24,795 Garden Web Discussions | Vegetable Gardening

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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

First, in case you didn't know there is a Balcony Gardening forum here http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/balcony

that could be really helpful to you as it is a very different form of gardening. Then, since you will be using containers, also be sure to check out the Container Gardening forum here http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/contain

as that too is a very different form of gardening with different requirements.

While I agree that gardening is trial and error activity in part you can save you self a lot of time and effort by first learning from others and so avoiding all the common errors new gardeners make. With balconies two biggies come to mind -(1) not nearly enough sun exposure due to the roof or floor above. South facing is often not enough. And (2) sometimes severe water draining problems for those who live below you every time you water. Since containers have to drain well that water has to go somewhere. So be sure to thoroughly explore those issues upfront.

Then with containers the common mistakes are (1) using containers that are too small and/or too shallow. (2) filling those containers with dirt rather than a quality soil-less potting mix and that creates all sorts of problems. The potting mix is expensive so starting out with just a couple of containers instead of umpteen of them not only let's you learn as you go but also saves you a lot of wasted money. And (3) not understanding the very different feeding and watering regimens required for successful container gardening.

So with your proposal I see a couple of issues. First, snowpeas as a container crop - take lots of room for minimal production and the trellis will shade the other plants so I'd suggest sipping them. Plus they have very different nutrient needs than broccoli and spinach. Put the broccoli and spinach in the same container as they are high nitrogen users and peas won't tolerate high nitrogen. Second, both basil and dill will need a much bigger container than 1 gallon. They are very tall plants with big root balls. Third, as already mentioned I think there are much less expensive and better functional containers available than the ones you have linked. Not that i am recommending them but for the price of 1 of your linked boxes you could buy 5 of these and have almost 3x the planting space.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Unbranded-15-in-x-7-99-in-Plastic-Leonardo-Black-Bronze-Window-Box-WB100F-BB/203621275

Just some thoughts to consider. Enjoy your planning.

Dave

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lizdh87(Zone 7b - Richmond, VA)

That's great to see that you don't have to water in-ground plants everyday! I just emailed a local community garden to get more info. :) I probably won't have the money or commitment to rent a plot now, but maybe come spring time...

Thank you all for the suggestions; I made some changes based on your feedback:

Water drainage issues: Luckily I live above the rental office, so if I water outside of business hours, it shouldn't rain on anyone... Since I often work 6A-7P, I should be ok!

Railing planters: Yeah, I know they're weird, but I already have them.

Snow peas: I know they're not great for containers, but I really really want them... Taking into account Dave's advice about nutrient needs, I'll get separate containers for them. I'm thinking two 30" long x 6-12" wide x 10-12" deep containers. Put them to one side of the balcony so that they don't shade the broccoli.

Broccoli: I'll do 3 in one 15gal tupperware by themselves. But I will keep an eye out for deeper containers.

Spinach/Lettuce: 6 plants each in two 7.5" deep railing planters - various websites said depths of 4-6" were ok for these. Or maybe put the spinach in the other 15gal tupperware.

Herbs: I'll look for some 3 gal buckets for the basil and dill, or give in and buy some.

I attached a picture of my currently naked balcony. :) The railing is 12.5 feet wide. I'm planning to hang the smaller pots with herbs off the outside of the railing.

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floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK

You are on the Vegetable Gardening forum, Smungung. Perhaps this forum would be more appropriate for your question Carnivorous plants forum

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theforgottenone1013(MI zone 5b/6a)
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laceyvail(6A, WV)

And do keep in mind, that farming is different from gardening. Much larger areas to deal with and different techniques required.

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hawkeyext(6b)

Yes, I'm slowly discovering that!

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grubby_AZ Tucson Z9

Go with the fungus gnat diagnosis. I have had them in the house and tried the mosquito dunk remedy, but they stopped being a problem when I did essentially what rhizo said: thorough excessive saturation watering and then surface drying. I don't agree with peat being a problem, but we have very arid air here, inside and out, and surfaces can dry fast, which you need.

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didierbond007

So prevent by controlling the watering. and isnt there any insect stuff i can spray to kill them or to get rid of them meanwhile?

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farmerdill

I can't fimd a North Americn vendor either. This lady seems to find the dark green round zucchini a suitable alternative. http://www.cooksister.com/2010/10/gem-squash-central-finding-them-growing-them-and-eating-them.html Varieties like Tondo Scuro Di Piacenza, Eight ball. Black Ball

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ayshica

Also been trying to get gem squash. The 8 ball and other one is not the same thing. Looking for peri peri chilli seeds too.

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pahance

Just thought I'd update you all. It appears to be a cantaloupe after all. I attempted to post a picture without any luck showing the characteristic netting on the skin beginning to develop. I guess the rules do not allow more than two pics per message.

Thanks again.

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daninthedirt(Cent TX; HZ10, Sunset z30, USDA z8a)

I routinely get cantaloupe seedlings in my compost pile. Pumpkins too. Never seen watermelon seedlings, though all have seeds dumped there. Do you compost, and did you apply to that bed? If you grew cantaloupes there before, and didn't take care of the developing fruit, they will rot on the vine once mostly mature, and you'll have seeds left there.

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Marianne W (zone 10A)

Buddies have "over wintered" eggplants and tomatoes and have been very pleased. Eggplants seemed to have been just as productive. Over wintered, as in it never froze. My tomatoes get to about a year and then something will happen, like heat death or foot rot from a downpour. I haven't had any production issues with my older pepper plants.

Mint, oregano and lemongrass are also perennial in the non-frost zones. So are the gingers. My galangal is finally doing decent.

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gumby_ct(CT it says Z5)

Jerusalem artichokes escaped on me - I am still trying to eradicated them- Round Up may be next. Mint I am finally getting under control.

I have tarragon, rhubarb, oregano is literally everywhere (which I don't mind so much), chives, onion, and garlic. I love the tomato surprises and hope for them each year. Had some parsley spreading for a while but that has stopped.

Would like to have blueberries and strawberries and some fruit trees too. Oh have some wild raspberries and Day Lilies too - every part of the Day Lily plant is edible at different stages and take no care to grow.

Now also letting the Purslane grow too. Very easy and requires no care or watering. Oh I usu get some lettuce volunteers too but Purslane will take its place soon.

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Tracy West

They ruined my tomatoes. I don't think they were the MSB,though.

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stevie

oddly enough i only saw a couple in the very early spring and they were not in the garden, but inside my house. they must of hibernated inside over the winter.. haven't seen any this summer.. perhaps it depends on the weather, its been a bit hotter and a lot drier this year.

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Tracy West

Surround is on my list to buy next spring. Stink bugs ruined so many of my tomatoes that I didn't have enough to can.

Are than any cool weather pests that surround is good for? I'm not familiar with all these bugs,having moved from AZ to NC!

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stevie

neem oil, neem oil, neem oil..

just remember, neem oil..

did i mention neem oil?

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chickencoupe

Thanks for posting about this. I have about 25 endive plants that have grown to monterous proportions (about 2' tall leaves). Literally, they are sitting in my kitchen sink now. They're too bitter tasting for me. I guess I'll put some in clean soil (without danged bugs) in a bucket and put in the cellar for a spell. Dunno how it will turn out. Should stay around 55 degrees in there although summer is upon us now.

Anyways, maybe this will work. I was really wanting that nice-looking group of leaves I see in photos and wondering why the blazes they didn't turn out that way. LOL

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actionclaw

After a winter harvest (or perhaps, two) of Belgian Endive...
..can the root be planted outside again in the Spring to "recharge" for a season or two?

...(if not) can the root still be dried, ground for coffee or will the absence of whatever went into growing the Endive make it no longer any good for this use?

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cindy_7

During June and July we had only three days in a row when it didn't rain. It has been an unusually wet summer here and the rainfall made for a very lush garden. In fact, I have had a super summer for tomatoes and most of my pepper plants are three feet tall!

It's only been in August that I have needed to water with soaker hoses that I laid in May but haven't had to use until now.

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Tracy West

T of summer,I like Armenian "cucumbers". Very tasty,never bitter,hugely productive and it has the prettiest shape. Slices look like they were somehow shaped fancy because they have little ridges in them and the skin is very tender.

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Jim's(6 East end of Long Island)

I had five of those monsters on my property

Dug caverns under the shed, ate anything we specifically planted, etc... I poured jugs of amonia in the openings of their dens, there are two openings to each den. You may be able to find their underground trail by indentations in your yard. I punched a pvc pipe through that and dumped more amonia and covered the exits to keep in the stink. Eventually only two came back and I repeat the process. I will also spread the dog's droppings in around the opening and a friends used kitty litter. I dump that down the pvc pipe.

Sometimes I leave the dog tied up by the shed during their normal feeding time, too. If you can send them far away, do so. They are extremely destructive to anything you try to do to your yard.

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Smugung Smungung(Zone 6)

I know they completely destroyed my garden ate all my squash vines and destroyed the trellis. Also dug a hole under my yard.

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daninthedirt(Cent TX; HZ10, Sunset z30, USDA z8a)

I've never had it myself in my eggplant, but I understand that blossom end rot looks a lot like what you're seeing. Calcium deficiency can lead to that. Have you had your soil tested? Is this the first year you've grown eggplants and had this trouble?

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Horussa Tuss

Plants, especially those who have flower and fruit, need many of nutrition from the soil.

Maybe the soil may start lacking of some nutrition, I think local gardener or farmer shop can give you nice advice.

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bardamu_gw

What do you mean I don't believe you? I do I just dont know what it is. I cross referenced your description with Google images and they look like pretty decent matches to me fitting all criteria..... brassica and tastes like horseradish/wasabi and is bulbous and green and white.

Dont worry I'm out of guesses now. Still interested in knowing what it is. Although, I think I already ordered macomber turnips seeds.

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bardamu_gw

Oh I just googled mustard roots and now I'm just embarrassed. Lol where's the delete button?

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Marianne W (zone 10A)

Sun scald would be on the top or side of the pod, not the bottom.

You may want to pick the pepper. If it is getting squishy, it won't get any better. Sometimes if it is really hot out, +105, then the texture gets weird. But, based on the picture you're having problems from uneven watering or it is ripening and the discoloration is the new color. Pick it and post a picture of the bottom of the pepper. Really hard to tell from the picture you've got and the pod isn't going to get any better.

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digdirt2(6b-7a No.Cent. AR HZ8 Sun-35)

Agree that from what can be seen in the photo it is BER - Blossom End Rot. Extensive information available about both here and online if you just search BER.

Dave

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