destructive rages of toddlerdom I suppose they might get a kick out of starting from seeds (and besides, forgetting to water the tomato sprouts for a week is much less tragic than forgetting to feed the pet gerbil for a week...). So my advice to you is, be lazy, forget about the garden for about six weeks, and then go out and buy yourself a few boxes of Thai basil, chili peppers and one cilantro plant. Then stick them in the ground with some peet moss and egg shells.

Actually I believe it's Old Milwaukee Lite. I'm not sure the slugs'll even drink it but it was the cheapest the store had.

Mich, just wait until Home Depot gets their spring stock in. Holy hell!

[MichiganPackerFan]

What's the purpose of the egg shells?

[MJZiggy]

What's the purpose of the egg shells?

To hold the baby chicks inside. (I slay me)

Seriously, It adds calcium to the soil (wash and crush them). You can also add coffee grounds for extra nitrogen.

[MichiganPackerFan]

Ok, here's the plan:

I've selected a few herbs i want to try to grow:
Basil
Chives
Dill (possibly)
Parsley
Rosemary (already have)
Sage (possibly)
Thyme

Furthermore, I'd like to do two tomato plants and a hot pepper plant, all potted.

To get the whole experience of this attempt, I would like to start from seed
I have been recommended to start the seeds in a big egg carton, so I think i'm going to start them all in some potting soil. Once they're going well and the weather is good, i'll transplant them outside to the existing bed, placing the washed & crushed eggshells and peet moss below them.

What is the purpose of the peet moss anyway?

What specific types of the above herbs should I look for? And the tomatoes?

Is there anything I have to do to the soil?

Any advice or witty comments are much appreciated!

[swede]

Ok, here's the plan:


Parsley
Sage
Rosemary
Thyme


Simon and Garfunkelfixed

[MichiganPackerFan]

Ok, here's the plan:


Parsley
Sage
Rosemary
Thyme


Simon and Garfunkelfixed

I can't believe I missed something that glaringly obvious!!!

[MJZiggy]

I like starting my herbs from plant, so I generally wait just a bit, but couldn't resist some cinnamon basil seeds I ran across. The chives are perennial here so be careful not to overdo it with them. My little herb patch is in a sheltered location so with the chives, I still have two types of sage (tri-color and plain boring) and the parsley is coming back as it never completely died off either.

The plan sounds good though. I have peat pots full of sunflower and snapdragon. In a couple weeks, they can go outside.

[MichiganPackerFan]

I like starting my herbs from plant, so I generally wait just a bit, but couldn't resist some cinnamon basil seeds I ran across. The chives are perennial here so be careful not to overdo it with them. My little herb patch is in a sheltered location so with the chives, I still have two types of sage (tri-color and plain boring) and the parsley is coming back as it never completely died off either.

The plan sounds good though. I have peat pots full of sunflower and snapdragon. In a couple weeks, they can go outside.

Have you done tomatoes? If so, what types?

What is the best type of basil to grow?

[Patler]

I like starting my herbs from plant, so I generally wait just a bit, but couldn't resist some cinnamon basil seeds I ran across. The chives are perennial here so be careful not to overdo it with them. My little herb patch is in a sheltered location so with the chives, I still have two types of sage (tri-color and plain boring) and the parsley is coming back as it never completely died off either.

The plan sounds good though. I have peat pots full of sunflower and snapdragon. In a couple weeks, they can go outside.

Have you done tomatoes? If so, what types?

What is the best type of basil to grow?

I have grown lots of different tomatoes over the years. If you really like fresh tomatoes, grow at least a couple different kinds. You can get some that will ripen very quickly (45-50 days or so), others much later (80-90 days), and everything in between, giving you a very long harvesting season.

You should think about how you want to use them and serve them; cooked, fresh, whole, sliced, canned. Different varieties excel in different ways. The garden centers usually have very good descriptions about their size, best uses, ripening times, etc.

Last year I planted some standard ones, both cherry tomatoes and a typical slicing variety. I also got some heirloom tomatoes. There is a growing effort to bring back old garden varieties that have been lost in the age of hybridization. There are lots of tomato varieties available, both "newer" and heirloom. You might lose something in certain disease resistance with heirloom varieties, but wow....the taste! I had one that was very rich and sweet tasting in a deep, deep red, another that was purple and a yellow and red striped tomato. (I cant find the variety names right now, I should have them here somewhere.)

Tomatoes are easy to grow, plant several different ones and see what you like best.

[MichiganPackerFan]

Thanks for the advice Mr. P!

We found a way to open up a bit more space in back, so I certainly am going to try a few more varieties, and maybe not have to place them in pots at all.

Is there a tried and proven way to determine how far away plants should be planted?

When I start my seeds, do i just put one in each container or do I put a few in each container and hope that one works?

[Patler]

We found a way to open up a bit more space in back, so I certainly am going to try a few more varieties, and maybe not have to place them in pots at all.

I have lots of room, but still sometimes plant my tomatoes in containers. Its easy, they do well, and I can move them around if I want to.

Is there a tried and proven way to determine how far away plants should be planted?

Read the info on the seed packet, or read the label on the sticker or on the stake in started plants! That's what I do!

When I start my seeds, do i just put one in each container or do I put a few in each container and hope that one works?

Either way can work, depends what you want to do. Some people plant several and then thin the plants out after they come up. Some people use little seed starter cubes and may only put one seed in each so they don't have to mess around with thinning them. It can depend on how you are set up to take care of them, what plants you are starting, and just what you feel like doing.

For a lot of gardening, there isn't a right and wrong. Do what you feel like doing and adapt and change as you decide what you like and don't like. Have fun with it and don't worry too much about being "right".

[MJZiggy]

I like starting my herbs from plant, so I generally wait just a bit, but couldn't resist some cinnamon basil seeds I ran across. The chives are perennial here so be careful not to overdo it with them. My little herb patch is in a sheltered location so with the chives, I still have two types of sage (tri-color and plain boring) and the parsley is coming back as it never completely died off either.

The plan sounds good though. I have peat pots full of sunflower and snapdragon. In a couple weeks, they can go outside.

Have you done tomatoes? If so, what types?

What is the best type of basil to grow?

I plant romas and occasionally cherry tomatoes. I have grape tomatoes that I planted years ago and they volunteer every year so I don't bother planting those anymore. It sort of gives me an extra crop. As to basil, I just buy the stuff that shows up at Home Depot and it grows fine. I think it's probably time to plant the jalapenos, though I did like the banana peppers better last year.

[MichiganPackerFan]

How big of a terra cota planter do I need to buy for a tomato plant? For a bell pepper plant?