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Gardening, anyone?

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Started 4 years ago by johnaesthetica
Latest reply from chrisgillespie

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johnaesthetica
Wilmington
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I'm trying to set up a small-scale garden in the back of my apartment. I'm looking to grow tomatoes and peppers primarily, with the possibility of other produce if the soil is fertile enough.
I was wondering if anyone had some simple tools that I could borrow to get it going. Maybe a good shovel or two, and something with which to till the soil. All other supplies that I would need to maintain the garden I will eventually buy.
Let me know if anyone could help out! I promise I'll return everything as I receive it.

Posted 4 years ago #
lazyfish

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johnaesthetica wrote I'm trying to set up a small-scale garden in the back of my apartment. I'm looking to grow tomatoes and peppers primarily, with the possibility of other produce if the soil is fertile enough.
I was wondering if anyone had some simple tools that I could borrow to get it going. Maybe a good shovel or two, and something with which to till the soil. All other supplies that I would need to maintain the garden I will eventually buy.
Let me know if anyone could help out! I promise I'll return everything as I receive it.
if you live in the city you should not grow food in the "native" soils...they are polluted with high levels of lead and other heavy metals...it is best to buy soil and grow your tomatoes and peppers in pots...5 gallon buckets work great...columbus used to have a tool lending service....also look into community gardens in your area....

Posted 4 years ago #
UncommonSense
Hilliard
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I have been doing some research myself, with the same aim. I found a couple good articles on container gardening. One recommends using a soilless potting mixture. Here is the recipe:
Materials To make 2 bushels
________________________________________
Shredded peat moss 1 bushel
Vermiculite 1 bushel
Ground limestone 1 1⁄4 cups
Superphosphate (0-20-0) 1⁄2 cup
or Superphosphate (0-45-0) 1⁄4 cup
5-10-5 fertilizer 1 cup
Let me know if you want links to the rest of the article and the others I found. They discuss container sizes for different vegetables, varieties that work best in container environments, light requirements of various plants, as well as best times for transplanting and harvesting, etc...

Posted 4 years ago #
johnaesthetica
Wilmington
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UncommonSense wrote
Let me know if you want links to the rest of the article and the others I found.
Yes, please. I'll take all the info I can get.

Posted 4 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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lazyfish wrote
if you live in the city you should not grow food in the "native" soils...they are polluted with high levels of lead and other heavy metals...it is best to buy soil and grow your tomatoes and peppers in pots...5 gallon buckets work great...columbus used to have a tool lending service....also look into community gardens in your area....
Never hurts to be careful
if anyone wants to test their soil for lead or anything else I can hook ya up, we have an EPA certified lab.
The tests are reasonable as a one time expense for any serious gardener, but not DIRT CHEAP. (HAHA!)
-m

Posted 4 years ago #
UncommonSense
Hilliard
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johnaesthetica wrote
UncommonSense wrote
Let me know if you want links to the rest of the article and the others I found.
Yes, please. I'll take all the info I can get.
This site has a link to a PDF from Iowa State on Container Vegetable Gardening, as well as some other links which look promising, though I haven't checked them yet.
Here's another link to a PDF on harvesting and planting times:
http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu8Cv1RRIkYcA9rBXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEydG4wNG04BHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA0Y2NTVfODA-/SIG=12btgmcgf/EXP=1209411375/**http%3a//www.extension.iastate.edu/Publications/PM534.pdf
I think I will use the soilless mix. The advantages are discussed in the first article: "Soilless potting mixes are best for container vegetable
gardening. They have several advantages over soil. Soilless
mixes are free of plant disease organisms and weed seeds,
are less likely to compact, hold moisture and plant nutrients
well, and are lightweightÃ¢â‚¬â€making the container more
portable."
I will probably start my seedlings sometime this week. I'm thinking tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce and some herbs as well. Maybe I'll be more adventurous next year, but I haven't done any gardening since I was a child helping my grandmother.
Let me know if the links are bad or anything, or keep me posted on your garden's progress if you want. Good luck!

Posted 4 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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I just made a trip out to Baker's Acres
http://bakersacresgreenhouse.com/
I have all the tools anyone needs and will be working on my garden tonight. Just give me a PM to let me know if you need to pick up anything.

Posted 4 years ago #
BrianG
Victorian Village
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Merc,
Has anything been planted yet or are you just getting started?

Posted 4 years ago #
Walker
The KLD / Downtown
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Anne & I have been planting container gardens for the past few years, primarily growing different types of peppers and tomatoes. We did containers since we only had balconies and brick patios to garden on. Some years were better than others. I'm sure Anne can give a more detailed lowdown on the highs and lows of our adventures, as she's the one who did most of the research on this topic.
We're going to attempt to do an in-ground garden this year, so soil testing is something we need to look into.

Posted 4 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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BrianG wrote Merc,
Has anything been planted yet or are you just getting started?
Just getting started. Sent away for soil testing last week
http://www.dnr.state.oh.us/soilandwater/soils/soilsampling/tabid/9074/Default.aspx
And doing bed preparation this week after work. Hoping to plant next weekend.

Posted 4 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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Walker wrote
We're going to attempt to do an in-ground garden this year, so soil testing is something we need to look into.
Trace metals testing is pretty cheap if you just run one sample and only want to test for lead and arsenic and maybe cadmium. The industrial areas here tend to have some lead, the formerly agricultural areas tend to have some arsenic because of historic pesticide use.
Most soils around here are actually ok, but yeah, there is an increase in the probability of lead contamination in the city so its worth it if you're not sure what your lot was used for historically or what your groundwater has brought in.
-m

Posted 4 years ago #
Rockmastermike
CORNspiracy HQ
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If anyone wants to know, I Just got prices from our lab manager.
$12 per metal tested for except mercury, which is $30. There is a $20 sample prep fee for soil and a $10 fee for water.
so a single soil sample just tested for lead is $32. Lead and Arsenic would be $44.
-m

Posted 4 years ago #
alison

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Mercurius wrote I just made a trip out to Baker's Acres.
Ahhh. I am an anemic pale green with envy!
I have two gift certificates for Baker's Acres. Need to steel myself for the drive out there.

Posted 4 years ago #
Manatee
The eternal present
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Mercurius wrote I just made a trip out to Baker's Acres
http://bakersacresgreenhouse.com/
I have all the tools anyone needs and will be working on my garden tonight. Just give me a PM to let me know if you need to pick up anything.
You did not. You DID NOT!!?

Posted 4 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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I'll be more than happy to go again. It was kinda a spur of the moment trip. Sarah is in California (or one of those pacific bound states they said.)

Posted 4 years ago #
NerosNeptune
Goodale Park
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For those of us without access to a yard, I recommend a hydroponics system. I got an Aerogarden as a christmas gift this year and love it. It came with an assortment of herbs (thyme, mint, parsley, basil, chives, something else), and you can buy other seed kits with tomatoes or peppers and such. It automatically turns its grow lights on and off, and reminds you when you need to add water or nutrient tabs.
It's great for me right now because I have nowhere I could put a garden outside, even if I put it in pots. Hopefully when I move to columbus I'll have a balcony/patio to do that on, but I would still have the aerogarden for the winter months.

Posted 4 years ago #
alison

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Well, you did it Merc.
I had the day off yesterday, so I drove out to Alexandria and used up $30 worth of gift certificates.
And had a blissful 3 hours of wandering back and forth, thinking about what I'll get when I go back this summer!

Posted 4 years ago #
joev
Merion Village
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Anybody know where to find fruit trees and bushes? I'm looking for multiple/heritage varieties, not the standard one or two we see at Straders. Apple, pear, apricot, blueberries, etc.

Posted 4 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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alison wrote Well, you did it Merc.
I had the day off yesterday, so I drove out to Alexandria and used up $30 worth of gift certificates.
And had a blissful 3 hours of wandering back and forth, thinking about what I'll get when I go back this summer!
I got some heirloom tomatoes that are already 3 feet tall with blooms on them. Is that cheating? I bought a bunch of onions, asparagus crowns, rhubarb and horseradish. I bought one of the prettiest calla lilies IÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ve ever seen and a few other vegetables and herbs. If you are really up for an adventure check out Companion Plants and Glasshouse Works in Athens County.

Posted 4 years ago #
Mercurius
First Avenue
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joev wrote Anybody know where to find fruit trees and bushes? I'm looking for multiple/heritage varieties, not the standard one or two we see at Straders. Apple, pear, apricot, blueberries, etc.
If you know of one you want, I can make a graft or air layering from it. Glasshouse Works in Athens specializes in weird plant verities. I have s Citron BuddhaÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s Hand from there.
Truthfully, I would mail order it online.

Posted 4 years ago #