15Sep/086
Best & worst for 2008
The planting season is slowly coming to an end and I've begun to cleanup the deck (how sad is that!). Even though I wish the planting season could last longer but it gives me something to look forward to and think about what I want to plant next year. There are some plants that I definitely want to plant again and there are some that I swear I'll never do again.
Here's a list of plants that worked really well for me. This will be my shopping list for next year.
- Purple Leaf Oxalis
- Fuschia
- Diamond Frost
- Fiber Optic Grass
- "Angelina" from Proven Winners
- Thai chili peppers
- Japanese eggplant
- Green bell peppers
I had the 'Celebrity' tomato but I think I want to try another variety because it was too big for my balcony. Maybe a grape tomato variety is better for small space gardening? I'm interested to know what worked for you so I can add that to my list for next year!
September 16th, 2008 - 11:30
It was so nice to see you stop by my blog. Thanks for the kind comments.
I cleaned up several garden areas in the heat of last weekend. It was hard work but rewarding to see it prepared for next year. Like you, there are some plants I want to repeat like the Proven Winners Vista Silverberry. I have never in my life seen a petunia grow and bloom like that. I do think it’s partly due to the mushroom compost and Espoma fertilizer. I use both in the Spring before I plant and it really makes the flowewrs pop.
September 16th, 2008 - 11:56
Hello Louise! I’ve been wanting to thank you for your comments and compliments on my garden, but this is the first time your name has shown as a link, so I apologize for not visiting your blog before now. I’m impressed that you have your deck cleaned up already! I put it off until the last minute…bringing some of the baskets and containers inside the house or garage if we get an early frost or two. We should still have a few weeks of color left if we’re lucky. I’m hoping for a long, warm fall, like last year. I had some plants blooming right through to November…the longest I can remember.
I still have lots of thinning of perennials to accomplish in the gardens. It’s a never-ending job…except for the winter months
I found your website very interesting!
September 16th, 2008 - 18:35
There are a number of tomato varieties particularly well suited to containers and small spaces.
–Tiny Tim will only grow to 18 inches tall and produces red 3/4 inch fruit.
–Silvery Fur Tree has beautiful foliage (a plus since it’s not like either of us have room for an unsightly vegetable patch). The mature plant will only be 24 inches tall, and it produces fruit in less than 60 days.
–Windowbox Roma grows to less than 18 inches and produces smallish Roma-type tomatoes.
–Tumbler cascades over the side of pots and would be nice in a windowbox or hanging baskets. It will make tons of cherry tomatoes.
September 17th, 2008 - 12:03
Hi Louise, thanks for dropping by and visiting. I see that we share the same spider phobia, did you get a chance to read my August post called the “Summer of Love”. I am just glad that I was not “barkworsethanbite”. I still don’t think she has recovered. And honestly I am shivering just thinking about spiders.
As for the photo collage, I made in it Picassa 2, the editing program. Which is a free download, with Picassa being the free online storage site. And you can upload them onto Flickr also. It is so easy to use. I had forgotten to download Picassa 2 before, and am so happy that I finally remembered. It’s a simple and fun program.
Looking forward to reading your blog again, Jen
September 18th, 2008 - 06:28
This is a good idea Louise .. listing our favs and dislikes in the plant world from this season. I started my cleanup a couple of weeks ago and it is still going on slowly ..
Kong Coleus for the front step is always a winner (but I have to remember to WAIT until it really has warmed up) .. portulaca this year sucked … shockwave petunia was great and still going. I could go on and on so I better stop ! LOL
September 18th, 2008 - 09:20
Anna-the Proven Winners Vista Silverberry. I’ll have to search for that. The PW plants did well for me this year. I’ve never use mushroom compost in my plants, is it easy to get? I might have to try that next year.
Kerri-yes I agree it’s a never ending job and it sure keeps me busy for the spring and summer months. I enjoy it though, it gives me something to look forward to.
Fern-thanks for the tomatoes recommendations. The Silvery Fur Tree sounds good, the name doesn’t sound like a tomato plant.
Jen-I just took a look at your “Summer of Love” post and I totally agree with you. Luckily I haven’t spot a wolf spider yet. Thanks for the little Picassa lesson, I will try it out.
Joy-I grew a lot of petunia this year, they’re beautiful. Going to find out what Kong Coelus look like now.