Contained Garden Notes 08

I still think I could grow something in an old wheelbarrow. I have two now but the better one sits in the garden where I can mix dirt and get it ready to go into the garden bed. Martha Stewart has a potting shed and big tubs for mixing such things. And lots of hired help to do the work.

Since the original notes, I have learned to not keep baby plants under the oak trees when the trees are making sap. It will kill the baby plants. But the container plants of this year were black plastic plant pots from a local nursery. I had called around and found a place that sold the gallon and 4 gallon size. They came dirty and needed just a little cleaning. Randy put lots of cherry and patio tomatoes in the bigger pots and they have done great. He just didn't realize how small a patio tomato is. They are getting "raggedy" and need some tending to make more blooms and fruit before it freezes. And they will if tended.

The Lantana has stayed inside the greenhouse. It is blooming with one in a hanging basket. Don't think it is getting enough sunlight. Same with the chives. The grasshoppers love chives so it stays well protected. There have not been nearly as many hoppers this year and that's okay by me. The chrysanthemum are doing okay. They need regular tending to take off any leaves that have died. And remembering to fertilize with fish emulsion. It makes a big difference and is well worth the time and effort to mix up a separate fertilizer.

Randy set two of a 5-gallon size of bucket together in front of the greenhouse. They are enclosed in field fencing and anchored in place. They have produced well but are also wanting some tending of their dying bottom leaves. The patio variety is a bit bigger than cherry and doesn't have the tough core of the Homestead or Whopper. Randy won't eat a tomato with the skin on it and it takes forever and is most difficult to peel the little ones. I like them but then I prefer the yellow variety and hope to plant those next year. I won't put them as container plants though, they will go into the garden bed.

On the floor of the greenhouse are three pots of Aloe Vera. One little cup with one big plant in it. One medium pot with a lot of plants and a much bigger pot from which many plants have come. The biggest had been damaged in the cold last winter but has recovered well. Not too pretty anymore but growing well.

I am looking forward to putting things back into the light house for the winter where they will have artificial light. The Aloe Vera and the spider plants prefer it over the floor of the greenhouse in the shade.

More notes will be continued in the Gardening Section.