Gardening Q's and A's

[Sunbeam]

Hi everybody,
I don't know what I enjoy more: growing plants in a garden, or helping others learn about gardening. I live in the Northeast (western New York), but there are may good resources that cover the country. So fire those questions, and I will do everything to help.

If you have never had a garden, you might want to consider growing herbs. Thyme, sage, oregano, parsley, and terragon (for starters) need very little water and love the hot sun. I planted all of these around a large tree stump, and it looks lovely with a pot of geraniums on the stump. Rosemary is also very easy in the hot sun, though it does not survive my winters like the first five I mentioned. Basil is also easy, though it is an "annual" (lives one year) new plants are needed each year, and it needs a little more water than the others.

You can ask me questions, but gardenweb.com is a great site, with forums on many topics.

Extension.org is a search engine connecting with all the land grant universities (generally one per state, the info source for extension services nation-wide). Use this search tool and skip all the Google ads!


OK, here we go!

[peacenik]

Gardening Q's and A's

woohoo!!!
tomatoes are the bain of my gardening existance!!! i don't think i give them enough food...i grow them in pots so i can move them with the sun, and water everyday...i end up getting scraggley plants with few fruit.

i'm in zone 4.5-5

[Sunbeam]

Gardening Q's and A's

Peacenick,
To grow tomatoes in a pot, you need to use something like a garbage can - they really have huge root systems. You can grow cherry tomatoes in a 5 gallon bucket - make sure you drill holes in the bottom or the roots will rot in the water that will collect there. You also need to use purchased potting soil - garden soil compacts too much, and roots need some air.

I am in zone 5b.

[sammys]

Gardening Q's and A's

Very cool sunbeam, I have not decided if I will have a garden this year the mosquitos are so bad here that its impossible to work in it with out spraying yourself with bug spray which I hate.

Sammys

[Evie.Lou]

Gardening Q's and A's

I have herbs of all kinds in different pots, window boxes and planters all over our property. It gets too wet in the summer here in Florida to put them in the ground...i have tried it and many just drowned but they thrive in containers. My favorite herb planter is an old claw foot bath tub that we took out when we remodeled the bridle suite, here at the Inn. I just couldn't bare to throw the 100 year old tub away so I found a place in the corner of the yard and planted herbs...They love it there. I have the ones that "Sunny" mentioned as well as a variegated succulent leaf Mexican oregano. I add in seasonal flowers for color and am so proud of my garden in a tub...I have been thinking of also putting up a pole with a shower head for added effect....LOL

[Sunbeam]

Gardening Q's and A's

EvieLou,
You would not believe this house I bike by in the summer - they have surrounded it with old discarded bathtubs, filled with plants! I stopped one day because I just couldn't figure out what large containers were being used. Two aging sisters lived there and came out to talk to me. They also had bathtubs in the back yard. Not a fashion statement, but they were still growing things in spite of not being able to bend over!

[Mohun]

Gardening Q's and A's

I have a huge garden and 6 fruit trees. I even have a miniature lemon tree sitting beside me. There are 3 lemons coming.

I had waaaaaay to many tomatos last year. I ended up making tomato and basil soup and freezing several batches. I still have a couple left.

I can hardly wait to garden.

[inhiding]

Gardening Q's and A's

d

[Sunbeam]

Gardening Q's and A's

Doggie Girl,
Veggies: Weedless Gardening by Lee Reich
Flowers: Ortho's Easiest Flowers to Grow
Herbs: as I mentioned above, they are very easy, I don't think you need a book. They grow in poor soil. Buy plants (easier than seeds), put them in a hole in the ground, water the plants in, water them a few times until you see new growth. After that, you probably won't need to water. Basil will need periodic watering.

[Mags]

Gardening Q's and A's

Kool thread Sunbeam. I know Lee Reich. She used to teach in my department before I was department chair at my college. She is an encyclopedia of information. I also live in upstate NY so will pick your brain a lot in the next few months.

My first question is, we are just thawing out here and I have a sprawling rose bush which needs trimming. I live in the Hudson Valley near Woodstock. When should I trim it and how close should I trim it? It's about 10 years old and has never had a good trim because I never knew when and how to do it and has a lot of dead growth on it every year, although it does bloom. It is getting very lanky. I am thinking of trellising it eventually.

[brittzak]

Gardening Q's and A's

I have tons of rose bushes, but I already trimmed all mine. They are full of new growth. We are into to full Spring here though. I will get my ferns tomorrow to hang on the front porch.

[IAD]

Gardening Q's and A's

I have a garden of weeds !!! Ha! My daughter is going to graduate from High School this year.......I got to get my head out of my rectum.....Ha! I need to redue my deck ( stain )....my shed needs new paint.....and I got to get my pool ready for the onslaught of swimmers ! ha! Life goes on......Oh-Bla-Dee-Oh-Bla-Da.....IAD.

[DeeBee]

Gardening Q's and A's

What do I do about the bloody monkeys Sun?
They stole ALL my aubergines AGAIN this week:-(((

[Cinders]

Gardening Q's and A's

DB,

:H:H

Here in Alabama, you can buy garlic oil and spray it in the area to keep the mosquitos and bugs away. It supposedly helps with the deer, too.

Not sure about monkeys, though.

Oh, and Det may show up, so extreme care should be taken.

Love,
Cindi

What is an aubergine?

[LVT25]

Gardening Q's and A's

Seriously Dee? You have monkeys in your garden? :H Cindi--your tip should also ward off any vampires also!!:H The critters I have had in my garden include: bunnies, raccoons, deer, and cows. My dog does a pretty good job of keeping them at bay. The sweet corn is a favorite of the raccoons especially.

I have been gardening for as long as I can remember. I helped my mom and then when I got out of college and lived on my own, I started my own gardens. I can't imagine life without it! Mostly I plant vegetables because out here the Nebraska summers can be so hot and dry--I do try to plant some drought tolerant stuff. I raise lots of tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, green beans and some killer walla walla onions. We also have a pumpkin and a sweet corn patch. I raise a few peas and potatoes. I may expand this year, the local grocery store said they would buy anything I brought to them!

Sunbeam, I did try some herbs last year, and they were lovely, but I could never remember to cook with them, and by fall I got too busy to dry any. But, I will try again this year, thanks to your inspiration!