I'm new to gardenning and this forum, for an introduction, please refer to [url=https://www.helpfulgardener.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=33551]My Thread[/url] started in the "Introduce Yourself" section of this forum.
I have made the first step in my first garden, purchasing seeds, soil, and containers. I had planned on trying to do most of it with as much of a challenge as possible, but I broke down and bought a "seed starting kit" with individual pods, and the "expands when wet" soil discs that come in each. [url=https://www.burpee.com/seed-starting/]The particular product [/url]I found at Wal-Mart for less than $10 for 72 pods.
The seed starting kit's "expands with water" soil disks were easy enough. A few of them had difficulty expanding as fully as the others. So I evened them out with a handful or two of [url=https://www.reimerseeds.com/miracle-gro-seed-starting-potting-mix.aspx]Miracle Gro Seed Starting Potting Mix[/url].
I also experimented with putting the same mix into a foil type baking pan with plastic lid as a mini green house for my seeds. I cut a few holes in the bottom, and fed through a few sections of 550 cord (parachute cord) to act as wicks. I placed it on a shallow tray that could be filled with water, and when the soil dries, it wicks the water through the 550 cord.
[img]https://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb467/Logan_Schnider/SDC10886.jpg[/img]
Note the sharpie markings indicating seed type/placement, and the gas heat registers underneath them.
My budget does not allow for heating pads, but I have just enough heat registers for the mini green houses, and they happen to be near windows. It has kept the water at a warm temperature, and the green houses collecting condensation. It would appear to be working.
My budget also does not allow for the purchasing of any grow lights, whether they be the fluorescent combination of hot and cold white bulbs, or specific lights designed for horticulture. What I did to remedy my financial shortcomings, was to use an incandescent desk lamp style for every position around my one bedroom apartment. It doesn't produce heat, nor a great deal of light, but it would seem better than nothing.
[img]https://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb467/Logan_Schnider/SDC10874.jpg[/img]
Points awarded to the forum member who can spot the second hobby I have in this photo.
Along with vegetables and herbs, my fiance and I are also planting flowers, both from bulbs and seeds. She has already had remarkable success with her flowers from seeds, after only a short couple of days.
[img]https://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb467/Logan_Schnider/SDC10878.jpg[/img]
I will have to consult her as to what seeds are what, but I know one of these pots have daisy seeds in them.
She has also had substantial success in the Burpee's Seed Starting Kit.
[img]https://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb467/Logan_Schnider/SDC10882.jpg[/img]
The sprouts are those of a beautiful flower called "Cosmos". Significant growth of the cosmos over the other vegetable seeds planted at the same time in the kit.
Space for a garden being limited, and us not being able to dig up the ground due to our rental agreement, has driven me to container gardening. I am preparing several plastic totes for my garden, filling them with a mixture of cheap potting soil, and some enriched potting soil for good luck. Nothing scientific on my end, just dumping the cheap stuff in and adding about 1/4 of the more expensive stuff, both to save money, and doubting that I'd notice a difference in quality. Once the bags were open, there was no visible or physical difference in the soil other than the bags that contained them. This is NOT to be confused with potting soil being comparable to bed soil, or seed starting soil. As last frost is a little over a month away, I am adding a bit of kitchen compost to each bin, mainly greens, in an attempt to achieve peace of mind. I don't know how much good it will do.
[img]https://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb467/Logan_Schnider/SDC10887-1.jpg[/img]
Note plastic green containers in the left background and the lettuce in the third larger container from foreground. Containers for hanging, and placing just on the other side of the porch on the ground, with a tee-pee formed by bamboo sticks for my bean poles. 3 bean pole plants will be sown there.
Any ideas or criticisms are welcomed, as again, this is my first garden. See below for a complete list of vegetables, herbs, and flowers growing in my container garden. Thanks!
Vegetables
-Green Bell Peppers
-Roma Tomatoes
-Beef Steak Tomatoes
-Sweet 100 Tomatoes
-Cucumbers
-Jalapenos
-Peas
-Pole Beans
-Leaf Lettuce
-Spinach
-Zucchini
-Table Queen Squash
-Broccoli
Herbs
-Cilantro
-Basil
-Spearmint
-Parsley
-Oregano
Flowers
-Mixed Wild Flowers
-Cosmos
-Pansies
-Impatiens
-Morning Glories
-Sweet Peas
