apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

My most urgent question is where do I begin? I have no clue where to start and I desperately want to start one :(

How can I keep my cilantro from literally going to seed? Every year it starts out fine but soon becomes leggy and seedy and tastes awful.

How does one keep track of all the things you need to watch your plants for?

This veggie you need to watch for this pest or this disease and that fruit you need to watch for this pest or disease and on these flowers watch out for....

I'll never keep it all straight. My stuff will die, consumed of bad things, and it will take me too long to figure out what is what?

I'm sure its something that comes with experience but isn't there a cheat sheet until then?

I'd love to win the book. To do just like this blogger says - keep it in my gardening tote!

How do I know what's eating my veggie leaves so I can figure out the best way to get rid of them? Or, I guess, divert their attention?

I'm desperate to know how to keep icky bugs off my plants without using any harsh chemicals.

I have the brownest thumb ever. Nothing ever grows for me...

how big should my herb containers be?

what's the best way to keep the crows and squirrels out of my garden? I've never tried because I don't really want to deal with the disappointment and mess on my deck.

How can I start seeds inside and get them to sprout and live until I can transplant them outside? I'm fine with things I can grow directly outdoors, but indoor sprouts always die on me.

My onion sprouted before I had a chance to cook it. I put it in soil and was doing fine for a while but now some of the green stalks are wilting. What am I doing wrong andhow do onions beget more onions or do you get scallion?

I planted several cucumbers from seed in my garden last month (in Louisiana), they are coming up but the leaves are more yellow then green. Whats up?

How do I safely get rid of mealy bugs?

I urgently need a non-toxic way to encourage the woodchuck family living under the shed to please move out of our yard! Last year they ate everything. We have pet bunnies who like to romp outside with us (on harnesses - they are house rabbits) so hopefully the solution will not be harmful to bunnies!

Why is my rosemary plant dying? It did so well last year!

I have a good sized container garden on the deck but want more tips on container gardening edibles!

What are the best food plants to grow in an apartment that gets only a couple of hours of direct sunlight (and in a small area at that)?

What is the latest that you can plant your tomatoes?

A lot of my recipes require fresh herbs. But I hesitate to cut too much off my herbs for fear of killing them. How can you harvest enough herbs to cook with without harming your plant?

Is there any way I can keep stray cats and bunnies out of my garden besides building a fence around it?

Are there any veggies for a container that are okay to grow in partial sun/shade?

Should I sucker my tomato plants?

I've found lots of great techniques for starting hot-weather vegetables early and growing them past the first frost, but what about spring and fall vegetables like broccoli and lettuce? Are there any tricks to prevent these from bolting and going to seed as the hot months of summer creep in?

This would be the perfect gift for my husband on father's day!

I only have a place for a windowsill garden (no actual ground to plant things in). What types of veggies tolerate/thirve being grown in containers?

Me please

Do any veggies like low-to-no sunlight? Will these same veggies grow in a pot?

Why have my herbs wilted away, even though they've been watered and placed in a full-sun spot (just like their tags say)? Do they need bigger pots? Some kind of fertilizer? If so what?

How to save my tomatoes!

being low on knowledge but high in enthusiasm... where do i begin???

Here's my question: what's the deal with companion planting? Does what veggie gets planted next to what REALLY make that much of a difference?

Why hasn't my spinach germinated yet? It's fertilized, hasn't become waterlogged or deprived of water, the sun has shone more than usual, yet still, nothing. I even tried several varieties and none of them have yielded.

Do I need to replace the soil in my containers every year, or can I just amend it a little? And does it depend on which vegetable is getting planted?

How often do I apply compost - and does it depend on the type/quality of compost?

I have a few questions...we've planted our first in-the-ground garden (now that we have bought our first home) Tomatoes are coming along well, but...

1. When should I plant arugula (Central CA). It was a good crop but already went to seed. We planted in Feb.
2. Although most herbs say "full-sun" I'm starting to think they don't mean full Central CA (i.e. hot) sun. What temp. do herbs do best at? Should they be in partial shade?
3. What is eating my melons? They look so sad.
4. I've planted several varieties of onions (spanish yellow, red, green) and they are growing, but the stems are relatively limp, not like the robust stems at the farmers market or even grocery store. How long should I leave onions in the ground and how should they be watered so they don't mold?

Thanks for any help.

Ooh, ooh! How do I maximize food production on a 10x10' community garden plot? We'd like to get as much of our produce from the plot instead of relying on overpriced waxy stuff at the store.

How soon after my herbs begin to grow can I begin to use them. I'm afraid to cut them too soon, but I'm anxious to use them.

most urgent: is it true that rosemary deters carrot mites?

tips for growing tomatoes in AZ

for baby beets, how long should I wait to harvest? Is baseball size too big?

Will the second hand smoke from my downstairs neighbors ruin my tomatoes and give them diseases?

I would love to win this book for my Son. His birthday is coming up. He just rented a house in the city and has small courtyard. He planned out a small garden surrounding his outdoor area. He is growing vegetables and has question I can not answer. I grow mostly flowers , and herbs. He has starter trays everywhere in his house due to a chilly spring .

I would like advice on how to control pests naturally on tomatoes, lettuces etc. in my container garden on a shared deck. Also, how to maintain growing plants without it getting too big and needing more space/replanting. What does partial sun really look like when you live at the beach? Can plants just hang out in the same pot year after year?

Thanks.

I want to know what to do to keep the animals from eating my tomatoes.

What are the best veggies to grow inside of an apartment with plenty of light?

What's the best soil acidity for tomatoes and how do I get it?

Why didn't my azalea bloom this year? (Oh wait, that's not a vegetable.)

What can I do about powdery mildew on the zucchinis?

I need a humane yet effective way to deter racoons from my garden.

How often do I water my newly transplanted pomegranate tree? I'm in Central CA.

Oh I would love this book. But would equally love answers to some great questions here... (1) i worry about cutting my herbs back too much when I use them. How much needs to remain to survive (2) why do I always have moldy soil?

i'm with intyrrell. i *would* love this book, but would also love some help/feedback in general. my problem is always one of planning: i can do the physical layout of the (very wee, largely container) garden just fine, but have a really hard time with the timeline.

what's the best way to utilize the growing season? what plants can i/should i plant in succession? and what would be a good timeline to use to accomplish that? when should i start seeds for various plants, put 'em in the ground, yank 'em out, etc? basically, please help me plan the most efficient growing season i can!

What size pot do I need for my cherry tomato plant? What is a good mix of herbs I can grow together so that I have a fresh crop all summer long?

I am coming back to my garden after nearly three years of living overseas--it's a train wreck. I'm busy hand digging up all of the weeds, saving what survived, but have one question. There's too many weeds to just toss them in the trash--I'm talking probably when I'm done the equivalent of 30 trash bags of weeds--so what do I do with all of this green stuff? Can I mulch it? Thanks!

If I grow mint in a container, can I grow anything else with it?

My question is: Why do most of my purple kohlrabi plants refuse to form bulbs? I've searched and asked all over about this and can't find an answer - and I can't live without kohlrabi! : )

I'm looking for the best way to amend my soil to add calcium to where I plant my tomatoes. Most calcium rich amendments drastically throw off the pH, so something which doesn't do that would be awesome.

This book probably doesn't answer it, but my question is what to do with all the excess produce once you've harvested it. Thanks for the contest!

I'd like to figure out how to best prepare a bed for asparagus, and what sort of ongoing maintenance it will need.

Do I really have to start my tomato plants inside? It being May now, I would think the seeds should sprout just fine if I just planted them right in the ground.

It's been asked several times already, but: Where do I start? I've just moved to an apartment with a small terrace, so I'm limited to containers. But I'm thinking about growing tomatoes, peppers and herbs.

Can mushrooms be grown in direct sunlight?

I told my husband that there is no way he can grow artichokes in Michigan, but he wouldn't listen to me, and they are already starting to srpout. Could it be possible?

My biggest problem is **keeping the !@#$%^&* deer out of the garden**!! Is there another effective solution besides erecting a 6-foot wire fence? --- Kim

Where do I begin??! I would love to start growing my own veggies and herbs but it all seems so overwhelming.

Would love some examples of organic fertilizers that are easy to use and instructions on how to use them for my veggie garden.

My question is whether topsoil is needed in a vegetable bed. I'm starting my first one and have been told that a mix of peat, vermiculite and compost will do the trick!

I can never quite get my hands around when to remove my seedlings from the mini-greenhouse (okay, glorified tupperware) into smaller pots and then from smaller pots into the actual garden. I'm in PA but have an "urban" garden with lots of light, warmth and protection. Help...

How can you deter rabbits, squirrels and chipmunks from eating your veggie garden?

We live in a townhouse, so I'm forced to container garden. Plus, we're hoping to sell our house and move this summer, so this way the garden can come with us. But, everything I've put outside so far has been eaten by animals or damaged by the lawnmowers (I think - this was last fall when it happened to some leafy plants that were on a our concrete slab of a patio far enough away to avoid damage, but they still got pretty beat up by something). Also, I have a very brown thumb when it comes to container gardening.

So, what herbs and veggies and flowers (I like all three) can I plant that are hardy, and what can I do to prevent the neighborhood rabbits (and whatever else it is that is eating my plants) from destroying my garden?

What are the best greens (or other veggies) to grow inside in the winter in a space with pretty good but not full light (other than herbs!). And how would you manage them so that you could harvest continuously?

What are the best vegetables to grow in both wet and dry-ish soil in the Pacific Northwest? My house sits on an incline, so one side of the yard stays mushy and the other goes towards the dry.

I just started my rooftop container garden, I need all the help I can get!

Half of my tomato seedlings live, the other half never germinated or suddenly wilted and died when they did. Of the ones that still live, they've been tiny little seedlings for weeks and don't grow! Is this normal? What am I doing wrong?

I'm about to transplant a VERY healthy sage plant that is growing VERY fast (I've affectionately taken to calling it "the sage that ate Sandusky). This is the second time I've repotted it to a bigger pot in only ten months, though, and I'm wondering: a) is there something I can or should be doing to slow the growth, or b) should I just pat myself on the back and prepare to eat a lot of turkey stuffing and cheddar-sage cheese spreads?

What is eating my swiss chard & eggplant and how can I put a stop to it? Also, what organic pest deterrents can I use on my herbs that won't then ruin their flavors?

Is there any way to identify microclimates in the yard without long seasons of trial and error?

How do I get things to grow in our subtropical climate during the summer?

How do I get the squirrels to stop digging in my containers of veggies!

I want to plant asparagus, but I've read that it takes years for the plant to yield. I've also read that you're supposed to rotate asparagus like any other crop. How do you rotate a plant to doesn't yield for years without killing it or retarding its development?

Hello, Please enter me in your drawing for this gardening with vegetables book. My dad is turning 90 years young in July and we still have a vegetable garden. This would make the perfect 90th birthday gift for him. Also, I am a vegetarian.
Thanks,Cindi

When will my Jalapéno plan start growing peppers? It keeps growing taller, but no peppers yet. My Fajita Bell plant already has 2 large peppers and 5 more starting and they were planted at the same time and were the same size.

I am just starting my garden, and would love to have a guide to reference as I watch it grow.

What's a fool-proof way to ensure proper amounts of watering throughout the season? Our cucumbers are always bulged and bitter, I think it's to do with watering.

I'm growing tomatoes on my balcony for the first time, (kind of an experiment to see if it even works) so all of my gardening questions are about tomatoes! I really didn't know what I was doing when I threw them in a big pot on my balcony. If they're successful at all I'm going to try other things on my balcony next spring. This book would definitely come in handy then!

Is there any way (other than a fence) to keep the squirrels and rabbits out of my garden? I fear they have already eaten their share of my seeds.

How to maintain your garden while you go away for a weekend. Or a week...

Why do leafy greens NEVER grow for me...

I have a flower bed on the east side of my home. I receives alot of sun. All that will grow is mondo grass. Any suggestions.

How do I keep birds away from my fig tree, without using nasty pesticides?

How do I get rid of horsetails??????
I'm not sure it can be done... =\

My most urgent question is: what are the best type of heirloom tomatoes to plant?

i'm brazenly planting my first garden in a brand new climate and in pots on my rented deck. it should be interesting, no? understatement of the month: i could really use the book. :)

We just timidly started out with a couple of tomato plants to see how things went. I don't know which tomatoes are the best to plant, tho. Any ideas?

How can I keep the cats out?

why did my cucumber vines last year suddenly weaken and yellow, after two happy months of flowers and fruit? how do i prevent that this year -- i planted persian cucumbers this year, and i REALLY want to eat lots of them.

This is strange, I've been thinking recently about starting a vegetable garden!

ooh.. i'm about to start a garden - as soon as we move

I'm starting slow in the gardening department- I just got some strawberry plants from a friend so my pressing question is how to best transplant strawberries, and what kind of sun do they need?

I am a totally newbie and considering starting a veggie garden, so my question would be: What are the best vegetables to start with in a garden?

How do you know what plants should grow up something (wire, etc.), and when do you start this process?

Do you really need to rotate where you put your vegetables in the garden?

Is it better to start squash from seed or transplant? And are certain varieties better from seed?

Why does my cilantro have so little flavor?

What is the best veggies to start with for someone with no experience at all?!
dansan826 at yahoo.com

What perenniels are the best to start with for someone who doesnt know that much about gardening yet?

would some plants benefit by being planted next to certain other plants? would they distribute nutrients differently?

This sweepstakes has been featured on Sweepstakes Advantage, http://www.sweepsadvantage.com. The Web's Largest Directory of Free Online Sweepstakes. Good Luck to Everyone!

What are some flower kinds that would be good for an outdoor window-box? Do they need to be sturdy?

I'd love to know how to know how to organically control blight.
Enter me please & thank you for having this great contest.

When do I transfer sprouted seedlings to a pot? And how much space in the new pot do I give each little sprout? I have about 60 leggy basil sprouts outgrowing their Jiffy container.

I love to garden but for some reason cannot grow squash. I try every year without any luck. Wuld love to know why?

My question is: where do I start?! I am an ignoramus when it comes to gardening, but now that I've become more aware of where and how most of the food I eat is grown, I want to learn!!!!

What flowers (annuals) could I mix in with my veggies? I have a huge garden space and this year not much time for weeding, so I'd like to fill in the beds with some pretty stuff!

whats the best way to deter deer from eating and destroying your plants!

My tomatoes rot before they ripen, why? I could really use this book!

We've been growing our tomatoes in pots for the last two years and it seems to be working well. We can maximize the sunshine this way because we can put them on the deck and away from tree shade. Is there anything else we should be doing to maximize potential?

I have rabbits that continue to feed in my garden. What can help me safely deter them.

Wow,I would love to win this.

its just about that time - i could put this to good use

I've heard that if I grow sweet peppers with spicy peppers, the sweet will naturalize to spicy. Is this true? If so, how far apart do they have to be to prevent this?

I could use this book because I've got a lot of questions.

Can we grow okra in western NY?

I am starting my first ever veg garden...could totally use this!

I would like to kill the tiny flying bugs that attack my plants without using really toxic means. Maybe the book can help me.

I've had mixed results trying to grow tomatoes in large containers and would love some professional advice!

I am new to gardening and would like all the help I can get.

Just gettng started is a hurdle for me, but how do I keep the birds from eating my strawberries?

Are there any veggies I can grow in the shade?

gardening is my passion :)

Our winter vegetable garden got tiny black bugs all over it. They look almost like black sesame seeds and took over absolutely everything! What were they and how can I avoid them for our freshly planted summer garden? Thanks!

What is the fastest growing vegetable???????

Are there any good thornless raspberry bushes?

I have started a small garden this spring and I have been having bug troubles so I would like to know organic pest control measures.

What is the best way to keep rabbits out of your garden without hurting them?

I want to start a container garden, I have the containers. I want to plant tomatoes and an assortment of peppers. What kind of soil do I need?, any additional things to help them grow?

Do those upside down tomato things work? I buy tons of tomatoes, and they are getting downright expensive! I want to try those things, but not if they don't work.

I have zero outdoor space and little sunshine. How do I grow yummy veggies?

We planted our first large scale veggie/fruit/herb garden this weekend. We have three raised beds with beans, tomatos, peppers, cucumbers, strawberries and herbs. We had a hard time figuring out how to plant the beans (Where in the containers) and what kind of stakes to use. What do you recommend?

If my soil contains toxins, is there anything I can do to detoxify it?