[TammyPaul]

I swear I could kill a silk plant!

I planted some seeds in one of those little greenhouse kits and they started coming up pretty decent, then I guess the lid made it too hot in the sun and killed them all. My little herbs are starting to die too, but I took it's lid off.

I had a container garden last year with tomatoes and zuchinni but I bought those as plants. I guess I'll have to do that again this year. For the future, what can I do to keep them from dying? Our soil is very bad, basically its red clay dirt with alot of shale rock so that's why I am trying in containers.


Tammy
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[joy828]

Hi Tammy - I'd trust my silk plants with you!!

I used to start all of our tomato plants inside and some of our other plants, also. You don't want them in direct sunlight until they have at least 4 leaves - and I never did the little greenhouse thing. It is so easy to over water them, so you want to keep the soil damp but not wet while they are small. As they develop leaves they will need more water and can be put in sunlight. One thing I learned along the way is that plants need to move to develop strong stems. They will grow toward the light, so you will need to rotate them every day - and gently brush your hand over them - or blow on them - or turn a fan on low for a little while each day. They will be stronger and survive transplanting better.

It is much easier to buy plants, but of course, it can get expensive.

I love my containers - I grow mostly flowers & just a few veggies. I have a tomato every year - this year I have 2 pepper plants and some herbs. I (with a lot of help from my grandson) started over this year with new potting soil. We washed the pots - used coffee filters to cover the drain holes - put purchased top soil in the bottom third and filled the pots with potting soil with fertilizer in it. I have tried growing zucchini and yellow squash on the deck in pots, but they did not bear. If your container doesn't have enough drainage holes - you can put gravel in the bottom - about 3" in a large pot, and that will help keep it from getting water logged.

So much of gardening is trial and error. I think that is part of the fun of it. Don't be discouraged, Tammy - just learn from each experience.

Now - Stick your thumb out and put it on the screen here _________. Then repeat after me: I, Tammy, do resolve to keep growing plants and learning about them. I will accept this Green Thumb proclamation and will forevermore use this Green Thumb I receive here to grow plants in abundance!

I, Joyce, do dub thee - Tammy Green Thumb! Now go forth and watch your garden grow!!

Love ya!
Joyce
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[TammyPaul]

Thanks Joyce!

Now I'm official!

I guess I'll ask for plants for Mother's Day and start over. Last years crop did pretty well.

I will be attempting strawberry plants in a flower bed to add to my "volunteer" blackberries.

I'll keep trying! My grandfather had a huge garden and he would expect nothing less!

Tammy
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