Greenish Thumb
By Jenn | June 16, 2009
Despite the cranky weather here in NYC, it’s springtime– and gardens everywhere are blooming!
Except for the one in my kitchen.
I tried. I really did– but despite my best efforts, most of my little planties aren’t doing well. Let’s take a look at the “before” photos, taken when I had high hopes for home-grown treats and things seemed to be going well:
Here’s a photo taken of my rosemary, peppermint, cherry tomatoes, and chives when all was right with the world:
The rosemary is still growing strong and curling out in all kinds of crazy directions– it looks like it’s having a lot of fun reaching for the sunlight.
From what I’ve heard mint is a weed, and supposedly grows as such… but, it’s now completely dead. I really have no idea what I did wrong here– can you really over- or under-water weeds? Don’t they not care about that sort of thing?
My tomato plant, my sweet tomato plant: she’s growing strong! I’ve put her outside on the fire escape where she’s happier, but I did that a few years ago and the hoodlum squirrels ate all the fruits. So I’ll just keep a close eye on her, and when she starts to flower maybe I’ll bring her back inside and see what happens. (Suggestions on effective and safe squirrel-deterrents welcomed!)
The chives were given to me by a friend who swore that they were thriving in her terrace garden, with little-to-no attention by her. They continued doing well for about a week and then all the sweet shoots keeled over. I put the pot outside where it’s been getting lots of rain lately, and while the original shoots are still limp there’s a second strong growth going on, which is encouraging.
Then there’s the lettuce– look how happy it was!
When I snapped this photo things were going swimmingly, and I was munching on some baby mixed lettuce leaves each day. As you might guess by now, things took a turn for the worse soon afterwards… the lettuce started wilting (overwatering or underwatering?):
It also (developed? attracted?) little flying fly-mites. So I put the lettuce planter outside on the fire escape thinking that the direct sun would work miracles and the mites would fly away… but guess which sinister urban forager forces came and ate all the lettuce plants? Yep. The Squirrel Squad. The planter is now a bare wasteland of organic soil. But I bet the squirrels really enjoyed their salad.
Oh, and you might notice the bottle of Terracycle up in the first pic– I’ve been wanting to try this stuff for years now, because it’s made from worm poop and packaged in reused plastic bottles, both exciting tidbits. I also love that it’s available for sale at “regular” retailers (Home Depot, Lowes, etc) which makes it a viable alternative for folks who don’t necessarily identify as eco-conscious but do want a solid product.
So, that’s where my gardening attempt stands thus far– I’ll be all set with rosemary and chives, and I might get some tomatoes as well– and I think I’ll pick up some more baby lettuce plants from the farmers market and give it another go.
Do you have tales of consolation or commiseration, or would you like to share the joy of your bounteous garden?
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Topics: Food |
oh, man! that’s so frustrating. I’ve had not-great luck growing food indoors as well. do you think that it’s a simple sunshine thing? and if you had a grow light or something that was on a timer it would go better?
It might. But I’m not willing to commit to becoming a grow-light lady. :)
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sorry to hear about your plants…
I have indoor basil plants, and when I first got them I overwatered them and those annoying knats started breeding in the soil. But now they are gone! Here’s what I did:
First I replaced the soil. Then, I covered the top two inches with sand because knats can’t breed in sand. When it came time to water, I put a few drops of dr. bronner’s liquid soap in with the water. The organic soap kills the knats but doesn’t hurt the plant. (And I will switch to bar soap to reduce plastic after this one’s used up.)
I am also letting my soil dry out between waterings.This is the extent of my gardening experience, but knats aren’t *that* bad as they are a symptom and not the problem itself (the problem here was overwatering).
Haven’t killed my basil plant yet!
sorry, Jenn, I was really hoping it would go well, but as you have learned, sunshine is a crucial ingredient. and looks like over-watering, which is a very common thing. using a mix of little soap and lots of water, spray plants to kill the little pests. if you want to put plants on fireescape, get some small mess wire to cage them against the squirels, and don’t use the saucers, too much rain lately, will cause rot, but plan to water frequently if it does not rain…
you do have to keep turning indoor plants to keep them straight, and the rosemary, you may want to pinch off some branches to train it, i hope to develop a holiday tree with mine, but it is too small yet. don’t pinch the top, unless you want it to bush.
good luch
chili and cayenne pepper can deter the squirrels. It might be a bit tricky on a potted plant but works wonders on bird seed. Only mammals have the receptors for the capsaicin and therefore feel the ‘heat’. Birds don’t so they are not bothered. The squirrels learn fast that the seed is too hot to handle. Something like this might help with your squirrels… but the idea with the cage would most likely be more squirrel proof.
RIGHT! i forgot about using pepper flakes, good idea!
Oy, pots and I don’t get along LOL! When things go into the ground and I ignore them for the most part, they are happy campers! Not sure why I can’t grow but my mom has a greener-than-green thumb. I can’t grow: ivy, orchids, anything that others say they can.
GL keep trying!
Lettuce is a cool weather plant. Here in the midwest we are probably on our final week of lettuce as temperature inch into the 90’s.
I feel your pain. I do have several homemade squirrel repellent recipes for garden sprays that are very cheap to make and some people swear by. The sprays are safe and are based on the main ingredient ….Cayenne pepper. You can see them at my site www.squirrelrepellent.net
There are commercially available products to repel squirrels but I prefer to make my own, cheaper and I know whats in it!
Best of luck,
Sparky
Sounds like you may have infestation of fungus gnats (tiny black & annoying). They can destroy, overnight! Try combo Neem Oil & soap spray, and drench soil with mixture. Works like magic!