Are you starting on your gardening journey this year? Maybe branching out to some new-to-you plants? Trying out a new style of gardening?

Share your questions! Share your plans! How can we help you grow something wonderful? What do you wish you knew more about?

And remember, if you don’t need this thread then this thread needs you!

  • Balcony gardener here. Had a death in the family so my garden was neglected unfortunately, but it’s bouncing back (as am I). My cabbages aren’t as big as they were last year, likely because I used slightly smaller pots and let them wilt too often, but wife should be able to turn them into kraut for sausage dogs. We did that last year and ended up with a pretty decent jar-full, which was pretty cool.

    This year I over-wintered my peppers for the first time, and they’re starting to bounce back so I’ll probably transfer them to larger pots soon. I’m already looking forward to watching them come in :) they’re my favorite plants to grow. I have shishito peppers, snack peppers, cayenne, jalapeno, and dragon roll peppers. I like my peps!

    Mint is looking okay, it’s coming back after being neglected, but it’s basically a weed so I’m not really worried. I’ll have to buy more basil starters, I didn’t prune it well and it didn’t survive being over-wintered.

    This is all on top of the usual annuals and ivy and ferns and such. It’s basically impossible for me to go to the grocery store without bringing home whatever discount plant I find, lol. I don’t have too much room to work with, but I’m doing some vertical gardening as well by mounting shelves to put smaller pots on. It looks good from the street too. I get compliments when I’m out there, and it always makes my day :D

    • I’m sorry for your loss, and truly hope that getting back into your garden supports your healing.

      It’s basically impossible for me to go to the grocery store without bringing home whatever discount plant I find, lol

      My wife and I made a deal that I have to bring the dog when I go anywhere that sells plants, just so I can’t carry as many to the register. Usually I respect the spirit of the deal but sometimes it’s too much and I use a cart 🤫

      • Thank you Lally, I really do appreciate that. It has helped me heal greatly. As odd as this sounds, I feel lucky that it occurred during the end of winter. So as the world begins to show a return to life and color, my own little world is doing the same :) I actually have some plants of hers that I’m tending to now. So many snake plants to propagate!

        My wife and I made a deal that I have to bring the dog when I go anywhere that sells plants, just so I can’t carry as many to the register.

        Now I’m just imagining a dog in a cart covered in grocery store ferns 😄 but that’s a great compromise!

        • 💕 after my grandmother passed away a few years ago several of the cousins and I all took cuttings from a number of the plants she had grown around her house, and now every spring she’s still making my world more beautiful. I’m overjoyed that your loved one will do the same for you.