Repotting

This tomato was starting to bust out of the mini-pot I put it in so it was time to re-pot.

We're supposed to get rain and 60 degrees for the next week, so we'll see how the garden goes. More updates coming soon this week.

Plot of Land

Thanks for all the enthusiasm about the "plot of land" my landlord offered. I wish I was as enthusiastic as you. I may have oversold it in my last post.

It's about a 1' by 6'' piece of land shoved between two multi-story houses and a garage. I've been watching it the past few days at different times of day and the best sun situation is around noon when it gets the reflection off the neighboring house, which is technically just a reflection off the window of our house.

It's also interesting because further toward the street on this strip of land there's lots of hostas that seem to do pretty well, but they have quite a bit more sunshine.

Here's a photo. I didn't have time to take one, so this is from Google Earth. It must be from before we moved in, but there's plants on the deck, so the tenants before us must have gardened too! Do you see that tiny, very faint red circle I drew on the photo? Kind of in the dead center of the photo? Yeah, that's the "plot of land" he was so kind to offer.

And this gives you a better idea of how big our deck is. Ok, so deck might be stretching it. It's a glorified balcony. But we plan on filling it to the brim. :)

I'm hoping to take some more photos soon. It's been rather cool and rainy here. Not great for gardening and not great for working on my final exam - the rain just makes me sleepy.

Hope the weather is better for you all!

Noticeable

I was out this past weekend when our landlord stopped by to drop off a lease renewal. While he was here he mentioned to J that there's a tiny spot of land out by the garage that we can plant in if we'd like. He offered since he said "It seems you like gardening."

I can't imagine what might have given him that impression!

I think maybe people are starting to notice our ever-growing plant collection.

Apple Issues

I came home on Friday and went out to look at all my plants and found a very unwelcome visitor!

Does anyone know what this is and how to get rid of it? So far I've just been pulling any worm I see off the plant and then disposing of it in a method that is far more violent than it probably needs to be.

I've read that spraying plants with a soap water solution will help, and that you can add cayenne pepper and/or garlic. Has anyone tried that?


Other than the "guests" the apple looks really good I think!

Insanity

So I work full time in higher ed and I'm a part time graduate student so the last week of classes is pure insanity for me. Not only does the office get busy this time of year with commencement and retiring faculty receptions and graduating student receptions and honors banquets and did I mention the fiscal year ends 5/31? So yeah, this past week has been CRAZY at work. Not to mention I had a final exam on Wednesday and another coming up on Monday.

That's a long way of saying no post today. I am headed to a "Garden Party" this afternoon here on campus. It won't be as cool as my garden. I bet they'll only have flowers and no edibles. But they probably will have champagne. Hmmm... that might make it better than my garden.

Have a great weekend!! It's supposed to rain here, but that means I don't have to carry heavy watering cans out to my porch, so that's fine with me!

Dana's Porch is Falling Down...

The season hasn't even fully begun, but our porch is already getting crowded. J is worried that there won't be room to grill - GASP! We planted a few tomatoes, but it's still getting down to about 45 degrees at night, so we pull them into the house at night.
Between the in and the out and watering and soil moving and everything else, gardening is turning out to be a real workout! I can't imagine how it would be if I was doing more than just a few containers on my porch - scratch that, a LOT of containers on my porch.Our apartment is on the top floor of an older home, so I'm just hoping that our porch stays attached to the house all summer. And if it decides to make a break for it, I certainly hope we're not on it! :)

Even more fruit!

Our apartment is quickly becoming a fruit tree orchard, but that hasn't stopped me from adding to the collection.


The newest additions include a lime, a pineapple, a passion fruit, and an apple. Who knew that limes were thorny? I pulled the lime tree out of its box and stabbed myself!


The passion fruit showed up and looked pretty pathetic, but it's really started to take off! It grows by the hour and sends off shoots that cling to everything and make the cutest curly-q's.


The pineapple was similar to the passion fruit, showing up looking sad, but it's throwing off a few new leaves.


And the apple seems to be thriving on the porch and has lots of new leaves.


All of these are in 12'' pots with regular potting soil and are being watered regularly and I have some fertilizer on the way.


Oh, and the banana plant is putting out new leaves too. We should be making fruit salad soon! :)