Calling All Gardeners!

I have a garden plot that has crappy soil - dry, very acidic and is mostly shady, and when sun hits, it is very hot! Don't have issues with certain bugs/pests other than aphids, which are easy enough to control.

Cannot afford to put much $$ into buffing up soil this year and I was wondering if anyone had any suggestions as to the types of flowers/shrubs that have success in growing in this type of atmosphere.

I live in a prairie province, so hot and dry is always an issue.

I heard impatiens are a good one to grow in this clime. Hostas don't do well - probably too dry. I'd like to try azaleas, but I don't think our summer season is long enough.

Forget roses - I just got rid of some - they are way too finicky and are just too painful to work with (stupid thorns!)

I do have a lilac bush that does well, and a small ornamental cherry(?) tree. Oh, and an ornamental plum which can grow in anything, it seems.

Help?

Altered State

Petunias?

What about marigolds? They dont' smell too good but they sure come in beautiful bright oranges and yellows and can take sun and heat. Also-- perhaps geraniums-- they come in many pretty colors.

I live in the southwest(usa) desert, I very much understand hot and dry.

I love to garden-- and enjoy hearing of others endeavors! Good luck and let us know how it goes--K?

mandy

you could google or contact the state or county agricultural board and find out what is native and would be hardy for the soil that you have.

good luck and have fun! I love gardening but no place to do it currently.

ECHOES

Petunias?

I could, I guess. It's just so much easier to ask you guys!

(Yes I am that lazy...)

Thanks!

Petunias?

Oh yes, I forgot about marigolds. They do well here.

Geraniums are hardy and popular here, but I don't think I get enough sun? I only get about 2 hours direct sun but not all at once. Get about an hour in early morn and then again in the late afternoon.

Petunias? Aren't they a "fussy" flower??

Fussy? That's a myth...for a bucket of fertilizer and a few sticks of Miracle Grow, we'd do just about anything.

Well I take care of a geranium that's indoors and it blooms and grows with only a couple hours of sunlight-- not even direct sunlight.... so they might do just fine for you.

do you have alyssum available there? comes in mostly white and purple flowers-- they can spread, are short and prefer filtered sun with a little bit of direct sun and they don't mind the heat.

How exciting! I hope you post again and let us know what you've chosen and how things go.

mandy

Nastursams do well plus there good in salads

Will do, Mandyfins. Maybe, if anything does actually grow, I'll post a pic!

Thanks your help!

Aren't nasturnums a hanging, vine-type plant? Can they grow up? I have seen them grow huge (in length) in hanging baskets. It would be cool if they grow upwards too, because I could really use a sweet-pea type plant.

I do have a clematis too. It's a year old and is only beginning to sprout now. It's in a good spot, I think, as long as it grows high enough to reach the sunlight. Pretty sure it will.

(I'm getting so excited now! I just can't wait to put my back out!!(??)

That true, Petunia! They have come out with some gorgeous new hybrids the past few years. I really like the wave petunias. The bloom non-stop, all summer long!

Pretty petunias!

I got a new, raised bed, "kitchen garden" a couple weeks ago and have 3 tomato plants, including one Roma as well as "Italian" herbs (parsley, oregano, basil) and a lot of garlic chives! Yum yum baked potatoes! But I didn't know how the "wildlife" would be so I didn't plant any seeds and it's only about 6' x 3' so I didn't want melons or squash that need a lot of room. I have a sweet banana pepper though and if I ever get my "tree" planter, I'm going to plant 3 cherry tomato plants in it, up on my balcony. Anyway, I think I'll be experimenting with/making spaghetti sauce this year :-)

Wish I could help you with your garden but all my gardening experience has been in mild tempatured in S. Cali. I'm still trying to get the hang of cool weather crops as opposed to hot weather crops. Can't get my peas to grow!

Umm... not sure if you're refering to the smell or the growth habit of sweet peas. Nasturtiums really STANK to me. Hubby and I call them "nasties" because we really think they are. They're good for keeping pests away, though! Don't think you would have much of a problem training them to grow up if you have a trellis or make something they can crawl up on.

Has anyone mentioned geraniums? Out here in Cali they do well without much water and there as SO MANY different kinds, colors and scents!

Next time you're in a plant nursery, look at their books on gardening. See if can find the Western Garden Book put out by Sunset. They'll give you a list of what grows good in your area.

i've been eating tomatoes, cucumbers, spinach, radishes, green beans, sweet peas.........all in raised beds. some wooden boxes that i found on the curb........

AS, do you compost? here is what i do......all the grass clippings that i can get, shredded leaves, all of my food waste, except meat, even tea bags and coffee grounds.

keep it wet and stir it frequently as it needs air. i have mine in the corner of my yard, plywood against the fence and a big window in the front.

you will not believe what a top dressing of that will do around the feet of your plants. i forgot to tell you to add dirt to the compost.i had zinnias here last year when it was 105 and didn't have to water much due to the mulch. i saved all of my oak leaves this winter and piled them up and wet them. i also lay down newspaper sheets, then dirt, then water and repeat. it really helps your soil and you can do it in the fall and let it rot during the winter.

is this too much information?

we can get free dirt at the city shredder site.......otherwise, cheap potting/garden soil works fine. a sack of manure, $1.45, will also help. just keep it stirred and hot.......it works miracles.

So, "nasties" are "stinkers", eh? Crap! I just bought some seeds. Oh well, will see if they grow. If they do well, they can stink all they want!

Do raised beds grow plants better?

Cannot compost here. No room. Used to when I lived on the coast though. And you are right, it works wonders for a garden!

Newspapers! What a great idea! Cheap, too!

Thanks fayerody!

AS

Don't forget about Pesto sauce, especially if your basil grows well!

I think the purpose for raised beds is so that the seedings, then roots get more heat. Used in short summer areas for crops? I'm not sure. Like I said, Calif has pretty much a year round growing season. You sure you don't want to move out here?

Yes Petunias or nicatina (tabaco plants) maybe?

Nasturtiums love poor soil! And they aren't all the trailing kind. In fact, if you add too much good stuff to the soil, nasturtiums don't do well.

I didn't notice that they smelled stinky

What zone are you in? Are you looking for just flowering plants, or veggies and shrubs too? By garden plot, I'm guessing you aren't talking about "landscaping"?

If you can't have a compost pile, how about adding your kitchen waste by first putting it in the blender, adding water, and then watering your plants with that. You will get some 'fiber' from the bits that don't blend so it will add some structure to your soil too. Use the grass clippings, (if you don't use chemical in your lawn that is) as a side dressing to your plants, just stir them in each time you cut the grass.

You can also used shredded up paper from your junk mail to the grass clippings and cover that with the soil. It will break down within the gardening/growing season quite well. It helps keep moisture in.

As to what to plant, I don't know! What does your local nursery sell? Usually that is what grows well in your area. Then account for the filtered/shady area and go from there. I'd also try things with long deep roots, as that sort of plant brings up soil nutrition that short rooted plants don't.