Sunday, May 31, 2009

Reading Round Up: End of May Edition

Bucolic Bushwick a Brooklyn Rooftop Container Vegetable Garden

Newsflash: rising interest in gardening! Back to the land from the Boston Globe, Massachusetts.

Three good reasons to garden, Food Citizen: Your garden offers several health benefits from the Ithaca Journal, New York.

Foodie Mama offers an informative guide to growing cucumbers. I'll have to save this for next year since this season's seeds never sprouted.

Lastly, the New York Times reviews a few gardening books. At some point I'm going to add that Rodale encyclopedia to my collection.

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Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Vegetable Plant Update 3 2009

Bushwick Rooftop Vegetable Garden
Tomatoes: It's been about 3 weeks since they've been in the rooftop garden and they're doing great. They've completely shaken off their phosphorous deficiency and their stems and leaves are noticeably thicker and fuller. Lots of new leaves and a few flowers.

Peas: These were direct sowed at the end of March. They're nice and healthy, about a 18 inches tall with a few flowers. Also, I no longer have to create supports for them to climb since they're using the reed fence to do so.

Peppers: It's been just under 2 weeks since they were transplanted. New leaves are just starting to appear. The older leaves look a little wind battered, but other than that so far, so good.

Eggplants: These were transplanted the same time as the tomatoes. They look great, their stems are thicker and the new leaf growth is much hardier to the elements than the older leaves, which are much paler and frailer in comparison.

Cucumbers: They never sprouted! I direct sowed a bunch of seeds mid april, 3 weeks later when none of them sprouted I sowed a bunch more. Again, nothing. I'm assuming I got a bad batch and will wait till next year to try again.

Broccoli: These were planted a week ago in my new DIY self watering container so they still look the same to me. I've been using the remaining part of the tote as a wind collar to great effect. No leaf shredding whatsoever!

Update: Ooops! Forget to add an expense: 2 grow box staking kits. These are the green poles you see in the rectangular planters.

2 Grow Box Staking Kits: $54.85

Running Total: $193.50

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Monday, May 25, 2009

Reading Round Up: Memorial Day Edition

Bucolic Bushwick a Brooklyn Rooftop Container Vegetable Garden

Garden gnomes: Yea or nay? I used to think they were silly, but lately I've been considering getting one for my garden patch. Gnomes infiltrate RHS Chelsea Flower Show from Times Online, England.

I've read countless articles about community gardens, but this is the first I've read about a portable one. Portable garden will grow moveable feasts from The Salt Lake Tribune, Utah.

Another way to garden: straw bales! Swap soil for straw to grow a garden from WRAL, North Carolina.

In L.A. more restaurants are growing gardens. In L.A.'s restaurant gardens, freshness is grown to order from the Los Angeles Times, California.

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