This black thumbed girl is trying to garden

**imagine** · 06-15-2009, 01:59 PM

I'm a black thumbed girl. And I need gardening advice. I can't seem to get anything to grow. Well not anything I planted weeds and trees from the neighbor's tree seem to grow quite well.

I haven't been able to get anything to grow. house pants even die. I send them to Mom's house and they get better, they thrive she send them back and it isn't long before they need the ICU again.

Son inherited this gene as well. He never could get the flowers young kids plant for mother's day at school to sprout. He couldn't get the bean to sprout in the bag during science.

So today, Son and I decided we want to make the front yard look pretty so we buy some clearance pots and potted some already growing petunias in them. It said they need full sun and I figure the front has the most sun around( it faces east.

Any advice to keep them growing? If I succeed I may feel confident enough to move on to vegetables. (I planted tomato plants last year but they didn't grow, so no tomatoes)

Please help this thumb change colors.

**frugalfranny** · 06-16-2009, 01:17 AM

Yes, you CAN get things to grow. Just have to learn. Gardening is a process which you NEVER know enough about and can always learn from others. Keep trying.......you will soon be hooked when that first little plant pops out of the ground.

You didn't mention anything about the soil. What sort of soil do you have? Do you dig a larger hole than the pot and dig up the soil that the plant will be going in to? Did you 'water the plant in' which is garden lingo for giving the plant a very good drink after planting it.

Might be easier and faster to talk to a gardener in your neighborhood since soil, watering, etc. can all influence your success.

Start reading anything you can about your area gardening stories...local newspaper could be a good source...this helps you learn about your zone, your area, your soil, frost date, etc. GOOD LUCK!!!

**ladytoysdream** · 06-16-2009, 06:40 AM

It's a learning process, and even when you get some experience behind you, there are variables. Like the temperature changes, what kind of soil, enough rain, etc, etc.

I planted some cuke seeds for the garden this spring. First batch never came up. Second batch, I only got 4 plants.
In the meanwhile, I could not wait for them, and bought 12 started plants for the garden. Now I am watching these baby ones, and maybe will put them in a bigger pot on the deck and see how that works. It's a experiment this time

**ladykemma2** · 06-16-2009, 07:28 AM

petunias full sun, baaaad idea. in houston texas they are a spring time only plant.

i have learned NOT to read the seed packet, or the directions. in houston texas, gardening is backwards. you plant in october for spring flowers in february. i read somewhere that gardening directions are based for upstate new york.

do you perhaps live in a hot climate?

**imagine** · 06-16-2009, 08:52 AM

Originally Posted by frugalfranny

Yes, you CAN get things to grow. Just have to learn. Gardening is a process which you NEVER know enough about and can always learn from others. Keep trying.......you will soon be hooked when that first little plant pops out of the ground.

You didn't mention anything about the soil. What sort of soil do you have? Do you dig a larger hole than the pot and dig up the soil that the plant will be going in to? Did you 'water the plant in' which is garden lingo for giving the plant a very good drink after planting it.

Might be easier and faster to talk to a gardener in your neighborhood since soil, watering, etc. can all influence your success.

Start reading anything you can about your area gardening stories...local newspaper could be a good source...this helps you learn about your zone, your area, your soil, frost date, etc. GOOD LUCK!!!

I planted them in pots above ground so I bought top soil and potting soil. Top soil in the bottom and potting soil on the top around the flower. I did give in a long drink after I tucked into it's new bed (pun intended). Then we had about 3 to 4 inches of rain last night (storms) so it is well watered maybe over watered.

I've asked my neighbors "how their garden grows" (another pun) They disagree very much, like they do opposite of each other. My mom who can grew anything had no advice she said you just plant it and it grows. She did get made at me when I was watching her indoor plants while Dad was in the hospital because I didn't talk to them enough.

**imagine** · 06-16-2009, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by ladykemma2

petunias full sun, baaaad idea. in houston texas they are a spring time only plant.

i have learned NOT to read the seed packet, or the directions. in houston texas, gardening is backwards. you plant in october for spring flowers in february. i read somewhere that gardening directions are based for upstate new york.

do you perhaps live in a hot climate?

Flowers in February? That would be so neat! It is still frozen here in Feburary.

We have crocuses pop up in the snow just before or around Easter. They lat less then a week but people love to plant them as they are the first sign that spring is coming.

It is nice to know that the directions aren't set in stone.

**imagine** · 06-16-2009, 09:03 AM

Originally Posted by ladytoysdream

It's a learning process, and even when you get some experience behind you, there are variables. Like the temperature changes, what kind of soil, enough rain, etc, etc.

I planted some cuke seeds for the garden this spring. First batch never came up. Second batch, I only got 4 plants.
In the meanwhile, I could not wait for them, and bought 12 started plants for the garden. Now I am watching these baby ones, and maybe will put them in a bigger pot on the deck and see how that works. It's a experiment this time

I'm just at the starting stages in my learning process than. I'm hoping for some good growing to boost my confidence.

Good luck with your experiment.

**Contrary Housewife** · 06-16-2009, 12:07 PM

Petunias in pots... think of them as babies. You can't ignore a baby for 4 days and expect it to be all right. You have to check every day, even just a glance at them. Petunias are generally easy to grow, but I have noticed some colors do better than others. For me, the white ones die when it gets hot. The red and purple ones seem to do better.

Plants in pots need to have their soil moisture checked often. In mid summer they might need water 2x a day, depending on the temperature and the size of the pot and how much sun they are getting.

Some things will not do well in your area. Ask your neighbors what they have success with. Look at what is growing well in other yards in your town. Just because the nursery is selling it does not mean it is suitable for your region.

**frugalfranny** · 06-17-2009, 02:37 AM

One thing that you will learn quickly..........is that if you ask three different gardeners the same question..you will get three different answers.....'generally'. But this is what makes it neat.....you take the info that you like and apply it. A friend and I don't even WEED the same way.....but the end result is the same. So neighbors are still a great source of info...even though they might do it different.
One of the main reasons I like gardening is that there is ALWAYS something to learn. And about the time you are thinking that you are pretty darn good at it......mother nature jumps up and slaps you up along side the head to keep you humble!

I am zone 5b and I have a Hellebore that blooms in late Feb. I love it...can go outside on a snowy day and here are these little blooms just sitting on the snow. Also have a Witch Hazel tree that is 'supposed' to bloom in Feb. but the little devil usually blooms late Novemeber. You can also 'force bulbs' (tulips, paperwhites, hyacinth are best) and have them in the house in Dec. and Jan.