Gardening Experiment, Year 2

Well, last year was my first year to try my hand at gardening. It was quite exciting for the first few weeks, then it turned into a miserable failure. My Grandma saved me mid-summer with beautiful potted plants that lasted me all the way to November.

I learned a few things from last year's experiment:

1. Vegetables aren't good potted plants. They need tons more soil than a pot can provide.
2. April is too late to plant things from seed.
3. Pots should be filled to the top with soil, not a few inches down. The more soil, the better!
4. Putting all the seeds from the packet into the soil doesn't guarantee success; it just means all the more seedlings you have to pull out, which turns out is hard for me to do
5. Seedlings really DO have to be pulled out to let others get big and strong.
   

So, I have made a few adjustments to this year's plan.

1. I bought seeds of the same flowers Grandma gave me mid-summer: zinnias and marigolds, plus a few other things (including my one "success"--peppers)
   
2. I've already started them in little seedling pots indoors, and they'll be big enough to go outside after the first frost!
3. When it's time, I'll fill the pots to the brim with soil
4. I've only planted enough seedlings for my pots, and no more, except for a few that I can give to people who would like to have them for their own garden
5. I will do my best to pull the weaker seedlings and save the stronger ones. It will be hard, but I will do it.

So here is what I have, a pallet of peat pots (what alliteration!) filled with:

• Flowers: Marigolds, zinnias, baby's breath, and morning glories (for the front porch columns, hopefully)
• Herbs: Basil, Chives, Cilantro
• Vegetables: Jalapenos and Anaheim chilis

The crepe myrtles are still outside, and I think they're making it through the winter. The potato vines are also still in the soil, so I'm wondering if they'll make it, too. If not, I guess I'll go buy those when it's time to work outside.

I'm so excited! I realize Experiment #2 may prove just as miserable as #1, but I feel like I learned from last year, and I'll learn this year, too. I'm sure I'll give you updates!