After our wedding in 2016 I decided to keep and grow all of the herbs from our table settings on our balcony. This was my first step into getting serious about container gardening. Last year I did some research and had a full garden, but had an awfully late start because getting plants locally that were made for containers isn't always easy. I've taken the things I learned last year into this years planning, I'm also starting most of my plants from seed this year.
I found stacking planters so that I can have more plants on our balcony with limited space. They are called Mr. Stacky and I got the small and large 5 stack, each hold 20 plants. The small size is for herbs, strawberries and other small plants while the large will hold large herbs and vegetables breed for containers.
The next step was researching which plants we were interested in this year and what we had space to grow. This started with a list while I did a 'overhead' search on container plants and noted things I was interested in and took stock of everything we had survive the winter. My original list:
- Strawberries (I think they survived from last season)
- Red Robin Tomatoes
- Celery
- Citrus Tree
- Jalapeno (survived from last season)
- Parsley
- Thyme
- Sage
- Mint
- Oregano
- Rosemary
- Lemongrass (hoping it survived the winter)
- Chives/Bunching Onions
- Basil
- Marigolds
- Chamomile
- Clover
- Lavendar
- Carrots
- Pinapple
- Tulips
- Daffodiles
I also took stock of my available planters (knowing I don't have room for all of them, and some will have to leave this year) that list:
- 2 - 20" diameter 15" depth
- 1 - 12" diameter 11" depth
- 1 - 9" x 24" width 8" depth
- 1 Small Mr Stacky with 20 - 5.5" deep 'pockets'
- 1 Large Mr Stacky with 20 - 7.5" deep 'pockets'
- 1 Wall pocket hanger with 8 - 6" deep pockets
- 2 - 14" x 14" width 12" depth
- 1 - 6" diameter 4" depth
- 1 - 10" diameter 8" depth
- 2 - 33" x 6" width 6" deep (these are leaving, they drown everything because of an attached tray)
- 1 - 6" diameter 4" depth
- 2 - 16" diameter 7" deep hanging baskets
After this I did some deeper research, bought some seeds, and made a plan for moving forward with the planters I own. Yesterday I took a trip to Home Depot and bought all the seeds I could, then I came home and ordered one big order from Burpee Seeds and one for those hard to find Red Robins from Etsy. If anyone finds Red Robin seeds for less than $5, please get them for me, they are impossible to find, I will pay you for them with shipping.
I bought one set of seeds that I plan on starting and taking to plant at Mom & Dad's garden. I failed last year and I really want a good chance of trying some of these Sugar Baby Melons. I'm not willing to give them the space they need here this year, I think they will do really well with little effort near Mom's pond.
With all my seeds bought and my starting plan worked out, I'm going to start some of my plants this week. I'll take any advice anyone has.
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