Shelby’s gardening 2025

[ducks4you]

Here's the deal: just like those of us who own livestock have to deal with "deadstock" (thx, @baymule ,) you are GOING to kill plants! Those plants can be eaten/cannibalized by your New plants by composting.
Agreed with @flowerbug, try not to make expensive mistakes.
My purchase of a zone 10 gardenia Could have been a $75.00 mistake, but it was instead a $16.00 clearance mistake bc I couldn't keep it alive inside during the winter.
A current University of Illinois College of A.C.E.S. couldn't keep Hers alive, either, so I'm in good company.
Contrarywise, my $9.00 box store clearance Magnolia Jane has grown into a 13 ft lovely small (cultivar) front yard tree that shields us from the street when leaved out and has showy blooms every Spring.
Study and asking questions saves a Lot of trouble. I just learned on "Mid American Gardener" that some vegetable companies speed up then slow down the growth of their box store small vegetables, and that if you do that with cauliflower you are liable to lose it.
THEREFORE, best to start it myself indoors for steady growth.
Little things like that, that you learn from study.
Also, these are just PLANTS that EVERYBODY eats, so don't beat yourself up on mistakes.
Celebrate all small victories!!

 

[Blueberry Acres]

I usually get really hyped up about gardening and then end up quitting, so I thought this might help me.

Pretty much everyone does. Browsing the garden catalogues and making lists in winter is a lot different than ripping out weeds and rolling up hoses in summer!
It gets easier with time, in my opinion. You learn what methods work best for you (I prefer a sprawling cottage garden that cuts down the weeding and pruning, rather than have neat rows of plants that I feel the need to keep perfect), what times of the day you feel better gardening (I've grown to love summer evening weeding!), and how to enjoy a garden rather than stress about how it looks.

I'm excited to read about your journey, @GodlovesU!

 

[akroberts]

Tomatoes are fairly forgiving plants. That's probably the only plant that I haven't ever killed. If you need anything, advice wise, we're all here for you and so happy to have you here.

 

[baymule]

Hahaha @ducks4you ! Yes! I have livestock. The old saying is, if you have livestock, you get deadstock. Same with plants. They are not ALL going to live.

Making a garden thread is a great idea! Plant the reliable seeds that make the reliable plants, for optimum success. Then branch out into the seeds and plants you are not familiar with. There will be success and failure. It’s how we learn.

 

[GodlovesU!]

Can you post a photo?

I will whenever I get home.

 

[GodlovesU!]

Hey guys, so I have some updates! I organized my cubby, moved some of the flower pots under the balcony, got a few new cacti, refreshed the prop station, and started an herb garden! I moved the African Violet into my more humid bathroom and watered it, and it is much better! Unfortunately the blooms on my hyacinths got killed by the cold. On the plus side a lot of the trees here are blooming!

 

[ducks4you]

I am posting some free software that you might want to have on your computer.
It is called Irfanview.
You can paste pictures to it for manipulation, crop them, etc. I use this all of the time.

IrfanView 64-bit version

www.irfanview.com

 

[ElvinRod]

Looks like a solid setup! Focus on keeping your houseplants alive, using your compost, filling pots with herbs or flowers, and maybe try small, easy-to-grow cacti first before expanding.