Fruitful Changes

I don't want to get too excited in case I'm wrong, but I think some female flowers on the melon plants have finally been pollinated.

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Where Are My Melons?

Don't the melon plants look fantastic? Now if I could just get some melons to go with them everything would be great! I guess my hand pollinating efforts have failed, I'll keep on trying though. Last year I got 3 melons out of 2 plants with no hand pollination. I thought I could easily do better this year since I had a better handle on how to grow these plants, but now I'm getting worried.

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Managing the Growth Spurt

Last week's mini heatwave did wonders for plant growth. Especially the melon plants, they have really taken off.

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German E. coli outbreak: "It is the sprouts." I feel like it's always the sprouts. I don't think I've eaten sprouts since I've subscribed to Food Safety News.

Help your plants survive vacations

Yum. Human breast milk produced by genetically modified cows.

Gardening without actually having a garden. Save some money, skip the pot entirely and plant directly into a bag of soil.

Ugh Too Hot!

FRAK, it's hot outside! These photos are a couple of days old because on 90+ degree days I don't step out on the roof until it's too dark to take pics.

At this time of year I usually water the plants every 3 or 4 days, but due to the recent crazy temps I've been watering everyday. I could probably get away with watering every other day, but I want to play it safe. If a plant runs out of water it becomes extremely stressed and the more stress a plant is under the more vulnerable it is to disease and pests. Obviously I'm hoping to avoid this situation.

Brooklyn: Enter to win a custom SIP windowbox + $75 in plants!

Nicole from Brooklyn Based was kind enough to let me know of a contest they are running to give away a custom built SIP windowbox. The winner will also receive a $75 credit toward plants and soil at the nursery of their choice.

Plus, even if you don't win, the first 25 entrants will receive 20% off window boxes, potting mix and starter plants at either Jungle Design in Williamsburg, Kings County Nurseries in Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Chelsea Garden Center in Red Hook, Brooklyn Botanic Garden’s Garden Shop in Prospect Heights or Dig on Atlantic Avenue.

Hurry and enter, the contest ends June 9th. Good luck!

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Sunny, Dry Weather Leads to Fantastic Garden Growth

One of the melon plants finally found the reed fence. The other melon plant is growing toward the fence as well so it should attach itself in a few days.