Gardening help…asking again!!! Thanks!?
Posted by pano | Under Herb Garden Friday Aug 13, 2010I posted most of this before…but I thought I would get a little more help. I don’t even know where to begin, do I buy potting soil? What would be the easiest things to start with etc?? Thank you!!!
Hi! I would like to start some veggies and herbs in pots on my patio. I have a lot of space in the backyard in direct sunlight too if needed. I just rent instead of owning so I don’t want to plant in the ground.
What veggies and herbs are the easiest to grow?
What supplies do I need to get started?
Which grow best in my environment? (I live on Oahu, Hawaii, about 100 yards from the beach, 80 degrees year round…lots of salt in the air)
I’m mostly interested in growing everyday cooking herbs like parsley, basil, rosemary, cilantro and chives would be awesome. Veggie wise I would love to grow bell peppers, jalapenos, tomatoes (cherry or roma?), and other ones that would work well in pots.
I have never tried to grow anything in my life, but I love to cook and I hate having to run to the store for green onions, peppers and stuff like that all the time, so any advice is greatly appreciated!!!
Thank you so much!!!
Lindsay
Buy potting soil but that is only good for about a month or so. You will have to feed and water plants in containers regularly, following the directions on the packet or box. Tomatoes and peppers do well in pots and in long hot spells. Onions are best started from sets; available from mail order or from a local nursery.
You will need pots, potting soil, a general fertilizer, best bet 10-10-10 to start, and a watering can or wand. Plant starts or seeds can be obtained likewise.
Here is a good site for you. Bookmark it so you can refer to it as needed.
After collecting your containers, the next step is to fill them with soil. Buy a good quality seed starting mix, available from any good garden center or nursery. Seed starting mixes are blended to drain well, yet retain moisture.
Here’s an important tip: Avoid using soil from the garden. If placed in small containers, garden soil packs down and drains poorly. By using unsterilized garden soil, you also run the risk of introducing "damping-off," a disease that causes seedlings to rot at soil level and keel over. It’s not a pretty sight. Seed starting mixes have been sterilized. (Seeds contain enough food to nourish themselves through the first stages of germination).
Here is some good reading, I hope you find everything your need here.
http://www.plantea.com/seedstart.htm
Just close the pop-up here.
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/vegetable/herbs/
http://www.consciouschoice.com/2000/cc1305/growanddryherbs1305.html