Comments on: How To Start A Simple Garden – Even In An Apartment http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/ Simple, applicable personal finance advice for the modern world Sat, 21 Nov 2009 19:22:21 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Becky http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/comment-page-1/#comment-556474 Becky Sat, 07 Mar 2009 15:53:06 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/#comment-556474 I spotted a struggling little worm outside near one of my flower pots last year and decided to put him in there. Those flowers did absolutely AMAZING. I'm definitely going to try the same thing this year. I spotted a struggling little worm outside near one of my flower pots last year and decided to put him in there. Those flowers did absolutely AMAZING. I’m definitely going to try the same thing this year.

]]> By: Organic Matter http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/comment-page-1/#comment-198508 Organic Matter Thu, 06 Mar 2008 02:50:01 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/#comment-198508 I've read conflicting advice on the worms-in-pots thing. Yes, they help break down organic matter. However, they also create little tunnels through your soil. This is good in the garden, where you want air and water to penetrate deeply. But in a pot, it means the water flows straight through and out the holes in the bottom, without really soaking into the soil properly. An alternative (what I do) is to keep a worm farm to get rid of your kitchen scraps, and then use the "worm water" (diluted) and worm castings to fertilise your pots. Works great! I’ve read conflicting advice on the worms-in-pots thing.

Yes, they help break down organic matter. However, they also create little tunnels through your soil. This is good in the garden, where you want air and water to penetrate deeply. But in a pot, it means the water flows straight through and out the holes in the bottom, without really soaking into the soil properly.

An alternative (what I do) is to keep a worm farm to get rid of your kitchen scraps, and then use the “worm water” (diluted) and worm castings to fertilise your pots. Works great!

]]> By: Mike H http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/comment-page-1/#comment-31536 Mike H Sun, 03 Jun 2007 20:59:26 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/#comment-31536 Great idea!! In your opinion, if we have a small porch area with plenty of room for this, would you recommend using part of the porch, or doing it inside? There are both covered and uncovered sections of the porch, if that matters. Thanks for the idea. Great idea!!

In your opinion, if we have a small porch area with plenty of room for this, would you recommend using part of the porch, or doing it inside? There are both covered and uncovered sections of the porch, if that matters.

Thanks for the idea.

]]> By: Seth Miller http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/comment-page-1/#comment-11157 Seth Miller Sat, 17 Mar 2007 22:26:03 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/#comment-11157 I bet this is just another reason you are looking forward to moving in to a house. I bet this is just another reason you are looking forward to moving in to a house.

]]> By: katy http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/comment-page-1/#comment-10979 katy Fri, 16 Mar 2007 16:41:21 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/#comment-10979 I'm a huge fan of container gardening - last summer I had tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and jalapenos all in pots on the roof of my apartment. In fact, I still have one bell pepper and one tomato plant alive indoors! This year I'm looking get a plot in a nearby community garden so I can expand my harvest. Gardening is a great hobby and an excellent way to practice frugality. I’m a huge fan of container gardening – last summer I had tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, and jalapenos all in pots on the roof of my apartment. In fact, I still have one bell pepper and one tomato plant alive indoors! This year I’m looking get a plot in a nearby community garden so I can expand my harvest. Gardening is a great hobby and an excellent way to practice frugality.

]]> By: Derek http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/comment-page-1/#comment-10971 Derek Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:59:42 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/#comment-10971 Interesting thought on the worms. We do a lot of pot growing of tomatoes on our patio. I might grab some earthworms are the first big rain in the spring (if I can be the Robins) and throw them in the pot. Interesting thought on the worms. We do a lot of pot growing of tomatoes on our patio. I might grab some earthworms are the first big rain in the spring (if I can be the Robins) and throw them in the pot.

]]> By: Kevin http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/comment-page-1/#comment-10961 Kevin Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:24:06 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/#comment-10961 We don't exactly have a garden, but we do have several plants we try to keep alive. It's a great thing -- something green really makes the place look a tad bit better. We don’t exactly have a garden, but we do have several plants we try to keep alive. It’s a great thing — something green really makes the place look a tad bit better.

]]> By: Christine http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/comment-page-1/#comment-10955 Christine Fri, 16 Mar 2007 13:32:29 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/#comment-10955 Mmm. I have decided that next year I'm growing tomatoes and chives in my dorm room. Luckily I talked to my future roomate and she doesn't mind. Mmm. I have decided that next year I’m growing tomatoes and chives in my dorm room.

Luckily I talked to my future roomate and she doesn’t mind.

]]> By: Martin Lindsey http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/comment-page-1/#comment-10943 Martin Lindsey Fri, 16 Mar 2007 10:31:28 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/#comment-10943 I would never have thought of putting worms in an indoor plant bed. Smart. I'm more an outdoor, dig up the back yard gardner. This post is confirmation that it's time to get out there and show the kids what daddy used to do to de-stress before they came on the scene. I'm subscribing to your feed. Check mine out too. you sound like an "actionist". I would never have thought of putting worms in an indoor plant bed. Smart.

I’m more an outdoor, dig up the back yard gardner. This post is confirmation that it’s time to get out there and show the kids what daddy used to do to de-stress before they came on the scene.

I’m subscribing to your feed. Check mine out too. you sound like an “actionist”.

]]> By: Ali http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/comment-page-1/#comment-10894 Ali Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:40:53 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/#comment-10894 A good resource for our tiny garden has been Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. He also has a website. Last year we grew about 3 lbs of broccoli in a one-foot square space (we ate some and froze some). I found it to be very practical advice and not as dry as lots of other gardening books I've read. Plus, with a tiny garden, it was easier for my preschoolers to help out--even if I had to replant the seeds once or twice. They loved it. This year we already have broccoli, peas, tomatoes, spinach and carrots planted in two small squares totaling 16-square feet each. A good resource for our tiny garden has been Square Foot Gardening by Mel Bartholomew. He also has a website. Last year we grew about 3 lbs of broccoli in a one-foot square space (we ate some and froze some). I found it to be very practical advice and not as dry as lots of other gardening books I’ve read. Plus, with a tiny garden, it was easier for my preschoolers to help out–even if I had to replant the seeds once or twice. They loved it. This year we already have broccoli, peas, tomatoes, spinach and carrots planted in two small squares totaling 16-square feet each.

]]> By: Nishant http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/comment-page-1/#comment-10842 Nishant Thu, 15 Mar 2007 21:07:39 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2007/03/15/how-to-start-a-simple-garden-even-in-an-apartment/#comment-10842 This article made me chuckle. I did start small, very small actually. I got a bonsai tree for my desk last year and unfortunately could not keep it alive. We had an ant infestation in our house during that period and they started eating my plant. We used boric acid to get rid of the ants, and my wife poured it onto the plant as well. Before long, all the leaves fell off and it dried out. Maybe it is time to try again. This article made me chuckle. I did start small, very small actually. I got a bonsai tree for my desk last year and unfortunately could not keep it alive. We had an ant infestation in our house during that period and they started eating my plant. We used boric acid to get rid of the ants, and my wife poured it onto the plant as well. Before long, all the leaves fell off and it dried out. Maybe it is time to try again.

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