I created my first "raised" Garden.... I did It! I need your input Gardeners!
By dloveli
@dloveli (4366)
United States
May 18, 2010 7:51am CST
I have always been fond of plants and getting them what they need to flourish. I have been doing so good with the indoor stuff that I kept wondering about the outsideW stuff. I have a patient whose daughter gardens. She also does a compost pile as well. I am NOT fond of worms of any kind. YUK! I am trying to get over the fear of worms but its not going to be easy. She definitely has a green thumb. As I watched her I began to really become interested in the whole idea of gardening. So I talked to my fiance and he told me to go for it. Only problem is that I live in an apartment(rented) and the yard is a cement driveway. As I was researching how to go about gardening without a yard, I was told to get bins or I could create a wooden flower box. I didnt think buying the lumber and other supplies was a good idea. What if I didnt like it or everything died? I didnt want to be out of pocket tons of cash. I really dont have it like that. A friend suggested that I get a small, plastic, kids pool. I decided to try it.My husband, myself, and my neighbor went to the nursery and picked out some veggies and flowers to plant. I chose, peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, and several beautifull flowers. I was really proud of myself. I researched these on the internet and word of mouth. I collected rocks, leaves, and branches for the bottom of the bed. I put the holes in the sides near the bottom of pool for drainage. I then put the rocks randomly on the bottom of pool and covered that with the leaves and brush I had. I then added the dirt but I used a mixture of two soils. I then evened it out and mapped out my plants. Its all history from there. Im so excited! I can only wait and see. I do have some questions. Do you water them everyday if it doesnt rain? when do I fertilize? Any helpful hints, secrets, etc. to share with me? Happy Green thumbs to all. dl
3 people like this
15 responses
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
21 May 10
Sounds like you've done well so far. Last year I did my first attempt at growing on my patio. I only had tomato plants and those were in large traditional flower pots, but I would consider the attempt to have been successful. We started the tomatos from seeds and they grew and they had lots of fruit. However, we never got to enjoy any of our tomatos because the squirrels that live in our backyard loved eating them. I certain hope that doesn't happen to you.
1 person likes this
@dloveli (4366)
• United States
21 May 10
Oh Dorannmwin, Im so sorry! Its true squirrels are little pests. lol. I discovered a tomato this morning. Its about the size of an egg. Im so excited! My honey bought me the cutest thing. A green house! Its awesome. Its the size of a apartment size refrigerator. I love it. I put it in my kitchen right in front of the big window. You wouldnt believe the difference in the behaviour of my plants. Im hoping my thumb turns green!lol If you think of any helpful hints, Please pass them on....dl
@GardenGerty (157674)
• United States
18 May 10
Good luck with your garden. I would water it just when it begins to feel dried out. Otherwise, especially in the plastic, you might drown the plants. If you used good soil, they really should not need a lot of plant food right away. If you give them a high nitrogen fertilizer, you are liable to end up with mostly leaves. I hope you have lots of fun, you did really good, thinking of the kiddy pool.
1 person likes this
@nthacker (13)
• Guwahati, India
19 May 10
Living comfortable with proper health option is better innovations instead of having emergency a sign to stop Duggar, whatever have or afterward left to the lord to handle it. Where's alot of questions in the discussion? waiting.. Also send total colors of flowers on the bottom of your pool in your next post.
@tessah (6617)
• United States
20 May 10
i love to make things grow! i wish you luck in yer new endeavor 
if i use potting soil.. i dont bother to fertilize because the soil is already fortified with plant food. watering i do by eyeballing the soil.. if the dirt is lookin dry and the plants are lookin kinda wilthy.. water them
if i use potting soil.. i dont bother to fertilize because the soil is already fortified with plant food. watering i do by eyeballing the soil.. if the dirt is lookin dry and the plants are lookin kinda wilthy.. water them
@umabharti (3972)
• India
19 May 10
hi,i would just suggest u that now rainy season had started and u can have good time in ur garden work.As there is plenty of water the new plants will just grow .See what kind or types can be in this season.Some kinds of flowers only bloom in this rainy season.So find out yourself as u have lots of interest towards it.Best of luck.
@sallyj (1225)
• United States
19 May 10
I have read through the responses and found a lot of information for you.
I have several extra large combine tires and they work great.
We have grown potatoes in 5 gallon pails with holes in them, that works well also.
I know you will greatly enjoy your garden.
@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
18 May 10
I get an all veggie fertilizer and put it in soil when I plant then about ever 2 weeks vitimizes them and watering I do 3 times a week if it dont rain but the some plants need it every dy and for sure when it gts hot every day too check to see how wet spoil is before watering dont want o over water them!
@whiteheather39 (24403)
• United States
18 May 10
I was born and raised in a big city and knew nothing about plants or gardens. I was amazed when I discovered I had a green thumb. My plants bring me so much pleasure so I hope you get as much enjoyment and a real feeling of accomplishment with your gardening project.
BTW you mentioned your fiance and your husband?? Do they get along with each other? No jealousy?
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
18 May 10
hi dloveli do not over water, just check the soil and if it feels
dry to touch for an inch or so water carefully as too much water
is as bad as to little. A good all round fertilizer would work
but read the directions as how often to use it.Hope it is someplace where it will get good sunlight.
@celticeagle (159572)
• Boise, Idaho
18 May 10
Good for you! I wish I had the energy and money to do this too. I used to have a herb garden outside my back door and all kinds of plants. My husband did the vegetable garden. I plants flowers all over. But no more. I have all kinds of books on planting, soil, pruning, etc. We used to try different types of vegetables and herbs. Chocolate and lemon thyme. It a whole different world for sure and so fun to watch them grow. Ask the people you buy the fertilizer from how much to water and fertilize. There is a nack to it. And different things want more than others. Have fun.
@savypat (20216)
• United States
18 May 10
First timers often kill with kindness. Water only when you can stick your finger into the soil and find it dry or if your plants wilt. I use a fertilizer stick which despenses it over a month or so. Get one for the type of plants you are raising, vegies or flowers. I use the small ones and put one near each plant, that way I can get different types to each plant. Watch for insect control, I put egg shells, crushed, to keep slugs and pill bugs away, I rinse with water with a weak dish soap in it for other sucking insects. If you don't have many plants you can just pick them off. Wear gloves if you can't stand to touch them, that's what I do. try not to let any fruit or vegie lay on the ground, this causes rot, so you may need to stake some up. Look on the Internet for any questions you have.
@hexeduser22 (7253)
• Philippines
18 May 10
I'm really not a garden guy but I will surely have my own garden in the dream home I'm building...in the near near near future
. Congratulations for this new chapter in your life. I hope I could learn a thing or two from you in the future
. Congratulations for this new chapter in your life. I hope I could learn a thing or two from you in the future
@nangisha (3496)
• Indonesia
18 May 10
Hello my friend!
Sorry I can not really help you much because because I am just learn become a gardener and like you there is no open soil in house all of it has been harden by cement.
I plant the tomato in container well its seem work greet but I don't see fruit it I will take a month before I can enjoy the fruit.
Enjoy your garden I hope it will bring a lot of fun for you as I had with my plant and always pray I hope my dog will not dig it but I always watch my dog so he will never put his nail on my tomato 
.
. 
@oldchem1 (8132)
•
18 May 10
A good way to grow potatoes in a small area is to use an old dustbin or similar container. Drill 10 or 15 drainage holes in the bottom so that it does not become waterlogged. Fill the bottom of the bin with 5-10cm of crocks or stones (old broken pots etc), and then add another 15cm of good potting compost. !alternatively use a strong blastic bag with string tied round it) Put five seed potatoes on top with the sprouts pointing upwards. Cover the potatoes with more of the potting compost until they are just buried, and then water well. As the green foliage grows upwards add more compost. It does not matter if the leaves are covered as they will soon grow up through the compost again.
We get quite a good crop
