<p>AAAAgh! Just went outside and all the broccoli but one were gone. Dang bunnies! We even have a fence around this garden. I am not sure if I will replant but then there is this big bare spot in the middle of the garden. What do you people do to protect your broccoli? I am not sure if I even like it that much…</p>
<p>LW- I had/have Romas and some sort of grape tomatoes. After replanting them, I am not really sure how much I have of what.</p>
<p>It’s my last day of a 10-day vacation from work. I’m going to make my way outside (in the rain) to get my vegetables done and planted. Yesterday I put in some zucchini and cukes (I got some plants this year instead of seeds), basil, and beans (seeds). Today I’ll put in some tomatos (Celebrity and Big Boy, and one yellow), bell peppers, summer squash.</p>
<p>Ha. The funny thing is, that H had major colon surgery last year. He’s doing much better 
but can’t eat much in the way of fresh veggies! So, I keep asking myself, why am I planting all this again??? I guess cuz I always do? Hope I’m hungry…</p>
<p>I got some parsley plants too…last year they were mowed down to the ground by ants. Any suggestions on how to keep them at bay?</p>
<p>Does anyone know if I can plant root vegetables in containers? I want to try beets, potatoes and onions. The containers are approximately 20 inches deep.</p>
<p>Any flower recommendations for a newly installed cutting garden out in the S.F. suburb of Walnut Creek, CA with a sunnier southern exposure? Will be planting in the next week or so and I needs some low maintenance suggestions.</p>
<p>Ditty- I grow beets in containers. Haven’t tried potatoes or onions.</p>
<p>dkitty - I’m sure you can grow onions in containers. When you plant them, they will grow up and out from that spot, they don’t actually grow down that much (except for the roots, which are fine). They seem sometimes to heave themselves out of the soil. Easy to grow!</p>
<p>jshain, maybe this will help. I wasn’t sure of your county or zone, but I’m sure you could fine tune the information by knowing that. </p>
<p>[Welcome</a>! - The California Garden Web](<a href=“http://cagardenweb.ucdavis.edu/]Welcome”>http://cagardenweb.ucdavis.edu/)</p>
<p>Just mowed the weeds, er, grass. Is there anyone else who fantasizes about (or has achieved) a grass-free property? (Actually, we have a very small area in the back, just big enough for bocci, that I am OK with.)</p>
<p>Thank you, greenwitch. Got it bookmarked!</p>
<p>Search for EmeraldKitty’s post about growing potatoes in containers.</p>
<p>Tomorrow, I’m putting in my bush cucumber seeds, in pots. Never grew them before. The bright lights chard bolted, but I don’t mind - the only one in our family who likes to eat it is the bunny. Even the dog (who eats just about everything) turns up his nose. Doing some experiments with tomatoes - certain varieties in containers in the greenhouse, containers outdoors, and “free-range”. I ended up with 12 varieties plus the purple tomatillo. The red robins are really cute! Planted more arugula - it might be too hot, but then again, maybe we’ll have a cool summer, and I’ll have something. Beans will go in next week.</p>
<p>Everything I grow is in containers, since the house and a very large tree block backyard sun. I’ve got them off in the one blazing area at the end of the drive and can move them, as needed. I just planted potatoes in a very large pot and they’re taking off. Leftover smallish Yukon Gold (from the end of the CSA) that had sprouted. Apparently the trick is a large enough pot, enough space so they don’t compete for nutrients. And regular watering, with great drainage so the roots don’t sit in too much wet. Red Beefsteak tomatoes, as well as Purple Cherokee are doing very well, so far, in self-watering containers. Others yet to be transplanted. (I’m told the birds peck for the moisture inside- that a water source purposely set nearby will distract them. If I run into an issue, I will put up netting.) Beautiful chard (which I had never knowingly eaten before the CSA, this past winter/spring- and love.) None of my lettuce is growing heartily. Again, couldn’t get haricots to sprout. </p>
<p>My understanding is that it’s late in the Mid-Atlantic or NE to start onions- long season of long daylight hours is needed. I’m going ahead and planting already sprouted ones (using up that CSA) 4" apart, we’ll see what happens. The trick I heard about is to peel/cut away the outside layers, exposing the inner core(s) and leaving roots intact.<br>
You can easily grow carrots in containers- but read up on fertilizing- iirc, you don’t. As usual, am behind in transplanting other things. But i do love to go out and look at them each day, tend to them. Now if only I didn’t have to deal with crabgrass.</p>
<p>This is my first post on this thread as I am not a very good gardener :(</p>
<p>Last year we planted a shrub called “Little Devil” It’s a small variety of a Ninebark. It is very pretty with deep red leaves and small clusters of white flowers that are blooming now. It is about 5.5 feet tall, which is about as high as it will get, I think. Anyway, some of the branches are arching over onto the ground and I don’t know if I should prune it back a bit or stake it or what. It might be because of the harsh winter.</p>
<p>Have any posters here ever had this shrub? What is the best way to care for it?</p>
<p>I have found that Ninebark branches go every which way. They are a nice plant. You can prune it if it is bothering you but it will probably grow that way again. Go on the web and look at images of them; some have arching branches. I consider it a casual looking plant. It is not for a formal garden. I lost one last year due to the drought but otherwise they are pretty tough and quite nice.</p>
<p>From the picture on this page it appears as if branches arching over onto ground is a characteristic. Does yours look the same. </p>
<p>[Little</a> Devil Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius “Little Devil”) in Wilmette Chicago Evanston Glenview Illinois at Chalet Nursery](<a href=“Little Devil Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna May') in Wilmette Chicago Evanston Glenview Skokie Winnetka Illinois IL at Chalet Nursery”>Little Devil Ninebark (Physocarpus opulifolius 'Donna May') in Wilmette Chicago Evanston Glenview Skokie Winnetka Illinois IL at Chalet Nursery)</p>
<p>Thank you, Onward. Yes, my garden is extremely casual! So it fits right in. If I trin it back a bit, do I just cut the stalks? Sorry, I am VERY bad at this.</p>
<p>Do you mean the branches? You can just cut them back to where you want them, but if this is the natural state, be aware you will be constantly doing this. It is often easier to learn to love the plant’s natural state or put something else in this spot- unless you really love pruning. And don’t worry- everyone started out as a beginner. There is a youtube video (I haven’t watch it) on pruning a ninebark which may be a help.</p>
<p>Thanks! :)</p>
<p>I DID get some clematis to come back this year so I"m making progress!</p>
<p>Any advice on getting the clematis to climb my picket fence? It’s trailing on the ground. Blooming, but trailing.</p>
<p>I’m going out to dinner now but let me think about clematis. I have some that climb and some that sort of climb and puddle at the bottom. There are many types of clematis and I never know which one I have. You might have to tie it up to get it to go.</p>
<p>You need to pick the vines off the ground and wrap them around the picket And well done on getting it to come back! I planted some to climb my trellis but it’s nowhere to be found this year.</p>
<p>If they are not long enough to wrap around just use some string to tie them to picket.</p>