www.byzcath.org Forums General Discussions Town Hall Any gardeners here?

Definitely growing more basil this year, and I spoke with someone yesterday who kind of discouraged me from the potatoes unless I just wanted my kids to see how they grow, as he says they are cheaper to buy than to grow them. Still trying to decide between eggplant and brussels sprouts. Maybe both, I seem to be pretty good at getting a lot of stuff to grow in a small space. I'd like to have an asparagus bed, but alas no space. Rhubarb is looking pretty inviting too.....

One thing I am hoping for this summer is better weather than last year. After many plants had blossomed, we had a late-spring killing frost. Then the summer drought hit. It wasn't a good summer for growing anything in this region.

I just had a friend who's pretty knowledgeable about plants, tell me to be sure and plant some bee-friendly flowers along with whatever vegetables I plan to grow.

Great information! Unfortunately I like in a condo, on the 21st floor, but I have a large balcony. (I'm saving for a house with a southern exposure back yard!)

I do containers with tomatoes and various herbs. Anything heavy gets blown away by the wind that high up.

If I plant zucchini, do I have to stake it or can it grow on the ground surface? (If I stake things, the fruit ends up in Delaware because of the winds.)

Don't forget the oregano, marjoram and rosemary. Mine have survived (thus far!) this winter. So have the pansies, still all yellow and purple.

http://topsyturvys.com/10001.html

Has anyone tried an upside down tomato planter bag?

(I've read that these can be made much cheaper out of 5 gallon buckets.)

There seems to be fewer bees in my area than what I remember from childhood.

Terry

The loss of the bees is a worldwide phenomenon. It appears to be the result of a virus that infests hives. There is serious concern about crop failures worldwide as a result of the bee deaths. Some folks are sequestering bees in enclosed areas and are using them to re-colonize areas where the population has been destroyed.

As for the upside-down thingys, they are advertised on SkyMall, the magazine that one finds in airplane pockets. I've looked at them and I think that one can do essentially the same thing with a big bucket (or flower pot) with appropriate staging. I'm going to try it this summer - but on the advertisements, it appears that the ony tomatoes they show are the cherry variety - so I'm a bit concerned.

Has anyone succeeded in growing tasty tomatoes inside during the winter and spring months? There is no taste in the ones for sale when they are not available in your friend's backyard.

Regarding the upside-down tomatoes, yes I have grown them this way many times. Tomatoes out the bottom of the bucket, and marigolds in the top growing the 'normal' way.

You can grow regular tomatoes like this but you have to hang them w-a-y up, because the plants get very long. If you pinch the vines to keep them short sometimes you don't get any blooms. I've had the most success with a plastic pail from the dollar store, cutting a hole with a sharp knife in the bottom for the tomato plant. You can hang the pail by the handle then.

Do many eatable plants require bees to be fruitful?

Terry

Anyone have suggestions on what seeds to use ? I was told to get Heirloom, but recently heard they're relatively expensive.

Terry:
Yes, many edible plants need bees to fertilize them. Tomatoes, squash, beans, etc. The only one that does not (that I can immediately bring to mind) is corn....it is pollinated by wind.

And yes, heirloom seeds are more expensive, to the other poster whose name escapes me (and there's no topic review to look at so I apologize). But if you want something you remember from your childhood, such as Beefsteak tomatoes, that's just about the only way to get them.

I grow catmint in my yard and had hundreds of bees here in Butte, Montana. I didnt realize this was unusual here until I was out walking one day and visited with a man who had pollinated his tomatoes by hand because of the lack of bees. His house was only 5-6 blocks from mine.
Anyway I would grow an abundance of catmint if you want bees. It is much like catnip but has a purple flower and a smaller leaf.
I had zucchini and swiss chard and tomatoes for my vegetables last year mixed in with many flowers. The flowers grew so tall you couldnt see the three foot statues of Jesus and St Joseph.
This year I hope to grow a few more vegetables.

Picked up my seeds for planting last week. I Brandywine Tomatoes, Giant Chinese Sweet Peppers, Organic Onions, and Cucumbers. Pretty sure by reading the back of the packets, that the onions can be planted first. Never tried this before, so I'm really excited.