Summer gardening

ttify
ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

What plants are you growing this year, or do you have in your garden?

Do you typically buy from the nursery or start from seed?

I’m also curious if you have any recommendations for plants that are low-maintenance, productive, and/or perennials.

Comments

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    I’m currently growing tomatoes, peas, rattlesnake pole beans, sun chokes, green onions, zucchini, lettuce, kale, beets (kind of. I just threw some seeds in a pot and overcrowded them), marigolds and sunflowers.
    I also grew spinach earlier in the season, but my spinach always bolts before I can get any sizeable harvest. All I get are more seeds!

  • swatt_code_K2HJV
    swatt_code_K2HJV Posts: 655 ✭✭
    edited June 25

    Basil only.

  • Alexsolo
    Alexsolo Posts: 826 ✭✭

    @ttify said:
    What plants are you growing this year, or do you have in your garden?

    Do you typically buy from the nursery or start from seed?

    I’m also curious if you have any recommendations for plants that are low-maintenance, productive, and/or perennials.

    I want to start growing something, not sure where to start.

  • G225 code IRSGE
    G225 code IRSGE Posts: 7,212 ✭✭

    Strawberries, Raspberries, Garlic, tomato and cucumber.

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @Alexsolo said:

    I want to start growing something, not sure where to start.

    See if you can get your hands on seeds or plants for your favourite veg/fruit, although I'm not sure what would be good to start now at the end of June (and with it being so hot). If you like green onions or herbs like basil, you can get some from the store and regrow/propagate them to get the fastest harvest. That's what I did with mine.

    You can also try growing some stuff as the summer starts to cool for a fall crop. I'd recommend lettuce, radish, and spinach for beginner gardeners because they grow quickly and it's more rewarding, but I personally have trouble getting any radish harvests, too, even though they're supposed to be easy to grow. You can also eat the baby radish pods like peas if your radish ends up going to seed.

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @G225 code IRSGE said:
    Strawberries, Raspberries, Garlic, tomato and cucumber.

    I have strawberry and raspberry plants too that were gifted to us last year. Didn't get any strawberries last year and only 5 raspberries but both plants have grown in size and I can already see the berries forming already. Hopefully, they don't get eaten by a bunny.

  • JFC15
    JFC15 Posts: 93 ✭✭

    Strawberries are great. I have lots of them. After 3-4 years they won't produce much so I remove all the plants but new ones will grow and the next 4 year cycle restarts!

  • Mark123_2024
    Mark123_2024 Posts: 7,534 ✭✭

    Menthe is easy to grow.

  • Alaris
    Alaris Posts: 28 ✭✭

    I have tomatoes, strawberries, and beans. Pretty easy to keep them going for the season although there's some staking or support needed for the beans and tomatoes

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @JFC15 said:
    Strawberries are great. I have lots of them. After 3-4 years they won't produce much so I remove all the plants but new ones will grow and the next 4 year cycle restarts!

    That's good to know! I'm looking forward to not having to buy strawberries anymore :smiley:

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @Mark123_2024 said:
    Menthe is easy to grow.

    Yes, a bit too easy, haha. My dad grew some in the ground instead of a container, and it has spread quite a lot. I had harvested some, ripped the leaves off the stems and used the stems as compost, but that was a mistake because they started new plants.

    What do you use your mint for? So far, I've made some drinks with them, used them as garnish, and my dad has cooked eggs with them as if they were vegetables (instead of herbs). I'm looking for more uses as vegetables.

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @Alaris said:
    I have tomatoes, strawberries, and beans. Pretty easy to keep them going for the season although there's some staking or support needed for the beans and tomatoes

    Yes, I like how low effort they are. I picked up some cut-off tree branches at the park to use as a stake so I could train my pole beans up to my porch rails. I'm hoping to get a whole net of beans this year and maybe even create a shaded section of my porch!

  • FizzyFizz JQMPM
    FizzyFizz JQMPM Posts: 7,754 ✭✭

    I am trying with herbs inside because I don't have a garden but without too much success

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @FizzyFizz JQMPM said:
    I am trying with herbs inside because I don't have a garden but without too much success

    What kind of herbs are you growing? Maybe you can move them to a balcony if you have one.
    I'm thinking of getting some sage from the grocery store and propagating it into my own plant.

  • FizzyFizz JQMPM
    FizzyFizz JQMPM Posts: 7,754 ✭✭

    @ttify said:

    @FizzyFizz JQMPM said:
    I am trying with herbs inside because I don't have a garden but without too much success

    What kind of herbs are you growing? Maybe you can move them to a balcony if you have one.
    I'm thinking of getting some sage from the grocery store and propagating it into my own plant.

    Basil, sage, rosemary and mint. Basil's too hard to grow inside it seems. Mint is fine. Sage and rosemary, let's see. I'm not that optimistic. Unfortunately I don't have a balcony.

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @FizzyFizz JQMPM said:

    @ttify said:

    @FizzyFizz JQMPM said:
    I am trying with herbs inside because I don't have a garden but without too much success

    What kind of herbs are you growing? Maybe you can move them to a balcony if you have one.
    I'm thinking of getting some sage from the grocery store and propagating it into my own plant.

    Basil, sage, rosemary and mint. Basil's too hard to grow inside it seems. Mint is fine. Sage and rosemary, let's see. I'm not that optimistic. Unfortunately I don't have a balcony.

    Yeah, I've noticed that basil loves the sun and heat. The plants that I have bought didn't survive long indoors.

  • Mark123_2024
    Mark123_2024 Posts: 7,534 ✭✭

    @ttify said:

    @FizzyFizz JQMPM said:

    @ttify said:

    @FizzyFizz JQMPM said:
    I am trying with herbs inside because I don't have a garden but without too much success

    What kind of herbs are you growing? Maybe you can move them to a balcony if you have one.
    I'm thinking of getting some sage from the grocery store and propagating it into my own plant.

    Basil, sage, rosemary and mint. Basil's too hard to grow inside it seems. Mint is fine. Sage and rosemary, let's see. I'm not that optimistic. Unfortunately I don't have a balcony.

    Yeah, I've noticed that basil loves the sun and heat. The plants that I have bought didn't survive long indoors.

    The dill and parsley are ok too.

  • Alexsolo
    Alexsolo Posts: 826 ✭✭

    @ttify said:

    @Alexsolo said:

    I want to start growing something, not sure where to start.

    See if you can get your hands on seeds or plants for your favourite veg/fruit, although I'm not sure what would be good to start now at the end of June (and with it being so hot). If you like green onions or herbs like basil, you can get some from the store and regrow/propagate them to get the fastest harvest. That's what I did with mine.

    You can also try growing some stuff as the summer starts to cool for a fall crop. I'd recommend lettuce, radish, and spinach for beginner gardeners because they grow quickly and it's more rewarding, but I personally have trouble getting any radish harvests, too, even though they're supposed to be easy to grow. You can also eat the baby radish pods like peas if your radish ends up going to seed.

    Ill try that! Thanks for the recommendations.

  • rakibul
    rakibul Posts: 727 ✭✭

    I want a lot, but I don't have space or a balcony.

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @rakibul said:
    I want a lot, but I don't have space or a balcony.

    Do you have a window that gets a lot of sunlight? You could try growing sprouts and microgreens!

  • rakibul
    rakibul Posts: 727 ✭✭

    @ttify said:

    @rakibul said:
    I want a lot, but I don't have space or a balcony.

    Do you have a window that gets a lot of sunlight? You could try growing sprouts and microgreens!

    Yeah, my window gets a good amount of light. Thanks for your suggestions.

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    Not sure which plants to plan any recommendations?

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    I might try tomatoes

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    Or maybe Cucumbers is a good idea

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    My main worry is animals like squirrels coming and eating them before I can take them.

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @BlueAardvark470 said:
    I might try tomatoes

    Yeah, regular-sized tomatoes and cherry tomatoes grow great for me! They grow well when it's hot and are almost too abundant for us to catch up on. I want to try sun-drying some to preserve some this year.

    @BlueAardvark470 said:
    Or maybe Cucumbers is a good idea

    Make sure to keep up with watering and nutrient requirements. The first one I grew was slightly bitter on the ends, which was completely unexpected, but in the middle, it was sweeter than any you could find at a store!

    @BlueAardvark470 said:
    My main worry is animals like squirrels coming and eating them before I can take them.

    We have this problem too. I usually sprinkle some cayenne pepper on plants I want to protect, which keeps away the mammals. You would have to do it after every rain, and I would be careful about washing hands and the veg when picking, although I've never had any problems with spice in my eyes or in the food.

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    Oh ok thanks for the advice! Is that thing you spray friendly to the plants and stuff?

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @BlueAardvark470 said:
    Oh ok thanks for the advice! Is that thing you spray friendly to the plants and stuff?

    I've never noticed any damage to my plants from the cayenne and cayenne pepper is natural so I think it should be good. I don't use too much and target areas of the plants like the fruit specifically because that's what the animals go for. I don't do it often, though. Only when I notice that some fruits/veg are being eaten.

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    Ok so you try and minimize how much you spray it got it. Have you ever see the animals eat in like in front of you just curious. Cause I’ve never seen any animals eat the plants. I’ve just seen the bitten vegetable.

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    Has anyone managed to successfully grow strawberries without them getting eaten?

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @BlueAardvark470 said:
    Ok so you try and minimize how much you spray it got it. Have you ever see the animals eat in like in front of you just curious. Cause I’ve never seen any animals eat the plants. I’ve just seen the bitten vegetable.

    One time, I went out and saw a rabbit casually munching on some greens in the garden, so I chased it away.

    @BlueAardvark470 said:
    Has anyone managed to successfully grow strawberries without them getting eaten?

    Kinda! I have some plants in the ground, and I saw the flowers and strawberries developing, but then they were gone before I had the chance to eat them. I also have a strawberry plant in a hanging planter, which is far enough off the ground for the strawberries to stay safe. I recommend transplanting them or propagating some runners into a planter or some higher surface! Should be easy enough to do.

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    I haven’t done strawberries in a while. Thanks for the tip might try that!

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    I am getting some zucchinis!

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @BlueAardvark470 said:
    I am getting some zucchinis!

    Awesome! I have two plants in my yard now, and recently harvested one squash. I'm hoping they'll ramp up production soon because they're robust growers.

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    That’s nice! Hope they ramp production too!

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @BlueAardvark470 said:
    That’s nice! Hope they ramp production too!

    I've already got another one ready to harvest!

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    That’s amazing! Let me know which ones are ready to harvest!

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @BlueAardvark470 said:
    That’s amazing! Let me know which ones are ready to harvest!

    It's another zucchini!

  • BlueAardvark470
    BlueAardvark470 Posts: 197 ✭✭

    Nice! I haven’t gotten anything else yet. Will be sure to let you know!

  • Mitsu2023
    Mitsu2023 Posts: 125 ✭✭

    Some tomatoes and cucumbers.

  • Olivier C. 31497
    Olivier C. 31497 Posts: 1 ✭✭

    Hot pepper is always nice to grow. Squirrels can't steal them, it's too spicy for them :)

  • ttify
    ttify Posts: 548 ✭✭

    @Olivier C. 31497 said:
    Hot pepper is always nice to grow. Squirrels can't steal them, it's too spicy for them :)

    Haha, that's true! And it's fun to make hot sauce!