enJOY it

an archived personal and craft blog from Elise Blaha Cripe.

getting started growing.

Gardenstart2

My intention this month is to get my container garden all planted and I am sort of doing it in stages based on what I find. We have more backyard space now, but because I already know what I am doing with containers, I am going to stick with them again this spring and hopefully try something more ambitious next year.

Gardenstart

I lined up a bunch of containers against the sunny side of the house. Most are the same as last year, but I also added some 16 gallon galvanized tubs (we drilled holes in the bottom for water drainage). It's not too pretty yet, but eventually, those plants will grow and we'll have something more exciting to look at (and eat!).

Gardenstart4

This is my second run at a small vegetable garden and I'm already ahead of where I was last year. My tomatoes are in larger pots AND they are already caged and spiked. Ideally I'll be doing less replanting this season.

Gardenstart3

I have many more empty containers waiting for plants and would like to bring in more basil (we LOVE pesto) and another variety or two of tomatoes (we are trying cherry tomatoes this year!). I also have an artichoke plant and am looking for another new and different vegetable. I'm having trouble finding a perfect plant shop like I had in Oxnard but the hunt continues. Any San Diego locals have recommendations for where I can buy great vegetable seedlings?

I really enjoyed tending a garden last year and hope it's as rewarding this season.

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47 responses to “getting started growing.”

  1. J3SS1C4 Avatar
    J3SS1C4

    Good luck with finding somewhere local to find some good plants! I just mention a plant in front of my partner’s parents, and it magically appears for me, which is rather lucky! I can’t wait to hear more of your garden stories over the next few months, and I’m hoping to see another photo book, too!

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  2. lisa fine Avatar
    lisa fine

    So fun! I love gardening and dream of when we have a yard to have our own big garden. But for now we live in an apartment with a small deck, so I’ll probably try container gardening this spring, and continue sprouting sprouts inside.

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  3. Jess Avatar
    Jess

    Looks like you’re off to a great start! One thing you may want to consider: if you stagger the planting of your plants (say two tomato plants this week, two more in two weeks, etc), you will get a longer harvest. As one plant stops producing, the others will have just started and you’ll get fresh tomatoes longer! I’ve learned this the hard way: I’d always planted all my tomato plants at the same time and then had bucket loads of tomatoes all at once and then….a couple weeks later there were no more new ones. FYI. : )
    What about growing beans? Or sugar snap peas? Spinach and lettuce are good for containers, too. And broccoli…

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  4. Carla Avatar
    Carla

    Green peppers… They are great for using with your tomatoes and making homemade salsa! Yummy!

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  5. natalie Avatar
    natalie

    you should try growing sun gold cherry tomatoes! they are delicious! students at the school garden i manage call them “candy”… your wee one will love them 🙂

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  6. Charlotte Avatar
    Charlotte

    Looks great! We just planted seeds for our garden this week. For your other vegetable, peppers (both bell and hot) grow really well in containers and are easy to keep alive, so those might be a good one to try.
    I love growing veggies do much, I can’t see why anyone who has the space wouldn’t! I’m planning on turning our herb garden into a basil jungle this year… Pesto for everyone!

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  7. Allison Avatar
    Allison

    Jealous of the galvanized tubs! Love the look but way too hot in Oklahoma (in the summer anyway, we’re still going below freezing this week!) to use those. Good luck! I am trying to grow basil from seed this year. Yesterday I sowed the seeds in a Subway salad container and brought it to set in my window at work this morning. We’ll see what happens.

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  8. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    I’ve been growing an artichoke plant for a year now in my container garden on my patio and no luck on any actual artichoke– I’ve heard you need two plants to pollinate each other?! Just a heads up! Kale has been growing beautifully for me, and im adding green beans and zucchini to the mix. Zucchini might do better in the ground since you have the space… There’s a family owned garden shop in pacific beach called green gardens that I love, and Armstrong nursery on morena blvd (by the toys r us in sports arena area) is also a great plant shop! Not quite sure what neighborhood your adorable house is in, but I like both these shops! Good luck!!!

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  9. Janell Avatar
    Janell

    The gardening looks great so far. 🙂 A few of my favorite San Diego Nurseries…
    Walter Andersen (they’ve got a few locations) and Mission Hills Nursery.

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  10. Mel Avatar
    Mel

    We just started our seedlings this month, and they’re already popping up! I’d love to hear any tips on pruning and keeping plants fruitful. Have you ever tried an avocado plant? You just submerge the pit in water and eventually it pops out. You plant it once it turns into a little sapling. Good luck!

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  11. libbywilko Avatar
    libbywilko

    Maybe give your old favourite plant shop a call and they might give you a few suggestions in your new area. I agree with the staggered planting suggestion. Love your gardening posts… Fun to learn new things.

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  12. Lisa A. Avatar
    Lisa A.

    Walter Andersen’s should have what you need. There’s one in Point Loma on Pacific Coast Highway, not far from Liberty Station.

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  13. Ashleigh | Love Stoned Avatar
    Ashleigh | Love Stoned

    You have 100% inspired me to add some more living items to my home, and I totally picked up my first plant at ikea this weekend while I was there 🙂
    xx Ashleigh
    http://www.ashflynn.blogspot.com

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  14. Rachel Swartley Avatar
    Rachel Swartley

    Green peppers are easy to grow in a container. I’ve grown them in the past, but didn’t grow any this past year – and I missed them!

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  15. Holli Anne Avatar
    Holli Anne

    Container gardening is my goal of this year! For sure! I better get started soon, huh?!

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  16. Jackie Hughes Avatar
    Jackie Hughes

    Did you use any special soil for your pots?

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  17. ~Michelle Avatar
    ~Michelle

    Read this, thought you might enjoy too..
    http://threeladiesandtheirbabies.wordpress.com/2013/03/11/the-glamourous-life-of-a-doctors-wife/

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  18. crushed red velvet Avatar
    crushed red velvet

    Have you ever tried growing sugar snap peas? I haven’t in the city but my mom did at home (rural area) and it was so amazing to just eat them fresh and they grow really large home grown! I think it’d be a little tough to grow because you’d need an area for it to climb but I would love to try it this summer.

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  19. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Yes! I am starting tomatoes at different times for this very reason. Love that plan. 🙂

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  20. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    My sister-in-law grew gold cherry tomatoes last summer and they were fantastic. thanks for the reminder – I will try and find some. 🙂

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  21. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Green peppers it is!

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  22. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Great tip on the artichoke! I did not know that! I have not checked out Armstrong yet, but it is on my list. PB is a bit further away but worth a visit. Thanks for the ideas. 🙂

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  23. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Thank you for the suggestions!!

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  24. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Awesome. I shared some basil trimming tips last summer and some stuff I learned about pruning tomato suckers if you want to check back through these posts : http://eliseblaha.typepad.com/golden/backyard-garden/ And I have not done an avocado plant, but would love to try.

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  25. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    I am going to try green peppers for sure!

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  26. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    I bought a bunch of soil this year that was recommended for veggies (it just said so on the bag) not sure how much of a difference it really makes…

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  27. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    I have not! Could be fun. 🙂

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  28. Deborah Avatar
    Deborah

    Walter Andersen’s, hands down the best in San Diego. Also, my parents grow everything–and they always elevate their potted plants a little bit off the ground, never place them directly on the concrete. Can use something as simple as 2x4s and cement blocks. Just a thought.
    Good luck!

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  29. Katie Avatar
    Katie

    I can’t wait to start the garden but its cold and snowing in IL today. So I definatley have garden envy right now:)

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  30. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    Great tip! And thanks for the Andersens suggestion!

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  31. Suzanne Avatar
    Suzanne

    My fave is a meyer lemon tree. they can grow up to 5-6 years in a pot and can also live inside by a window in the cold season. I’m moving back to Washington State and am ecstatic that I can still grow one up there!

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  32. Jessika Avatar
    Jessika

    For squash and bean seedlings, I recommend starting from seed. It’s super easy (they sprout easily, grow quickly, and the seeds are big!). I’ve had HUGE success with Territorial Seeds’ seeds, and their selection is FABULOUS. My San Diego mom has ordered seeds from them too and had success.

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  33. Kim Avatar
    Kim

    City Farmer’s Nursery on Home Avenue in City Heights is an amazing local business with tons of organic seedlings. They can answer any question you would ever possibly have about gardening. It is worth going out of your way to check this place out! http://www.cityfarmersnursery.com/ They inspired my love for container gardening and I miss going there now that I don’t live in San Diego!

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  34. Charlotte Avatar
    Charlotte

    Just so you know, sugar snap and snow peas do not like the summer heat much so if you want to grow them (depending on where you live) it is time to start now! They can take a light frost too of that is a concern. Hope this helps!

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  35. elise blaha Avatar
    elise blaha

    I went there a few weeks ago! It has amazing reviews, but I did not find too much variety. I will have to try again… Hopefully they have more selection now. 🙂

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  36. Patricia Avatar
    Patricia

    I have a large garden that I will not plant until well into May–still blowing and snowing here. So jealous of your warmer weather right now.
    If you like greens my favorite is Swiss chard. Just buy a package of seeds. It does not bolt like spinach. When harvesting just cut the leaves–the roots keep producing more leaves.

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  37. Kathy Avatar
    Kathy

    See if you can buy dwarf fruit trees and put into larger plastic pots. They are small trees but with full size fruit. I bought two last year meyer lemon tree and a mandarin tree…we are buying an apple tree next. Our lemon tree has 6 large lemons on it and I can tell you it is so exciting to see. One sure way to get good results with your vegetable gardening is (i) grow what is in season (ii) grow according to your climate. There will be maps on the internet that tell you what climate your location is situated in. These days nurserys sell all sorts of vegetable seedlings even out of season. Your best results are check your climate for your area and grow according to the seasons and you’ll get the best results. In Brisbane we are in the sub-tropics so I checked which dwarf apple tree is best to grow here and buy that one. Love that you are getting your garden going again…it is such a satisfying hobby/project to be doing. See if you can plant some lettuce (if it’s your season). I love “Butterhead” lettuce as you can pick some leaves for your sandwich and let the lettuce remain in the garden. Same with lettuce plant 6 this week and 6 in 2 weeks time. Also corriander you grow from seed and plant 5 seeds this week and 5 seeds in 2 weeks time etc. to get a continuous crop and corriander is known for seeding really quickly as well. Regards Kathy A, Brisbane, Australia

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  38. Amanda Avatar
    Amanda

    I feel ya! I’m so ready to garden, but nature is not. It snowed here today too . .

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  39. Angie Avatar
    Angie

    I love getting my hands dirty in soil. It’s such a natural relaxation! Plus, seeing the fruits and veggies grow and knowing it’s all as healthy as could be. Mmmm!
    I want to get out there and start, but sadly planting season isn’t for another few months in Utah. x.x

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  40. Kara Avatar
    Kara

    Super duper inspiring! I managed to successfully grow basil last year so I’m shooting high for that again this year 😉
    One day I’d love to try tomatoes!

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  41. JoAnn Avatar
    JoAnn

    http://www.cedrosgardens.com/about.html is great! the whole street is AMAZING, if you haven’t been- GO!
    http://www.sunshinegardensinc.com/ this place is cool too!

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  42. kristen Avatar
    kristen

    Yay! So awesome that you got stuff planted already. And excited that you’re doing cherry tomatoes this year!
    xo

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  43. Leona Lane Avatar
    Leona Lane

    My favorite thing to grow is mint! and it does great in containers – it can’t take over! Loved seeing pictures of your garden last year and looking forward to it again this spring and summer!

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  44. pianoB Avatar
    pianoB

    Oh, you make me so jealous! Already wearing flip-flops and starting growing tomatoes… I bought some primroses for my balcony at the market last sunday and on monday it snowed all day… I usually love snow, but now I’m eager for spring!

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  45. KimberDill Avatar
    KimberDill

    I buy all of my plants at Walter Anderson. It’s really the best place and the people are really helpful with tips and varieties, etc.

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  46. Debie Grace Avatar
    Debie Grace

    Elise, do you buy seedlings or you start planting seeds on you own? I am starting to plant the seeds because I can’t find seedlings of tomatoes and I’ terrible at it 😦

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  47. belinda Avatar
    belinda

    Reviewing you wonder story telling this morning. Please give us an update on your garden. We, your blogging friends, are so happy for your, family…hubby home …healthy, beautiful baby. Great summer for y’all.

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