How does your garden grow?

[sister herb]

^^Thanks dear sister. Not sure about my whole life is wonderful but gardening is a nice part of it. Like many gardeners, I have made a deal with the mother earth; I take care of the tiny part of it (like my garden) and it will gratify me by its greenery and fruits of the harvest time. We both are satisfied.

[sister herb]

The lonely bird feeder is waiting the winter and its bird visitors.

[Lady A]

Yummm...spinach!

I tried to upload pics of my rose, and veggies that yielded from our garden; they failed to upload. I took them off my mobile phone's camera, and were saved as .jpg. What did I do wrong?

[sister herb]

I had problems too before, then I got advice to use this one to upload images: http://imgur.com/

Choose "BBCode (message boards & forums)" code.

Also make sure your pictures aren´t too large.


Did you mention roses? Wow, I would like to see them. :p

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[Lady A]

I had problems too before, then I got advice to use this one to upload images: http://imgur.com/

Choose "BBCode (message boards & forums)" code.

Also make sure your pictures aren´t too large.


Did you mention roses? Wow, I would like to see them. :p

I'll give that a try...thank you!

Yesss...I snipped off a beautiful mini rose from a miniature rose bush and I'm in the process of propagating it! I pray that it's successful and grows! It was such a beauty, subhanAllah.

[sister herb]

Beans, no flowers yet:

Most of lilies are open:

White strawberries:

Flowers only- bed grows well too:

View to the herb garden - part 1:

And part 2:

[Lady A]

Those lilies are just radiant! Never seen anything like that, subhanAllah.

Do share the harvest of white strawberries, never seen those either.

[sister herb]

The August is a flower time in my garden - every day something new will opens. Today is the first day of poppies:

Cornpoppy with cornflowers. Sad I haven´t any sweet corns at this year. Then I could have a corn party. But maybe popcorns do the same thing.

[sister herb]

New corn poppies open every day:

Beans have flowers:

One sunflower will make more than one flower:

Gooseberries are soon ripe:

And peas:

Caterpillars like their leaves. :mad:


Seems I will have rhubarb pie tomorrow :p

One more catnip mint which has escaped from its original place:

[Lady A]

An update on my mini-garden:

The miniature rose dried out and died...it was a really pretty one
The 3 orchids I have aren't doing so well. I cant seem to find the right environment for them. I had left them outside and one got sunburned. I brought them in and their leaves yellowed and shed. I trimmed the roots of one of them today because of root rot. I doubt it will survive, but I'm still keeping it in case it shows signs of regrowth.

[sister herb]

Sorry about your loss in the mini-garden. :hmm:

You should send your flowers to my bigger-garden to get some first aid. I have somewhere behind of the dahlias one mini-rose - if slugs haven´t eated it already but as my motto in the garden matters is: "I have always a room for one more".

;D

[sister herb]

Mini-rose has buds:

Golden balls (rudbeckia laciniata) and sunflowers create green garden path:

Golden balls will flower soon:

[Lady A]

Sorry about your loss in the mini-garden. :hmm:

You should send your flowers to my bigger-garden to get some first aid. I have somewhere behind of the dahlias one mini-rose - if slugs haven´t eated it already but as my motto in the garden matters is: "I have always a room for one more".

;D

lol! I should send them over your way! I'm sure you'll do a great job looking after them ;D

[sister herb]

The first sunflower opens soon:

White corn poppy:

Tropaeolum majus/garden nasturtium:

Basils in the pots and baskets grow well:

[sister herb]

Sunflower starts its sun bathing:

:giggling:

[sister herb]

A dill has tiny flowers:

Anise hyssop - behind peppermints, at the right side shark fin melon leaves:

Growth of shark fin melons and squash grows bigger when days are worm:

Marigolds in the old iron cauldron with catnip mints:

More colors to garden - garden nasturtium:

Squash in the frame - behind thyme and basils:

Broad bean:

[sister herb]

Shark fin melon - a small yet but hopely it will grow bigger:

It has got kind of name because when cooked, the strands of the melon separate a little, resembling cooked shark’s fin.

[sister herb]

"Money maker"- tomatos:

Mini truss tomato has plenty of flowers and some tomatoes coming:

Bee in the " bee bar":

[sister herb]

They are like butterflies - soon flying away...

:statisfie

[sister herb]

Flowers - sunflowers are still growing taller:

The veggie garden fence with shark fin melon:

Sun flowers and golden balls:

Garden nasturtium:

Corn poppy:

More broad beans:

[sister herb]

A visitor in sunflower:

More sunflowers growing:

Poppy after watering the garden - it was sunny and hot day:

Pink poppy for sister Lady A:

Sweet chilis are still yellow - hopely they will turn red soon:

Hot chilis might not give fruits but it was the first time I tried them:

[sister herb]

Shark fin melon grows fast:

Silky elegance of poppy:

At the August, garden is full of everything, just waiting the harvest time:

[sister herb]

Squash - I mean three ones:

[sister herb]

Harvest time has started:

Dill, lettuce, beans, peas, squash, carrots.

[sister herb]

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis):

Astilbe (false goat's beard, false spirea):

Garden table:

My place to sit and watch the garden:

[sister herb]

Yellow is now the main color in my garden - after green of course:

[Lady A]

^ Absolutely VIBRATING! Love it, sister herb!

[sister herb]

Mini-rose at the rainy day:

Anise hyssop:

[taherdawoodi]

Didn't expect to find this thread - so refreshing...
We have a small garden but we don't grow anything... YET !!

I am so inspired now by these pics

Thank you all !!

[sister herb]

Aren´t they cute?

Shark fin melon (1,5 kg) and behind squash (2 kg).

[sister herb]

Didn't expect to find this thread - so refreshing...
We have a small garden but we don't grow anything... YET !!

I am so inspired now by these pics

Thank you all !!

You are welcome. Own garden - even a little one - gives a lot of joy as well as a lot of work.

Also, the green color reduces levels of the stress hormone and if you are lucky, you can get some tomatoes too. ;D

[taherdawoodi]

Yes, we used to grow Basil, mint, tomatoes, onions, scallions in our garden 3 years ago. But we lost the whole crop when we went out on vacation and came back 3 weeks later. Since then, I've been very guilty of growing plants fearing that I might kill them inadvertently. But, nonetheless, I believe I am ready now :D

You are welcome. Own garden - even a little one - gives a lot of joy as well as a lot of work.

Also, the green color reduces levels of the stress hormone and if you are lucky, you can get some tomatoes too. ;D

Aren´t they cute?


Shark fin melon (1,5 kg) and behind squash (2 kg).

[Lady A]

@sister herb...I LOVEEEEE that rose! The one I accidentally murdered was just like it! So gorgeous! Too bad I can't enjoy mine but thank you for loading pics and sharing! :sunny:

[sister herb]

Harvest time is happy time. :)

Sunflowers, beans and peas.

[sister herb]

Asters are opening:

Behind marigolds in old basket.


Honey bar for bees is closed but buffet for birds is opened:

More sunflowers are still flowering:

[sister herb]

Beans:

And peas:

Spearmint, planted at the last summer:

Spearmint, planted at this summer:

Basils in the pots:

Holy basil:

A bunch of tomatoes:

[sister herb]

I cut a really pretty rose from a miniature rose bush. Does anyone have experience propagating roses from cuttings? I ran a google search and most articles recommend a rooting hormone, which I don't have. Tips please!

I found kind of advice for rooting:

Cinnamon as rooting agent

Cinnamon as a rooting agent is as useful as willow water or hormone rooting powder. A single application to the stem when you plant the cutting will stimulate root growth in almost every plant variety.

Give your cuttings a quick start with the help of cinnamon powder. Pour a spoonful onto a paper towel and roll damp stem ends in the cinnamon. Plant the stems in fresh potting soil. The cinnamon will encourage the stem to produce more stems, while helping to keep away the fungus that causes damping-off disease.

[sister herb]

I have still few basils left, most of them I have harvested as weather has changed too cold for them:

Most of them I dry but today I also made some pesto.


Sunflowers:

No flowers with these ones yet:

Some random plants; I planted here those which didn´t fit to anywhere else places:

Asters and mints beside of the sunflowers.


And now, evening is coming to my garden:

[sister herb]

The autumn has started but garden is flowering. It´s time of asters:

Goldenballs are still "golden":

And marigolds:

A lot of sunflowers:

One of the latest poppies:

Spearmints:

Most of the tomatoes are still green:

Squash:

[sister herb]

Shark fin melon, 4 kg:

[sister herb]

At the autumn, asters are my favourites:

Squash still has flowers:

Garden nasturtium:

Calendula officinalis:

Blooming of the sunflowers has continued over the month and there still have buds:

[sister herb]

At the yesterday and last night was heavy wind and it broke one "money maker" tomato. Seems that also the brances were heavy because of tomatoes.

1,5 kg tomatoes from one plant - a money maker really is the money maker.

Now I just need to wish they will turn to red inside.


Three more zucchinis are coming:

Sunflowers I sow beside of the wall have started to bloom:

There are yellow and red ones.

[oasis123]

beautiful photos!!
one day if I create my own garden I'll share its pictures here : )

[monroe]

The garden looks really nice. Hope I would have a garden like that!

[sister herb]

It´s a harvest time:

[colinberry1]

Well to get the best of your tomatoes only allow no more than 4 trusses to form, and pinch out all the laterals

[sister herb]

More shark fin melons today:

I will get about 30 kilos of those at this year.

Tomatoes have been indoors a week and some are turning red:

Tomato harvest will be over 10 kg total.

:D

[BeTheChange]

Amazing! I admire all the gardening skills.

[sister herb]

Amazing! I admire all the gardening skills.

Gardeners are happy people - and their neighbors get tomatoes too.


Well, my neighbors might get also some melons. ;D

[BeTheChange]

Alhamdulilah - May Allah swt put barakat in your food and everything that you do sis Ameen.

[sister herb]

The first hot chili is ripe:

More are coming soon:

I am expecting

moments in my kitchen.

[sister herb]

Harvesting continues:

:D I love carrots.

[lonewolf007]

my gardens just pretty normal all grass and no slabs...........but my neighbours grow theyre own veggies and fruits and they give us some too

[sister herb]

my gardens just pretty normal all grass and no slabs...........but my neighbours grow theyre own veggies and fruits and they give us some too

That´s kind from them - may Allah bless them.

Remember, that with a little studing (and a lot of work) you too could change your garden as a green oasis. :statisfie

[lonewolf007]

That´s kind from them - may Allah bless them.

Remember, that with a little studing (and a lot of work) you too could change your garden as a green oasis. :statisfie

Ameen............yeah theyre pretty decent peeps masha'Allah and yeah insha'Allah when i get some time would love to do some extra work on my garden :)

[sister herb]

The last sunflower is waiting the bees - but they all have gone... :unhappy:

[sister herb]

Chilies ripe also indoors. Hot chilies:

A lot of their leaves fall. I think because air indoors is quite dry.
Behind a leaf cactus and a dragon fruit.

[sister herb]

I harvested some chilies today:

Yesterday I found a lot of peppermint from the garden:

[sister herb]

In the garden snow has melted again. (Well, it will return sooner or later.) On the front yard I have Siberian carpet cypress, it changes brown for the winter and green for the summer.

If I wouldn´t know that it changes its color, at the spring I might think its now totally died. :giggling:


Also leaves of Bergenia cordifolia change the color:

Garden is waiting the spring, some perennial herbs covered:

[sister herb]

Why I am gardening:

[sister herb]

The growing season ended already and we are expecting snow again at the next night. This is how I like to remember my garden during the winter - and dreaming the next spring and summer and new growing in my little garden:

:statisfie A lot of everything.

[sister herb]

The leaves of chilis - new growing at the winter season:

When looking those leaves, it feels like the spring is coming... well, sooner or later. :D

[sister herb]

The garden season starts soon with sowing the first seeds to the pots indoors. I found today some new seeds like flowers, herbs and veggies like these tomatoes:

:statisfie Soon, soon...

[sister herb]

Tomatoes and broccoli have germinated already at the last few days. And 4 chilies are still alive. The spring has started here - still snow on the ground but it melts fast.

Chilies:

[sister herb]

Broccoli seedlings have got new pots:

[colinberry1]

Well all the Brassica family you need to lime the soil, because they are susceptible to club root.

[noraina]

Ma'sha'Allah,

Sister Herb jazakAllah for sharing these pictures with us :) my mother enjoys gardening also and I help her now and then. Your garden is beautiful, and there is so much blessing in growing fruits and tress and bushes - whatever takes nourishment or shade or comfort from them you get instantaneous reward!
We have a few strawberry plants and mint leaves but I am planning to expand on that inshaAllah.

Do you grow Basil? Because my basil keeps on dying :( and I have no idea why. If you had any advise that would help jazakAllah!

[sister herb]

Sure I have basils every year. The best results I have got when I grow them in the pots.

Then it´s easier to watch out that they don´t get too much or too little sun, I can move them back indoors if weather turns too cold or wet etc.

I have noticed that they demand very warm summer, on the garden bench their growing might be weaker if summer is cold and rainy (like it was here at the last year):

But result were quite good any ways:

Also in the frame with lettuce they grew well:

[noraina]

Sister Herb, jazakAllah khayr for the tips. Your basil just looks so green and beautiful and bushy :D nothing like my said wilted leaves.

I will buy some more basil and plant it in pots, I will post pictures up inshaAllah if they are a success.

[sister herb]

If you buy seedlings, its easier and faster to grow them. I start with seeds:

After 2 to 3 weeks they are enough big to separate and plant again to bigger pots - one by one. It´s slowly job as plants are still very tiny and fragile. I usually use a teaspoon when I dig them up. I can plant them outside (or to their finals pots) at June as weather here is too cold before it.

I´ll send more pics later when they are bigger.

[sister herb]

Grape tomatoes (100s&1000s) got new pots today:

[sister herb]

Chilies got bigger pots with fresh, new soil:

Tomatoes grow well:

Grape tomato 100&1000s:

Money maker tomato:

Beefsteak tomato Marmande:

Lemon grass:

A lot of basils coming:

[Bhabha]

Do you transfer these to the garden or do they grow in the pots? Omg I am so behind on my gardening this year! I'll post pictures soon >_<

[sister herb]

Most of those I will transfer to the garden when weather change warmer, maybe at beginning of June, except chilies and lemon grass. They like their pots more as our summer here isn´t enough warm to them. I still need to sow zucchinis and pumpkins but their time is a little later.

Waiting to see your pics. :p

[sister herb]

The biggest hot chili:

Chilies have a lot of flowers:

Lavender stayed indoors all winter and now it´s waiting the summer and it´s new home in the garden:

[sister herb]

The first tulip bud:

[sister herb]

After the rain new growth has started in the garden:

Narcissus:

Bergenia:

Lupin:

[noraina]

Narcissus:

Are these the same as daffodils, sis? They look exactly like the daffodils we have in our garden, although in the UK they bloom around February time. Is Finland a very cold country?

BTW, ma'sha'Allah, your flowers are beautiful, they are truly one of the most astonishing examples of Allah's SWT creation.

[sister herb]

Yes it´s same. This lovely flower has many names.

Finland is quite cold - at February we still have a lot of snow and it´s with January the coldest month in here. The spring starts at the March or April but nights might be cold still at the beginning of June. A good thing for us and to the garden is that days are long and nights are lightly at the summer.

Only problem of course is when Ramadan is at the middle of summer. :exhausted

[Bhabha]

ما شاء الله‎

Sister herb! Those look so beautiful. I just transplanted my garden today. I will take some pics tomorrow when I'm done fixing it up. I need to get used to growing herbs indoors if I am going to go to uk for school in September. Since I'll have an apartment :(. Sigh. But I love eating fresh foods. Yum. I put down mint, green onions, parsley, tomatoes, cilantro, basil, lettuce. Green onion, cilantro, mint and strawberries survived the winter !

[sister herb]

Bergeria (elephant´s ear) is now flowering:

Daffodil:

Lily-of-the-valleys in a row beside of my door:

[noraina]

Such beautiful flowers. My mother loves gardening, whenever I see someone else growing plants I'm reminded of her (she's outside right now, lol). :)

[sister herb]

It´s a great hobby. :statisfie

[Umm Abed]

Beautiful herbs and flowers I can almost smell them right here sister herb,:Dmasha'allah.

[sister herb]

That´s true:

[sister herb]

Article: Starting Your Own Herb Garden

Many of us have childhood memories of playing in a garden on a sunny day with the scent of lavender, rosemary and mint accompanying our every step. Just a whiff of these scents will bring a wave of nostalgia for childhood summers, fairy tales and times gone by.

The good news is that we can create our own fairy tale setting right here and now by planting a herb garden in even the smallest back yard.

Herbs are natural ‘weeds’ or wild plants and unlike many flowering plants they have not been bred or mutated into something more pleasing to the eye. They remain in their original state and as such they are most often hardy and easy to grow with a natural resistance to disease. You can avoid using chemical pesticides on them and if you can do the same with the rest of your garden, you will have ‘organic’ herbs that you can safely eat when any superficial dust and insect matter have been washed away.

The location of your herbs is important. They need to be close to the house where you will constantly see them. Under the kitchen window is great. This way, you will remember to water them and you will not have far to go when you need a little flavoring in the middle of cooking dinner. Even if it is raining, just a step outside and you will have your herbs. If they are at the far end of the garden, on the other hand, they are more likely to be neglected and unused.

Many herbs are small plants that do not require much space, but beware of them spreading uncontrollably. Lavender can become huge hedges, mint can pop up all over your lawn, and many others will simply grow and grow if they are happy in your garden. Give them plenty of space and be prepared to control them firmly when necessary.

Your first decision will be whether to grow your herbs all together or mix them around the garden with other plants. There is a lot to be said for having all your herbs within easy reach in one bed, and if you do this be sure not to make the bed narrow enough that you can harvest the leaves you need without damaging other plants.

On the other hand, plants in the wild tend to grow with certain other ‘companion’ plants and if you mimic this by considering compatibility in planting your herbs, all of your garden may benefit. Here are some examples:

– Parsley, tomatoes and asparagus is a good combination. Parsley also grows well with lettuce.

– Sage and tarragon are said to grow so well together that you will have a more intense flavor from both herbs if you mix them rather than keeping each separate.

– Dill does well with cucumbers. However, do not try to grow dill with potatoes or cabbage, as they are incompatible.

Consider The Benefits of The Herbs When You Plant Them

Many herbs have other helpful properties. Nasturtiums are good next to fruit trees to keep aphids away. Lavender does the same for roses. Thyme along the edge of a bed will help to deter snails. Marigold and borage provide saponins, important nutrients for the soil.

Types of Herbs

Herbs are not all leaf. Sage, lavender, borage, feverfew, chamomile and marigold are all examples of herbs which will flower beautifully in your garden. If you have plenty of space, you may want to plant more of these than you need, because they are so attractive.

Of course, you will want to plant smaller growing herbs at the front of any bed with larger plants behind, both for ease of reach and for a better display.

Consider Sunlight Exposure

Most herbs enjoy a sunny spot although there are exceptions. However, it is better not to have them in full sun all day, or they will mature and turn to seed very quickly. Once they are forming seeds, all of their goodness and energy goes into the seed so unless your aim is to produce seeds (e.g. with coriander or pepper) you should take your main harvest before that happens, while the flavor and nutrients are still in the leaf (or flowers, with chamomile).

Container Herb Gardening

Of course you can also grow herbs in containers. Many will thrive in a small container. Some, like mint, can be grown in pots buried into the soil to prevent them spreading uncontrollably. Others grow so well in pots that containers have been designed specifically for them – you can grow parsley in a special clay ‘parsley pot’, if you wish.

If you use wooden containers, be sure they have not been treated with any damaging chemicals. Anything used in the treatment will enter the soil, be taken into the plant and eventually end up in your stomach, so it is worth taking some care with this. If you want to grow your herbs organically you may prefer to use clay pots.

Be sure that the containers are well drained, because most herbs like a fairly dry environment. This means having drainage holes on the underside of the pot, and also placing a layer of large gravel or similar before you add any soil, to help with drainage. However, containers do need frequent watering because the soil will not hold water as well as in a garden bed. Let them get a little dry right before harvest to keep the nutrients strong in the leaves.

Which Herbs?

The next question is which herbs to choose. If you are starting from zero, do not be tempted to plant too many different herbs. In the first year it is better just to choose four or five plants that you know you will use and enjoy. Later, you can add more with the benefit of experience.

Starting From Seed

If you are starting your plants from seed, most of them will be best in seed trays indoors at first. Use at least 2 inches depth of potting soil. Don’t forget to label them! The trays need to be well watered and until the seeds have sprouted you can leave them covered to hold in the moisture. Once shoots appear, they will need light. However you can replace the lid at night at first, to keep them warm.

You will probably have a lot of tiny seedlings but do not start to thin them out until the first real leaves are fully formed. At that point you can see which are the weaker plants and remove these, to leave just the strongest ones, preferably about 2 inches apart. As they grow bigger you can transfer them into individual small containers.

Start your seeds in the late winter or early spring, and start putting them outside for a few hours every day before you transplant them into the garden. They need some warmth in the soil before they are planted, and they also need to acclimatize to the outside air and temperature.

Starting From Grown Plants

Alternatively, if you do not want the trouble of starting your own seedlings, you can buy small plants that are ready to be planted outdoors. If they were kept indoors at the store, you will still need to leave them in their pots for a few days while you acclimatize them to your garden by putting them out during the day and bringing them in at night.

Fennel and cilantro are examples of plants that do not like to be transplanted, so with these it is best to plant the seeds directly outside.

Fertilizer

Once outdoors, herbs will benefit from rich, fertile soil. This means adding fertilizer or compost at least once a year. Choose an organic fertilizer if you aim for organically-grown herbs. You can also collect fallen leaves and spread them over the earth as mulch during the winter, or dig them into the soil. Dead leaves make wonderful compost.

http://naturehacks.com/starting-your-own-herb-garden/

[sister herb]

Bergerias (elephant´s ear) grow on the top of stone wall:

[sister herb]

Yesterday I built the garden fence:

Also I sowed carrots and planted few onions. Today I will continue with sunflowers. Yellow one of course, I usually have a lot of them as during the winter squerrels and birds have missed some of their seeds from the bird feeder but also I like purple ones.


Purple sunflower from the last summer:

The herb garden has started to grow - anise hyssops, chives and lovage:

Here comes my pumpkin/squash garden:

Compost beds, few frames and later also some flowers on the pots. Fences around them to bring the feeling of the garden. Maybe they also help to keep hares away.

[sister herb]

My garden is now full of wild flowers which I like the most, lily-of-the-valley and forget-me-not.

They are everywhere, thousands and thousands and all are flowering.

[noraina]

We have forget-me-nots too! I love wildflowers, my mother lets them grow wherever they decide to. They are absolutely gorgeous and are in my favourite colours - purples and blues.

Altho, they do spread like anything, lol.

[sister herb]

^ This sounds charming garden. I too let those wild flowers grow when ever its possible. After these the first ones here will come daisies, red clovers, bluebells and of course wild strawberries. My lawn is much different than my neighbor´s whose prefer clean and flat lawn. Of my mind kind of garden is just only very boring.

[noraina]

^ This sounds charming garden. I too let those wild flowers grow when ever its possible. After these the first ones here will come daisies, red clovers, bluebells and of course wild strawberries. My lawn is much different than my neighbor´s whose prefer clean and flat lawn. Of my mind kind of garden is just only very boring

Yep, my mother says she likes to let nature do it things - she only 'guides' them or clears up the weeds. Flowers look so beautiful when they are kinda just growing where they're meant to grow, she'll plant other flowers there herself, and hang up windchimes and it looks so pretty ma'sha'Allah. Little random clusters or vines climbing up the fence here and there look so natural.

I love the bleeding heart bushes we have, they are huge after years of growing. And we have lots and lots of bluebells.

Can you eat the wild strawberries?

[sister herb]

Sure I can eat wild strawberries. They are tiny as size but their taste is a lot of stronger and more aromatic than garden strawberries. By the way, this part of the city I live has named as "The Strawberry Meadow" as here was growing before of lot of wild strawberries and still do.

[sister herb]

It´s a time of the apple tree´s flowers.

[sister herb]

In the garden has now opened the time of the flowers.

Petunias in the hanging basket:

Lilac is one of my favorites:

Fluffy dandelion with the collection of shapes of the leaves:

Charming lily-of-the-valley:

Lupins have started to open. I love the color of this one - so girlish pink:

Wild strawberry and starflower:

False lily of the valley:

[*charisma*]

Assalamu Alaikum

Mashallah sis :D what a beautiful garden!

I want to start one here, but I get worried because the weather gets so sunny and hot :/ We had a beautiful basil bush growing and then it burned dry :nervous:

[sister herb]

Assalamu Alaikum

Mashallah sis :D what a beautiful garden!

I want to start one here, but I get worried because the weather gets so sunny and hot :/ We had a beautiful basil bush growing and then it burned dry :nervous:

You better choose the plants which like to grow in the hot and dry climate. Or water them more often.

[*charisma*]

Do you have any idea how to turn sand into fertile soil loool

[sister herb]

Sure. It´s not impossible. You have to make your own soil with composting using different kind of plant and vegetable waste with some amount of soil and fertilizer and keep it moist. I am growing pumpkins and squash in kind of compost benches. When that compost bench moulders, it keeps the roots of plants enough wet and warm and gives them good growing.

Here is kind of bench at the last autumn, started about one year ago. Pile of old leaves and vegetable waste has changed to a good soil.

[*charisma*]

Don't I need worms to compost with? I've thought about that but I have no idea where to get worms from..i think it's the earth worm that must be used right??
People here have huge farms and they plant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, etc, but i think they use just soil and fertilizer from their animals. Others have greenhouses which are cooled with a water system...and I'm just over here trying to keep a pot alive ;D ;D

[sister herb]

Worms aren´t necessary but if you will have a tasty compost, they will find it by themselves. Who would say no to the free lunch?

[muslimah_B]

These are from my mums garden

[sister herb]

Lovely roses.

[sister herb]

Lettuces grow well:

Flower of white strawberry:

Chives:

Lovage, at the right hyssopus and rhubarbs:

Lilac:

The first midsummer rose:

A lot of lupins and more is coming soon:

At this year rhododendrons have only few flowers, mostly it makes new leaves.

Tatarian maple:

[al-Andalusi]

I should get back to my garden, inshallah. By now the mint must have overtaken a good portion of the herb space.

[sister herb]

Mint is like a weed in the garden. But good thing is that you can simply eat it when it spreads too fast.

[al-Andalusi]

Mint is like a weed in the garden. But good thing is that you can simply eat it when it spreads too fast.

I have found this out the hard way. I started the garden when I was young and since then the mint consumes the other plants when I am not there to stop it.

Thankfully, around the summer I always have plenty of mint to add to cold water or to lemonade

[sister herb]

This on is my indoor flower - old leaf cactus. It makes flowers once a year. One flower is open only one day.

Kind of leaf cactus doesn´t look very nice itself and sometimes I am planning to throw it away - but then comes the time of it´s marvelous flower - and I decide to keep it some more years. It´s age is about 20 years now.

[sister herb]

Herbs

Sage

Anise hyssop grows fast - very fast.

Chamomile from the last year germinated by itself and now I have it everywhere.

Flowers of chives.

Onions grow well too.

Lettuces in the frame

It´s a daisy time.

Rhododendrons

[sister herb]

A lot of herbs and vegetables available - fresh and free:

Peonies have just started to open:

Money maker tomatoes:

[sister herb]

Basils in the pots, behind peppermints:

Onions:

Green and lush herb garden:

Anise hyssop grows well at this year:

Almost too well as it tries to escape to the other side of the garden fence:

Time of peonies is almost over and flowers are full open:

Giant pumpkin:

Butternut squash:

Round squash:

[sister herb]

The first flower of butternut squash:

Squash:

It has few buds.


Round squash (left) and shark fin melon (right):

Shark fin melon:

Tomatoes:

Corn poppies - they self-germinated from the last year´s plants:

Harvest time has started - spinach - on it´s way to the kitchen:

And fresh from the oven - herb spinach pie:

:p

[muslimah_B]

The first flower of butternut squash:

Squash:

It has few buds.


Round squash (left) and shark fin melon (right):

Shark fin melon:

Tomatoes:

Corn poppies - they self-germinated from the last year´s plants:

Harvest time has started - spinach - on it´s way to the kitchen:

And fresh from the oven - herb spinach pie:

:p

I think you could start your own business of selling your herbs & vegetables :)
You have so many mashAllah :) i love it :)

[sister herb]

I have many different herbs and veggies yes but not many of each ones. My garden is small but I am greedy and want to grow everything.

:D

[sister herb]

Runner bean is climbing higher...

[sister herb]

Garden looks greener and colors deeper at the evening darkness.

Because of anise hyssops and tomatoes in frame, the garden path is almost overgrown:

In the forefront runner bean´s supporters:

[muslimah_B]

Garden looks greener and colors deeper at the evening darkness.

Because of anise hyssops and tomatoes in frame, the garden path is almost overgrown:

In the forefront runner bean´s supporters:

I absolutely love your garden sis you must be so proud Allahuma barek laha :) :)

Pls sis send me some veg it may be the only time i eat the stuff LOL :D

[sister herb]

It´s a time of flowers.

Dahlia:

This dahlia opening soon:

Lily:

Mini rose:

Himalayan balsam (Impatiens glandulifera):

And corn poppy - it is windy day, poppies stay in one place only seconds:

[sister herb]

As the weather is sunny and warm, no rainy like it has been last weeks, chilies are again outdoors.

More shadow at this side of the garden.

A plenty of different shades of green.

Golden balls are flowering soon. Normally they grow like a huge bush but at this year they seem to stay smaller. Maybe the frost at the last winter damaged them too.

Few flowers in the middle of green:

[Scimitar]

Some of what is blooming in my garden :)

Scimi

[T L]

Golden ratio ftw \o/

[sister herb]

At this year I have 3 squash and they have started to make fruits already. At the next week I can harvest the first ones, insha Allah.

[noraina]

Beautiful flowers @sister herb and bro @Scimitar , ma'sha'Allah :) Bro is that red flower a lily?

Green is one of my most favourite colours because I don't think any other colour has as many shades as green, looking through my window now I could probably count 100 or more.

[sister herb]

I believe that green is the color of paradise. ;) When we see green, it relaxing our minds.

[sister herb]

Some flowers:

African daisy:

Here too - the second flowering is starting:

New york aster:

And in smaller pot:

Dahlias:

Golden ball:

Common soapwort:

Paris daisy:

[Pygoscelis]

I found this recently in my botany adventures:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzxbO1aftFk

A flower where the middle looks like a cartoon character devil's head lol.

[sister herb]

Dill, behind parsley and chamomile:

Morning glory has opened many of its flowers:

[sister herb]

The first sunflower:

The first is always the best. :D

[sister herb]

Sunny day in the garden - rose beans are flowering:

More rose beans in other box:

Time of poppies:

[sister herb]

Sunshine in the garden:

[sister herb]

Sunflower has just opened:

Pink poppy:

Golden ball:

[sister herb]

Soon it´s a harvest time:

Few more sunny and warm days are needed.

[sister herb]

For the spicy meals - chilies are soon ripe:

[sister herb]

It´s a time of apples:

[sister herb]

Here is already a feeling of the autumn on the air but garden still has a lot of flowers. Morning glory:

Clarkia amoena (Farewell to Spring):

I like the name - it´s suitable for this time of the year *snif*


Corn poppy:

Canary nasturtium (Tropaeolum peregrinum):

[TDWT]

beautiful, like plants

[TDWT]

Keep up the good work

[colinberry1]

Well watching you on here made me miss my garden, I employed a Lithuanian couple to tidy my garden up and cut a tree down in front of my house, they were very hard-working but just did not understand a word I said and done everything totally different from what I wanted, it end up being a nightmare but to cut a long story short, I was still glad to see my garden tidy again.

I lost about 90% of my plants and inherit hundred percent of bine weed "columbine".

[sister herb]

Garden at the September:

[noraina]

Sunflowers - rarely see those flowers around these days!

Seeing all these flowers brings a smile to my face, ma'sha'Allah.

[sister herb]

Morning glory:

Sunflowers, smaller ones:

[sister herb]

Seeing all these flowers brings a smile to my face, ma'sha'Allah.

To me too. I love to watch and follow how everything grows. That´s why I try to grow all the plants from the seeds, not buying them from the garden markets. It´s amazing to follow a day by day the miracle of the growth, how a tiny seed will become a huge plant, how bare ground slowly change to lush and bountiful garden.

And of course, thank the Creator who makes all this possible. ;)

[Reminder]

China should grow gardens on top of all buildings to help reduce smog. Imagine how it would help. Maybe it wouldn't, I don't know.

[sister herb]

^^ It should help to improve the air quality.

Runner beans:

[sister herb]

Here is my "beach ball", 17,5 kg full of fresh pumpkin, ready for soups and pies and maybe also for jams:

[Scimitar]

China should grow gardens on top of all buildings to help reduce smog. Imagine how it would help. Maybe it wouldn't, I don't know.

Hanging gardens of Beijing? :D sounds epic.

Oh and Sister Herb, the sunflowers are looking happy :)

Scimi

[sister herb]

Fall colors everywhere, autumn leaves on the ground but still sunflowers are blooming like at the summer time:

[sister herb]

At the August, round squash, 4 kg:

While storaging the round squash has changed it´s colors:

I think it´s too dry to eat it but it´s nice to keep as decoration and later I can take seeds from it for the next season.

[sister herb]

So long time no post in here. Today I got the first harvest from my garden - rhubarb stems for sweet rhubarb soup (for iftaar):

[Simple_Person]

Did not know a gardening topic existed :).

Well that is it..i am hooked XD.

[fromelsewhere]

The harvest from my garden:

It will make a nice salad:

[Simple_Person]

Pictures taken from 1 side...




Picture from the other side..




Tomato plants and cucumbers need to climb, so i extended the washing line with some rod from a clothing rack in a closet and a part of a wooden part of a closet that i drilled holes in it. With a sort of a fishin line i attached them to the buckets so with some clips you can guide the plant upwards.







Because of limited space and problems that i may encounter in the future with roots not getting enough growth and water, i put two buckets one on the other and made the bucket beneath a water reservoir.






I have never grown anything in my life, except a beard. However alhamdulillah so far Allah has granted me the ability to search on internet fro the necessary knowledge and experience of other growers that i have achieved this so far.

So far what you see are

- 3 types of tomato plants (Money maker (one with the roots), super sweet 100, and a tomato mix (don't know which type yet). (all from seed)
- Peppermint (from cutting, because from seed although i succeeded it, it happened to be another variety than the one i wanted)
- Lemon balm (from seed)
- Lemon tree (from seed)
- Watermelon (sugar baby) (from seed)
- Sweet potato (from a hole potato)
- Normal potato (3 from whole potatoes and some just a small block cutting of the potato. The large wide bag are the ones with the whole potatoes.
- Bell peppers (from seed)
- Two types of strawberries (from seed)
- Two types of cucumbers (from seed)
- Celery (from seed)

So far about whole N-P-K and the information that i have gathered as i want to be as organic as possible. I have collected from acquaintances like 3 x 10 liter buckets of coffee grounds (N value = 2). The waste tea leaves i dry them up and grind them to be used later on (N = 4). Nitrogen good for leaf foliage. P (Phosphorus) i just read that lemon peel or whatever it is called contains a lot of phosphorus and off course not to forget K - Potassium banana peels (visible on one of the pictures lying to dry) contain a lot of it and also orange peels. Also with egg shells in a coffee grinder till they are powder for calcium. I also use cinnamon in tea then i dry the piece, which later on grind it to powder to use this in the future as sort of rooting hormone. Although it is NOT a rooting hormone, rather it prevents mold.

As far as i have read is that from now on, i need to give more P & K (Phosphorus and Potassium). To be more resilient against viruses and bugs and off course promoting more flowers, as nitrogen mostly is beneficial fro growing more leaves at the beginning of a plant. I have till now every time taken off the flower buds to prevent the energy of the plant to go to the fruit, instead to focus more on growth of leaves, stem and roots. The tomato plants i also buried a bit more deeper as it will shoot roots from it's stem so later on promoting to get more water and thus faster growing tomatoes. Also with tomato plants till now i have been cutting off the suckers however since a day or two i have stopped doing that as it has a limited height that i want it to go so from now on it should be oke with the amount of suckers and growth of amount of flowers. The first flowers that wanted to bloom on the bell peppers, i cut off the top and thus now the stem has became stronger and also A LOT of side shoots that have resulted in A LOT of flower buds. Those btw, i also have drilled wholes in the upper flower pot so they can reach the water reservoir in the second flower pot.

Btw, i have read that it is good to have certain types of flowers to attract bugs like honey bees to pollinate the fruit flowers. Do i have to worry about this? (i live on the 3rd floor)and also have like almost 9 hours of sun during summer time.

Anybody any advice that i could benefit from?

[sister herb]

Your garden looks great and you have some same plants like I have; I too have money maker tomatoes, they have usually gave me a lot of fruits. My tomato plants are still indoors, because of colder climate but maybe at the next week I can plant them to garden. Also my garden is organic cultivated.

I´ll check my archives if I find some gardening tips which might be useful to you.

[Simple_Person]

Your garden looks great and you have some same plants like I have; I too have money maker tomatoes, they have usually gave me a lot of fruits. My tomato plants are still indoors, because of colder climate but maybe at the next week I can plant them to garden. Also my garden is organic cultivated.

I´ll check my archives if I find some gardening tips which might be useful to you.

A question, the normal tomatoes that we buy at the store..not cherry tomatoes but also not the Belgium tomato type. What kind of taste do they have? I mean i have eaten them, but from the store. The taste compared to those cherry tomatoes it is as if those have no taste at all. When you grow your own tomatoes..(the money maker i guess)..do they have more taste than what is sold at the store?

Also so far i have seen the little cucumber (cucumber vert petit de paris) it had female and male flowers. I have tried to pollinate them using even a male flower (as i was afraid the pollination would not happen on time). However all though those were the first 3 female flowers, the cucumbers did not grow but instead turned yellow. Keep in mind that i have grown this type from seed back in 26th of February 2017. I didn't know back then that it takes about 60 days to give fruit so i have kept it in a small pot for some time. Also that those seeds need a warm soil to germinate. A website gave me wrong information telling me to sow them around en d of February.

The roots also with this one has grown to the water reservoir bucket and i also just recently gave a lot of water to it and decided that i am not gonna water from above anything soon. I am so far very green behind the ears when it comes to watering plants. Although some say wait until the leaves look tired (dry ground..).

[sister herb]

About tomatoes; oh yes! When you have eaten one growed by yourself, you never ever want to eat any tomato sold from the store. They taste much fruity and sweet.

We say here that you can sow cucumber seeds when the bird cherry is flowering (they flowers at the beginning of June and at that time soil is warm). I think those your cucumbers are quite similar with flowering and making fruits like shark fin melons (shark fin melon is actually a cucumber, not melon). They make male and female flowers and fruits. Male fruits grow only short time, turn to yellow and rotten away. Wait for some time, female fruits usually come after those male ones.

Watering depends about many things, like what kind of plant you have as some evaporate more moisture from leaves than others, how much sun they get, is there windy weather. It´s a good idea to let soil dry at the surface. Leave may look a little tired but don´t let roots become too dry. Also don´t overwhelm them.

[Simple_Person]

About tomatoes; oh yes! When you have eaten one growed by yourself, you never ever want to eat any tomato sold from the store. They taste much fruity and sweet.

We say here that you can sow cucumber seeds when the bird cherry is flowering (they flowers at the beginning of June and at that time soil is warm). I think those your cucumbers are quite similar with flowering and making fruits like shark fin melons (shark fin melon is actually a cucumber, not melon). They make male and female flowers and fruits. Male fruits grow only short time, turn to yellow and rotten away. Wait for some time, female fruits usually come after those male ones.

Watering depends about many things, like what kind of plant you have as some evaporate more moisture from leaves than others, how much sun they get, is there windy weather. It´s a good idea to let soil dry at the surface. Leave may look a little tired but don´t let roots become too dry. Also don´t overwhelm them.

Yes, later on i read on many other websites and even the package itself said somewhere in may/june to start sowing. So in the future it will be fine in'sha'Allah. I have also for every seed/plant kept a log of the events of the seed. How long it took to germinate, what kind of mistakes or things happened. When re-potted, etc. etc.

Yes, the female and male flowers are very clear as you see with the female flowers a small cucumber behind it. However is it normal that maybe the first female flowers just don't get pollinated and /turn yellow/die off?

[sister herb]

What comes to sowing the seeds, it of course depends in what climate zone you are living. Here in north June is suitable time but further south sowing time might be something else.

Yes it´s possible (about female flowers). You can try to help pollination with a little brush if there isn´t bees to do the job.

These are my shark fin melons from the last summer:

They become huge. There is 3 shark fin melons, 1 zucchini and one giant pumpkin but majority of those leaves belong to the shark fins.

[Simple_Person]

What comes to sowing the seeds, it of course depends in what climate zone you are living. Here in north June is suitable time but further south sowing time might be something else.

Yes it´s possible (about female flowers). You can try to help pollination with a little brush if there isn´t bees to do the job.

These are my shark fin melons from the last summer:

They become huge. There is 3 shark fin melons, 1 zucchini and one giant pumpkin but majority of those leaves belong to the shark fins.

Yes, a few days ago i bought a brush to pollinate them myself. However i have done it, but the female flower is still open. I pollinated it yesterday. How long do i have to wait until i see some change? (wittering of the flower, the cucumber growing..).

Just searched on youtube about shark fin melons and if it was worth it..huge..but just taste of cucumber. I guess you guys love the taste if you have grown it before.

About sowing well i took the advice of others by germinate them in my living room and give them a head start. With cucumber i have read that it doesn't take kindly to re-potting. So i also only re-pot once. With tomatoes, i re-pot 3 times.

Today the first time EVER i'm gonna make a salad using my own grown celery in'sha'Allah :). Just a wonderful feeling going to the balcony and grabbing what you need..big smile on my face..alhamdulillah. Also how long does it take for tomatoes to grow from very small buds to full grown tomatoes? Or does this mostly depend on the weather?

If lets say the weather is fine and you see some flower buds (very little) how many days does it take?

[sister herb]

You have to be patient with your cucumbers as it may take few days before anything happens and the fruit starts to grow.

My tomato seedlings are still in pots indoors (weather is cold, specially at the nights, last night here was +4 C) but few of them have buds. I´ll plant them outdoors maybe at the next week and during few
weeks they will start to make flowers. Then it takes here usually 2,5 to 3 months before tomatoes are ripe. How fast and well growing happens, depends about many matters, like sun, weather, pollination, soil, watering, fertilazing, possible pests... During the growing season, check your plants daily if there is any signs of pests or some other damages. You may see changes of leaf colors and it may tells that there is something too less or too much, like too much some fertilizer or too much watering or some disease. I had at the last summer bad luck with tomatoes as they got disease called grey mold and I lost almost all harvest. Only one variety was disease-resistant and gave me tomatoes. imsad But anyways, I´ll try again at this summer.

I sowed their seeds at beginning of April, so it takes months to get tomatoes. I usually re-potting them only once, for protect their roots. It´s always a big stress to plant to become re-potted but if you are carefull, it usually doesn´t harm them.

And yes, I know the feeling when I can go to my little garden and pick what ever I need for cooking. It´s very pleasant feeling. :statisfie

[MuslimInshallah]

Today the first time EVER i'm gonna make a salad using my own grown celery in'sha'Allah :).

Assalaamu alaikum Simple Person,

Ma sha Allah!

If you like a celery taste in your salads, you might also like the herb "Lovage". It is leafy and easy to pick and throw into a salad.

May God Bless your plants, and Gift you with a bountiful and tasty harvest!

[sister herb]

Yep, lovage is a great herb. Here is mine:

;) (sister herb)

[fromelsewhere]

@sister herb : now we know why you are called "sister herb".

[Simple_Person]

You have to be patient with your cucumbers as it may take few days before anything happens and the fruit starts to grow.

My tomato seedlings are still in pots indoors (weather is cold, specially at the nights, last night here was +4 C) but few of them have buds. I´ll plant them outdoors maybe at the next week and during few
weeks they will start to make flowers. Then it takes here usually 2,5 to 3 months before tomatoes are ripe. How fast and well growing happens, depends about many matters, like sun, weather, pollination, soil, watering, fertilazing, possible pests... During the growing season, check your plants daily if there is any signs of pests or some other damages. You may see changes of leaf colors and it may tells that there is something too less or too much, like too much some fertilizer or too much watering or some disease. I had at the last summer bad luck with tomatoes as they got disease called grey mold and I lost almost all harvest. Only one variety was disease-resistant and gave me tomatoes. imsad But anyways, I´ll try again at this summer.

I sowed their seeds at beginning of April, so it takes months to get tomatoes. I usually re-potting them only once, for protect their roots. It´s always a big stress to plant to become re-potted but if you are carefull, it usually doesn´t harm them.

And yes, I know the feeling when I can go to my little garden and pick what ever I need for cooking. It´s very pleasant feeling. :statisfie

Alhamdullilah I have no problem with having sabr when it comes to plants. All I always want to know is if I am doing it right. About sabr I am planning to sow tangerine and orange seeds and later on having 2 trees that have been grafted...tree with lemons + tangerines + oranges :)

However now I know about cucumbers I will in'sha'Allah leave then do their thing and yes I daily inspect then for diseases and other issues. So far alhamdulillah it all is going just fine. I also put some mulch to prevent the soil drying up because of the heat of the sun.

Btw, the Grey mold you were talking about..mold occurs when the plants don't get enough wind right?..like being inside or too many branches prevent the wind to reach the bottom of the plant. That is as far as I read/understood.

[sister herb]

Yes, being too close plants it´s one reason why plants may get that disease (grey mold). Maybe I was greed and planted them too close to get more tomatoes, :embarrass But anyways, we learn from the mistakes.

I posted this to other forum at the last year when my tomatoes got grey mold:

---------------------------

Unfortunately I found that at this year I have got grey mold (Botrytis cinerea) to the tomatoes. To the leaves and stems come grey/brown spots, leaves slowly die and tomatoes get rotten spots and they too will die. Nothing can be done at this stage, only to pick away infected leaves and hope the best or harvest all tomatoes as fast as possible and again hope the best.

Grey mold

Botrytis cinerea, the disease known as gray mold, strikes a range of perennials and annuals as a distinctively velvety, gray growth. On tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum), the disease starts on stems and leaves, eventually rotting the tomatoes themselves while they are at the green stage. Because there is no real cure for gray mold, remedies are aimed at preventing the disease in the first place, or halting its progress.


Selective Planting

One remedy for ongoing gray mold infestations is to segregate tomato seedlings that show obvious signs of already having the disease from healthy tomato seedlings. Afflicted seedlings will have dead leaves or wounds on the stems. Destroy these plants rather than setting them in the ground. Additionally, where you plant can be as crucial as what you plant. Because fungal spores overwinter in the soil, it's best to grow tomatoes in a new spot from year to year so that the previous years' infection doesn't spread as rapidly.


Aggressive Pruning

Pruning your tomato plant is an especially effective remedy when gray mold is the disease plaguing it. That's because gray mold settles into dying or dead plant tissue first. Catching the disease at this stage may help you rid your tomato plant of gray mold altogether. Use clean pruning shears to cut away stems or foliage that have gray mold on them. After pruning, disinfect the shears by wiping the blades with hydrogen peroxide or chlorine bleach.


Slowing Spread

To lower the risk of your tomato getting grey mold, follow the garden practices that keep fungal spores from spreading. Wet leaves are most susceptible to gray mold and other plant disease. Water the soil around tomato plants, rather than their foliage, by using drip irrigation -- or simply by aiming your garden hose at the soil rather than the plants. Spacing tomatoes so that their foliage doesn't touch also helps lessen fungal spread. Finally, pick up any infected plant parts that have fallen to the ground, and remove them promptly.


Not only tomatoes are in danger. Grey mold is common on apples, grapes, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, gooseberries, beans, cucumber, courgettes, lettuce and tomatoes. It is also a problem for plants grown under glass, where conditions can be humid and overcrowded. It will infect Chrysanthemum, Cyclamen, Pelargonium, Primula and, in fact, most ornamental plants.

Grey mold damages on the stems:

On the leaves:

Fruits:

I had to uproot almost all tomatoes as they were too badly infected already. Only two 100s&1000s are left. Seems they might have some more resistant against grey mold. A lot of yellow leaves but mostly they aren´t as bad infected - at the least not yet.

It felt sad to throw away so many big tomatoes but they had already rotten spots on them.

--------------------------

[sister herb]

From my garden:

Bleeding heart:

Peppermint:

Anise hyssop:

Oregano:

[Simple_Person]

@sister herb

I am amazed how aggressive peppermint is. Around 11th of may, i brought some tomatoes to a friend of mine and took 1 cutting and 2 with roots. Planted them in my tangerine box and it is super aggressive. Because the wooden box was largely empty i just cut off half of the already exited plant and just put them right in the ground. A few days later it was already visible that it gave new leaves. From 1 cutting and 2 with roots..i now already have 4 extra plants. This all within 1 month..and the summer hasn't even started. Although we've had a lot of sun in the recent 2 weeks.

I give them tea that is left (nitrogen = 4) and also sprinkled some coffee grounds (nitrogen = 2)..as that is good for leave growth. I'm getting the hang of it :).

Is the bleeding heart just a flower? I tend to want to have plants/flowers/trees that benefit me in someway (fruits, attracting bees or keeping away mosquitoes). I'm not in to just for the beauty of it.

Also ever thought about having Aloe Vera plant? I am planning to also sow one as it contains a lot vitamins for eating and also good for the skin.

[sister herb]

Yes, mints in general are very aggressive herbs. I have also spearmint and catmint. They spread all over the garden like grazy. Nothing stops them. They have decided to invade all the world...

Anyways, I have always ingredients for the mint tea.

Bleeding heart is flowering bush. It´s slightly toxic so it´s only for beauty.

I haven´t tried aloe vera, but why not if I find it somewhere. I read that some of its varieties might not be good to use and might be also toxic, so be careful when you choose yours.

[Simple_Person]

Yes, mints in general are very aggressive herbs. I have also spearmint and catmint. They spread all over the garden like grazy. Nothing stops them. They have decided to invade all the world...

Anyways, I have always ingredients for the mint tea.

Bleeding heart is flowering bush. It´s slightly toxic so it´s only for beauty.

I haven´t tried aloe vera, but why not if I find it somewhere. I read that some of its varieties might not be good to use and might be also toxic, so be careful when you choose yours.

When i saw this uncle cutting the aloe vera..i wanted to also have those :).. They might become laxative. Why not..time to time..very good for one's intestines ;D

[sister herb]

From my garden at this morning:

Anise hyssop:

Basil, behind red mountain spinach:

Chives start to flower:

Grape fruit mint (or then it´s catnip mint but cats aren´t fancy to it):

Spearmint:

Mojito mint:

I bought new mint but seller didn´t know what it´s variety is:

It´s then "the mysterious mint".


Oregano (at the left sage):

Parsley:

Peppermint and hyssop:

Rosemary:

Lettuces grow in the frame:

Yellow zucchini:

Part of the herb garden:

[Simple_Person]

From my garden at this morning:

Anise hyssop:

Basil, behind red mountain spinach:

Chives start to flower:

Grape fruit mint (or then it´s catnip mint but cats aren´t fancy to it):

Spearmint:

Mojito mint:

I bought new mint but seller didn´t know what it´s variety is:

It´s then "the mysterious mint".


Oregano (at the left sage):

Parsley:

Peppermint and hyssop:

Rosemary:

Lettuces grow in the frame:

Yellow zucchini:

Part of the herb garden:

WAIT JUST A MINUTE...!!..Grape fruit mint??? :Emoji38:

Are YOU saying that i can get these kind of varieties ..grow them ..make tea out of them..ALL NATURAL?? Instead of getting those chemical poison at the store to have some kind of flavor to my tea?

I also have made some mistakes with my super sweet 100 cherry tomatoes :Emoji8: but also with the other 2 varieties. I was so eager with super sweet 100 to get off the suckers and flowers so the plant could concentrate on growing leaves and roots..that i even took those tiny flowers off with it..the little growing stem. I later on saw that 1 sucker was growing like crazy and thought all the energy was going to the sucker instead of the main steam. I took that sucker off, so now the plant has 1 little sucker at the top but it seems like it is growing in such slow-mode as if it is not growing. You think it will be fine? It is already like 90 cm and i am thinking of giving it the ability to grow until 220 cm.

With the tomato mix and moneymaker, both alhamdulillah have flowers and both are around 80-90 cm with their first flower (because i was pulling off the flowers).

I have learned my lesson the hard way. For next season in'sha'Allah i will let each tomato plant have 1 sucker + main stem for more fruit also let the sucker already grow when the main stem is about 20 cm. With it, after growing about 20 cm, i will leave all the flowers to grow.

Also, my little paris cucumbers, i have now number 4 (yellow cucumber)..although i pollinated them myself. The recent days have been some weather change and i had ONLY female-flowers, but almost no male flowers. Is it also normal that cucumber plants grow a second stem? Because i have that with my little paris cucumber plant.

[MuslimInshallah]

Assalaamu alaikum Simple Person,

(smile) You might enjoy this link: https://www.richters.com/Web_store/w...ogue_button=Go

There are many varieties of mint here.

As for subtleties of flavour... I don't know how well this is preserved after you've boiled, or dried and boiled the mint (Sister Herb?). But if you want a little extra grapefruit or other flavour... (smile) why not add a little of the real thing?

May Allah Bless the gardens of those seeking Gardens.

[Simple_Person]

Assalaamu alaikum Simple Person,

(smile) You might enjoy this link: https://www.richters.com/Web_store/w...ogue_button=Go

There are many varieties of mint here.

As for subtleties of flavour... I don't know how well this is preserved after you've boiled, or dried and boiled the mint (Sister Herb?). But if you want a little extra grapefruit or other flavour... (smile) why not add a little of the real thing?

May Allah Bless the gardens of those seeking Gardens.

Why not add the real thing? Because i do not know what kind of poison people these days have grown and branded "grapefruit". Also i am not really able to grow it my self on my balcony.

I want to grow as much as possible many herbs and vegetables on my own and that i am certain of how it was grown. We these days have become so fat because of the manipulation of food and additives added to food.

Jazakallahu khairan, for the url..

"Pinapple/orange/chocolate/ mint, ", HAHAHAHHAHA..:Emoji22::Emoji22::Emoji22::Emoji22:. .It just got A LOT more chaotic on my balcony :P.

[sister herb]

About tomatoes; let it make minimum 5 bunch of flowers (many flowers together, not singles flowers). If it seems your tomatoe is growing very high, it´s good to break its top. Do not cut it with scissors. Never ever cut anythng with them as it may cause wounds to tomato and it may cause diseases like grey mold to infect your plant. Also later, when you already have tomatoes growing, you can take away some the lowest leaves (by hands, not with scissors) but be careful and take only few leaves away. Don´t take leaves away above of tomatoes as they help fruits to grow.

Remember - no scissors.

My tomatoes have been now outdoors about one week and I can see the first flowers. :D

I am not sure about cucumbers as I have had only those shark fin melons but they too make more than one stems and it seems they just take water and fertilizers with them so I have let them to grow. Are your cucumbers like these ones?

http://gardenerskitchen.co.uk/vegeta...6&vid=304&f=QZ

And about mints; as there are many different kind of varieties, some have more flavor than others but basicly yes, they keep their taste and flavors well while making tea and drying.

I have now 5 different varieties (spearmint, peppermint, mojito mint, grape fruit mint and "mysterious mint" but before I have also had chocolate mint and Moroccan mint. Unfortunately they didn´t survive from winters but I liked them too, specially the chocolate mint.

[Simple_Person]

About tomatoes; let it make minimum 5 bunch of flowers (many flowers together, not singles flowers). If it seems your tomatoe is growing very high, it´s good to break its top. Do not cut it with scissors. Never ever cut anythng with them as it may cause wounds to tomato and it may cause diseases like grey mold to infect your plant. Also later, when you already have tomatoes growing, you can take away some the lowest leaves (by hands, not with scissors) but be careful and take only few leaves away. Don´t take leaves away above of tomatoes as they help fruits to grow.

Remember - no scissors.

My tomatoes have been now outdoors about one week and I can see the first flowers. :D

I am not sure about cucumbers as I have had only those shark fin melons but they too make more than one stems and it seems they just take water and fertilizers with them so I have let them to grow. Are your cucumbers like these ones?

http://gardenerskitchen.co.uk/vegeta...6&vid=304&f=QZ

And about mints; as there are many different kind of varieties, some have more flavor than others but basicly yes, they keep their taste and flavors well while making tea and drying.

I have now 5 different varieties (spearmint, peppermint, mojito mint, grape fruit mint and "mysterious mint" but before I have also had chocolate mint and Moroccan mint. Unfortunately they didn´t survive from winters but I liked them too, specially the chocolate mint.

They are now about 80-90 cm and JUST started giving new flowers as i removed the other ones it gave. The super sweet 100 cherry tomato is 90 cm and has no flowers as i had removed them earlier for the stem growth and root growth. Are you saying i should remove the top even though having no flowers??? Till how tall should i let it grow?

Also why at least 5 bunch of flowers? With the tomato mix cherry tomato plant, i have 2 flowers and the new flowers i believe reach about 4-5 flowers. The money maker does have that many i believe.

I used that pruning scissor or whatever it is called. I will stop using it in'sha'Allah.

Little cucumbers: http://www.organiccatalogue.com/p130...duct_info.html
The large cucumbers: http://www.seedsofchange.com/quickfa...l1_aFirstImage

So are you telling me that those mints really taste just like what they are called..?? what kind of Frankenstein experiment have they gone through?

[sister herb]

Five bunches of flowers is just an average. You better let your tomatoes now just make flowers and not take top away. I have seen with my tomato plants that too much growing may decrease amount of harvest (money maker, marmande). Mine become usually about 170 cm before I take top away. It depends a lot which kind of tomato plants you have. I also have 100&1000´s grape tomatoes and with them no need to break the top as they grow as low bushes and are good for the hanging baskets. Also I have cherry tomatoes (can´t remember variety).

I don´t know all mint varieties (there are literally hundreds different mints and they also interbreed together easily) and some taste as their name describes, some not. I have seen that grape fruit mint is very mild but some others like peppermint or chocolate mint strong. It also depends about other things which kind of taste you´ll get as soil or amount of sunlight. Here in the north where summer is short but days are long, many herbs have stronger taste than in the southern areas.

Herbs in general are interesting as here are so many different varieties. For example few years ago I had sage what tasted like pineapple. Taste was very strong and fruity.

[sister herb]

Lilac is flowering:

And rhododendrons too:

Paris daisy - white:

And pink:

[Simple_Person]

Lilac is flowering:

And rhododendrons too:

Paris daisy - white:

And pink:

People from western origins love beautiful flowers and such, while i believe people from the Middle East..Kurds for sure, do also plant those things, but most of the time plant beneficial things in the sense of fruits and vegetables. That is why you i am only focused on growing edible things. It is very satisfying when you have spent some time on it and later on reap the hard work to be able to taste it ;D

[sister herb]

Well, I like the gardens where is food for both the body and the soul. ;)

[Simple_Person]

ALLAHU AKBAR!!

My first cucumber. It is about 8 cm, i am not sure if it has become too large as this one should be the small cucumber. I just read somewhere that this one should be harvested about 2.5 cm..but that is SUPER SMALL if you ask me.

The first link is my cucumber and the second one is from the internet, it is about the same size. In'sha'Allah it will have good taste.

https://app.box.com/s/1gnej7vfj51lbwxyqbjq9thmfhdmxt44

[sister herb]

Bon apetit!

:)

[Simple_Person]

Taste..it was a LITTLE bit bitter. Which means i have to harvest them much earlier..maybe at 6 cm this time. Just gonna experiment with the size until i get the right size giving the right taste.

Anyways, i think i will not grow this one anymore. Although cucumber can be used as snack, i do love dates and there is a hadith that if you want to gain weight, eat dates with cucumber...

The other cucumber is the Konsa..next year in'sha'Allah will also experiment with "marktmore" and there is also another type..don't remember the name. Anyways, every year besides the standard vegetables (bell peppers, money maker (tomato plant), super sweet 100 (cherry tomato plant), i will also experiment with other vegetables..maybe beans next year besides other or Belgian Tomato ;D.

I am kind of curious about the "cassava potato". This year i have the normal and sweet potatoes.

Any experience in potatoes?

Btw, i have a new member joining the family.. ;D

https://app.box.com/s/v76i6zho7vdy1n1shr1kemwop1vhou2a

Aloe Vera. I bought one who looked as if it wasn't properly watered as some leaves were sort of broken/brown. But was a bit more cheaper. So giving the necessary attention it will in'sha'Allah get back on it's feet. In'sha'Allah next year already having a baby to put in another pot.

[sister herb]

Did you peeled your cucumber before ate it? Peel of some cucumbers is usually the bitterest part. Yes, I have grown potatoes before when I had bigger garden. Growing potatoes is traditional in here as we know nothing better summer food than new potatoes (with butter and fresh dill).

Good luck with your new family member.

[Simple_Person]

Did you peeled your cucumber before ate it? Peel of some cucumbers is usually the bitterest part. Yes, I have grown potatoes before when I had bigger garden. Growing potatoes is traditional in here as we know nothing better summer food than new potatoes (with butter and fresh dill).

Good luck with your new family member.

No i did not peel off the skin. I will in'sha'Allah also test it with the next cucumber(s).

[sister herb]

A lot of flowers on the rhododendron bush at this year:

Daisies:

Lupins:

Wild flowers - meadow vetchling:

(bigger version)
https://i.imgur.com/r9B7Z5U.jpg

[jaybird]

i been working on our garden, very hard work

[greenhill]

I have always been fascinated by sister herbs exploits in the garden and the kitchen. For many years I have looked at growing stuff from afar and never really got my fingers dirty with earth and dirt. I get it dirty with grease often enough (and I don't consider myself a mechanic, not even an apprentice).

But the last 4 months or so, I decided to give it a go! I did potatoes (apparently it is very easy) but it took forever to start. In the meantime I tried from seeds, other vegs, like the picture below, cucumber and water melons. I finally got some of the water melon seeds to sprout after my 3rd attempt. The cucumber just took off, I think only one seed not germinating.

Attachment 6199

The cucumber plant above is about 6 weeks old. I don't like cucumbers, oddly enough, but my daughter thinks they are lovely.

I got more varieties planted, I will upload them one or two at a time ..

I surprised myself.


:peace:

[greenhill]

I found another picture that I could upload before taking some photos tomorrow :D

This is a picture of sugar cane which I politely asked for from a sugar cane juice vendor selling it for Ramadan. He very willingly obliged. I took it home planning to plant it lying down but the a kind soul decided to plant it upright. I was thinking in the weekend I would make a rectangular box and plant it. I guess, I must have left it too long for that kind soul. Ha ha. It works both ways apparently but lying down would produce several clusters as it sprouts from the section rings. Again, totally a newbie at this and I'm just sticking 'em in and see what happens!

Attachment 6200

Eventually it will need a bigger space than the pot and plenty of sunlight and water..


:peace:

[sister herb]

Nice efforts brother greenhill. As for being a gardener, you already seems to have a suitable name.

[sister herb]

Now something eatable from my garden:

Zucchini in the frame:

Yellow zucchini in the compost bed:

Giant pumpkin:

A big box of lettuces:

Green lettuce:

Red:

Beans:

[sister herb]

Part of the garden at the end of June:

[sister herb]

The first harvest - spinach. Excellent quality, leaves are crispy, juicy and healthy.

And here is the result: spinach turkey pie.

I have still more spinach in the garden.

[colinberry1]

Hi sister herb, spinach looks good, what is the variety.

[sister herb]

Spinach "Bazaroet"

[sister herb]

Spinach and carrots together:

After few days I harvest spinach and then carrots have more space to grow bigger.

[Simple_Person]

Spinach and carrots together:

After few days I harvest spinach and then carrots have more space to grow bigger.

I have HEARD that carrots need A LOT of water is that true? Also Lets say a bucket of 10 liter, can i grow some carrots in it? (2-3 carrots)? Just for the sake of having the experience of growing carrots.

[sister herb]

Yes, carrots need quite much water as if soil is too dry their roots may get cracks. In 10 liter bucket you may get about 10 carrots. Carrots should to be minimum 5 cm away from each other. Lime, potassium and boron are needed fertilizers for them. Note that if you have limited space (like bucket), the risk of over-fertilization increases.

[sister herb]

Weather has changed warmer and zucchinis started to grow rapidly. This one made two flowers to one stem:

Yellow fruit:

More flowers:

Shark fin melon has started to make long stems:

Giant pumpkin too:

Round pumpkins:

[Simple_Person]

Weather has changed warmer and zucchinis started to grow rapidly. This one made two flowers to one stem:

Yellow fruit:

More flowers:

Shark fin melon has started to make long stems:

Giant pumpkin too:

Round pumpkins:

May i ask why you only plant shark fin melons? (that kind of cucumber)..Or is the regular cucumber too less to provide your whole family?

[sister herb]

May i ask why you only plant shark fin melons? (that kind of cucumber). Or is the regular cucumber too less to provide your whole family?

Unfortunately my garden isn´t enough big to grow everything I want. We do eat other kind of cucumbers but I like those shark fin melons as they grow well (what is surprising as they are from tropical areas) and for getting them in here, as they are very rare variety in my country, you have to grow them by yourself. Other cucumbers I can buy from the grocery stores but not shark fins. I had cucumbers some years ago but as I wrote - I should have much bigger garden.

[Simple_Person]

Unfortunately my garden isn´t enough big to grow everything I want. We do eat other kind of cucumbers but I like those shark fin melons as they grow well (what is surprising as they are from tropical areas) and for getting them in here, as they are very rare variety in my country, you have to grow them by yourself. Other cucumbers I can buy from the grocery stores but not shark fins. I had cucumbers some years ago but as I wrote - I should have much bigger garden.

When space is limited (speaking with experience), the sky is where we should go towards :P. I am planning to change the poles from the washing lines to almost underneath the balcony of my neighbor upstairs. So the plants can grow and grow. The konsa cucumber of mine just like 1 of the tomato plants already are reaching the height of the washing line. You could make those grape-roof-structures. Let the plants that like to climb, do just that and other plants that like shade to plant underneath the structure. I am also planning when changed the line for the plants to grow, to put a grape fine in a large bucket and let it grow the line. Also having blackberries to climb the middle line. Gonna make a oasis on my balcony full of edible plants/fruits. in'sha'Allah.

Also as an update. For the coming years i will not grow the Vert Petit de Paris (little cucumber anymore). Too much work for too little. The taste also isn't that different than the other cucumbers. I have i BELIEVE found why they taste so bitter. It is not the skin, but rather infrequent watering (read online). So gonna try that also.

https://app.box.com/s/0fj18huymryb5hcrayykhpfpzsj5klzo
https://app.box.com/s/9y8bzd6cyhiz0kr5svcw3v3mffdig5dp
https://app.box.com/s/dqn3odxthbc0u94mg2zkwoy6dzggtwih
https://app.box.com/s/mdwbsjltra7gjoacpkdutufjwfeh2q46
https://app.box.com/s/00hvwt3pysw1afjz64z1yq318ey9v4xq

[sister herb]

Well, I know that almost every gardeners always want more and more plants and space but you also must to know your limits. I had before vegetable garden at the countryside (we have summer cottage there) and at the first year I had small garden but year after year I made it bigger and bigger until it was huge. I had everything I wanted to grow in there and a lot but it also meant that I had more and more work and finally I realised I had fulltime job with my garden with no rest. So, smaller is better.

[Simple_Person]

Well, I know that almost every gardeners always want more and more plants and space but you also must to know your limits. I had before vegetable garden at the countryside (we have summer cottage there) and at the first year I had small garden but year after year I made it bigger and bigger until it was huge. I had everything I wanted to grow in there and a lot but it also meant that I had more and more work and finally I realised I had fulltime job with my garden with no rest. So, smaller is better.

I am not saying to have a larger garden as i agree with you, a bigger garden means more to do. However the amount of space that you do have, use it to it's limits. As if you are walking to a well kept jungle :)..all vegetables and fruits everywhere ;D.

[sister herb]

Here was continuously rain almost 24 hours and after that, garden looks much greener than before:

Herb corner:

A lot of lettuce:

[Simple_Person]

Here was continuously rain almost 24 hours and after that, garden looks much greener than before:

Herb corner:

A lot of lettuce:

Rains contains nitrogen(N). In other words nitrogen in liquid form so plants can easily absorb it and use it resulting in leaf growth aka more green.

Just recently was reading a book about "new healing - what doctors don't tell you". It contains some good information so far. Like they were talking about ions in the air. Positive and negative ions. Positive ions did rather harm to an individual (raised blood levels of serotonin where negative ions decreased them". In other words raised levels of serotonin being bad for you if you are a "weather-sensitive" person (very sensitive to what weather there is). To get more negative ions it said at the end of the story to surround your self with a lot of plants/indoor constant running water such as a fountain or even a good-equality air ionizer.

Well i guess the MOST natural and best way is just to surround yourself with a lot of plants. Which could indeed also confirm why people in cities are more down than ones that do not live in cities. As i also have noticed that at my previous house i was more down while here having almost a jungle on the balcony side of my flat i have not felt any depression. Maybe also because having at least 8 hours of sun if there is sun on the balcony side (south). Or just a combination of all the things.

Anyhow keep those plants growing and talk to them. They love when you talk to them ;) (CO2)

[sister herb]

Sweet paprika:

[sister herb]

Garden views:

[Simple_Person]

Garden views:

[sister herb]

Yellow zucchini, the biggest one is ready for harvest:

And more is coming soon:

Green zucchini:

Beef-steak tomato:

Basil buckets:

Basils grow also in the garden bed:

Pea is flowering:

Creepers (runner bean, morning glory, garden nasturtium and one sunflower with them) grow well:

View to the garden today:

[sister herb]

The last lupin:

Day lily:

European goldenrod:

Anise hyssop:

[noor grant]

Attachment 6225
Salaam alaykum wa rahmatullahi,
I don't have a garden except what you seen in this photo! lol
Its my hot pepper plant and its growing nicely. I am starting sloooooowly

[FinalNyc]

A lot in our garden is home-built or recycled.

Our recycled water storage (made from an old oil drum). Rain water is collected from the roof.

Potatoes growing in old tyres:

The raised bed with tomatoes (front) and lettuce (back).

I like that idea, it does not only conserve water but also minimize population.

[sister herb]

Marjoram is flowering - the garden is full of fragrance of this herb:

[sister herb]

The first corn poppy has opened:

Flowers, herbs and lettuces:

[sister herb]

Baby carrots from the garden:

English marigold:

Runner beans start to flower:

As well other beans too:

[Simple_Person]

@sister herb , SUB'HAN'ALLAH...today i harvested 1 tomato. It was orange, so i thought maybe it is the variety..so i harvested it but i think i have to give a bit more time to ripen as it may be red variety after all. Anyhow, when i tasted it..a lot of those memories suddenly came to my mind..the memories that i was at those gardens of those people having all kind of vegetables and fruits growing. Such warm day but tasting that tomato in that garden..it was EXACTLY the same taste..

Now i am asking myself what have i been eating all those years ..the tomatoes that i bought at the store? It is a COMPLETELY different taste as if i have been eating some different type of vegetable. I have bought and eaten small cherry tomatoes but still ABSOLUTELY different taste. In now way one could say it is even the SLIGHTEST similarity.

What is going on? Why is the taste so completely different? The one i harvested was a cherry tomato, but no cherry tomato i have had had such a NATURAL tomato taste like this one.

btw, harvested 2 bags of potatoes. I have about 4 kilo's of potatoes..all from small cuttings..not even whole seed potatoes or even a small whole potato. Just all from cuttings. Alhamdulillah!! I think if i had watered it better and if i had less wind (a lot of branches broke because of hard gusts of wind) i would have gotten more. But i will in'sha'Allah in the future always have 1 bag of potatoes as you will almost always get a harvest small or big..but a harvest guaranteed..which is always a satisfying feeling.

Also, the Konsa cucumber has given me 2 cucumbers. I harvested them when they were around 20 cm. Taste was more natural ..(less taste maybe because of lack of sunlight recently), but it was more crunchy compared to what i buy at the store. It also had those thorn like things on the cucumber fruit. Alhamdulillah what a pleasing experience i have had these recent months with the vegetables balcony.

[MuslimInshallah]

Assalaamu alaikum Simple_Person,


(smile) You are right, the tomatoes are not the same. What grows and ripens in healthy soil is vastly different that what grows in a damaged soil boosted with chemicals, is harvested when unripe, and is transported thousands of miles over about 3 weeks before you get to eat it.

(smile) You might enjoy the lectures by Joel Salatin on Youtube (he also has written some marvellous books). He's an eloquent, intelligent, unconventional and highly successful (in the many senses of the word) farmer in the US... he also has an amazing sense of humour, so his videos are very easy to listen to.


May Allah, the One, Help us to remember that He Created this earth with Order.

[sister herb]

:D Congratulations for your the first tomato! Yep, taste is very far from those you buy from the grocery stores. Your tomato tasted what tomatoes naturally should taste but nowadays majority of tomatoes are grown in unnatural environments like in huge greenhouses, where they get a lot of different chemicals and fertilizers. They also have to be enough hard by their skin that they will survive all their long way to the stores and still look good. All this has took away their original taste.

My parents, both at their 80´s, say that my tomatoes taste like those they got when they were children - at the time before industrial-style vegetable production started.

I too have got the first tomatoes - this is grape tomato variety (it´s called as "100s&1000s"):

It makes "hundreds and thousands" tiny sweet tomatoes:

Very suitable for the pots and to the balcony gardens.

[Simple_Person]

:D Congratulations for your the first tomato! Yep, taste is very far from those you buy from the grocery stores. Your tomato tasted what tomatoes naturally should taste but nowadays majority of tomatoes are grown in unnatural environments like in huge greenhouses, where they get a lot of different chemicals and fertilizers. They also have to be enough hard by their skin that they will survive all their long way to the stores and still look good. All this has took away their original taste.

My parents, both at their 80´s, say that my tomatoes taste like those they got when they were children - at the time before industrial-style vegetable production started.

I too have got the first tomatoes - this is grape tomato variety (it´s called as "100s&1000s"):

It makes "hundreds and thousands" tiny sweet tomatoes:

Very suitable for the pots and to the balcony gardens.

I have experimented too much with both the money maker as well as the super sweet 100 cherry variety. Not only are they in 10 liter buckets (which is just way to small), but also irregular watering (still a bit inexperienced when to water). However 10 gallon (40 liter) bags which would get the exact amount of growth i would like to see. The 5 gallon (20 liter) bucket i used for my tomato-mix variety it looks strong, healthy, a lot of tomatoes, while the other tomato plants are about 5-6 tomatoes on each of the plants. The super sweet 100 also has lost a lot of flowers somehow and with a lot of purple leaves.

So in'sha'Allah next season i will have 40 liter bags for each tomato plant (gonna try with 4 different tomato plants in'sha'Allah).

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Roun...815082973.html

[Simple_Person]

@sister herb , some tomato branches suddenly started to dry out, while a green tomato still attached. I harvest one and i thought it would ripen, but it already somehow gotten to the top of the tomato fruit and thus it started to rot instead of ripen. Now a side branch the fruit branch that the tomato was with also started to dry out. I harvest 3 still little money makers and put them in a little plastic bag to make them ripen that way.

You know what may be the reason of it drying out?

[sister herb]

Here are several possible diseases but without seeing your tomato plants it difficult to say what´s wrong. Try these:

https://www.thespruce.com/tomato-leaf-diseases-1403409

http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.corne...omWiltKey.html

[sister herb]

I harvested a little - these go to the vegetable soup tomorrow:

[Simple_Person]

I harvested a little - these go to the vegetable soup tomorrow:

I am amazed that people by majority do not like to try to grow their own be vegetables. I mean sub'han'Allah on one side i have a Muslim couple with two children their bought vegetables/fruits plants have all dried up or the leaves have no more green leaves..but they at least are attracted by hacing such plants. Other people when i even offered them a tomato plant even they said na thanks too much hard work (my western neighbors on the othe side). I thought what is so important that you have to do which cannot be combined with gardening?

People have become so lazy and though even knowing that growing their own greens gives them a far different kind of taste and much healthier ..they simply don't care. Yet they do not believe in life after death and STILL don't want to live healthier and thus prolonging their life by preventing certain disease.

I have the idea that they want to have to want to do least amount of work with the max amount of harvest and without failure. So far a lot of my vegetables have rather been held back when it comes to growth because of less sun light. But I already IF the fruits keep being green can harvest them and let them ripe slowly and the other thing is that I have learned A LOT this year alone about growing certain plants and how to do it. I am already making preperations for next year...which one of the most important things I noticed is to have a extra long season by already preparing them way before moving them on the balcony for ultimate root growth.

[Simple_Person]

@sister herb , btw, have you ever grown bell peppers? (California wonder)-variety. On the package i only see green and red peppers, but not yellow.

Because this year i also started growing bell peppers and each of the two plants have fruits. One has a large bell pepper on it and the other has two small ones on it. They were green and i expected them to become yellow first, however just recently they became "brown" i thought it was because of sun-burn or something, then suddenly they were becoming red..and leave the phase of yellow just behind. What's going on??

[sister herb]

Few years back I started to grow chilies but I haven´t tried bell peppers yet. Growing those veggies which are from much warmer climate zones isn´t easy here in cold north. But of course I always try new plants.

This one, sweet chili, is bigger today, picture is from July:

- - - Updated - - -

Because this year i also started growing bell peppers and each of the two plants have fruits. One has a large bell pepper on it and the other has two small ones on it. They were green and i expected them to become yellow first, however just recently they became "brown" i thought it was because of sun-burn or something, then suddenly they were becoming red..and leave the phase of yellow just behind. What's going on??

Almost all bell pepper varieties become red if you let them to grow enough time. It only means your bell pepper is now full ripe when it turned red. Those green and yellow (and sometimes orange) bell peppers are not full ripe yet. Their taste is different and that´s why people harvest them "too early".

[Simple_Person]

Few years back I started to grow chilies but I haven´t tried bell peppers yet. Growing those veggies which are from much warmer climate zones isn´t easy here in cold north. But of course I always try new plants.

This one, sweet chili, is bigger today, picture is from July:

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Almost all bell pepper varieties become red if you let them to grow enough time. It only means your bell pepper is now full ripe when it turned red. Those green and yellow (and sometimes orange) bell peppers are not full ripe yet. Their taste is different and that´s why people harvest them "too early".

Indeed peppers need a more warm climate to grow. That is why i have not put them in large pots on the balcony, instead in flower pots, so i can move them inside. I am planing to graft 2 other types of peppers (a hot pepper and a sweet pepper) on those bell pepper plants, so i can harvest like 3 type of peppers on 2 plants. Gonna keep them inside as i have read/seen/heard from other people on youtube that pepper plants can survive many years. Saw a video of a guy who said his pepper plant was like 7 years old.

I thought the bell pepper always started out green (unripe), then became yellow (medium ripe) and after that became red (fully ripe). However the California wonder just went from green to red, instead of becoming yellow first. It's not that i am complaining as i like my peppers to be red and sweet. Or is "bell pepper" just a common name for a type of pepper that the California wonder also is part of?(because of shape for example?)

[sister herb]

It seems that you have that kind of variety which hasn´t yellow stage at all. What I read, there are many different color varieties.

Maybe I too need to try some bell peppers at the next year. Thanks for the idea. :D

[sister herb]

Common soapwort:

Flowers of dahlia are now full open:

Garden today:

Almost all lettuces are eated (but I still have the second frame full), anise hyssop is full of bees, beans are soon ready for harvest and tomatoes in yellow pots beside the wall have quite much tiny red fruits.


Runner beans, a lot of flowers:

At the left tomatoes.


Tomatoes are still green:

Zucchinis are ready to harvest - and to eat:

I made yesterday zucchini lasagna.


One giant pumpkin is growing:

Yellow zucchinis are ready to harvest too:

I have also one round pumpkin. I think it´s soon the time of pumpkin soup:

[Simple_Person]

Some of my tomatoes also are turning red. The moneymaker that I harvested while green and put them in a plastic bag to ripe are also ripening.

The bell peppers ma'sha'Allah have almost ripen fully. One bell pepper while trying to repot one of the two plants broke off the branch. But even broken off of it it started to ripen just like tomatoes. Did not know that. Very curious how their taste gonna be compared to bell peppers from the store.

After reporting my konsa cucumber plant to 40 liter bag..one cucumber started to grow. It has ma'sha'Allah started to grow to already like 30 cm. Soon it will I guess also start to get fat. I must say that eaten your own cucumbers has a total different experience and taste. It has less taste but I think this is because of rather cold and rainy summer but they are very crunchy.which looks as if it is a total different vegetable that I have eaten.

The potatoes that I also already have harvested. I have eaten some...MA'SHA'ALLAH What a delicious taste compared to the original taste of the same potatoes that I had bought in the store.

I start to understand more and more about people who grow their own vegetables and fruits. It is not only about health but it almost looks like every little vegetable they grow on their own has besides the satisfaction of growing but also COMPLETELY different taste. If some vegetables just had the same taste but was more expensive and less yield I could imagine not many would want to grow. However even having 1 fruit with such taste you could say it was well worth it. Alhamdulillah for such experience and understanding.

Btw @sister herb in the recent months when I cut old leaves while still green I threw them underneath one of the plants. I noticed that when it started to dry out it became part of the soil..is this how composting works?

So you need dirt/soil to compost leaves and such.. (also put potatoe skins and banana skins for it to become part of it..)

[sister herb]

Yes, basicly it is like simple composting. Adding green leaves or grass under the plants is good for them as they get some nutritions plus it helps to keep soil moist and then you don´t have to water your plants so much. I have compost box behind the house to where I put all leaves and grass during the summer plus some soil and fertilizers. Potato and banana skins goes well to there too. At the next spring I can take from there half-made soil for pumpkin beds (which too are as composts) and after the summer this compost has changed a new, fresh soil. At the autumn I spread this new soil to the garden.

[Simple_Person]

Yes, basicly it is like simple composting. Adding green leaves or grass under the plants is good for them as they get some nutritions plus it helps to keep soil moist and then you don´t have to water your plants so much. I have compost box behind the house to where I put all leaves and grass during the summer plus some soil and fertilizers. Potato and banana skins goes well to there too. At the next spring I can take from there half-made soil for pumpkin beds (which too are as composts) and after the summer this compost has changed a new, fresh soil. At the autumn I spread this new soil to the garden.

If you mix dirt/soil with the leaves that are still fresh, will they become part of the soil faster? Because now i have just put them on top en slowly the layer of leaves and skins that touches the soil is getting broken down.

[colinberry1]

I found another picture that I could upload before taking some photos tomorrow :D:peace:

Hi Greenhill, in Malaysia, it is like the garden of paradise you should be able to grow anything there, I believe you grow sugar canes just like you do tapioca, you cut it at the node and allow it to dry out before you plant it, plant it on a slant.

[sister herb]

If you mix dirt/soil with the leaves that are still fresh, will they become part of the soil faster? Because now i have just put them on top en slowly the layer of leaves and skins that touches the soil is getting broken down.

I could say yes. Just on the top of the soil they dry but when mix them with soil they will molder better. Remember that a lot of leaves and grass under the plants can also be a good place to grow for harmfull fungus and increase the risk of some diseases and pests.

[Simple_Person]

I could say yes. Just on the top of the soil they dry but when mix them with soil they will molder better. Remember that a lot of leaves and grass under the plants can also be a good place to grow for harmfull fungus and increase the risk of some diseases and pests.

I am a person that takes certainty above uncertainty, so better keep it on top of the soil (the soil that i am using for compost). The soil that is being used by plants i have started to cover with mulch as it was advised by many on youtube, for preventing the soil to dry quicker. Having done that i indeed have noticed that the soil becomes less dry, thus less watering and also do not have the weed problem.

About the tomatoes i guess you also have like me still many tomatoes being green (maybe cloudy and rainy weather being partly the problem). I am gonna put the tomatoes that are still on the branch in a plastic bag so the ethylene gas stays with the tomatoes for it to ripen even though they are still small for their size. Small containers (mistake i made) is also to be blamed for it. On the 3rd floor is also very windy.

[greenhill]

Hi Greenhill, in Malaysia, it is like the garden of paradise you should be able to grow anything there, I believe you grow sugar canes just like you do tapioca, you cut it at the node and allow it to dry out before you plant it, plant it on a slant.

Yes, we should be able to grow anything here (that will grow in the tropics). I'd love to try growing the Giant Sequoia trees here! That would simply be awesome!

There is a saying about having green fingers .... I don't know, but I have had very little luck with anything that grows ... only thing I successfully had was a cactus! Ha ha Everything else did not do to well with me. Especially from seed.

I have not been able to upload any more pics, I don't know why?

Thank you for your comment.


:peace:

[sister herb]

I keep my green tomatoes in open boxes to get enough air but plastic bag can work too. Some say they should to be in the dark, others say in the light but as tomatoes turn to red in any ways, I think it´s quite same. Also some prefer to keep ripe apples with tomatoes to increse ethylene gas. I have tried it few times but I haven´t seen much change as with or without apples.

[sister herb]

View to garden:

Golden balls:

Morning glory:

Runner bean:

Garden nasturtiums:

Marmande:

Money maker:

[Simple_Person]

I have just eaten a "Super sweet 100" cherry tomato that was ripened. Ma'sha'Allah, such a unique flavor. I have never eaten such a tomato. It was neither acidic, neither sweet. Although small, but i blame the 10 liter bucket (less space), however it was delicious. It has earned it's place next year in'sha'Allah.

I also ate one of 3 money makers tomatoes that i kept in a plastic bag to ripen, it was i guess over ripened. However also very unique taste. The taste had a similar taste as if i ate those tomatoes back home that my mother were to use for using them as tomato puree. I can still taste the after-taste in my mouth. I am kind of curious what next year will bring if we in'sha'Allah are still alive. The preparations what i must do better, should give me a huge harvest compared to what i have now in'sha'Allah.

@sister herb, that marmade tomato, gonna look beautiful. I guess you choose that variety as it has a lot of flesh. Have you planted that variety before?

[sister herb]

Yes, at the last year I had same variety (Marmande). Very "fleshy" tomato and it grows big, like 2 or 3 times bigger than normal tomato.

Food memories may last long; few years back, when my father ate one of my own tomato, he said it tasted just like those ones what his mother had grown at his childhood home´s garden - 80 years ago. :D

[Simple_Person]

Yes, at the last year I had same variety (Marmande). Very "fleshy" tomato and it grows big, like 2 or 3 times bigger than normal tomato.

Food memories may last long; few years back, when my father ate one of my own tomato, he said it tasted just like those ones what his mother had grown at his childhood home´s garden - 80 years ago. :D

What taste had the Marmande? Acidic? Sweet? In between?..

[sister herb]

Of my mind it has slightly sour flavor, with some sweetness. But I think it´s personal how we taste.

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Here is one of the biggest marmandes, I took it indoors at yesterday:

A handful of tomato. Hopely it will ripe too.

[Simple_Person]

@sister herb, oke i THINK i seem to understand the process between growing your own fruits/vegetables compared to what you buy in the store and why the taste is so different.

Although i know very little about the phases of the fruits for example the tomato, just to sketch a clear picture. Do correct me where i am wrong please.

Let's say the Tomato has 5 phases.

Phase 1: Flower
Phase 2: growing
Phase 3: full grown
Phase 4: ripening
Phase 5: Ripened

At the store (or before i should say), the tomato is harvested at phase 3 (full grown ..but still green). This gives farms/stores the time to transport the tomato BEFORE it is ripened. So when it has arrived at the store by using external ethylene (ie organic way for example: already ripened tomato, banana, apple or non-organic way: the gas it self) the tomato is turned red. However between phase 3 and phase 5 if the tomato fruit is still on the plant it still gets nutritious (ie flavor, texture, smell).

Changing color green to red, doesn't give you the flavor, rather phase 4/phase 5 when it is getting its red color or whatever other color, is also getting it's taste off course WHEN IT IS STILL on the plant and not harvested.

Again do correct me where i am wrong or add to it what i have left out or forgot. This knowledge is rather crucial for me to know to harvest better fruits and the stages of them. As i also recent with potatoes did not know that if the plant grows, add more soil to it, as like the tomato plant new roots come out of the stem thus with potato plant resulting with new potatoes. I thought i had to wait until the potatoes were beginning to become visible above the soil. Because of that many plants turned light-greenish. Experimented with another plant and did the right way. The leaves are very green and healthy. That way i can keep it until October for it to harvest and thus have even much larger potatoes.

[sister herb]

I am sure that tomatoes will be much more tasty if they can ripe natural way with their plants. Farms and stores just have to harvest them when they are still half-ripe that they survive their long transport to the stores. In home gardens it´s far better let them ripe outdoors of course. In some cases I have to harvest them when they are still green; if I see some sings of diseases on the leaves or when temperatures turn too low. Tomato needs about +20 to 24 C to ripe (now here is only +15 C). Also about difference; in farms they may use much more fertilizers to make plants to grow faster. In here we love new potatoes and stores try to get them earlier and earlier. That means that farmers use more fertilizers what helps potatoes to grow fast but it also makes potatoes tasteless.

It´s ok to let potatoes to grow as long it´s possible. You will get more and bigger potatoes. And no no for green color with potatoes. It then means they have solanine which is toxic chemical.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanine

[Simple_Person]

I am sure that tomatoes will be much more tasty if they can ripe natural way with their plants. Farms and stores just have to harvest them when they are still half-ripe that they survive their long transport to the stores. In home gardens it´s far better let them ripe outdoors of course. In some cases I have to harvest them when they are still green; if I see some sings of diseases on the leaves or when temperatures turn too low. Tomato needs about +20 to 24 C to ripe (now here is only +15 C). Also about difference; in farms they may use much more fertilizers to make plants to grow faster. In here we love new potatoes and stores try to get them earlier and earlier. That means that farmers use more fertilizers what helps potatoes to grow fast but it also makes potatoes tasteless.

It´s ok to let potatoes to grow as long it´s possible. You will get more and bigger potatoes. And no no for green color with potatoes. It then means they have solanine which is toxic chemical.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanine

Sub'han'Allah this again proofs this point of being patient about things. The faster and the more in haste you are, the more damage you do to yourself. But although hungry, but being patient, is better for you.

"And We will surely test you with something of fear and hunger and a loss of wealth and lives and fruits, but give good tidings to the patient," Qur'an 2:155

['Abd-al Latif]

:salamext:

Can someone recommend any literature for gardening for beginners?

[Simple_Person]

:salamext:

Can someone recommend any literature for gardening for beginners?

Youtube :P , Learned most of what i know in just a few months.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAP...69AUdb7o-TZLSw
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpt...myW_yZwiMjQdpg
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQG...Leu5SSgz2_8i8w

These are some good youtube channels that are very informative. Also use google.

['Abd-al Latif]

Youtube :P , Learned most of what i know in just a few months.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAP...69AUdb7o-TZLSw
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpt...myW_yZwiMjQdpg
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCQG...Leu5SSgz2_8i8w

These are some good youtube channels that are very informative. Also use google.

BarakAllahu feek for these. Can you recommend any literature as well?

[Simple_Person]

BarakAllahu feek for these. Can you recommend any literature as well?

Well i haven't read any books yet, so i cannot really recommend any. However i strongly recommend you first google and look on youtube. As people already share their experience and show you as if you as a student looking over the shoulder of a master. When you do buy a book, you can better relate to what is being said as you already have seen it with your own eyes when watching a youtube video.

[sister herb]

I have many good books but they all are published by Finnish language only. I don´t think they would be very helpful to you.

EDIT: This one I have by English:

Practical gardening - editor: Peter McHoy

Quite good book of my mind, a lot of pictures and clear advices with images.

[Simple_Person]

I had at first a lot of bell peppers growing (california wonder), but i THINK because they were in such a small flower pot, many turned yellow and died. At the end 3 survived. I gave the biggest to the neighbor, 1 by accident broke off, that i let it ripen not being on the branch and one i let it ripen on the branch.

The one that i did not let it ripen on the branch, after some time began to look old and you could see wrinkels. When i decided to taste it, it had rather a bitter taste as part of it was still green.

The other one i harvest it today. Although small because of the flower pot it was in, the taste..i have never tasted such a pepper. Bright red, VERY crunchy, not a lot of water or to less. It was not sweet, but also not bitter. The after taste it was as if i was eating a nectarine. If somebody would have given me such peppers as "fruit" to eat..i wouldn't complain at all. Ma'sha'Allah such a unique and tasteful flavor. Even now i am still having the taste in my mouth, which is already very unique that i almost never have.

I am now very curious about the strawberries..although the flowers are visible, i am not sure if i will taste even one of them, as here in the west we don't have a warm summer this summer.

[sister herb]

Here is my sweet paprika:

Few fruits changed almost black and then to red, most of them are still green.