<p>It’s that time of year again. What are you going to plant this year? Did your potted plants survive the winter?</p>
<p>My patio container garden was generally a dissapointment last season, and I think CCers were right about the cause; not enough natural nutrients/fertilizer in the soil I used. Had plenty of tomato blossoms, but little fruit and those that matured were small. I produced a few tasty peas but again, the yield was very low.</p>
<p>This year I think I am better prepared. I’ve already made homegrown compost. Of course a year’s worth of experience helps. This weekend I’ll be planting seeds for tomatoes (Rutgers, Jubilee and Gold Cherry), Cascadia Peas, Genovese Basil (which was my one great sucess last year) and Yellow Squash.</p>
<p>My Rosemary plant from last year survived the winter, despite my neglecting it. Hardly watered it at all.</p>
<p>Last year virtually everything I planted rotted in the ground during the ceaseless rains. If anything did manage to grow, the deer ate it. </p>
<p>I’m so dispirited about gardening, although right now the fact that it is almost 70F and sunny is <em>almost</em> enough to get the juices flowing!</p>
<p>I tidied up my garden beds last weekend and planted some seeds. H almost assembled our new greenhouse, and I have huge plans for a part of my backyrad: I will be ripping out the lawn and converting that part into a berry patch.</p>
<p>lots of blueberries, raspberries and strawberries ( both hybrids and native).
Edible landscaping will take a while to mature- evergreen huckleberries will produce some-
also lots of greens
arugula- lettuces- mustard greens- bok choi, that don’t need as much sun as some.
Lots of potatoes- they were very successful last year.
Chives and leeks I stick in with the roses.
Herbs I move around- they are very hard to kill.
Haven’t decided where I am going to put my tomatoes yet- but I am going to plant half of last year- they just took up too much room & I got tired of picking them.
Also growing some peppers- they were very good- need lots of sun though.</p>
<p>Lake Washington, I am smiling about your rosemary plant. I am restoring the gardens at my new house in the very dry, very hot central valley of California. The rosemary survived over a year being unwatered while the house was empty and grew frighteningly big. Since I moved in and started up the sprinklers, it has grown almost big enough to eat Chicago. :>)</p>
<p>I should plant more raspberries and blueberries, but I don’t think I really have enough sun for either. The birds always end up getting most of them. Last year tomatoes were a disaster between blight and lack of sun. I need to find a good place to put lettuce which is always worth it. I bought some nasturtiums, because they are so pretty in salads. I hope I can get them to grow. I always have lots of herbs - about the only thing I’m really successful at.</p>
<p>emeraldkitty—let’s say you just plant the same amount of tomatoes as last year and I move in next door?
Every tomato in my oak shaded yard is a struggle and a triumph. I again attempt to grow the most expensive tomatoes on the planet. (I’m lucky to get 10 per plant)</p>
<p>Pretty much a container gardener here, in the San Diego climate (but actually just south of the border in Mexico). Herbs have gone in (strawberry jar). I am watching my Mexican lime try its hardest to emerge from the Charlie-Brown-Christmas-tree that it was when I bought it. We’ll see - it has its first blossom.</p>
<p>Tomatoes are going in next. Next year, artichoke plants in the ground. I love their look - fountain shape, interesting foliage, and the reward of fresh artichokes for the picking. </p>
<p>BTW, this is our first experience with the world of cactus and succulents. If you are in the appropriate climate, I can’t recommend them strongly enough. These plants are just endlessly fascinating and, of course, super easy to grow.</p>
<p>Our sunny area is pretty much limited to our deck on which I usually put a “token” grape tomato plant (we literally almost eat them as we walk by- after a stop at the hose to wash them off) and then last year, I tried some herbs in little pots and LOVED it!</p>
<p>So the plan this year is to expand the herb garden. I’m going to buy an item that I saw at Kohls - it’s kind of a stand with 3 shelves (actually suppose to be a beverage cart) that looks nice - I know it’s additional $$ spent, but I need the deck to look nice as well! Yesterday I bought some perfect size pots for individual herbs at TJ Maxx - $2.99/$3.99 with drainage holes. I’m excited!</p>
<p>Last year I grew Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Oregano and Chives - this year, want to keep the cilantro going (need to space apart plantings) and add a couple of new varieties - any suggestions?</p>
<p>Sewnsew, at times I fear that my Rosemary will hop off the window sill and lurch into my bedroom and choke me while I am asleep. Revenge for failing to water it.</p>
<p>I have bought beach strawberry at the grocery store- most of the strawberries have runners rather than a bush.</p>
<p>I use my strawberries as ground cover ( as if I had a choice!), but this is good to know. Strawberries are susceptible to Verticillium Wilt, and should not be planted where tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and potatoes have grown in the past three years since these vegetables often carry the disease. If you must plant where these vegetables have grown, choose resistant varieties of strawberries such as Allstar, Earliglow, Settler, Tribute or Tristar.</p>
<p>I don’t think LakeWashington actually lives in King county, so buying from a local nursery may give you something more suitable- but Raintree does have alot of edibles available.</p>
<p>Raintree ships plants. Their retail nursery near Morton is open only a few days of the year. They have some pretty unique cultivars. I got my runner-less alpine strawberry plants from them (as well as some plums, quice tree, mulberry, figs that do produce fruit in the PNW)- the berries are small and not really juicy, but they make the best pies and jams.</p>
<p>We live on a lake and other than the lakeside patio area and the walk to the boat ramp. I have been trying to let the whole area go “natural”. This was a mistake because Mother Nature and I have a very different opinion on what “natural” should look like. Last fall I transplanted some hostas and some ferns down there so I hope they made it through our Minnesota winter. I think I will add several shasta daisies into the mix.</p>
<p>My hydrangeas didn’t even show me the courtesy of blooming last year, the dogs and the teenage boys with basketballs trampled and busted all my begonia plants. My tulips are coming up and it looks like the squirrels ate at least half the bulbs over the winter. The only thing I was successful with was my cherry tomatoes in one of those upside down planters. (full size tomatoes didn’t work so well)</p>
<p>Oh well - at least I can peek at my neighbors glorious garden and enjoy all the brightly colored birds she attracts with her multitude of feeders.</p>
<p>I took advantage of the gorgeous weather in the northeast during the weekend by working the soil in my containers and getting seed [Yellow Cherry tomatoes, round zucchini squash] started in the soil. Purchased two great looking Rosemary plants and two Strawberry plants at Lowe’s Home Improvement. When the Jubilee Gold and Rutgers tomato seeds arrive in the mail from the Gardeners Network later this week, I’ll be ready to put them in the ground, as well as the Italian Basil and flat Parsely seeds.</p>