Adventures in Gardening

I will be the first to admit that I am by NO means an expert gardener. This is my first year with a backyard of my own so I've made it a goal this season to at least learn something about gardening. So far I've read one book on the subject, admired a few other amazing womens' gardening skills (see here and here) and I sprouted a few herbs from seeds. I have fresh basil, cilantro and parsley in my future! Now I admit that a few small pots of herbs might not be anything to brag about... but... what can I say? I'm excited! I am not an experienced or skilled gardener. Oh goodness no! I actually killed my first batch of sprouts; left them in the sun too long/didn't water them enough. Rookie mistakes, I know.I tried out two different methods for sprouting seeds. I tried out seed planters with very little dirt, lots of water and a little sunlight. And I tried seeds in paper towels, no dirt, keeping them wet and out of the sun. Both methods worked but I found that the first method worked better for me. Live and learn.

I'm hoping to devote a little more time to my backyard this season; gardening, maybe some simple landscaping and using my fire pit as often as I can. Sometimes it feels like there's just not enough hours in the day, but it's good to start where you can. Even if it's just a few pots of fresh herbs. xo. emma

Comments

[Tinacious.Me]

How fun!
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[Natasha Fatah]

Every year we try to grow some fresh herbs in our apartment...and every year it's a struggle. :S

xoxo
~Natasha Fatah~
http://natashafatah.com

[Rachel W.]

Hooray! Growing herbs from seed is no small feat, man. We keep killing our poor mint plant, and my chives are the saddest thing ever. Once I can own a plant for more than a week and NOT dehydrate it to death, I'll celebrate by getting a basil plant: ALL the pesto!

[Miss K]

Would love to see your landscaping results!

[Kat]

You may want to thin out those sprouts - if they are too crowded they wont properly grow and will end up not making it to full size.

[Allison]

Best of luck you your herbs and future gardening ventures! I just put in my first garden and I am beyond excited to see the teeny sprouts breaking the soil :]

[Kate]

Thanks for sharing this! I've tried gardening, but the AZ heat is just too much for any kind of non-desert plant. Good luck!

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[Sarah]

Thanks for sharing! We tried to grow some herbs inside the house, but they died when we went on a trip.

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http://allthingsblogs.blogspot.com

[Lacey]

I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one who made the rookie mistake! It's my first year working from seeds, and my first batch died a sad death out in the hot sun with too little water. I'm going to try to start over and not be too discouraged.

[Megan Anderson]

I just started an herb garden too! I bought some plants from a Farmer's Market instead of trying to grow them from seeds. I have a black thumb, but at least I'll be able to have homegrown fresh herbs in a few dishes before I kill them off!

[lindsay]

gardening is tricky! thanks for sharing your methods!

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[Amanda]

yes, my first thought on seeing these pics was to thin out the seedlings! each one of those could potentially fill a pot that size.

[Courteney]

Those seedlings definitely need to be thinned out! I'd divide each pot into at least 4, otherwise you're going to get root bound fast and your plants won't grow. I've had a successful herb garden for the last couple of years. They are my favourite things to grow. My staples are basil, thyme, sage, oregano, rosemary, mint, and this year I added a curry plant.
Lettuce and spinach is fun to grow too! We always have a patch of mesclun mix that feeds us all summer.

[Lindsay Loves Veggies]

I have parsley, basil, and cilantro growing on my balcony right now! Except, mine are in mason jars instead of actual planters. It's so fun! :)

[Allison]

I absolutely love to garden. I've gardened with my mom since I was a little kid. I don't have a yard of my own but I still help my mom out in her yard. I love getting dirt under my nails and watching things grow over the summer. I planted a few herbs and flowers in pots on my balcony this year. I had to find shade friendly plants since we face north but I'll still have a few herbs right outside my door this summer. Good luck with your gardening adventures and don't be afraid to grow more!
xx
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[Xeana]

Oh, seedlings in pots. My sister and I live in the city and do not have a house in the countryside. We also planted herbs and spices in pots. )))

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[Dani]

The best place to start is just with a couple of plants and gradually work your way up. Before you know it, you will be growing a large amount of your food in the summers.

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[Molly]

I have a little deck herb garden this year as well. I began with starter plants though. I think makes it easier to keep them alive, since the visual reminder of the plant is staring at you begging to be watered. :) You're braver than I am starting with seeds the first go-around!

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[Ash]

I have a tiny 8x8 balcony in Colorado. Not exactly prime for growing green things. However I've made it work with plastic containers and lots of attention. Surprisingly my sugar snap peas are doing really well. I can't wait to have my own backyard again.

Cheers!
Ash

[Jessa]

I find that the paper towel method for growing seeds works better for me! Just personal opinions. (:

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