Apartment gardening

[Cudedog]

Shirl, count me among those who enjoy reading your posts - about whatever it is you have to say.

Anne

[snowball]

I enjoy your posts and look forward to them regardless what you are talking about
sheila

[Shirlv]

My today list had call for strawberry plants. Looked in the pot a couple days ago and nothing. Went out this morning and the pot is full of little green plans. Didn’t have many strawberries last year but it was the first year. Guess they were waiting for Mother Nature to make up her mind.

[Bethers]

Shirl, that's exciting!

[Shirlv]

Since the strawberries plants survived the winter in the pot.I need to find a bird proof cover. I didn’t get many berries last year and not sure if it was because of it being the first year or the bird eating them. Who would think a bird would find berries in a pot on a second floor balcony. Had a brain storm, think a $1.25 Dollar Tree mesh laundry bad will fit over the strawberry pot.

[monik7]

Hey Shirl, I saw this online this morning from Costco. It’s a little “spendy,” but kind of neat for apartments. It has wheels and I wonder if it would work on your balcony. Takes care of watering. Measures 21”W x 45”L x 32”H (with casters)




Sandi

[Shirlv]

Sandi, I would love to have it but not meant to be. I belong to Sam’s, have idea where the closet Costco is. As always no space, of the 3 walls on the balcony, one, has door to mechanism room, one is the slider, one has door to living room, 4th is the railing. Nice thought. Thanks

[Shirlv]

#2 granddaughter is into BoHo style, lol what ever that is. I forwarded my post “too cute”to her . That post is a little too much for me but fun to watch. Great ideas for those who travel and don’t want to worry about plants or those who just don’t want to be bothered but want some decoration. I have a skinny little plant stand I’m going to spray paint turquoise for a splash of color on the balcony. I really liked the shovel. By the way, the Dollar Tree mesh laundry bag is a perfect fit for the strawberry pot, will protect from the birds. Would love to hear about tour garden.

[OregonLuvr]

Shirl, Well so far I dont have any garden news. Usually by now we are starting to warm up and warm the soil. I usually dont plant anything until after Mothers Day, is usually safe by then. BUT stand by I will have news in a few weeks LOL

[Shirlv]

Only one strawberry plant survived the winter so planted a couple more yesterday. Planter a pot of Gerbera Davies to sit on the bistro table. Also set it up with a wick. Planted a basil plant with a wick also. Chives and Italian parsley went in a bigger pot so no wick. Need more potting mix for the large pot to hold geraniums. Racing a threatening storm tomorrow. I have a sore back but a smile on my face.

[Shirlv]

I went to Lowe’s and saved $8 on potting soil. Read that Tami G grape tomato is suitable for pots so bought one of those. Got home read more and it said can grow to 9 ft tall. Decided that when it grows too tall will top it and will do without tomatoes. Wicking house plants that I have under watered them. I know I did with balcony plants last year. I try very hard not to send dirty water down on the tenets below. Brainstorm, Dollar Tree has cat litter pans for $1.25 that might be big enough to catch excess water if placed under pots.

[Cudedog]

I went to Lowe’s and saved $8 on potting soil. Read that Tami G grape tomato is suitable for pots so bought one of those. Got home read more and it said can grow to 9 ft tall. Decided that when it grows too tall will top it and will do without tomatoes.

Shirl, you probably know this already, but pruning tomatoes as they grow (not waiting until they get too tall and just topping them off) is a pretty common thing these days. People do it so that the plants tend to make more fruit, rather than more leaves.

Go on YouTube and search "pruning tomatoes", and quite a lot of videos will come up, showing the basic technique and reasons behind it.

I have tended not to prune my own tomatoes too much, only because it is just too hot outside during the day to deal with it. But I think the little pruning I have done has added to my tomato yield.

Will be trying pruning again this year, maybe early mornings, although I am not an early bird.

Anne

[Shirlv]

Thanks Anne, I have watch pruning on YouTube but forgot about it. Thanks for the reminder. I will do this year so I do not have a monster plant. I plan to share tomatoes with the tenants below to apologize if I am dropping soil on their patio.

[Shirlv]

Yea! Dollar Tree cat litter pans will work, they are 3” deep

[Bethers]

A stroll through Shirl's garden.