This is my first time with more than one or two doomed house plants. I
did lots of research including here (unemployment has its benefits). I
planted a lot of different seed (about 65 plant types) but as little
as one plant of each type. I wanted variety without overwhelming work.
I'm very happy with the results and I want to show off my little
garden before I do something to kill it.

http://members.aol.com/digitalvinyl6...Garden-med.jpg

There is one indeterminate tomato (4th of July) in the left corner.
I've got at least 8 clusters of 5-8 tomatoes. One cracked and I
stopped watering until midday heat caused some wilting. I
confess...i'm an overwaterer. My plants never wilt even when I'm ready
to pass out. I need help. I stop myself everyday -- especially now
that I read that too much water will dilute the flavor!!

A determinate Plum (Health Kick) tomato bush is in center. It has
dozens of fruit. The biggest I can spot are almost half the size I
expect.

A bell pepper plant is on the right side. Tiny bells are just starting

This is the only ground I used--everything else is in containers (I
rent). The ground was dry & sandy, lots of rocks and no earthworms. I
dug up the top 18 inches to condition it. It took two days with my bad
back. My landlord laughed and suggested I plant one plant over in
their "plain old dirt", just to see what the difference would be. Well
I stuck a bell pepper there. While my bells are bigger plants with
larger leaf canopies...I just found a peach-sized green pepper plus
two ping-pong sized ones on hers. I've got some marble sized ones
started but she wins the first to harvest. :-( Damn! But maybe I'll
have more season long.

http://members.aol.com/digitalvinyl66/PatioGarden.jpg
(this second angle is huge...not for modem users)
http://members.aol.com/digitalvinyl66/PatioAbove.jpg

My beefsteak is in a 12inch square planter and had drainage problems.
I solved them but the lower foliage was toast. Growth has resumed. I
do have about 7 tomatoes (Burpee Burger) started.

Another similar container had same issues. The bell pepper there
turned a dark dark dark green with a few lower leaves having yellow
chlorisis-like insides. The snow peas at the back of the planter just
about died. I just saw one snow pod on 1 withered plant.


I planted a half-dozen corn and a Baby Bear pumpkin.

I know the corn was a LONG shot, but I wanted to try. They've had
their tassels out for about 10 days. I don't see anything resembling
the cob stub or silks. I think these are a lost cause. :-(

http://members.aol.com/digitalvinyl6...yBearPlant.jpg
I have four pumpkins growing on my Baby Bear. The plant has wound
across the ground and is growing into the hydrangea. Around the size
of a large acorn seems to be the deciding point. At that size the
pumpkins either fall off/rot or grow larger. I'm guessing that is due
to sufficient pollination?

My potato plant is about 18 inches high and I see what look like buds
forming inside the highest cluster of leaves.

http://members.aol.com/digitalvinyl66/PepperPlanter.jpg
Five cayennes(left) are hanging, the longest about 3-4 inches, still
green. No Jalapenos(right) yet. My Anaheim(center) went in late so I'm
expecting a late and smaller harvest.

My lettuce(front extreme left and right) is still growing but it may
have gone bitter. Was still good last week but these hot days should
do it in (maybe my overwatering will save it!)

The brown leaves in the back are my snap peas. They produced (4 dozen
pods on 9 plants) but i made some mistakes. I think i didn't harvest
quick enough and I think I did something else to brown them. The tops
are coming back top but the bottom 12 inches are brown and dead. They
were incredibly healthy.

I successfully grew oregano, dill, sage, chives, parsley & thyme.
Cumin didn't happen. Try again next year. The herbs are everywhere. In
pots, in the ground, mixed into the corners of the rectangular
containers.

The parsley attracted a Black Swallowtail butterfly to lay its eggs.
Thanks to the group's advice four of them devoured a parsley down to
twigs and left to become butterflys. Hopefully I spot them around some
time late this week.

http://members.aol.com/digitalvinyl6...latter-med.jpg
Flowers did well. The round platter is crowded but I wanted to crowd
them in. Snapdragons are just beginning to open. They are shorter then
expected--they didn't like crowding. Conversely, the Silene grew to
twice the height it was supposed to and hangs off the bowl's edge--i
think also because of crowding. Interesting that one grows too tall
another too short. The cosmos are short--only about 20" but as long
as they flower I don't mind the reduced height.

http://members.aol.com/digitalvinyl66/BakersRack.jpg
Big Smile dwarf Sunflower looks nice and full and it gets lots of
visitors flying and ants. Baby's Breath just bloomed. My "mystery"
Zinnia still has the one bloom but it is hidden behind a leftover
pepper plant that I didn't have the heart to kill. The other seeds in
the box didn't take. My Dutchess of Edinburgh is making another
attempt to grow after snapping down to the dirtline. Shasta Daisy is
just green so far. My Angel's Trumpet has grown pretty fast. My Black
Velvet geranium are ... well... not black at all. Leaves are all
pretty much plain green. Don't know if it darkens with age or
something I did isn't letting the dark color develop.


http://members.aol.com/digitalvinyl66/Hanging.jpg
Naturtiums don't look as good in a hanging basket. I had a number of
no shows in the baskets. Try again on them next year. I learned that
hanging and climbing are not a choice the gardener necessarily makes.
Morning Glories refused to hang down and just kept wrapping around
itself to climb back up. I wound it around and around to form a cone
instead. This is how we learn. I also confused some seed and planted
bachelor buttons to replace a no-show...thought it was a small 6" blue
flower. ooops again. The violas look a bit lost here. They look
better in tight bundles.


I've definitely got a list of things to try for next year.
Cantelope, Watermelon, Cumin, more peas, broccoli early, spinach,
green beans, and I'd really like to start grapes.

Well that's enough self-indulgent rambling for one post.
Thanks to all in the group for the help.

DiGiTAL ViNYL (no email)
Zone 6b/7, Westchester Co, NY, 1 mile off L.I.Sound
1st Year Gardener