Sunday, May 15, 2011

The Overview

This is an overview about what I have experienced so far (since Apr 17th), and from now on, hopefully I can kept update on a real time base:)


Location 
  •  Morgantown, WV, in between Zone 5 - Zone 6, last frost date: May 15th; often raining or cloudy; if the sun is out, very hot; basically a very bad climate, haha, and doesn't have spring/fall - i really wanna move back to virginia....or somewhere south
  • Our apartment: west facing balcony (2nd story), sunny since 1:00PM for probably 3 hours, then shaded buy a giant tree right in front of the balcony, which also draws all kinds of pests:( 
  • We are having a container garden. I made a lot of cheap self watering container. 
My Plants:
  • Started from transplants/seedlings
  • Started from Seeds
      • Basil, Sweet - [restarted]
      • Tomato, Beefsteak (I think)
      • Pepper, California Wonder
      • Onion(Scallion), White long bunch
      • Garden Bean, Contender - [sick]
      • Lettuce, Black Seeded Simpson - [restarted]
      • Cucumber, Sumter - get this one from Walgreens
      • Tomato, Large Red Cherry - get this one from Walgreens
      • Watermelon, Crimson Sweet - [haven't sowed yet]
    • Burpee Seeds  ($1.00-1.50@Walmart; $1.79+@Lowes)
      • Tomato, Super Beefsteak - not sold online 
    • Ferry-Morse ($1.00@Walmart)
      • Parsley, Single or Plain - it came with that green herb planter (on sale in Walmart $3.00). The parsley were really slow to germinate, but the herb growing kit (see pic below), which comes with 1 jiffy quick soil mix pellet - different from the peat pellet!!,  is really awesome! 
What I have bought:
           I know a lot of people who are so experienced in gardening/farming (www.gardenweb.com) discriminate Walmart/Walmart shoppers But for most of us, that's really the easiest way to get supplies. Come on~~~where I live doesn't even have home depot:( So...please don't blame me for getting most of my stuff from Walmart...I am not a Walmart lover, but after all, you know where to go if you happened to need something on my list, instead of searching again and again~(as i finally give up looking for pine bark fines...)
  • Seeds (price/store see above) - The cheapest (american seed) germinated the best, but I am not sure about their quality, since both of my beans got sick, and they have been outdoor only twice. Walmart has the best price.

  • Seed Starting - Jiffy Professional Greenhouse 72 pellet  $5.98 @ Walmart - Basically useless except looks cool. My seeds germinated as great in the regular potting mix or damp paper towels. 
Jiffy Greenhouse
  • Soil (Potting Mix)
    • Miracle-Gro Moisture Control Potting Mix 8 Quart $4-5 @Walmart - This one seems really popular, you can get it almost everywhere!! But I don't really care about it that much after trying - don't seem worth the extra money, not enough perlite, not good for self-watering container (will be too wet)


    • My own mix -  I'll start another post talking about soil. What I am using now is about: 7 parts Potting mix + 2 Parts Perlite + 2 Parts Vermiculite + 0.5-1 part Compost. The measurement is not strict, my amateur standard is that it feels light and has enough perlite. I am not sure if compost is important or not, I just mixed a small potion of it in anyways, since it's so cheap, lol.
      • Miracle-Gro Potting Mix 2 cubic feet $9.99@Ace Hardware (3 dollar rebate, too!) - I would really like to try Pro-Mix , because a lot of people online recommend it. But I really can't find it, so I'll just make my own mix with basic potting soil. I got this potting mix because it has a very good value ($6.99/2cf for a named brand, not bad indeed)



      • Compost (Nature Naturally?), $2-3@Walmart - it smells just like earth - the fresh soil smell after rain, so i am pretty happy with it.

 

  • Insecticidal Soap - Safer Insect Killing Soap with Seaweed Extrat 32 oz $4.99@Ace Hardware (On Sale, Orig $7.49) - my supermarket bought basil plant got aphids, in the search of a solution, I found this. As usually, I bought it because a lot of people online recommend it (a lot of nursery people recommend it too!) Lucky for me, it was on sale at Ace. However, it seemed that my basil got BURNED from it!!! I really don't understand....maybe those basil plants were just too weak at the time I applied the soap. Anyways, I may have to dilute it...


  • Pots/Containers/Planters... - Go to dollar tree for the cheapest pots:) 
    • 3 oz disposable cup 
    • 18 oz disposable cup - very nice seedling container!
    • Eight Plastic pots (8.75", 10", Small Windowsill box) $1.00@Dollar Tree
    • Two 24" Winadowsill Box $4.00@Dollar General - Alex's Dad bought those for us
    • Seven 6 Quart plastic shoe box $1.00@a lot of places
    • Three 4" terra-cotta pot $0.85@Walmart
    • Twenty 5 gallon planter $0.00@local nursery - the nice owner gave us those for free:)
    • (Not bought yet) 5 gallon bucket $2.87@lowe's - I think they will make really good tomato planter
  • Others:
    • Lights - As I said, we barely have any sunlight, so I have to invest in the lights. According to my research, T5 fluorescent lights (1 cool light + 1 warm light) will work the best. However, it is hard to meet all the needs though... T5 lights are normally more expensive, and hard to find cool light/warm light for the same fixture... anyways, this is what I got:
Lights of America 23" T5 Light
Lights of America 24" T8 Light




Note to Self:
  • For Rosemary, Thyme, Mint.... Don't try to start from seed~ Start with cuttings or transplants
  • Don't be lazy, transplant babies in time!
  • Start small.... I have way tooooooo many tomatoes & peppers, and, they are giant beefsteak tomatoes :'(

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