My 2010 gardening plan

[tamago23]

This year is as ambitious as some previous years, but with a lot more know-how and planning going into it. This year I'm trying three different techniques: using self-watering planters (SWP), square-foot gardening, and companion gardening

Comments

[kettunainen]

I'm experimenting with companion planting this year, too. And SFG for a second year, though in a rather haphazard way. Haven't tried SWP, though -- we don't really have any plants yet that produce anything -- all root veggies and leafy greens. Too many people and rodents coming by to fuss much with actual produce. *cries* I want STRAWBERRIES!

I so hope you have a better time with tomatoes this year and that the weather treats your balcony kindly.

[tamago23]

Companion marigolds FTW! They have marigold packets for $0.75 at Dollarama, if you want to get your hands on some of their awesomeness.

I'm detail-oriented when I feel like it, and I love the Tetris-esque challenge of fitting everything into a SFG plot. ;)

As long as there's not a freak hailstorm like there was last year, we should be fine. *rolls eyes at freak hailstorm* Seriously, that was ridiculous. All that work growing them under the fluorescent light and then - boom! - wiped out the very first day I put them outside.

I'm hoping the farmers that were at last year's farmer's market come back this year; they sold seedlings, and they had this amazing tomato variety from Russia, called Koralik, and it LOVED our climate. Cold weather did nothing to that plant.

[kettunainen]

I might have to try the Koralik if I can find it. The best place for sun is in our living room, since it gets more daylight hours of actual sun than our garden and the windows magnify the light.

I've also read a lot of awesomeness about nasturtium helping all sorts of other plants, plus you can EAT nasturtium. Double plus good.

Also, I still have your Thai basil seeds from last year. I need to actually PLANT more this year. We planted a bunch of basil and then cleaned everything up and there was the thai basil packet just staring at me, "You forgot me, didn't you? Well, THAT was dumb, wasn't it? :P"

[tamago23]

I think I'm going to do nasturtiums for the kids' window in their bedroom. Gavin picked out morning glories, but yesterday (after the damn things have already sprouted) I realized that morning glories are poisonous. Not really the best thing to have around a two-year-old and a cat (that occasionally nibbles on houseplants). So I'm going to pinch off the morning glories and go buy some nasturtium seeds.

Heh, yeah, seeds don't do any good unless they get put into some dirt. ;)

[kettunainen]

as far as people are concerned, only the seeds are toxic, apparently:

http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/consumer/poison/Ipomotr.htm

But cats... :p damn near everything is toxic for cats. grar!

[kettunainen]

oh, and this morning I started a pot for the thai basil -- it's one of those little rounds that need to be hydrated before you can plant seeds in them. One for the basil and one for lavender. I should really start a whole pot for lavender and not a tiny potling, but that will come.