Total Money Spent 2016

Seeds: $34.65

50' Zero-G Garden Hose: $32.64

Jobe's Organic Vegetable & Tomato Granular Fertilizer (3 Bags): $22.44

T5 Grow Lights: $19.70

Total Money Spent 2016: $109.43

Total Money Spent 2015: $259.68
Total Money Spent 2014: $285.85
Total Money Spent 2013: $212.96
Total Money Spent 2012: $190.88
Total Money Spent 2011: $300.54
Total Money Spent 2010: $152.41
Total Money Spent 2009: $201.90

On The Roof!

At long last all of the plants are finally on the roof. The tomato plants went up mid May and the rest were held back until the overnights temps moved up into the 60's.

2015 Rooftop & Indoor Seed Selections

Ok, I'm back! The winter was long and brutal, but spring is finally here and I'm ready to get back to rooftop growing.

Total Vegetable Harvest 2015

On the Roof in Self Watering Containers:

Cherry Tomato (Orange Paruche F1): 7 pounds, 10.875 ounces

Eggplant (Bride F1): 3 pounds, 12.375 ounces

Melon (Tigger): 10.875 ounces

Melon (Sugar Cube F1): 6 pounds, 3.875 ounces

Pepper (Giant Aconcagua): 4 pounds, 13.75 ounces

Pepper (Gatherer's Gold): 3 pounds, 10.75 ounces

Potato (Mystery Supermarket): 2 pound, 2.125 ounces

Soybeans (Butterbean): 1 pound, 4.875 ounces

Strawberry (Ozark Beauty): 13.25 ounces

Tomato (Beaverlodge): 10 pounds, 5.375 ounces

Tomato (Bush Goliath F1): 12 pounds, 13.125 ounces


Indoors in the AeroGarden Ultra LED:

Cherry Tomato (Lizzano F1): 1 pound, 12.75 ounces


Total Vegetable Harvest 2015: 56 pounds, 2 ounces


Total Vegetable Harvest 2014: 59 pounds, 11.575 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2013: 56 pounds, 13.75 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2012: 32 pounds, 14.42 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2011: 53 pounds, 11 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2010: 63 pounds, 11.5 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2009: 57 pounds, 5.9 ounces

Total Money Spent 2015

Seeds: $33.15

Seed Starting Mix: $5.71

AeroGarden Ultra LED Indoor Garden with Gourmet Herb Seed Kit: $174.19

AeroGarden Deluxe Grow Anything Kit (3 Season): $37.71

Rope: $8.92

Total Money Spent 2015: $259.68

Total Money Spent 2014: $285.85
Total Money Spent 2013: $212.96
Total Money Spent 2012: $190.88
Total Money Spent 2011: $300.54
Total Money Spent 2010: $152.41
Total Money Spent 2009: $201.90

2014 Rooftop Vegetable Seed Selections

Alright, back in business! Sorry for the delayed return, real life has been keeping me busy so I'm only just now fitting in gardening/blogging time. I've been doing mini-updates on the Bucolic Bushwick Facebook page, but mostly just quick snapshots, full length updates will always be exclusively for this site. So, without further ado, the 2014 seed selections:

Total Vegetable Harvest 2014

June 5: 0.625 ounces
June 12: 2.75 ounces
July 10: 4.0 ounces
July 17: 11.125 ounces
July 24: 3 pounds, 5.5 ounces
July 31: 4 pounds, 6.625 ounces
August 7: 9 pounds, 4.0 ounces
August 14: 17 pounds, 0.375 ounces
August 21: 3 pounds, 12.5 ounces
September 4: 4 pounds, 15.125 ounces
September 11: 2 pounds, 6.0 ounces
September 18: 3 pounds, 9.25 ounces
September 25: 3 pounds, 10.5 ounces
October 2: 1 pound, 3.125 ounces
October 16: 2 pounds, 3.875 ounces
November 20: 1 pound, 11.25 ounces

Cherry Tomato (Sunsugar F1): 2 pounds, 13.0 ounces

Eggplant (Orient Express F1): 6 pounds, 0.825 ounces

Melon (Lil Keeper F1): 9 pounds, 2.375 ounces

Pepper (Giant Aconcagua): 10 pounds, 4.25 ounces

Pepper (Orange Blaze F1): 5 pounds, 2.75 ounces

Potato (Yukon Gold): 1 pound, 8.25 ounces

Strawberry (Ozark Beauty): 3.375 ounces

Tomato (Beaverlodge): 8 pounds, 10.0 ounces

Tomato (Bush Goliath): 1 pound, 12.0 ounces

Tomato (Pink Berkeley Tye Dye): 3 pounds, 12.5 ounces

Watermelon (Little Baby Flower F1): 10 pounds, 6.25 ounces

Total Vegetable Harvest 2014: 59 pounds, 11.575 ounces

Total Vegetable Harvest 2013: 56 pounds, 13.75 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2012: 32 pounds, 14.42 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2011: 53 pounds, 11 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2010: 63 pounds, 11.5 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2009: 57 pounds, 5.9 ounces

Total Money Spent 2014

Seeds: $51.18

Fertilizer (1 bottle liquid, 3 bags granular): $42.80

Reed fence: $26.10

18 gallon totes, 16 units: $79.64

Spray paint for plastic, 8 cans: $45.25

Misc (rubber replacement garden hose washers, nitrile garden gloves and all weather duct tape): $19.97

Flower Seeds, Seed Starting Soil and Jiffy Pots: $20.91

Total Money Spent 2014: $285.85

Total Money Spent 2013: $212.96
Total Money Spent 2012: $190.88
Total Money Spent 2011: $300.54
Total Money Spent 2010: $152.41
Total Money Spent 2009: $201.90

Seedlings Are Up

All tomato and peppers seeds were sown at the beginning of April, melon seeds will be started mid April and corn seeds will be direct sown once the soil temp reaches 55-60 degrees.

The seeds of the ultra early tomato variety I bought this year, Beaver Lodge, were sown in cups and placed outside in the mini greenhouse as soon as they sprouted. I bring them in overnight if the temp dips to 40 or below, otherwise they stay outside. The plan is to get them acclimated to the roof as soon as possible so that they can be planted a couple weeks ahead of everything else.

2013 Rooftop Vegetable Seed Selections

Yay, back for a new growing season! Are you excited? I'm excited, I can't wait to open up the roof.

Without further ado:

Carrot - Short and Sweet, 68 days
Melon - Minnesota Midget OP, 65 days
Melon - Serenade F1, 78 days
Peas (Shelling) - Caselode, 57 days
Potatoes - Yukon Gold, 70-90 days
Sweet Corn - On Deck F1, 61 days
Sweet Pepper - Giant Aconcagua OP, 75 days [1st Generation Rooftop Seeds]
Sweet Pepper - Planet F1, 65 days
Tomato (Cherry) - Jasper F1, 60 days
Tomato (Early) - Beaver Lodge OP, 55 days
Tomato (Main) - Brandy Boy F1, 75 days
Tomato (Main) - Cosmonaut Volkov OP, 72 days
Tomato (Main) - Japanese Black Trifele OP, 74 days
Soybean - Butterbean OP, 90 days

Total Vegetable Harvest 2013

June 6: 2.125 ounces
June 13: 1.75 ounces
June 20: 0.5 ounces
June 27: 0.5 ounces
July 18: 1 pound, 11.25 ounces
July 25: 1 pound, 9.625 ounces
August 1: 7 pounds, 8.875 ounces
August 8: 15 pounds, 14.0 ounces
August 15: 9 pounds, 2.0 ounces
August 22: 6 pounds, 12.875 ounces
September 5: 4 pounds, 6.875 ounces
September 12: 1 pound, 1.0 ounce
September 19: 2 pounds, 11.0 ounces
September 26: 2 pounds, 2.875 ounces
October 10: 2 pounds, 3.0 ounces
November 14: 1 pound, 5.5 ounces

Cherry Tomato (Jasper F1): 4 pounds, 15.25 ounces

Corn (On Deck F1): 3.625 ounces

Melon (Minnesota Midget): 3 pounds, 4.375 ounces

Melon (Serenade F1): 9 pounds, 8.5 ounces

Soybean (Butterbean): 1 pound, 6.0 ounces

Strawberry (Ozark Beauty): 4.875 ounces

Sweet Pepper (Giant Aconcagua): 2 pounds, 12.625 ounces

Sweet Pepper (Planet F1): 1 pound, 6.25 ounces

Tomato (Beaver Lodge): 15 pounds, 0.625 ounces

Tomato (Brandy Boy F1): 3 pounds, 10.625 ounces

Tomato (Cosmonaut Volkov): 7 pounds, 10.75 ounces

Tomato (Japanese Black Trifele): 6 pounds, 10.25 ounces

Total Vegetable Harvest 2013: 56 pounds, 13.75 ounces

Total Vegetable Harvest 2012: 32 pounds, 14.42 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2011: 53 pounds, 11 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2010: 63 pounds, 11.5 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2009: 57 pounds, 5.9 ounces

Subscribe and learn more about growing food:

Total Money Spent 2013

Seeds: $72.37

Self watering container mix and fertilizer from gardeners.com: $92.29

Yukon Gold Seed Potatoes & 16" Round Pot: $11.97

1 Pint Liquid Fertilizer & 2 Bags of Granular Fertilizer: $36.33

Total Money Spent 2013: $212.96

Total Money Spent 2012: $190.88
Total Money Spent 2011: $300.54
Total Money Spent 2010: $152.41
Total Money Spent 2009: $201.90

Starting 2012 Rooftop Vegetable Seeds

The rooftop vegetable seeds were started last Saturday. The indoor carrots were moved to the side so that the only thing under the grow light is the seed starting dome.

2012 Rooftop Vegetable Seed Selections

Charantais Melon - Hakucho Hybrid
Cherry Tomato - Black Cherry
Eggplant - Pingtung Long
Shelling Peas - Caselode
Sweet Pepper - Flexum Hybrid
Sweet Pepper - Giant Aconcagua
Tomato - Mountain Magic (F1)
Tomato - Summertime Green

Growing Tips for Rooftop Vegetable Gardening

Welcome to Bucolic Bushwick. Here you'll find advice on rooftop vegetable gardening, as well several plans for DIY self watering planters. Please share this page with others and help spread the vegetable gardening movement.

To celebrate my 5th gardening (and blogging) anniversary I've compiled a list of tips I wish someone told me before I started growing food on a rooftop.

Total Vegetable Harvest 2012

April 21: 4.1 ounces
July 12: 1 pound, 6.02 ounces
July 19: 4 pounds, 10 ounces
July 26: 5 pounds, 2.2 ounces
August 9: 6 pounds, 6 ounces
August 16: 3 pounds, 0.4 ounces
August 23: 4 pounds, 2.2 ounces
August 30: 3 pounds, 4.6 ounces
September 6: 1 pound, 7.4 ounces
September 13: 1 pound 7.7 ounces
September 20: 6.9 ounces
October: 1 pound, 4.9 ounces

Beet (Detroit Dark Red): 10.4 ounces

Carrots (Parmex): 4.1 ounces

Charentais Melon (Hakucho Hybrid): 8 pounds, 8.8 ounces

Cherry Tomato (Black): 3 pounds, 12.15 ounces

Eggplant (Pingtung Long): 1 pound, 0.53 ounces

Pepper (Flexum Hybrid): 3 pounds, 2.8 ounces

Pepper (Giant Aconcagua): 8 pounds, 5.43 ounces

Soybean (Envy): 2.5 ounces

Tomato (Mountain Magic): 3 pounds, .21 ounces

Tomato (Summertime Green): 3 pounds, 15.5 ounces

Total Vegetable Harvest 2012: 32 pounds, 14.42 ounces

Total Vegetable Harvest 2011: 53 pounds, 11 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2010: 63 pounds, 11.5 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2009: 57 pounds, 5.9 ounces

Total Money Spent 2012

Seeds, Soil & Smart Pots for Indoor Gardening: $33.25

Seeds & Seed Starting Pellets for Rooftop Gardening: $42.94

Rooftop Garden Prep: $90.21

3'x25' roll of window screen fabric for shade cloth: $14.68

3 large flower pots: $9.80

Total Money Spent 2012: $190.88

Total Money Spent 2011: $300.54
Total Money Spent 2010: $152.41
Total Money Spent 2009: $201.90

2011 Seeds

Beet, Detroit Dark Red
Carrot, Parmex
Cherry Tomato, Sun Gold F1
Cucumber, Lemon
Eggplant, Fairy Tale F1
Melon, Tasty Bites F1
Radish, Cherry Belle
Radish, French Breakfast
Radish, Sparkler Top
Sweet Pepper, Atris F1
Sweet Pepper, King Crimson
Swiss Chard, Bright Lights
Tomato, Lemon Perfection
Tomato, Valencia

Total Vegetable Harvest 2011

March 9: 2.5 ounces
May 19: 7.0 ounces
June 30: 12.7 ounces
July 14: 3 pounds, 11.3 ounces
July 21: 4 pounds, 5.5 ounces
July 28: 9 pounds, 5.3 ounces
Aug 4: 2 pounds, 11.5 ounces
Aug 11: 14 pounds, 13.8 ounces
Aug 18: 4 pounds, 1.8 ounces
Aug 25: 5 pounds, 5.6 ounces
Sept 1: 1 pound, 14.6 ounces
Sept 15: 3 pounds, 13.7 ounces
Sept 22: 14.2 ounces
Sept 29: 11.4 ounces
Nov 10: 8.1 ounces

Beets (Detroit Dark Red): 7.0 ounces

Cherry Tomato (Sungold): 5 pounds, 12 ounces

Cucumber (Lemon): 4 pounds, 11.4 ounces

Eggplants (Fairy Tale): 6 pounds, 5.4 ounces

Melon (Tasty Bites): 9 pounds, 2.2 ounces

Pepper (Atris): 7 pounds, 0.1 ounces

Pepper (King Crimson): 1 pound, 15.6 ounces

Radishes (Cherry Belle, French Breakfast, Sparkler Top): 6.3 ounces

Tomato (Valencia): 6 pounds, 13.2 ounces

Tomato (Yellow Perfection): 10 pounds, 8.9 ounces

Turnip (Purple Top White Globe): 4.3 ounces

Total Vegetable Harvest 2011:  53 pounds, 11 ounces

Total Vegetable Harvest 2010: 63 pounds, 11.5 ounces
Total Vegetable Harvest 2009: 57 pounds, 5.9 ounces

Total Money Spent 2011

Seeds: $50.89

2-Foot T5 Grow Light System: $45.66

Southern Patio Jumbo Growing Tower: $17.40

DIY Project - Converting a Standard Planter into a Self Watering Container: $9.80

Soil & Cages: $105.03

Granular Fertilizer & Fertilizer Spikes: $71.76

Total Money Spent 2011: $300.54

Total Money Spent 2010: $152.41
Total Money Spent 2009: $201.90