Teaching Gardening at New York Schools

The New York Times had a really cool article the other day about New York City schools having rooftop or adjacent gardens. The students use them to learn about nature and green technology and growing food. Some teachers use them for art classes or to supplement science lessons. For some reason that really struck my fancy. Aside from being a fun way to engage students it's a great way to encourage a new generation of gardeners. I wish I had learned about growing things in school. Maybe then I'd be a little less lost every time one of my plant leaves looks slightly different!

Getting the hang of things

As I get more used to caring for my plants I'm settling into a routine. I only need to water them every few days. My favorite thing is plucking dead leaves from them. It makes me feel tidy. My least favorite chore is emptying the water from the trays under the pots. It's too much heavy lifting for me.
It's pretty exciting to see my plants doing well. They are all looking healthy and bigger than when I first got them. The growth I mentioned in this post is even bigger. Despite the fact that I am literally watching plants grow, it's pretty exciting to monitor their progress.

Grow little plant, grow!

Review: Rosemary & Thyme

I feel like any woman who is interested in any combination of gardening, mysteries or British television has had someone recommend they watch Rosemary & Thyme. Since I love all those things, I have watched some of it on Netflix. For anyone who is curious, maybe this can tell you if it's worth watching.
Basically it's the story of two female landscapers, Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme (see what they did there?) who manage to stumble upon a murder mystery at every location and always step in to help solve it. The show starts with Rosemary losing her job as a horticultural professor and Laura wanting a change as her husband recently left her for a much younger woman. The two meet, become friends, and put their shared love of gardening to use in a new career as landscapers. They also make use of a natural nosiness and Laura's family police connections to keep in check the many murderers prowling the English countryside.

Obviously this is not my picture.
Rosemary (left) and Laura.

I have two problems with the show. The first is that the plots can sort of run together if you watch it a lot. I guess it's sort of hard to keep coming up with new ideas for mysteries that can be solved with horticultural knowledge. The other is that there are several jokes that rely on people thinking they are lesbians and the pair being horribly offended, and I just don't find homophobia amusing.

That said, if you like procedural crime shows and find British accents soothing, you may enjoy Rosemary & Thyme as a nice accompaniment to hot tea and a warm blanket on a cold, rainy day. 

Quick update

My plants are looking a lot better. As I watered them today I noticed that the ones with dry leaves were still growing pretty fast. And the droopiness in the others seems to be gone. I think the extra soil really helped.

Plants still alive ... for now

Today I was supposed to water my plants, but yesterday we had a pretty decent rainfall so they didn't need it. Instead I took care of a couple other tasks. I picked off a couple of dead leaves and dumped the water from the bottom trays (important for preventing root rot). I had also noticed that when they were watered or when there was wind or rain, some of my plants, particularly the kale, would sort of tip over and that they were starting to grow at odd angles. So I grabbed my leftover potting soil and my trowel and scooped three to four extra shovels of dirt into the pots of the plants that seemed unstable. I didn't water them after, like I would if I were potting them, because I didn't want to flood them out after the rain. Instead I just patted the dirt down, and I'll have to wait until the next watering to see if it worked.

I'm a little worried about some of my plants. A couple have leaves that look sort of dry and damaged. My first thought was too much sun, but they are already North-facing and shaded for most of the day.

What is wrong with you, plant?

 A few others look sort of droopy and I'm not sure why. A Google search tells me that can be caused by too much sun (but again, they are already in a shady spot), too much heat (but it has been pleasantly cool/mild lately), too much cold (but we haven't had a freeze yet) or not enough water (but it rained yesterday). I'm pretty much at a loss. Maybe next time I water I'll add fertilizer, but in the meantime I'm just hoping for the best. If they start doing worse I'll try getting in contact with someone from the county extension office.

Survival Gardening

So Mike and I sometimes watch that show "Doomsday Preppers" about people who believe some sort of catastrophe or apocalypse is imminent and are hardcore preparing for it. Some of the people in the show are a little ... intense, but it's still a good watch.
I'll admit that, as someone whose generation has been overloaded with apocalypse fiction, there is something sort of fun and appealing about the show. So in that vein, here's some basic information on survival gardening. Because you need something to eat in between shooting zombies in the head.

Don't act like you're surprised I own this.

People who are really into this will often live out in the country and practice homesteading. They have acres of space for gardening and raising livestock. People like me who live in apartments don't have that luxury. Ignoring the fact that during the zombie apocalypse my relatively high-population neighborhood will be so overrun by the undead that I'll have to flee, having a little bit of fresh food can supplement the year's supply of canned goods we all keep on hand (you all do that, right?).

Things to keep in mind for survival gardening:

• Keep in mind your nutritional needs. You'll want a wide variety of plants with different health benefits and different tastes to keep you happy. I'm thinking I'd want beans for protein, root vegetables like potatoes and carrots, tomatoes, leafy greens and herbs just to start. Broccoli provides fiber and spinach is a source of iron.You should also consider some fruit, even if it's just a couple of little strawberry plants. Also keep in mind that you will have to provide for everyone in the household, so if you raise chickens for the eggs (a lifetime goal of mine regardless of the zombie apocalypse) you will need to grow some sort of grain for them. I'm still trying to figure out how to grow dog food, but in the meantime I'll just stock up on Science Diet.
• Be sustainable. If society takes a few years to rebound from the hoard of zombies stalking the earth, you won't want to rely on getting new annuals from your local plant nursery. Plant some perennials, for a start. Also, learn how to grow plants from parts of your existing plant. You can grow potatoes and onions from leftovers that you didn't eat, and you can sprout tomato seeds if you save them. 
• Learn about preserving food to make it through the harsh winter. You can dry and can your harvest, and also grow winter crops to keep your food source coming. 
• Consider your climate. If a lot of the food you grow is well suited to your climate, you will have more success and have to water it less often. I live in Florida (which I believe the experts consider part of Zone "Help, my hair is on fire") so I would have more luck growing an orange tree than an apple tree. 
• Don't forget your rain barrel. You'll want to boil the water before you drink it, but it will also come in handy for watering your plants.

I hope this overview of survival gardening has been enlightening and entertaining. Stay safe out there and don't forget: You can only kill a zombie by destroying the brain.

Holiday Gift Guide

I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but I'm putting together a holiday gift guide anyway. Hanukkah starts early this year and some people like to plan ahead. Wondering what to get the gardener in your life? Trying to figure out what you want so you can drop hints to your loved ones? You're in the right place. I kept all the gifts under $50 and many are much less. Some are practical and some are just for fun. I'm not getting paid to promote these; I'm not a real blogger yet.

My dog, Barney, with what he wants
for Christmakkah: A chicken-flavored Nylabone.

1. This gardening bag with knee pads is the most practical thing on my list. It's pretty cheap at only $15, and everyone needs a gardening bag. You can keep your twine, clippers, trowel and plant feed in it. Also, those knee pads will really come in handy for container gardeners who have to kneel down on a hard concrete patio or wooden deck instead of the soft ground. 
2. For the pet-loving gardener, these grass bowls can be a fun gift. It gives the human a chance to grow something and the pet a chance to eat something. For $10-15, it's another affordable one. The website says the bowl can be used for pet food once the grass is gone, but I'm guessing any pet owner already has one. But you can always get more seeds and grow the grass seasonally or use it as a travel water dish.
3. This gift set pushes right up against my stated price limit, but I think it's really charming and good for a beginning gardener. The main piece is a painted, steel watering can that comes in three color choices. Now obviously a gardener will already have a watering can, but this one is really pretty and may be able to replace a utilitarian plastic one. It also comes with gardening gloves and hand cream to keep your skin soft and protected. Finish it off with herb scissors and plant labels, which are practical but not necessarily something everyone has or needs, to make it into something really indulgent.
4. I am in love with the classical beauty of this windowsill herb garden. The stylish container is a strawberry pot, and it's great for growing small plants as decoration. It is about $30 and comes with seeds for several types of herbs and a pot you can use season after season. The description says "everything you need." The jury is still out on whether that includes the soil!
5. I haven't grown herbs yet, but come spring I plan on buying a deck rail container and growing bundles of them to help my mediocre cooking. When I do, this herb drying rack will really come in handy. It's $25 and my favorite thing on this list. It's both practical for keeping your herbs from going to waste and an attractive way to spruce up your home. 
6. I searched for a while for a pretty watering can to add, and this mouse one is pretty cute. It's $24, and can double as a watering can for your house plants or smaller pots and decoration. 
7. Rain gauges are useful for seeing if you got enough rain to avoid watering your outdoor plants. I love ladybugs, so I'm highlighting this pretty little gauge with a flower and bug. Just stake it in the ground or a pot to add a touch of whimsy in a practical tool for just $16.
8. One of the great things about container gardening versus gardening in the ground is that you can adjust it easily for people with physical limitations, for instance by putting pot on a table if bending down is a problem. If you know a gardener who can't or doesn't like to kneel down, this gardening seat is $25, swivels and is height adjustable. 
9. For $30, you or your special gardener could increase your space for plant containers and extend the planting season. This portable greenhouse lets you heat up your plants and has several shelves. It's pretty big, so make sure whoever you are getting it for has the space. 
10. This is my second favorite thing on the list. As someone with a degree in journalism, I still love physical newspapers. I also hate spending money. This little tool is only $20 and lets you turn old newspapers into seed starting pots. Obviously you'd have to be a little careful about not over-watering, but I think they look cute and will save money.

A new leaf

And not in the self-help way, either. I'm apparently not killing my plants! Some of them have tiny little new leaves growing in. I'm so pleased. Who knew that watering plants and letting them get some sun would actually help them grow? With any luck I'll actually get some fresh veggies from this.

A new cauliflower leaf,
right there at the bottom of the center leaf.

A new kale leaf, all crinkly and fresh and new.

Too much of a good thing

Now that my plants are potted and fertilized, I'm keeping a close eye on them. Yesterday I had emptied the standing water in the trays under the pots to prevent root rot. Having done that I expected to need to water today. I filled my watering can and went out onto the deck, but when I pressed my fingers about an inch into the soil, it was still nice and damp. I left the water out there for tomorrow. Luckily it's cooling down in my area. I like it because it makes my dog more cuddly, and my kale likes it because it hates the heat.

What I believe to be sun damage on a kale plant.

My only concern is that some of my kale plants have a white/yellow spot on a leaf, and part of the leaf on one of my cauliflowers is dry and white and crunchy. My book tells me that this is a sign of too much sun exposure, so I spend a little while moving my plants back to the shadier front steps. I'm not very strong, so as I was lugging big pots of dirt around I was glad I'd chosen plastic pots. The lighter weight is good for me while I'm still trying to get my microclimate just right. Hopefully the shadier front steps will treat them better.

Soon I'll figure out a more aesthetically pleasing arrangement for them.

Potting my first plants

After returning home with my veggie plants and gardening gear, my next goal was to re-pot my plants into bigger containers without killing them. Well, it's been a few days and my plants are in bigger pots now and still green and perky. I happened to have a friend over that afternoon, so she chatted with me and held my dog's leash while I worked. Some people probably enjoy gardening as a chance to feel quiet and commune with nature, but I also found it fun to have someone to talk to. One container at a time, I scooped soil from the bag into the pot until it was at a reasonable-looking height, then dug a little hole with my hand and propped a plant in. I filled the soil to just above the roots, patted out the air pockets and moved onto the next one. When I was done, I watered them, letting a half inch or so of standing water sink in several times to make sure the dirt settled and the roots were nice and wet. On the last round of watering I mixed a powdered fertilizer into the watering can. Then I spent the next couple of days trying to figure out the plants' sunlight requirements. I heard part shade for both of them. I know kale doesn't like to get too hot, and even though it's November, the Florida sun can still be pretty warm. They started out on the outdoor landing of my front stairs, but I worried they weren't getting enough light to photosynthesize well. So I moved them to my back deck/balcony area, which is pretty sunny. The next day they looked a little dry so I compromised by leaving them on the back deck, but close to the railings so they were somewhat sheltered from the sun. 

The current placement of my pots.
If the sun gets too much I'll move them back to the front stairs.

I guess one of the benefits of container gardening is that you can frequently tweak your microclimate until it's just right for each plant. I have continued to water them almost daily, but I haven't fertilized again, because I read that it's better to under-fertilize than over-fertilize; if you see your plants aren't getting enough nutrients, you can always add some, but if you burn them there's nothing you can do. Today, instead of watering, I checked the trays under the pots. There was standing water, so I dumped them to prevent root rot. Tomorrow they'll probably need more watering, but in the meantime they still appear to be alive. Wish me luck!

Preparing for my garden

For my first foray into growing things I can eat, I decided I wanted kale. I live in Florida, so winter is a good time for me to grow it, and I love to eat it. For some reason, I just had my heart set on kale. Now I had no idea what I was doing, so the first thing I did was buy a book. I got "Container Gardening for Dummies," because that sounded like it was written for people like me. There's a lot of information available for free online, but I wanted to get an overview that would make me feel somewhat competent, and I didn't want to have to open a Google tab every time I needed to do something with my plants. Next, I went to the plant section of the hardware store and asked a lot of questions. I filled my cart with a watering can, a shovel and a little scissor-like thing. I got a potting soil recommended by an employee and a fertilizer that can be added to water, and for the containers I just went with cheap plastic ones. I figured there was no need to upgrade to the pretty glazed clay ones on my first real attempt at growing things. I ended up with a mix of different styles of pots to break up the monotony. 

My cart about halfway through my shopping trip.

After I had all the accouterments I got to do the fun part: picking out plants. I had expected to have to start them from seeds, but when I talked to an employee he told me that it was a little late to start kale seeds in my area and pointed me towards a display with already-growing vegetables, including kale. Facing rows and rows of little nursery trays, I did what the book recommended and picked out small plants with good radial symmetry. After I had my tray of kale, I was struck by a sudden inspiration to try two vegetables and grabbed a cauliflower tray on a whim. I potted them later that day, but that's going to have to be it's own post. 

Welcome

My name is Laura and I've never been much good at taking care of plants. When I was a child, I underwatered a cactus -- to death. Last summer I had some pretty little flowers in pots. They did OK until winter came and the summer rain stopped and I forgot about them. But recently I've decided to indulge a longtime curiosity about growing my own vegetables. Fern Richardson from Life on the Balcony once wrote that "the difference between green thumbs and black thumbs–I think–is that green thumbs try to learn from their mistakes and try again, while black thumbs assume they can’t grow plants and give up." I'm taking that to heart. This is a blog about my successes and failures in container gardening. You can expect a lot of mistakes, pictures of my plants, and probably some pictures of my dog. I'm writing this for people like me: People who don't have a big yard and are going to be growing things in pots and containers on balconies, patios and windowsills, people who don't don't want to spend a whole lot of extra money on a hobby like this, people who are maybe a little uncertain about how to keep their plants alive. I will probably take the cheapest and easiest route possible until I figure this out. I hope you enjoy the ride.