I just couldn't resist

I can only hope, that I shall have a green thumb...when it comes time to harvesting the first vegetables, out of my tiny container garden. 

For this lovely english market basket will hold what ever my garden grows.

My sad, neglected patio garden

I work nights, long nights, to where my inner time clock is messed up. Even on my days off, there are nights, when my sleep is distracted. I woke tonight at 3 a.m. I have to work tomorrow and have yet to wash my clothes, for work. My daughter usually washes them. She is away at my sisters for the holidays. I have put off washing them, until I no longer can. I do not have a washer in my apt. The laundry room is only four doors over.

On my way out the front door, as I step out on the patio; I see my poor neglected plants. One a huge ivy, whose leaves have attached to the wall, has fallen over. I pick it up and decide now is as good a time, to water them, I look around. There are those with dead leaves, from not being watered, as often as they should. There are also those that amaze me with their resilience. Some in cracked pots. One in a pot that has cracked and the pieces have fallen off; but there is still a few scattered pieces holding it together. These are thriving.

My garden amazes me at times. There are many empty pots, dirt only; that are no longer empty. It seems that the different plants have pollinated, the empty ones. My one asparagus fern, has migrated to three other pots and all are thriving. The ivy that sits on the fence, has replanted itself in a empty pot, sitting below it. Parts of some plants, have started to grow offshoots, in other plants.

I can only imagine what a little attention and plant food could do.

What grows out of the ground

I have this large patio, with a 6 foot fence. On the top of the fence I have plants. Some time ago, one of my ivy plants, migrated and started growing out of the ground. Instead of cutting it away, I shall place this trellis, and intertwine the ivy to grow around it.

Tomatoes, cucumbers, carrots oh my

In anticipation of my patio container garden; I have been searching for suitable containers. I would like to find some of these tubs locally; as I can only imagine what the shipping costs will be.

In anticipation of spring...

I have been researching a bit about what I will need in my quest for my tiny container garden. I found information, in terms, that I understand; to plant strawberries. This is what I found.

"It’s easy to grow strawberries in a strawberry pot, a planter similar to an old wine jug with openings running up the walls of the pot. These pots are designed for the way strawberries grow—with good drainage to keep the roots from getting too wet and pockets to prevent them from invading each other’s space. Plus, they can fit anywhere from a porch or balcony to a front stoop or a fire escape. Easy Container Gardening A trip to a home and garden center will get your project started. Strawberry pots and strawberry plants planted in plastic containers are available in most home and garden centers, along with all of the other supplies you need. If you go to a nursery or specialty garden center, ask for some advice about which variety of strawberry does best in your area.

MATERIALS
Strawberry pot
Small squares of wire mesh
Potting soil
Strawberry plants
Sphagnum Moss.

INSTRUCTIONS
Place the small square of wire mesh, which you can buy or make yourself by cutting window screening, in the bottom of the strawberry pot over the drainage holes. This will prevent the potting soil from draining out when you water the strawberries. Scoop the potting soil up to the lowest holes on the sides of the pot.

Remove a strawberry plant from its plastic container. Choose the smaller plants to go into the openings around the strawberry pot, saving the bigger ones to be planted in the top.

Break up the soil around the roots of the plant. Then place it into the opening, packing the potting soil firmly around the roots. Plant the strawberry to the same depth as it was in the plastic container. Place some moss around the plant in the holes to prevent the soil from washing out.

Once all of the openings on the first level are filled, scoop more potting soil into the pot until you reach the next set of openings. Repeat the planting process for this set, then repeat the whole thing until you’ve added soil up to the top of the pot.

Plant the largest strawberry plants in the top of the pot.
Gently water the top of the pot and each opening. Place the strawberry pot in a sunny location, and rotate it every few days so that each plant gets enough sunlight. Continue to water the plants everyday. And pick the berries when they’re ripe and ready to eat, so new ones can grow in their place. From the Garden to the Kitchen In a few months you’ll be ready to start harvesting your yummy crop..."

The novice gardner...

Whomever thought of this idea, had me in mind. For one who has only had a few plants outside, and who's gardening abilities are few; this seems like the perfect way to start.

Strawberries and tomatoes

I have a wish list for what I would like to grow. Tomatoes, baby carrots, strawberries, collard greens, baby lettuce, cucumbers and red onions. I am hoping that these are all that can be grown, in a container.

Garden In Bloom

Next spring, my tiny garden in pots; will have a face lift. The garden, now is just plants, no color.

Flowers On My Window Sill

Even in winter