Hey everyone,
I am new to the forum and to gardening at my own residence. My girlfriend and I live in Georgia, close to Atlanta, and we rent. I have been apprehensive to jump into a gardening project because I don't own the land, so I decided to put together a small container garden. I will be picking up some plants from a local farm in about a week and a half, and I've started to root a few cuttings from around the neighborhood. My plan is to start slow and learn through trial and error. I will eventually buy a house or land to have a more extensive garden, but I am very excited to start with this project.
About a month ago I purchased a few 5 gallon containers and some potting mix and tomato plant food from Lowe's. I set up my first 3 containers that day with some soil, knowing I was going to purchase some plants from the farm (Love is Love in Oakhurst, GA). I also purchased some seeds for chives, basil and thyme. I decided to experiment with some fresh thyme I purchased from our local farmers market, and both pieces I put in a glass of water shot roots in about a weeks time. Those are planted in one of the larger buckets for now, but I will transfer to one of my smaller containers. I started the basil and chive seeds today. I will be receiving little gem lettuce, rainbow chard, salt and pepper cucumbers, Jupiter bell peppers, black cherry, sungold, pink boar and San Marzano tomatoes from Love is Love. I also talked with a local community garden when I was on my walk making cuttings around the neighborhood today and the gentleman allowed me to dig up some mint in an area they were about to renovate. That is the mint planted in its own larger container, I'm hoping it really takes hold in there.
The potting mix and tomato food that I put in the first 3 containers will be used for 3 of the varieties of tomatoes (advice will help there as far as which of the three varieties I have on the way will thrive in a nutrient-rich environment. The soil I used for the rest of the setup is a 3:2:1 mix of potting soil:mushroom compost:peat moss. I don't really know what I'm doing there, but from the minuscule amount of research I have done so far. According to farmer's almanac, last frost should be March 29. I am confident that the cilantro I planted will survive moving forward in the soil composition I created.
I have always appreciated gardening and I have worked in the food service industry for almost ten years. I am a biochemistry major at Georgia State University and I am interested to see how my degree ends up crossing over with my experience of gardening. I look forward to meeting the folks on here. I will be asking lots of questions and I appreciate any advice you all have to offer. Here are a few pictures of my set up.
Original 3 pots with potting mix/tomato food
Mixing my soil
Finished initial setup with the thyme and mint already going
Cheers everyone!
