Poll of the Day > I never post about my biggest hobby. Gardening!

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://imgur.com/a/SVEKtY2

gardening topic, I guess.

I hope you all have started your seeds for the season. Ill be buying some bigger pots soon, so Im looking forward to having a SHITTON of tomatoes and bell peppers

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I suck at gardening.

I have pots and good dirt and fertilizer and even an AquaGrow thingy... them mini hydroponics sets.

But I rarely get more than sprouts.

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If youre having trouble getting past sprouts, take some seeds and lay them on a damp (not wet!) napkin and put that in a plastic sandwich back and tape it to an east facing window. The seeds will all germinate and you can pick the ones that seem strongest.

I would also never use fertilizer on seedlings. How much are you using?

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PK_Spam posted...

I would also never use fertilizer on seedlings. How much are you using?

well, none... I just 'have' the fertilizer. I'd use it if they actually got anywhere

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Lokarin posted...

well, none... I just 'have' the fertilizer. I'd use it if they actually got anywhere

Don't forget light.

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DPsx7 posted...

Don't forget light.

light is a big problem here, since I dwell in darkness.... I mean a third floor apartment with a window that points at another apartment

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PK_Spam posted...

If youre having trouble getting past sprouts, take some seeds and lay them on a damp (not wet!) napkin and put that in a plastic sandwich back and tape it to an east facing window. The seeds will all germinate and you can pick the ones that seem strongest.

Neat tip. I'm kind of a wannabe gardener myself. Most I've ever done though is refused to mow part of the yard and now it's full of wild black raspberry plants, which I transplant here and there every now and then. I've bought seeds for other plants, but never got anywhere with them, largely due to lack of time/planning/direction.

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Lokarin posted...

light is a big problem here, since I dwell in darkness.... I mean a third floor apartment with a window that points at another apartment

There's your prob. Seedlings kinda like light. Can't be an ordinary bulb either.

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what are some good low-light plants?

I wouldn't even mind growing a mushroom as long as it's not one that will spread into housemold

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Lokarin posted...

what are some good low-light plants?

I wouldn't even mind growing a mushroom as long as it's not one that will spread into housemold

You'd do better with a plant light. The shade plants I know are for outside where they get filtered or indirect light.

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started tomato plants last week

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On a whim, went to Walmart and spent $40 just on more stuff. Whoops!!!

https://imgur.com/a/1bJ9ZCv

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I'm curious what's the easiest non-cilantro herb to grow? I want to have a pot or two of some herbs for cooking, but I have no idea where to start.

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Rosemary

I had a clump of that cheap compacted dirt you find in those EZ Grow kits at target, and threw some spare rosemary seeds in there. Grew like a weed.

and pan frying your potatoes with olive oil, garlic, and fresh rosemary is a heavenly experience.

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shadowsword87 posted...

I'm curious what's the easiest non-cilantro herb to grow? I want to have a pot or two of some herbs for cooking, but I have no idea where to start.

What do you use often? Right now there isn't a lot that will take cool nights. Herbs aren't hard to grow. Basil is popular. Parsley, oregano, chives, dill. Rosemary is kind of a perennial shrub in the south.

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I honestly use a lot of thyme in my food, but I'm perfectly happy to swap over to rosemary, thank you!

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Thinking of building a garden bed for the herbs this year , want to have more kinds ... oregano we have every year , sweet basil is a must -nothing better than fresh basil in salads and chives . Those are easy to grow even in bad weather .

Thinking about more herbs , but hard to get those now when you can't order them online .


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Garden is my name but I'm not actually very good at it all. I have an awful time just keeping house plants alive.

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My housemates are so negative about gardening. They dont care that Ive used part of our back patio (that we never use) they just think gardening is a waste of time and that it actually detracts from your life because youre taking care of plants instead of investing in yourself.

They say, as they invest every single one of their non-job hours into gaming and talking about podcasting but never doing it.

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I heard someone, I think it was a comedian, talking about how ridiculously different gaming/tech communities are to things like gardening communities. How the latter is very welcoming and helpful, and you'd probably never see people getting up in arms about how some plants suck or telling people to read the sticky when they ask a noob question.

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PK_Spam posted...

My housemates are so negative about gardening. They dont care that Ive used part of our back patio (that we never use) they just think gardening is a waste of time and that it actually detracts from your life because youre taking care of plants instead of investing in yourself.

They say, as they invest every single one of their non-job hours into gaming and talking about podcasting but never doing it.

There's a difference between growing some herbs or veggies in pots (not a lot of work) and maintaining a landscape. And in all honesty, once you nab that first tomato off the plant it tastes NOTHING like what you buy in the store.

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I know!

Whats that one Italian dish that has toasted bread with fresh tomatoes and olive oil on top? Im gonna be eating a TON of that once these guys get bigger

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Man, these guys make no sense. One of them is telling me that it takes 4-5 months for one plant to reach maturity, and assuming I invest an hour a week into this, Im potentially putting 16-20 hours, and that translates to more than $216 for a few tomato.

smh

im growing a ton of stuff, and why does everything have to have a strict financial value? Why cant I just do something for fun?

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Aw snap, I just realized that the only way for me to actually grow anything will be strictly indoors, and I don't exactly have a windowsill, so things just got harder for me to grow stuff in a pot.

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PK_Spam posted...

I know!

Whats that one Italian dish that has toasted bread with fresh tomatoes and olive oil on top? Im gonna be eating a TON of that once these guys get bigger

Bruschetta maybe?

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Bruschetta?

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PK_Spam posted...

Man, these guys make no sense. One of them is telling me that it takes 4-5 months for one plant to reach maturity, and assuming I invest an hour a week into this, Im potentially putting 16-20 hours, and that translates to more than $216 for a few tomato.

smh

im growing a ton of stuff, and why does everything have to have a strict financial value? Why cant I just do something for fun?

It may. Starting from seeds takes longer than buying a pack of plants. Small to medium fruit like early girl takes like 55-60 days to mature while large ones like beefsteaks can be closer to 80. An hour a week is generous and how does that equate to money? If it rains you won't have to water. Just check for pests or weeds and let the plant do the rest. (I know it's not THAT simple but you get my point.)

As much as I love games it's good to get some time outside.

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shadowsword87 posted...

Aw snap, I just realized that the only way for me to actually grow anything will be strictly indoors, and I don't exactly have a windowsill, so things just got harder for me to grow stuff in a pot.

Learn from the weed dealers; get some plastic sheets up, some halogen lights and a load of reflectors.
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shadowsword87 posted...

Aw snap, I just realized that the only way for me to actually grow anything will be strictly indoors, and I don't exactly have a windowsill, so things just got harder for me to grow stuff in a pot.

Aerogarden might do the trick. It's a contained hydroponic system we use for winter herbs but it grows other things.

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DPsx7 posted...

Aerogarden might do the trick. It's a contained hydroponic system we use for winter herbs but it grows other things.

Yes, I have one of these and it's great for anything that you don't have to manually pollinate (like pumpkins or melons)

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I live in an apartment, so I can't do it. Furthermore, I am not good with plants and am allergic to many kinds of pollen and grass.

I'm glad there are people like you who are good at gardening. I heard it's a good hobby, too.

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Some of my plants that came off of seeds from last years plants by themselves are growing well. I have no idea whats going on with my flowers. No sign of coming up yet, but its been still cold a bit.

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I would like to start a garden but not where I live currently because of a 80 foot tree in my backyard dropping huge 3-foot branches down sometimes. I lost some chairs, small flower pots, and a table.

You guys can always do smaller crops in tubs, planter boxes, etc. Our old garden is covered by trees I'd rather not hack down. Instead a few pots on the porch hold some tom's and peppers. Beans, mini cukes, lettuce, all easy. Obviously you can't grow viney things like squash or melons, they need more room. And they're easier to move or cover if you do get some cold nights.

I'm seeing lots of local people starting their garden already.

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The girls are rooting

https://imgur.com/a/PpgjWmX

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