Quarantine Vegetable Gardens

[Yesiamapirate]

Awesome

Back in the days before coronavirus became part of my everyday vocabulary, I was a regular customer at Wholefoods. On one visit, I bought a huge blue and red tomato which, when I got it home, I was horrified to realise had cost me £5.32. Yikes. Anyway, that tomato was the best thing I had eaten in ages.
At around the same time, I had started to take a small interest in gardening. So I made the trek to Kensington the next week and purchased another one. This time, I saved the seeds, cleaned them up and a few weeks later I planted some of them. Six months on, I had dozens of big, fat blue and red maters.
Early in February, I planted the remaining seeds and am happy to say that today I have about a dozen healthy looking seedlings that will go out into the garden as soon as the last frost has left.
I’ve done the same with pepper seeds, with lemon seeds and with some old supermarket potatoes.
Now more than ever I am so grateful for a garden of my own.

Awesome! What great inspiration. I live in a condo but might try some container gardening.

Your pricey tomato story cracked me up. I did the same thing at WF. Bought a heirloom tomato that was SO good. I looked at the receipt and nearly fell over. Lol

 

[Gardenista]

Back in the days before coronavirus became part of my everyday vocabulary, I was a regular customer at Wholefoods. On one visit, I bought a huge blue and red tomato which, when I got it home, I was horrified to realise had cost me £5.32. Yikes. Anyway, that tomato was the best thing I had eaten in ages.
At around the same time, I had started to take a small interest in gardening. So I made the trek to Kensington the next week and purchased another one. This time, I saved the seeds, cleaned them up and a few weeks later I planted some of them. Six months on, I had dozens of big, fat blue and red maters.
Early in February, I planted the remaining seeds and am happy to say that today I have about a dozen healthy looking seedlings that will go out into the garden as soon as the last frost has left.
I’ve done the same with pepper seeds, with lemon seeds and with some old supermarket potatoes.
Now more than ever I am so grateful for a garden of my own.

Your description of that tomato makes my mouth water. There is nothing better.

 

[Gardenista]

I posted this on the main thread, but thought I would post it here too for those who want to try container gardening. I can vouch for Earthbox--I've been using them for years and they are amazing in terms of ease of use and product yield. You can even put castors on them so they are easy to move.

EarthBox® | Successful Container Gardening Systems

 

[CeeCeeCat]

Your description of that tomato makes my mouth water. There is nothing better.

My favourite meal last year when those tomatoes were ready to eat, was a slice of homemade bread, two or three thinly sliced tomatoes that were still warm from the sun, some torn basil leaves (also homegrown), a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of salt. Perfection.

 

[CeeCeeCat]

I posted this on the main thread, but thought I would post it here too for those who want to try container gardening. I can vouch for Earthbox--I've been using them for years and they are amazing in terms of ease of use and product yield. You can even put castors on them so they are easy to move.

EarthBox® | Successful Container Gardening Systems

I saw your post earlier today on the main thread and headed straight off to buy one however it looks as though they’re no longer sold in the UK. I did find instructions for a DIY version, so may give that a go.

 

[bluedivergirl]

you don't even need seeds for some
like you can pot sprouted vegis ... at least that's what I'm reading online

You can. You can also glean seeds from veggies you have. Tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers - anything with seeds. Take 'em out and let dry on a piece of paper (labeled, of course). Organic is rumored to sprout best.

Potatoes are super easy. Cut into good size chunks, making sure each piece has a good eye. Let dry in the sun for @ 24 hours, plant in light soil. When you get flowers, it is time to go to the potato mine. Kids love this. Dig carefully ~ you don't want to chop your potatoes in half.

I'm wondering if you can get carrots and other root vegetables to flower and go to seed by putting them in water or back into soil.

 

[Gardenista]

I saw your post earlier today on the main thread and headed straight off to buy one however it looks as though they’re no longer sold in the UK. I did find instructions for a DIY version, so may give that a go.

There are tons of forums and videos that show DIY Earthboxes and people have great success with them. I've followed Tomatoville for quite some time

Tomatoville® Gardening Forums

 

[155etta]

Speaking of fat juicy heirloom tomatoes, this is what I like to sprinkle on them.
Basil Salt

 

[SaguaroSpirit]

 

[Trudie]

Regarding garden seeds: imo from seeing the displays set up, they are serviced by Burpee or another company, with a merchandiser service if them on a rotation. My guess is the seeds are no longer stocked as Burpee pulled their merchandising staff. Idk if stores are allowing vendors in, other than bread & milk. Now is a good time for stores to promote their own brand, moo.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

...Awesome! What great inspiration. I live in a condo but might try some container gardening.

Your pricey tomato story cracked me up. I did the same thing at WF. Bought a heirloom tomato that was SO good. I looked at the receipt and nearly fell over. Lol

Nino Salvaggio's has heirloom tomatoes for 4.99- 5.99 a pound. Two or three tomatoes can easily cost $10, but it's worth it a few times each summer I slice them and arrange them on a large platter, sprinkle with salt and pepper, drizzle with a little olive oil, and garnish with basil chiffonade.

I would love to have a small garden, but we have many critters who wreak havoc on plants. I get a basil plant every summer only to have Japanese beetles chew it up along with geranium leaves. Deer wander through our yard frequently and would probably help themselves to a vegetable garden

Thanks for this thread. I appreciate the positive topics on the COVID-19 forum

 

[ButForFortune]

I posted this on the main thread, but thought I would post it here too for those who want to try container gardening. I can vouch for Earthbox--I've been using them for years and they are amazing in terms of ease of use and product yield. You can even put castors on them so they are easy to move.

EarthBox® | Successful Container Gardening Systems

I second that! We plant earthboxes every year - so easy. Our tomato plants get so tall we have to tie them to our neighbors trees on the other side of the fence for support! (Then we both get to enjoy them.) Sweet 100's and Green Zebras are our favorites. I need to stand on a stool/ladder to pick the highest ones.

 

[Gardenista]

Speaking of fat juicy heirloom tomatoes, this is what I like to sprinkle on them.
Basil Salt

Yum. I bet it's good on more than just tomatoes.

 

[Gardenista]

I second that! We plant earthboxes every year - so easy. Our tomato plants get so tall we have to tie them to our neighbors trees on the other side of the fence for support! (Then we both get to enjoy them.) Sweet 100's and Green Zebras are our favorites. I need to stand on a stool/ladder to pick the highest ones.

I have to drag the ladder out every year too

For those concerned about this, you can also plant bush varieties that don't get so tall.

 

[Darling136]

There is something good in the pandemic times - we have a garden thread at WS!

I LOVE gardening and start every year in Jan/Feb with seeds! I am very successful, so MrDarling is not allowing me to plant flowers but only edible plants ;-) I have 5 different sorts of chillies, a bucket with potato, mostly 3-4 different tomatos, some herbs and whatever else i get in my hands.

We just have a balcony, but whatever gets to much or too big is allowed to move to MrDarling´s mother in her garden. There we have also some rows of carrots or parsley or salad.

Btw. for all guys starting i can also recommend to try with salad seeds, they usually go well and some salads you just cut off and they grow again , or you can take leaves and harvest every day.

 

[IceIce9]

There are tons of forums and videos that show DIY Earthboxes and people have great success with them. I've followed Tomatoville for quite some time

Tomatoville® Gardening Forums

Thanks for sharing this site, Looks very interesting.

 

[IceIce9]

I thought about growing vegetables nearly as soon as Coronavirus started. Unfortunately I only had a few seeds in the house and I didn’t want to go to the store.

So my indoor garden consists of basil, cat grass and catnip, lol. All growing very well.

 

[LadyL]

Back in the days before coronavirus became part of my everyday vocabulary, I was a regular customer at Wholefoods. On one visit, I bought a huge blue and red tomato which, when I got it home, I was horrified to realise had cost me £5.32. Yikes. Anyway, that tomato was the best thing I had eaten in ages.
At around the same time, I had started to take a small interest in gardening. So I made the trek to Kensington the next week and purchased another one. This time, I saved the seeds, cleaned them up and a few weeks later I planted some of them. Six months on, I had dozens of big, fat blue and red maters.
Early in February, I planted the remaining seeds and am happy to say that today I have about a dozen healthy looking seedlings that will go out into the garden as soon as the last frost has left.
I’ve done the same with pepper seeds, with lemon seeds and with some old supermarket potatoes.
Now more than ever I am so grateful for a garden of my own.

you have a good climate for lemon trees?

 

[LadyL]

There is something good in the pandemic times - we have a garden thread at WS!

I LOVE gardening and start every year in Jan/Feb with seeds! I am very successful, so MrDarling is not allowing me to plant flowers but only edible plants ;-) I have 5 different sorts of chillies, a bucket with potato, mostly 3-4 different tomatos, some herbs and whatever else i get in my hands.

We just have a balcony, but whatever gets to much or too big is allowed to move to MrDarling´s mother in her garden. There we have also some rows of carrots or parsley or salad.

Btw. for all guys starting i can also recommend to try with salad seeds, they usually go well and some salads you just cut off and they grow again , or you can take leaves and harvest every day.

by salad, do you mean lettuce?

 

[Darling136]

I thought about growing vegetables nearly as soon as Coronavirus started. Unfortunately I only had a few seeds in the house and I didn’t want to go to the store.

So my indoor garden consists of basil, cat grass and catnip, lol. All growing very well.

Cat grass, i forgot to mention cat grass (it is also edible!) - 3 pots for the princess