Well, we have done some transplanting!

We have transplanted our herbs (except the oregano, they are still to small to do). These were started in small Buzzy starter kits (except for the cilantro), but are moving into a large rectangular planter. We also planted more seeds in the planter so that we will be able to space out our harvesting. In addition to the oregano, we have planted parsley, cilantro, chives and basil.

We have also moved our green bean and yellow wax beans in to one of our large containers, along with banana peppers and chili peppers. The beans were started in our Jiffy starter greenhouse, and have grown really fast! They were planted on April 25th, and are already 2-3 inches tall. The pepper plants we cheated on and bought at our local garden store, but will hopefully soon be joined by jalapeno, habanero, green and red bell and sweet peppers that we started from seeds.

We have also started our hanging baskets, planting cleomes and forget me nots. For our small table pot, we planted from a mixed packet that includes cornflowers, dianthus, myosotis, gypsophila elegans, helichrysum, phacelia, eschscholzia, calendula, clarkia, gaillardia, and lobularia. These were started in the Jiffy starter greenhouse, and we used one of those peat pods for the center. We then planted more seeds around it so that it will hopefully be nice and full. In one of our rectangular flower planters we transplanted some peat pods with some 4 o'clocks, cosmos, and some of the mixed flowers that we used in our small table pot.

Some pictures of our progress:

Our little sweet pepper plants, we will soon have to cut the smallest and will soon be able to transplant it.








Our little tomato plants, we hope to transplant soon.









Our tiny strawberry plants starting to sprout. We hope they start growing much faster!








Our remaining peat pods, some more bean plants almost ready to be transplanted, as well as our cucumber plants that will hopefully be going into another big planter soon!







Our first rectangular flower planter to be filled.












Our little herb garden. Transplants were put in the front, and new seeds were started in the back. Hopefully the oregano will be able to transplant soon. The cilantro was not started in a pot so it was just now planted.






Corey watering our pepper and bean plants after transplant.












Lindsey with all of our little plants.









Our new little plant- another perennial experiment! We were at WalMart and they had a rack of old plants that were 75% off. They all looked pretty sickly like they had not been getting much sun or water, so of course being the suckers we are for small sickly things we had to get one and bring it home. It is a creeping flox nicknamed "Fort Hill". It already looks healthier and happier then it was, so with a larger pot we are hoping it will pull through fine.


More to come soon!

The experiment begins

Our names are Lindsey and Corey, and let us begin by saying we have absolutely zero gardening experience. I cannot imagine if there are any people reading this, how many of them will be laughing at our silly mistakes, but here goes.
Our preparation began with a couple of Buzzy starter kits. I bought a few to brighten up the apartment, and our obsession with growing life spiraled from there. We then purchased a Jiffy greenhouse seed starter kit and a variety of flower and vegetable seeds from Burpee. Our idea was that once the vegetables reached a height of 3 inches, we could transplant them to larger containers, such as the large, tupperware storage containers that people stack in their closets so that they would still look neat and tidy on our porch.
We also planted a couple of various flowers and vegetables and plants in fiber pots, including cat nip so that we could have extras for backup, and to give to family and friends.
Our final task was to see if a perennial could servive and return year after year on a porch. A little bit different than container gardening, but who says you need to have a garden to maintain a perennial? My thinking was that if I got a deep enough pot, and kept the roots nice and cool, I could in fact keep that plant coming back year after year. ONE year would be a miracle. We chose a Clematis, a beautiful pink climbing flower with the nickname "Dr. Ruppel".
Our little seedlings have been growing about two weeks now, and are doing well, some are well above 2 inches and awaiting the scheduling of transplant into their containers. We both work at Veterinary hospitals, and everything has a very surgical feel to it. I find myself needing supervision while trimming the Clematis... Anyway, the only minor problems we have run into are the occasional Ohio chill, in which case we have moved the plants into the house for warmth. That brought us to our second setback, which is the cats, who had decided to snack on our warming plants. High in fiber yes, not so good for the growth...
Well, more updates to come! By next blog we hope to have the transplant done, or at imminent. In keeping up with the care of these plants, we are reminded of the calla lily that we purchased last year, and that other blue potted plant. We had a contest to see which plant would grow the fastest...or die the slowest. Both plants died shortly thereafter. Wish us luck!