It’s time to update on the garden again. Can you believe it is May 1st already? It seems like just last week was new years! So, here is the update on my little garden.
This planter looked like it would be a good one when I bought it, but it is turning out not to be. It does not have any drainage holes in it, so I found out yesterday that I was drowning my little herb garden. The parsley is drooping, and the oregano leaves are turning yellow. I tipped the planter over on its side for a bit and drained off a LOT of water, so maybe the plants will recover. When I get a minute I am going to poke some holes in the bottom of it with an ice pick.
The English peas are getting really tall. They bloomed a few days ago and now have a few little pea pods on them. These should be ready to pic and add to a salad in a few more days. These vines have been wrapping their little tendrils around the trellis I put next to it like the plant knows it is supposed to.
Can you believe the size of these red potato plants? That container it is in is a bushel laundry basket. That big! The plant lets me know that it needs watering because as soon as it gets the least bit dry, the leaves start drooping. I can not wait to harvest new potatoes!
We are going out to dinner tonight, but if I was making dinner at home, we would be having some steamed Swiss Chard. This is ready to pick. Once I pick the bigger leaves off, it will continue to put out more leaves all summer. Do you like Swiss Chard? It is beautiful to grow and tastes really good.
This is the Sweet Basil from Back To Nature that I started in a can on the window sill. I transplanted it about a week or so ago. I seems to be doing well. The plant on the left is dill, and the one on the right is my purple heirloom tomato plant. I had to poke holes in the bottom of that orange planter too, because the tomato was drowning. This planter is supposed to have a well in the bottom that keeps water off of the plants, but it is not working out like that.
Fabgrandpa picked out this Kalanchoe. It had tiny buds with just a bit of red on the tips of them when we bought it. It has bloomed out so pretty in the couple of weeks since it has been potted up. It is living on the porch rail for now.
All these plants are waiting to be planted in pots. I can do about two or three a day before I get tired. There are a couple of tomato plants, bell pepper, eggplant, impatience, begonias, and a few more. Our porch is just brimming with loveliness.
I just put these pink petunias in a hanging basket this week. They will eventually drape over the sides of the basket and make a really pretty hanging arrangement. It will also attract butterflies and hummingbirds.
This is how the pink petunias will look eventually. We bought this hanging basket already planted. Fabgrandpa just couldn’t resist it.
Fabgrandpa also picked out these marigolds. He put them in a hanging basket this week. As they grow they will look better. I might see if I can find a piece of ivy or other green vine to add to this planter.
We have a big problem with carpenter bees. There are a bunch of them out there. They fly around the porch, and hover in the air right in front of me when I try to work out there. We asked at the nursery what we could do to get rid of them, and they suggested getting a trap. So, we got the one shown above. It seems to be working, right?
I think this is a carnation. It might also be a pink. Whatever it is, it is a really pretty flower. It will be potted up soon.
I got these two plants put in their pots a couple of days ago. The one on the left is eggplant (yum) and purple bell pepper on the right.
Can you tell I love fresh herbs? This planter has Basil, Sage, and Oregano in it. They are doing quite well, too.
The garden kitty helps us with the garden by knocking plants over that need to be replanted anyway. How clever of her to do that for us.
Sheilacakes says
You have a super green thumb. I wish I could garden as good as you.
Kimberly Grabinski says
Soooo pretty! I think I would prefer containers over my raised beds that way I can move them wherever I want. We have wasps here and they are nasty. I feel bad killing them but what else can you do?
So is garden kitty officially a resident now?
Karen says
Yeah, Kim it sorta looks that way. Fabgrandpa is getting attached to her.
Denise says
We just harvested our container potatoes, yours are looking great!
Karen says
How do you know when to harvest them?
Melissa says
I love seeing all of these! I’d really like to bring some flowers into our backyard.
Sara Phillips says
You have some good looking plants! And garden kitty is cute! We haven’t planted anything this year but we usually grow zucchini squash.
Leah says
I wish I had a green thumb! I totally don’t! The kitty is so cute!
Alicia Vanatta says
I love it! Very pretty. And your cat is pretty too 🙂
Allison says
Great tips! I wish I could do more gardening, not really possible in the city though. I did just order some potting soil and small pots from Amazon so that my son and I can do a wee bit of planting and have them on the window sill in our kitchen!
Carissa Pelletier says
The English peas are new to me. I have sugar snap peas in the garden right now but want to try those sometime soon!
Susan says
What an impressive display of your green thumb skills! Your plants look great!
geogypsy2u says
Looks yummy and lovely, especially with garden kitty looking on. 😉
Karen Glatt says
Your plants are just beautiful! I really like your garden and the kitty is so cute! I want to grow more plants like yours. I need to get outside and get more plants planted!