My most sincere apologies. My sister-in-law died. Then we had out-of-town family over. Then I had an attack of shingles. Now we have family coming in again tomorrow. It's been a hard month.
I have already written the next post - in my head - but I promise it will be worth your while! Just give me a few more days and I'll be back at it.
Thanks again for your patience.
Erin
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Family Matters
My sister-in-law died yesterday and I will still be dealing with family issues until Monday next week. After that I will get back to my blog on self-watering containers. I really appreciate your understanding.
Erin
Erin
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Family Stuff
I do apologize for not posting before now. My sister-in-law was admitted to the hospital. She is very ill and is in the process of getting on the list for a double lung transplant.
I have had quite a number of requests for instructions on building self-watering containers. I am not ready to start building new containers just yet, but I understand that others are eager to get started. In the next couple of days, I will post resources and instructions that I have worked from in building my containers. It's too late in the evening for me to really set my mind to it today, but I will do it in the next couple of days.
Thanks for understanding.
Erin
I have had quite a number of requests for instructions on building self-watering containers. I am not ready to start building new containers just yet, but I understand that others are eager to get started. In the next couple of days, I will post resources and instructions that I have worked from in building my containers. It's too late in the evening for me to really set my mind to it today, but I will do it in the next couple of days.
Thanks for understanding.
Erin
Friday, January 21, 2011
Broccoli
I LOVE my broccoli. It is the most tender, delicious broccoli I have ever tasted. And I'm not just saying that because I grew it! Everyone that has tasted it has said the same thing.
Here's a picture from yesterday showing the broccoli I'm still getting two months after I thought the harvest was over!
Unfortunately I did not pay attention to what type of broccoli I purchased. I bought it as a transplant, instead of seeds, so it really didn't say anyway.
But, just it case it's the type of broccoli and not just my growing ability, I would like to keep some seeds from my plants. I never wondered where broccoli seeds came from before, but now I know more about the whole process.
When you let the broccoli continue to grow on the plant, it will flower. After it flowers, you let it stay on the plant until it turns dark green or brown and you should get seeds from the pods that form. You rub the pods in the palm of your hand and the seeds will break away from the pods.
Now, it makes a difference if the plant is a hybrid or not. You will not get the same plant from a hybrid plant by using its seeds. You have to get another hybrid. But if the plant is not a hybrid, then you should do fine with the seeds.
I would like to get seeds in time to plant some for my spring 2011 garden. I don't think that will happen, so I will keep my eyes open for some transplants.
Remember, when you plant your broccoli, it need LOTS of water. Even in self-watering containers, you will not be able to go more than just a couple of days without refilling the water reservoir.
Here's a picture from yesterday showing the broccoli I'm still getting two months after I thought the harvest was over!
Unfortunately I did not pay attention to what type of broccoli I purchased. I bought it as a transplant, instead of seeds, so it really didn't say anyway.
But, just it case it's the type of broccoli and not just my growing ability, I would like to keep some seeds from my plants. I never wondered where broccoli seeds came from before, but now I know more about the whole process.
When you let the broccoli continue to grow on the plant, it will flower. After it flowers, you let it stay on the plant until it turns dark green or brown and you should get seeds from the pods that form. You rub the pods in the palm of your hand and the seeds will break away from the pods.
Now, it makes a difference if the plant is a hybrid or not. You will not get the same plant from a hybrid plant by using its seeds. You have to get another hybrid. But if the plant is not a hybrid, then you should do fine with the seeds.
I would like to get seeds in time to plant some for my spring 2011 garden. I don't think that will happen, so I will keep my eyes open for some transplants.
Remember, when you plant your broccoli, it need LOTS of water. Even in self-watering containers, you will not be able to go more than just a couple of days without refilling the water reservoir.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Planning...
I went to Cleggs Nursery because I couldn't stand it any more. I just WANT to say it's spring and time to start a garden!
Right now, on good days it's in the lower 60's and sometimes 50's and while that may be warm to some of our northern folk, to this southern girl it's flat-out cold. All I want to do is stay inside and huddle up. So I know I wouldn't get far with a garden right now. But... but.... but... I can plan, can't I!!?
While I was at Clegg's, I couldn't help myself, I bought some fertilizer and two plants. Here are pictures of the plants I bought:
Some fennel
And!
some Chives! No, not green onions. Chives! Little, tiny things that look like green onions.
Actually, Clegg's didn't have any other vegetables to purchase, or I'm sure I would have come home with more. :-) I just *wanted* to buy some veggies! And as I was walking around the seeds, wondering if I should just buy some of them, the manager came by and asked me if I was finding everything I needed. I told him, "yes, I'm just really aching to start my spring garden."
He said, "Yes, I am wanting you to also!"
Well, I'm a reader, so whenever I get interested in something, I go to the library and pick up 30 or 40 books on the subject. (Depending on how many books I already have checked out. You know, they limit you to 50, which I think is a ridiculously low number.)
Anyway, here is an idea of some (yes, just some) of the books I've been looking at.
I thought I would do a review on some of the better books, if people are interested.
Which reminds me. I've opened the Comments to everyone, but they will be moderated. So feel free to let me know under Comments what you think and how things are going in your garden. Or if you would like more information about something I'm doing!
Right now, on good days it's in the lower 60's and sometimes 50's and while that may be warm to some of our northern folk, to this southern girl it's flat-out cold. All I want to do is stay inside and huddle up. So I know I wouldn't get far with a garden right now. But... but.... but... I can plan, can't I!!?
While I was at Clegg's, I couldn't help myself, I bought some fertilizer and two plants. Here are pictures of the plants I bought:
Some fennel
And!
some Chives! No, not green onions. Chives! Little, tiny things that look like green onions.
Actually, Clegg's didn't have any other vegetables to purchase, or I'm sure I would have come home with more. :-) I just *wanted* to buy some veggies! And as I was walking around the seeds, wondering if I should just buy some of them, the manager came by and asked me if I was finding everything I needed. I told him, "yes, I'm just really aching to start my spring garden."
He said, "Yes, I am wanting you to also!"
Well, I'm a reader, so whenever I get interested in something, I go to the library and pick up 30 or 40 books on the subject. (Depending on how many books I already have checked out. You know, they limit you to 50, which I think is a ridiculously low number.)
Anyway, here is an idea of some (yes, just some) of the books I've been looking at.
I thought I would do a review on some of the better books, if people are interested.
Which reminds me. I've opened the Comments to everyone, but they will be moderated. So feel free to let me know under Comments what you think and how things are going in your garden. Or if you would like more information about something I'm doing!
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
From the Beginning...
Hi, I'm Erin Bennett in south Louisiana and last summer I created my very first self-watering container and started my very first garden ever. It was mostly a self-watering container garden.
Why?
Because I didn't want to till the ground. I didn't want to weed. But mostly because I had been reading off and on about self-watering containers and was curious about them. So I thought, why not?
It turned out to be much better than I could have anticipated! And it was so fun and easy!
After my summer garden, I planted a fall garden, which has also done better than I expected. And now I'm in the process of planning my Spring 2011 garden! Well, the seeds anyway.
Before I start going into detail about my spring garden, let me show you some pictures from my Summer 2010 and Fall 2010 gardens, including my strawberry patch. I didn't take any pictures while I was putting together my containers, but I will do a better job with that this spring.
My Summer Garden:
These were my glorious tomatoes! Now, I admit that I over planted the containers and didn't know about pruning the tomato plants. But what could be more fun than having this glorious jungle of tomato plants as your first crop!?
This was my first lettuce. I have to admit it didn't taste very good for some reason. I'm still learning. But it was beautiful and fun to grow. :-)
I planted my cucumbers and cantaloupes in the same pot - mainly because I wanted them both to climb the trestle. I won't ever do that again! I didn't know they would cross-pollinate and I would end up with meloncumbers that would taste just terrible.
This is my broccoli from my fall 2010 garden. It was the most tender broccoli you have ever eaten! Unbelievably delicious! There are 6 plants in the 44 gallon container. And broccoli drinks a LOT of water. I didn't realize just how much broccoli I would continue to get from the plants even though I had picked the main harvest from each plant. It continues to put out little sprigs of broccoli all over the plants and we are still eating it 2 months after I thought the harvest would be over.
I had my own cabbage for New Years! Grown by my own little hands. And was able to share with neighbors and friends! Nothing better, let me tell you.
I didn't plant my strawberries in self-watering containers. I purchased 5 - 10 foot pipes from Lowes that already had 3 rows of holes in the "bottom" of the pipes. Then I cut a trench in the top of the pipes, lined the bottom holes with ground cover, so the dirt wouldn't wash out and planted my strawberries in them. I strapped them to 2 sawhorses and planted 45 plants. I think I've lost 3 plants, but otherwise they are doing great.
The strawberry plants started out as little clots of plants with no leaves and just roots. I actually asked the person I was buying them from if they were alive. But as you can see, they've put out some beautiful leaves and I'm now starting to get blossoms. Although I don't expect to get strawberries until March or so because the frosts will kill the blossoms.
Well, there are lots more pictures, but I don't want to focus on what was done in the past. I'm going to start focusing on the step-by-step process of my new spring garden.
Be sure to subscribe to my new blog by using the RSS button in the top right of the address line. I recommend http://www.google.com/reader as your RSS reader of choice!
Why?
Because I didn't want to till the ground. I didn't want to weed. But mostly because I had been reading off and on about self-watering containers and was curious about them. So I thought, why not?
It turned out to be much better than I could have anticipated! And it was so fun and easy!
After my summer garden, I planted a fall garden, which has also done better than I expected. And now I'm in the process of planning my Spring 2011 garden! Well, the seeds anyway.
Before I start going into detail about my spring garden, let me show you some pictures from my Summer 2010 and Fall 2010 gardens, including my strawberry patch. I didn't take any pictures while I was putting together my containers, but I will do a better job with that this spring.
My Summer Garden:
These were my glorious tomatoes! Now, I admit that I over planted the containers and didn't know about pruning the tomato plants. But what could be more fun than having this glorious jungle of tomato plants as your first crop!?
This was my first lettuce. I have to admit it didn't taste very good for some reason. I'm still learning. But it was beautiful and fun to grow. :-)
I planted my cucumbers and cantaloupes in the same pot - mainly because I wanted them both to climb the trestle. I won't ever do that again! I didn't know they would cross-pollinate and I would end up with meloncumbers that would taste just terrible.
This is my broccoli from my fall 2010 garden. It was the most tender broccoli you have ever eaten! Unbelievably delicious! There are 6 plants in the 44 gallon container. And broccoli drinks a LOT of water. I didn't realize just how much broccoli I would continue to get from the plants even though I had picked the main harvest from each plant. It continues to put out little sprigs of broccoli all over the plants and we are still eating it 2 months after I thought the harvest would be over.
I had my own cabbage for New Years! Grown by my own little hands. And was able to share with neighbors and friends! Nothing better, let me tell you.
I didn't plant my strawberries in self-watering containers. I purchased 5 - 10 foot pipes from Lowes that already had 3 rows of holes in the "bottom" of the pipes. Then I cut a trench in the top of the pipes, lined the bottom holes with ground cover, so the dirt wouldn't wash out and planted my strawberries in them. I strapped them to 2 sawhorses and planted 45 plants. I think I've lost 3 plants, but otherwise they are doing great.
The strawberry plants started out as little clots of plants with no leaves and just roots. I actually asked the person I was buying them from if they were alive. But as you can see, they've put out some beautiful leaves and I'm now starting to get blossoms. Although I don't expect to get strawberries until March or so because the frosts will kill the blossoms.
Well, there are lots more pictures, but I don't want to focus on what was done in the past. I'm going to start focusing on the step-by-step process of my new spring garden.
Be sure to subscribe to my new blog by using the RSS button in the top right of the address line. I recommend http://www.google.com/reader as your RSS reader of choice!
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