Love gardening?

Gerry Steen · Post by **Gerry Steen** » 04 Jun 2025, 10:58

Sandra Smith 18 wrote: ↑02 Jul 2024, 22:18 Does anyone else love gardening? I've got a few herbs, cherry tomatoes, green onions, potatoes, green beans, cucumbers, strawberries, and squash growing in containers. Everything is organic and delicious! I also love growing flowers. Gardening has become one of my biggest passions and one of my favorite summertime activities. It's also very practical!

Hi, Sandra. I am happy to have found this post. Yes, I enjoy gardening. 5 years ago, I was thwarted by squirrels. They were stealing all of my eggplants before they reached maturity for harvesting. So, I decided to build garden boxes with matching cages on top to prevent the squirrels from getting to my plants. This has worked wonderfully. Aside from these garden boxes, I have an open garden strip where I have planted the 3 Sisters—corn, beans, and squash. These three plants protect each other and provide nutrients for each other. I will have to protect the corn and the squash from the squirrels by putting netting around each vegetable. I also planted garlic that was sprouting in my fridge. It is growing fast. Additionally, I planted brown tomato plants and various hot pepper plants that I started from seed. And last but not least, I planted potatoes and asparagus. I am looking forward to August, September, and October! Harvest time!

Post by **Sandra Smith 18** » 04 Jun 2025, 16:55

Hi Gerry! I'm glad you're growing lots of veggies. I've had to protect my plants from the squirrels. A few years ago, I put bird netting over my strawberry containers and nothing touches them. Sometimes a squirrel will dig - and maybe even plant - in my veggie containers, but since they have seen the netting, they don't come into my yard as much as they used to. It would be nice to have the garden boxes with tops like you built. I've tried to plant garlic that has sprouted in my fridge, but so far, I've not had any luck with getting it to grow. It just fizzles out, so I think I'm not planting it at the right time of the year. I have had some success with regrowing onions that have sprouted in the fridge. I'll never through a sprouted onion out. They won't grow as big as because they will be in their second year, but I can get a small onion for free that I otherwise would not have. I can't wait to harvest potatoes. It's fun like digging for buried treasure. Last year's potato crop was a disappointment, so I'm hoping for more this year. Thanks for sharing your garden adventures!

Post by **Sandra Smith 18** » 04 Jun 2025, 16:58

Xheartiehunx wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025, 06:16 Definitely, I loved doing it, I don't do it now but I did a few years ago and I loved it, I had different plants of bananas, spices, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, plantains, coconut, mango, avocado in my home's yard, which was extremely large. I loved it because everything was organic and natural, it's the best and probably I would do in future again.

Your garden sounds wonderful! Organic and natural is the best way to garden. I hope you can have garden again soon! Thanks for sharing.

Gerry Steen · Post by **Gerry Steen** » 05 Jun 2025, 07:48

Sandra Smith 18 wrote: ↑04 Jun 2025, 16:55 Hi Gerry! I'm glad you're growing lots of veggies. I've had to protect my plants from the squirrels. A few years ago, I put bird netting over my strawberry containers and nothing touches them. Sometimes a squirrel will dig - and maybe even plant - in my veggie containers, but since they have seen the netting, they don't come into my yard as much as they used to. It would be nice to have the garden boxes with tops like you built. I've tried to plant garlic that has sprouted in my fridge, but so far, I've not had any luck with getting it to grow. It just fizzles out, so I think I'm not planting it at the right time of the year. I have had some success with regrowing onions that have sprouted in the fridge. I'll never through a sprouted onion out. They won't grow as big as because they will be in their second year, but I can get a small onion for free that I otherwise would not have. I can't wait to harvest potatoes. It's fun like digging for buried treasure. Last year's potato crop was a disappointment, so I'm hoping for more this year. Thanks for sharing your garden adventures!

For the garlic sprouts, plant them in April and water them daily. They need lots of water. You can also plant them at the end of October. They can surrvive the winter( I live in Canada) and will start growing in the spring. Again water them daily in the spring.

Post by **Sandra Smith 18** » 05 Jun 2025, 15:38

Thanks for tip, Gerry! I'll keep it in mind. Now if I can just get the garlic to sprout at the in April or October. LOL!

Gerry Steen · Post by **Gerry Steen** » 06 Jun 2025, 09:46

Sandra Smith 18 wrote: ↑05 Jun 2025, 15:38 Thanks for tip, Gerry! I'll keep it in mind. Now if I can just get the garlic to sprout at the in April or October. LOL!

At the end of October you can plant them without a sprout. They will sprout when the winter is over.

Post by **Sandra Smith 18** » 06 Jun 2025, 15:32

Thanks Gerry! I will remember that and try planting the un-sprouted cloves.

Ali Pinar · Post by **Ali Pinar** » 06 Jun 2025, 16:44

I am happy to find fellow gardeners here. Are you aware of the Master Gardeners organization? I volunteer for that organization and I believe it is a great resource for science based information for home gardeners. Look up for the local organization. You may also find them in farmers' markets.

Post by **Sandra Smith 18** » 07 Jun 2025, 16:36

Hi Ali! It's good to know another gardener here on OBC. I had not heard of the Master Gardeners program before, so I looked it up and we do have one that is part of the local university extension department. Thanks for the info. That's awesome that you volunteer with the program!

Ali Pinar · Post by **Ali Pinar** » 09 Jun 2025, 17:10

Glad to hear that. Master Gardening programs are all under local universities, so that the volunteers are trained with the latest information. You can also find many helpful videos on YouTube, and be sure they are free of BS.

Post by **Sandra Smith 18** » 09 Jun 2025, 18:23

Ali Pinar wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025, 17:10 Glad to hear that. Master Gardening programs are all under local universities, so that the volunteers are trained with the latest information. You can also find many helpful videos on YouTube, and be sure they are free of BS.

Yes, there are lots of good gardening channels on YouTube, and that's where I have learned the most about gardening. It's also nice to see so many other people growing and having much success with their gardens. Sometimes it's just nice to see all the beautiful plants even if they are on a screen! LOL!

Gerry Steen · Post by **Gerry Steen** » 09 Jun 2025, 18:32

My parsley is growing like wild fire. So tonight I made a cream of parsley and potato soup . I still had parsley left over so I made chimichurri. No parsley is going to waste this year.

Post by **Sandra Smith 18** » 09 Jun 2025, 21:46

Gerry Steen wrote: ↑09 Jun 2025, 18:32 My parsley is growing like wild fire. So tonight I made a cream of parsley and potato soup . I still had parsley left over so I made chimichurri. No parsley is going to waste this year.

I love parsley! It's very healthy, so we should never waste any. My parsley plants are still small at this point. That soup sounds delicious. I love to use it in sandwiches and salads, sometimes add a little to a smoothie, and make tabouli with quinoa instead of wheat. When I was young there was a restaurant that my family would go to often, and they always used parsley for garnish even on burgers. I didn't know it was edible back then. LOL!