Comments on: An Introduction To Container Gardening

By: Sayward

Sayward — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 04:23:36 +0000

@ Sierra Dawn – Aw thanks, I’m glad you like the blog! And that’s so rad you have an indoor mango tree – did you seriously start it from seed??

I DO have a dwarf lemon tree thriving in my living room! I’m just about to put him outside for the summer – his first year out. Awww =)

By: Sierra Dawn

Sierra Dawn — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 03:59:26 +0000

I know this post is super old, but I just have to mention that, first things first, I absolutely love your blog! I”m finding your posts fascinating and inspiring. So, back to THIS post: I am a fellow Northwesterner and currently have a potted 3 year old mango tree. Seattle is anything but tropical, and my mango is thriving! I keep him indoors for most of the year and let him outside in the summer time. Who knows if he’ll ever produce. I just love throwing seeds from random meal scraps into some soil. Most of the time they don’t sprout but sometimes you get a surprise! Good luck with the citrus growing – maybe you can grow a bonsai citrus tree indoors!

By: Natasja

Natasja — Mon, 27 Dec 2010 06:36:37 +0000

my mum had problems with the neighbours cat & she swore by sprinkling ground black pepper on the soil around your plants – it irritates their noses I assume! Maybe having a consolation prize at the end of the garden like some catnip will help?

By: Sayward

Sayward — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 04:07:30 +0000

@ Michelle Brown – No way do you need all that stuff! All you need is soil sun and water, really. If they’re dying I’d look into temperature/drying out issues before anything else. But if you really want to fortify (which would only help, so why not) there are tons of vegan options. A good vegetable-based compost will provide all sorts of minerals and nutrients. When I want to do a ‘real’ fertilization I use a kelp-based fertilizer, available at most gardening supply places. Good luck!

By: Michelle Brown

Michelle Brown — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:29:26 +0000

Hi I am about to start growing my own vegies in big self watering containers. I am using organic potting mix but the ‘instructions’ say to use blood and bone, manure and dynamic lifter to fertilise the container. I have tried finding alternatives to blood and bone etc and still cant come up with anything. My plants are dying in their little seedling containers as i can’t bring myself to buy blood and bone – goes against everything VEGAN to me… any suggestions???

By: Hope Hughes

Hope Hughes — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 20:26:15 +0000

Getting ready to start and herb box!! So excited!!

By: Sayward

Sayward — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 07:11:06 +0000

@ Laurel – Welcome! Glad you like the site. =)

Container gardening can be quite tricky. Remember to water often, and also to fertilize just like you would in the ‘real’ garden. Also, it may just take a grace period of getting used to. Good luck!

By: Laurel

Laurel — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:06:35 +0000

New to the website and blog here (stumbled on it accidently while looking for something homemade and “green” to use on over-processed hair, fragile hair) – love the info and forums! I’ve never had much luck with container gardens but I keep trying (my basil lasted about 3 months last year, the thyme half that, most times I plant spices I don’t get anything at all – pout) but I’ll keep trying!

By: Sayward

Sayward — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 19:17:28 +0000

@ Ginger Baker- You should do it! It’s a totally different type of gardening, and really fun. The boots/shoes I’ve seen have been unlined (as far as I can tell). If you wanted to put it inside, maybe consider lining it?

@ Meghan – Good for you for growing such a bounty! Good luck with the pests – I’m dealing with aphids in my broccoli as well . . .

@ Homegrown Texan – I hear you on the heat issue. I have the same problems when we get into full-on summer here, too. I’ve found my basil is especially susceptible to drying out – how do you keep it from wilting?

@ Valerie – Hmm, I haven’t run into that problem before, but my first inclination would be to work with the beastie, instead of against it. Like Meghan said, maybe some catnip, or even a makeshift litter box type area, especially for kitty. If you figure out how to make kitty go in one place, then you can just make sure that’s not where your plants are! =)

@ Anne – Wow, that sounds *wonderful*! Hooray for extreme container gardening! Also, it’s not impossible – I totally managed to kill my rosemary last year. Eek!

By: Meghan

Meghan — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:03:39 +0000

Bah! I seemed to have acquired fungus gnats, which I assume are similar or the same as mold flies! I picked up an organic spray this morning, and I’m hoping it worked! Earlier this season I did battle with aphids, but last season was the worst with spider mites. Pests! Booo!

With regards to cats… I don’t have any, but I’ve heard people mention in forums that I’m in that if you plant a few catnip plants the cats will menace those and leave the others alone. I’m not sure if it works, but seems somewhat reasonable!