Get Real: Beginning with Container Gardening {Giveaway}
Here at Once A Month Mom we’ve already caught Spring fever by starting our gardens, cleaning and filling our freezers. I personally feel like I’m being pulled in two directions. One outside to get my hands dirty and start the garden; the other to purge out our closets, and to scrub every surface for a good deep spring clean.
Today we’re partnering up with Rentals.com to show you that even in the smallest space, leased or owned, you can embrace Spring!
For our Get Real series, we talked about starting your edible garden just a week ago with our blog partner Rachel Tayse of Hounds in the Kitchen. I know a bigger garden is in the plans for me this year; however starting small is good too. The challenge is to just start somewhere.
One of the ways that you can start small, especially if you have limited space, is to start a container garden. Starting a container garden can be very simple. Here are some easy steps for accomplishing one.
My small patio garden two years ago. It did fantastic!
Choose a Container
You can choose a simple urn or terra cotta pot, or go bigger to a square window box or even a pre-made raised bed. Assess your space and what you have available. You can usually find adequate containers at your local hardware store, dollar store, discount store, thrift store or by perusing garage sales. Make sure that you have enough containers for what you want to start but not too many that you can’t get around them to water them properly.
Seeds or Starter Plants
Next you can start your herbs or small plants from seeds, or get starter plants from your local nursery or farmer’s market. I like to get my starters from my farmer’s market because I know how they were started, the soil they grew in and if I have problems I can come back to them and ask the following week.
Choose Your Soil
Next choose your soil. This can be tricky because you want soil that will retain moisture and nourish the plant, but not smother it. There are potting mixes available for container gardens at nurseries and big box stores. Just be sure to pick the right one for plants or edible gardens. When transplanting your starters, it’s important to break up the bottom and give the roots space to grow in their new home.
Water and Watch Them Grow
Then simply water them and watch them blossom! Get your children involved too and make it a project for them to take care of and watch together. And who knows you may get them to eat more veggies and try out some new herbs!
Here are some other great links to help you get started:
- Lacking a green thumb? Check out the Rentals.com guide to the top hard-to-kill houseplants that can help add to a room’s décor
- Rentals.com has ideas to help you create your ideal outdoor space no matter the size even on the patio of your apartment.
- Start your very own herb garden with this list of tips from Rentals.com
1. Leave a Comment telling us what you’ll be planting in your garden this Spring.
2. Follow @Rentals_com on Twitter – leave a separate comment saying you did so.
3. Tweet this contest – Follow @Rentals_com and @onceamonthmom and don’t forget to leave a comment below stating you have done so.
4. Pin this post and share the love with others! (Leave the link to your pin as proof of this step and entry).
This giveaway ends April 25 at 5 PM (EST).
As a special thank you to our sponsor be sure to “Like” Rentals.com on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/Rentals.com or follow them on Twitter @Rentals_com to get their latest tips on making the most of your home this spring. When you’re ready for a new place to call home, Rentals.com has the information you’ll need to find the perfect property for your family – choose from rental houses, apartments, condos or townhouses.
I’ve never planted anything before, so I’m not sure where I’m going to start, but I’m beginning to look into things to plant this year.
fun, I am trying to grow my own pumpkins for carving this year.
I have already planted some snap peas & shell peas. I hope to have some beets planted very soon. I’m planning on buying some more plants to transplant in May/June, like herbs, tomatoes, and maybe peppers and eggplant. I’m looking forward to lots of peas though
I haven’t started my garden yet, and hope it’s not too late to at least do tomatoes
I will be planting tomatoes, squash, corn, peppers, onions, peas, sunflowers and eggplant.
I have followed @rentals.com on twitter
I have also tweeted about the contest. https://twitter.com/#!/blosangel/status/192655618467827713
I also have followed @onceamonthmom on twitter
Thanks Rentals for the giveaway!
We’ll be planting lots of beans and carrots this year as my daughter eats them almost everyday. Hoping to try my hand and okra again – first time I tried there was a bumper crop, since then not so much.
http://pinterest.com/pin/99782947964181239/
I have also pinned this
I’ve got tomatoes, lettuce, spinach, peppers, chives, basil, parsley, and arugula going. Can’t wait to eat some fresh herbs and veggies!
We are only planting herbs and tomatoes in planters since we are joining a CSA.
Would love to be able to grow melons for the kids!
Can’t wait for fresh tomatoes!!
We’ve had such a mild spring here in the midwest that I already planted lettuce and snap peas . I’ve never planted so early before. When all danger of frost is past, I plan on planting tomatoes, green beans, and some fresh herbs like basil and oregano.
We are planting strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, potatoes, green peppers, jalapenos, onions, carrots, green beans, zucchini, peas, lettuce, and beets. It sounds like a lot, but we only have one or two plants of each. :-)
I am following Rentals.com on Twitter!
I already have garlic, peas and green beans going. I planted bell pepper and bush cucumber seeds last week. This weekend we’ll transplant tomatoes, eggplant, pickling cucumbers and jalapenos. Yummy!
I want to plant zucchini!
I’ll be planting herbs.
Now following on Twitter.
I would really like to do strawberries, potatoes and maybe carrots. I need to start off small
I followed @rentals.com on twitter
I’ve planted rosemary and parsley, and plan to plant spinach, zucchini, and tomatoes.
We are planning to plant salad fixings this year and probably cilantro.
Lots of stuff but tomatoes and peppers for sure.
My container garden will hold tomatoes, lettuce, red peppers and jalapenos.
gourdsrmylife(at)yahoo(dot)com
We are in a new home, so I am hoping to plant some fruit trees and start a container herb garden.
I will be planting tomatoes, peppers, strawberries, sunflowers, zucchini, rosemary, cilantro, basil and spinach.
I am following @rentals
I pinned this at: http://pinterest.com/pin/81487074477910672/
Would love to grow some tomatoes!
I just tweeted about the contest!
https://twitter.com/trashycrafts/statuses/192718214931812353
we’re trying to get something to grow this year. :)
In containers I’m growing 3 types of tomatoes, sweet peas, bell peppers, jalapenoes, Pimiento peppers, cucumbers, and 1 onion. In a small patch of ground I’m trying sweet corn, cauliflower, and shallots.
I’ve pinned at http://pinterest.com/pin/21603273182706635/
I am new to vegetable gardening this year. I hope to plant some tomatoes and maybe some cucumbers.
I will be planting tomatoes, corn, squash, cucumbers, and green peppers! I am ready for some fresh veggies:)
I Follow @Rentals_com on Twitter
I Tweeted this contest and Follow @Rentals_com and @onceamonthmom
i would love to have my own tomato plant.
I think I’ll just do some herbs this year. We have a north-facing condo so we can’t grow much more than that.
So far I’ve planted onions, a couple of types of lettuce, and carrots.
I follow them on Twitter (@alittlenoshblog)
We’ll plant peppers – they’re easy to grow.
We will be growing some tomatoes, and pumpkins(?) we will see though.
Tomatoes! :)
Got our raised garden box kit today from The Farmstead today. http://gardenraisedbeds.com/ Will try to start this weekend!
I have a 2-1/2 foot by 6 foot area of dirt, but it’s on the north side of my condo with only mid summer late hot sun.
What are some shade plants that I can grow? I’ve tried to research but haven’t found too much. Any help???
Thanks
We planted tons of beets and it is so fun watching them grow! We can’t wait to harvest and enjoy.
follow rentals on twitter @saramama
tweet https://twitter.com/#!/SaraMama/status/192815985068220416
We have one raised bed and several containers. We are growing a variety of Lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes, corn, pumpkins, ghoards, cantaloupe, Lima beans, strawberries, a couple different types of cucumbers and carrots. My boys enjoy this so much. It helps them learn what can grow in small spaces.
I’m planting tomato (several varieties), squash, cucumber, jalapeno, bell pepper, radish and lettuce.
I followed @Rentals_com and @onceamonthmom!
I tweeted about the contest! https://twitter.com/#!/LynnMeakim
I also pinned it! http://pinterest.com/pin/40250990389825551/
I will be starting my garden with tomatoes and peppers.
I’m going to start a new herb garden once we get moved to Alaska in a few weeks.
We’ll be planting tomatos, peppers, parsnips, broccoli, cauliflower, and probable some additional things. Can’t wait to go play in the dirt!
Living in deep South Texas, my garden is already well under way with tomatoes, eggplant, okra, swiss chard, various herbs, and the last of the peas that I need to pull soon. Squash is still struggling to recover from a hailstorm.
I will be renting again this summer. We work away from home. I want to plant herbs and tomatoes in containers.I love being able to step outside and pick my fresh ingredients!
We just planted our garden last weekend. We planted romaine lettuce, snap peas, cucumbers, zucchini, cilantro, tomatoes (green zebra heirlooms), & onions. We are really excited to see if it will all grow.
follow Rentals.com on twitter as @mosquints
I’m doing my first garden and we’re planting lots of tomatoes, onions and zucchini.
I think I’m going to start small this year with some tomatoes, onion, lettuce and cucumbers!
Following Rentals.com on twitter! @babylovingmama
We are starting small this year with tomatoes and herbs. Thanks for the giveaway.
We are planting tomatoes, onions and green peppers…and tending to our blueberries, raspberries and strawberries
Follow @Rentals_com on Twitter: (at)thabal628.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/#!/Thabal628/status/193121942683910144
We will plant beans, cucumbers and some squash. Thanks for the chance.
We’re planting potatoes, peas, carrots, 4 kinds of lettuce, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, onions and garlic. And that’s just our spring planting! I have 192 square feet of raised beds. :)
For sure we will plant zucchini, tomatoes, and peppers!
I have a salad table with leaf lettuce, mixed greens, kale, chard and herbs in it. I also have pots with various kinds of bell peppers, & tomatoes. Already have a few roma’s & banana peppers producing!
I am planting cilantro, tomatoes, green peppers, red peppers, lettuce, carrots, squash, and broccoli. I would love the GC to make a raised bed. I used to have a garden at my uncle’s but his health has turned bad & they are selling his house so I lost my garden space :( I have never dont veggies/herbs in pots but I am hoping they do well!
This is our first year with a garden. We have already put up the raised bed and want to plant lettuce, tomatoes, green onions, peppers and carrots!
I have pinned the contest
http://pinterest.com/pin/218917231856912663/
I have already planted my spring square foot bed with broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce, cabbage and carrots. I have eggplant, onions, potatoes, tomatoes, peas, Brussels sprouts, corn, peas, swiss chard, kale and spinach, all kinds of squash left to go in. Oh and strawberries, blue berries, raspberries and watermelon.
We will be planting peppers, tomatoes, herbs, cucumbers, and beans this year. I’m excited to can my own salsa this year!
I think we will plant tomatoes and peppers this year, but also considering watermelon!!!
My real pride in the garden is the family “vine house.” My hubby welded a playhouse sized frame and my 3 yr old and I plant climbing vines along the bottom. By the end of the season, she has a fortress of vining vegetables. Last year we had a gourd hanging from the ceiling like a chandelier! this year we have snap peas, shell peas, sweet peas already in. and we will add to this cucumbers, winter squash, watermellon, jackolantern … It was such a success last year. cant wait to play and eat from it again!
Wow that sounds awesome Shannon!! I plan on making a few lattices this year as well with my tomatoes!
I will be planting tomatoes, beans, herbs and beets, just like last year, but would also like to plant spinach and lettuce this year too
We are going to try planting potatoes this year
We just got moved into a rental house. I would love to try to grown onions and garlic this year since I use that the most in my cooking.
I want to do some container gardening. Just gotta take that first step and get started! I hope to do herbs at least!
I’ve planted blueberries and watermelon so far. I want to get going on tomatoes, cucumbers and more!
Following @rentals_com on twitter! (@dameinla)
Just tweeted about the contest @dameinla
We planted tomatoes and basil and more importantly, fruit trees! Which is something you totally can’t do in a rental, but something we’d dreamed about as we rented for the past six years!
Herbs. I haven’t decided if I’m doing tomatoes again. Hornworms were a nightmare last year.
Following rentals on twitter.
Tweeted the giveaway.
I have plans for my garden all mapped out…and I’m planning on planting tomatoes, peppers (red, green, and banana), zucchini, squash, lettuce, beans, and basil! Can’t wait till we’re eating from the garden this summer!
We are planting tomatoes, lots of varieties of peppers, peas, green beans (bush & pole), cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, onions, zucchini, cucumbers and whatever else I can find room for!
I will be planting lots of fresh herbs, zucchini, tomatoes, and pumpkins!
I just pinned it!
http://pinterest.com/pin/169659110932569801/
We’re giving container gardening a try this year. Planning to plant everything we need to make salsa (tomatoes, peppers, herbs), and hopefully some lettuce.
I just started a huge vegetable garden and some fruits on the side: Strawberries in a pot, a grapevine, canteloupe & watermelon. I’ll be starting Pumpkins in July too. Thanks!
hstorm799{at}gmail{dot}com
I pinned the post here: http://pinterest.com/pin/275986283385006859/
hstorm799{at}gmail{dot}com
We got brave with our early warm weather and have already planted much of our garden. The beans had to be replanted, but we have peas, Brussels sprouts and carrots growing already. Still need to do some tomatoes and lettuce.
So excited for a garden this year! I have planted tomatoes, zucchini, artichokes,cucumbers, basil and chives.
I will be planting my usuals- Kale, romaine, sugar snap peas, tomatoes, and loads of herbs :D
I’m starting small and planting an herb garden this spring.
That’s a good place to start if you ask me!
Excited to do a container garden this year, tomatoes, cilantro, various peppers and letting our three girls pick their fave veggies to grow their own. Going to have a prize for whoever keeps theirs up the best :)
I would love to have a container herb garden inside as outside it has never done well. We always do a big garden with potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, and onions.Our goal this year though is to keep the rabbits out :)