"The darker green varieties have a few most nutrients."

Bluh?

thanks for the informative article, can you suggest the fertilizer to be used for the cucumber plant you have informed. thanks

Thank you!

I was told to plant mint in it's own pot since it can take over due to spreading

Cherry and Grape tomatoes may be small in fruit size, but the plant size is the largest of any tomato plant!  They are absolutely the LAST tomato you would put in a compact space.  For compact spaces you should look for tomatoes that are specifically bred for it.  Look for the words, "dwarf" or "bush".  Patio is a variety that is specifically grown for containers on your Patio.  Also upsidedown containers are a novelty item.  The container is usually too small for the plant and it doesn't do well.  Grow your tomatoes as God intended, rightside up.

Agree with the poster that says to plant mint in it's own pot and never in the ground, cause it spreads quickly via it's root systems.  It will take over everything!

Enjoy gardening!  I really hope that you are inspired by this artical to try it.  But if you're serious about it, look for more information from Gardening experts, rather than food/dieting experts.

The growing season is shorter here in Calgary, AB, Canada area. How would the timeline differ up here?

Someone please tell the vendors that we aren't buying....

Thanks! i was wondering about that post!

Original Post by: catnipster

I was told to plant mint in it's own pot since it can take over due to spreading

This is true! My mom grew various mint plants in her garden when I was a kid. They are "creeper plants," which means they like to expand their roots over the ground surface rather than deeper into the soil.

So your CC name is catnipster - have you ever grown your own cat nip? We always had fun watching the kitties after they'd been munching in the garden!

On the subject of mint: my mom had a plant called "chocolate mint," too. It sorta smelled like chocolate+mint. I never ate it, but I imagine it'd be good to use for desserts/drinks.

Catnipter is for Catherine and I go by cat. I was never a cat person so no catnip!

Oregano is another herb that will spread and take over an area.  It will spread and form new roots, so just keep it under control.  Simple trimming will do--it's not as insidious as mint.  Alternatively, you can let it run, and it forms an attractive (and tasty) ground cover.

I grow cherry tomatoes in pots every year.  Yes they get big, but are much more prolific (at least for me) than the patio types.  I manage the size, use a big pot and stake them.  I put them on my porch steps, it's so fun to sit out there in the summer and munch on those babies!

Yes, I agree that you can grow a cherry tomato in a LARGE pot.  But the article said for compact spaces.  Most tomatoes need at least a 5 gallon pot.  10 gallon is better.

Three cheers for fresh herbs just outside your door! Thought I'd share a roast chicken creation I made last weekend using chives, oregano, and rosemary from my garden. (Please forgive if this isn't the right place for this - this is my first post.)

I grabbed a bunch of each herb and set aside some springs for putting inside. I minced the remaining chives, oregano, and rosemary - about a half-cup total. I added minced garlic, coarse-ground black pepper, the zest of a lemon, the juice of half a lemon, and a bit of olive oil. I cleaned a 4.5 lb chicken, and filled the cavity with the reserved herb springs, the juiced half of the lemon, cut in quarters, and 8 cloves of peeled garlic, then trussed it up. I then loosened the skin over the breast and covered the meat with the herb mixture under the skin. I rubbed a little under the thigh skin too. I roasted the chicken at 350 degrees for 20 min, then added 1/2 chicken stock to the roasting pan. After 45 min, I added chunks of yukon gold potatoes, carrots, celery, and onion. Then roasted for 1 hr until done. The pan juices were amazing! (I used the leftover breast meat for a big greek salad later in the week.)

Being able to cook - and enjoying it - has made it much easier to lose weight and stay healthy. I'm very grateful that my Mom taught and encouraged me.

Having fresh greens and herbs really makes a difference! A friend of mine who lived in an apartment took a small child's pool and made a miniature leafy garden for her salads. It was really such a great idea!

Will try out planting some tomatoes in large containers.

How much sun do I need?

May in Atlanta, GA

Garlic and onions  are easy to grow too and great for your health . Cherry Tomatoes can be done inside in a large pot but it takes a lot of work to keep them from taking over your space , you can hang them but they wont do as well as the right side up tomatos ..but they will grow as long as they get minimum 6 hours of sun a day and you have them in a pot with good drainage .

All tomatoes I'm aware of require full sun.

for Alberta; find your frost free date (you can search it online):  this is the date that on average is the time when frosts are over.  Then look for a planting guide online so you can calculate your planting dates. 

Here's one that does it for you:  http://www.yougrowgirl.com/2006/03/31/the-lazy-gardeners-see d-starting-chart/

Also, here's a web page that gives good general info on starting veggies in any area:

http://www.yougrowgirl.com/category/garden/gardening-101/

hope this helps.

Spinach is another good one to grow.  It's very similar to lettuce to grow, so I always grow them together, and it is SO nutritious.  Black-seeded Simpson is my favorite for its hardiness.

Also, I tried the upside-down containers for my tomatoes last year and loved them!  It was nice not to have to deal with stakes, and the plants did fine!  I got plenty of tomatoes, and the plants stayed healthy all season long. 

Tomatoes do prefer full sun, but you can grow them in less than full sun.  You may get a few less fruit, but you'll still get something.  minimum 4-6 hours.  Prefer morning sun to hot afternoon sun if you have to choose.

Original Post by: ramanujamvaradan

thanks for the informative article, can you suggest the fertilizer to be used for the cucumber plant you have informed. thanks

I use Miracle grow for vegetables and tomatoes.  It works great for me, just make sure you rinse them before you eat them.  

Original Post by: ninav

Having fresh greens and herbs really makes a difference! A friend of mine who lived in an apartment took a small child's pool and made a miniature leafy garden for her salads. It was really such a great idea!

What an awesome idea!   I will have to try that.  

I made the mistake of assuming cherry tomato plants would be small, because cherry tomatoes are small.  Wow, was I wrong!  I planted 5 on my small deck last summer, and ended up with 5 huge tomato plants and a lot of tiny tomatoes.  I was in Boulder, Colorado and I started from seed.  Due to my inexperience, the long winter and short growing season I didn't get that many tomatoes before the frost came and killed all my plants. 

But now I am in California, where the growing season just goes on and on!  And I have a real garden where I can plant stuff, as well as a huge patio for bigger containers.  Yay! :)

When growing all these different items how can I make sure bugs and other things aren't affecting the plants in an unhealthy way?

You can also grow potatoes in a bag. They sale potato bags online or use can use your own. Simply fill the bag with very good organic soil, put the seed in, when the tops are about 6 inches you canloosly tie the bag around the tops. When its time to harvest the potatoes simply pull the tops out and be sure to dig around the dirt for more potatoes or pour all the contents out on the ground.

@ Champel, I use an organic mixture to deter bugs and insects. Don't use the commercial chemicals on your edible plants as it tends to get into the leafs and fruits. I mean really, would you spray your salad with these chemicals before eating it? ugh!

My homemade recipe is soaking chewing tobacco in water for a few days. Drain it by putting placing a bowl under the colander then add Cheyenne pepper, garlic power or garlic salt, any type of hot sauce, the best is Chinese hot sauce, or anything else you have in your spice cabinet that is hot. Mix it well and put in a spray bottle.

When the bugs come for lunch they will get a aweful tasty surprise.

Another option for a safe and easy  pesticide is dish soap!  Just make a highly diluted solution of dish soap and water and spray on the plants.  Last year when bugs started eating my peas, I made up a solution of dish soap, garlic, and cayenne pepper, sprayed it on, and no more bug problem! :) The only downside is that it washes off so easily, you have to constantly respray to keep the bugs away, but small price to pay to avoid those nasty chemicals, especially when you have small children who like to eat the veggies straight off the vine lol!