Omelet wrote:
> In article > ,
> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote:
>
>> Mark Thorson wrote:
>>> koko wrote:
>>>> I finally bought an Aero Garden.
>>>> http://i39.tinypic.com/zx305y.jpg
>>>>
>>>> I vacillated for the longest time about buying this. It's pretty
>>>> expensive and I have a few other things I could spend $149.00 on, I
>>>> mean heaven forbid I put it in the savings account.
>>>> The more I looked into it and read about it and heard comments on it,
>>>> the more convinced I became I needed one. My primary reason is that I
>>>> live 27 miles from the closest fresh herb, bummer.
>>> That should work. Don't want to be without herb. :-)
>>>
>>> http://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-...rden-help.html
>> I can't wait to hear your progress reports. Especially time from seeding to
>> harvest and then length of useable harvest. IMO the unit is best suited to
>> herbs (best return on money) and lettuce.
>> Janet
>
> I'm thinking about one for lettuce and spinach. :-)
>
> Wonder how it'd do with chard?
>
I'd be concerned about the height of chard; in my outdoor garden, chard
typically reaches between 2 and 3 feet in height
>
> Now that I've had the house rock skirted tho', I'm considering building
> a low garden bed out front (South side) to keep some swiss chard going
> in a raised bed. I can build it against the rock facing without having
> to worry about termites.
>
I built my raised bed frames out of Trex; no chemical leaching, no
rotting, no warping. The initial outlay wasn't cheap, but will last a
lifetime.

Omelet wrote:
> In article >,
> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote:
>
>> Omelet wrote:
>>> In article > ,
>>> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote:
>>> snip>> I can't wait to hear your progress reports. Especially time from
>>>> seeding to harvest and then length of useable harvest. IMO the unit
>>>> is best suited to herbs (best return on money) and lettuce.
>>>> Janet
>>> I'm thinking about one for lettuce and spinach. :-)
>>>
>>> Wonder how it'd do with chard?
>>>
>>> Now that I've had the house rock skirted tho', I'm considering
>>> building a low garden bed out front (South side) to keep some swiss
>>> chard going in a raised bed. I can build it against the rock facing
>>> without having to worry about termites.
>>> --
>>> Peace! Om
>> I can't grow chard or beets anymore. . .they get little squigglies in the
>> leaves. I don't know what that is. It doesn't seem to matter where I plant
>> them. ????
>> Janet
>
> Sounds like slugs? Try some flat pans of beer.
>
>
I have the same problem with chard as Janet does, and it only started up
a few years ago. It's not slugs as far as I'm aware; these aren't slime
trails, and there's no evidence of slugs anywhere else in my vegetable
garden, which is in a series of 12-inch-tall Trex-framed raised beds,
and I rotate my crops on a 4-year cycle so there shouldn't be any pest
buildup in the soil.

Rather, the marks look like the result of larvae burrowing through the
leaves, but I've yet to see *any* insect of any kind anywhere around my
chard, so have no idea what pest I might be dealing with.

BTW, what I've found that works best for slugs (not that I've had any
for the past decade) is copper. Years ago I bought a bunch of copper
pot scrubbers (remember Kurly Kate?), stretched them into largish
circles, laid them on the soil and planted the seedlings in the centre;
never saw another slug.

In article >,
flitterbit > wrote:


> Aaah, thanks for that bit of information; I wondered if it was possible
> to use it without their special seed kits, as well as how accurate their
> advertising was in terms of what will actually thrive and produce. I'd
> like to grow lettuce indoors but don't have a south-facing windowsill to
> do it on with standard flowerpots.

I've never been interested, but in passing, I've seen a lot of stuff.
Grow lights, florescent fixtures, timers and stands are reasonably cheap.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

Michael "Dog3" wrote:
> Omelet > newsmpomelet-3076E1.22445211012009
> @news.giganews.com: in rec.food.cooking
>
>> In article >,
>> "Jean B." > wrote:
>>
>>> koko wrote:
>>>> I finally bought an Aero Garden.
>>>> http://i39.tinypic.com/zx305y.jpg
>>>>
>>>> I vacillated for the longest time about buying this. It's pretty
>>>> expensive and I have a few other things I could spend $149.00 on, I
>>>> mean heaven forbid I put it in the savings account.
>>>> The more I looked into it and read about it and heard comments on
> it,
>>>> the more convinced I became I needed one. My primary reason is that
> I
>>>> live 27 miles from the closest fresh herb, bummer.
>>>> I decided that when I got my next 20% off coupon from Bed Bath &
>>>> Beyond I was going to have one.
>>>> Yesterday in an e-mail from BB&B was a 20% off printable store
> coupon,
>>>> so off I went, coupon in hand, fighting the terrible winds, through
>>>> the mountains, down the valleys, up the ridges...o.k. I exaggerate,
>>>> but it has been terribly windy here the past few days.
>>>>
>>>> Good things come to those who wait. Yesterday I scored. Not only are
>>>> they on sale on the web and at BB&B but with my 20% off coupon
>>>> Wahoooo!!!!!!!!!! $103.19
>>>>
>>>> The herb kit that came with it has Dill, Genovese basil, thyme,
> mint,
>>>> chives and oregano.
>>>> It comes with everything you need to get started. I figured each pod
>>>> runs about $2.85 and you'll get a lot of fresh herbs for the money.
>>>>
>>>> Warning, progress reports to follow. I can't wait until the first
>>>> little green sprouts show
>>>>
>>>> koko

>>>>
>>>> There is no love more sincere than the love of food
>>>> George Bernard Shaw
>>>> www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
>>>> updated 01/11
>>> Interesting. I wonder where I'd put such a thing?
>> The problem I have is that my cats would eat it. <g>
>
> No kidding. I can't have anything green in the house. I can't bring
> flowers in from the garden, have houseplants or even silk plants or
> flowers. They eat the real plants and chew the snot out of the fake
> plants. And they puke.
>
> Michael
>
>
Grow a flat of oats or for them; they'll eat that instead of your plants
or flowers. You can also buy "kitty grass" either already growing or as
packets of seeds.

Cats are really fond of greens; apparently they eat young spring grass
for vitamins, and coarser later-season grass as an irritant to help
cough up hairballs.

Dan Abel wrote:
> In article >,
> flitterbit > wrote:
>
>
>> Aaah, thanks for that bit of information; I wondered if it was possible
>> to use it without their special seed kits, as well as how accurate their
>> advertising was in terms of what will actually thrive and produce. I'd
>> like to grow lettuce indoors but don't have a south-facing windowsill to
>> do it on with standard flowerpots.
>
> I've never been interested, but in passing, I've seen a lot of stuff.
> Grow lights, florescent fixtures, timers and stands are reasonably cheap.
>
True; it might be better in my case to set up something like that.

flitterbit wrote:
> Omelet wrote:
>> In article >,
>> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote:
>>
>>> Omelet wrote:
>>>> In article > ,
>>>> "Janet Bostwick" > wrote:
>>>> snip>> I can't wait to hear your progress reports. Especially
>>>> time from
>>>>> seeding to harvest and then length of useable harvest. IMO the
>>>>> unit is best suited to herbs (best return on money) and lettuce.
>>>>> Janet
>>>> I'm thinking about one for lettuce and spinach. :-)
>>>>
>>>> Wonder how it'd do with chard?
>>>>
>>>> Now that I've had the house rock skirted tho', I'm considering
>>>> building a low garden bed out front (South side) to keep some swiss
>>>> chard going in a raised bed. I can build it against the rock
>>>> facing without having to worry about termites.
>>>> --
>>>> Peace! Om
>>> I can't grow chard or beets anymore. . .they get little squigglies
>>> in the leaves. I don't know what that is. It doesn't seem to
>>> matter where I plant them. ????
>>> Janet
>>
>> Sounds like slugs? Try some flat pans of beer.
>>
>>
> I have the same problem with chard as Janet does, and it only started
> up a few years ago. It's not slugs as far as I'm aware; these aren't
> slime trails, and there's no evidence of slugs anywhere else in my
> vegetable garden, which is in a series of 12-inch-tall Trex-framed
> raised beds, and I rotate my crops on a 4-year cycle so there
> shouldn't be any pest buildup in the soil.
>
> Rather, the marks look like the result of larvae burrowing through the
> leaves, but I've yet to see *any* insect of any kind anywhere around
> my chard, so have no idea what pest I might be dealing with.

Agreed, that's exactly what I am talking about -- a kind of burrowing
through the leaves.
Janet

Janet Bostwick wrote:
> flitterbit wrote:

>> I have the same problem with chard as Janet does, and it only started
>> up a few years ago. It's not slugs as far as I'm aware; these aren't
>> slime trails, and there's no evidence of slugs anywhere else in my
>> vegetable garden, which is in a series of 12-inch-tall Trex-framed
>> raised beds, and I rotate my crops on a 4-year cycle so there
>> shouldn't be any pest buildup in the soil.
>>
>> Rather, the marks look like the result of larvae burrowing through
>> the leaves, but I've yet to see *any* insect of any kind anywhere
>> around my chard, so have no idea what pest I might be dealing with.
>
> Agreed, that's exactly what I am talking about -- a kind of burrowing
> through the leaves.

Sounds like this:

http://goldengategarden.typepad.com/...ng_a_swis.html

or

http://preview.tinyurl.com/84h4v8

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> flitterbit wrote:
>
>>> I have the same problem with chard as Janet does, and it only
>>> started up a few years ago. It's not slugs as far as I'm aware;
>>> these aren't slime trails, and there's no evidence of slugs
>>> anywhere else in my vegetable garden, which is in a series of
>>> 12-inch-tall Trex-framed raised beds, and I rotate my crops on a
>>> 4-year cycle so there shouldn't be any pest buildup in the soil.
>>>
>>> Rather, the marks look like the result of larvae burrowing through
>>> the leaves, but I've yet to see *any* insect of any kind anywhere
>>> around my chard, so have no idea what pest I might be dealing with.
>>
>> Agreed, that's exactly what I am talking about -- a kind of burrowing
>> through the leaves.
>
> Sounds like this:
>
> http://goldengategarden.typepad.com/...ng_a_swis.html
>
> or
>
> http://preview.tinyurl.com/84h4v8
>
> nancy

Thanks, Nancy. That sounds like it. Wikipedia photo half way down the page
on right. http://tinyurl.com/a62t8h

Janet Bostwick wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:
>> Janet Bostwick wrote:

>>> Agreed, that's exactly what I am talking about -- a kind of
>>> burrowing through the leaves.
>>
>> Sounds like this:

>> http://preview.tinyurl.com/84h4v8

> Thanks, Nancy. That sounds like it. Wikipedia photo half way down
> the page on right. http://tinyurl.com/a62t8h

I am having a birch tree taken down this spring because
damage from leaf miners has killed off so many branches.
Not the same leaf miner, just saying that looks familiar.

And you can't exactly spray your chard with a lot of
chemicals. What a pain to go through all that work and
some pest eats your produce.

Kinda like in Berkeley Bowl! Hee hee.

nancy

Omelet > wrote in newsmpomelet-
:


>>
>> I would have just had the stove ticking over, so that it was always
hot.
>>
>>
>> Just like the song: Just like a cat on a hot stove top :-)
>
> I see you are a cat hater... :-(



Nahhhh, not a cat hater per se...... just a dog person :-)


I've always thought about getting a cat, but I like being the boss of
the house :-)


Plus, I'm not a huge fan of animal hair all over the house. My pooch is
an outdoor dog, always has been.


> That seems to be common with Aussies.


Probably common all over the world.


My best mate is a ruff 'n tumble ex driller (oil fields, gas fields, all
over the world). He has a cat, and most recently, a new puppy. Trouble
is, the cat thinks it's a dog.



--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

You will travel through the valley of rejection;
you will reside in the land of morning mists...and you will find your
home,
though it will not be where you left it.

maxine in ri > wrote in news:d4fd790f-cd42-495d-970b-
:

> On Jan 12, 11:50*am, Omelet > wrote:
>
>> I see you are a cat hater... :-(
>> That seems to be common with Aussies.
>
> Ask them about rabbits....
>


Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, we *love* rabbits....... especially in a casserols with
some red wine :-)



--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

You will travel through the valley of rejection;
you will reside in the land of morning mists...and you will find your home,
though it will not be where you left it.

Omelet > wrote in newsmpomelet-
:

> In article
> >,
> maxine in ri > wrote:
>
>> On Jan 12, 11:50*am, Omelet > wrote:
>>
>> > I see you are a cat hater... :-(
>> > That seems to be common with Aussies.
>>
>> Ask them about rabbits....
>>
>> maxine in ri
>
> Indeed...



You get to keep rabbits as pets??


It's not allowed over here. They're regarded as pests.


We used to have pet rabbits (or so we thought) back when I was a
youngster. We even had a 'pet' sheep. All ended up on the dinner table.



--
Peter Lucas
Brisbane
Australia

You will travel through the valley of rejection;
you will reside in the land of morning mists...and you will find your
home,
though it will not be where you left it.

On Jan 13, 1:50*am, Omelet > wrote:
> In article > ,
>
>
>
> *PeterLucas > wrote:
> > Omelet > wrote in newsmpomelet-
> > :
>
> > > In article > ,
> > > *PLucas > wrote:
>
> > >> >> Interesting. *I wonder where I'd put such a thing?
>
> > >> > The problem I have is that my cats would eat it. <g>
>
> > >> Electric fence it.
>
> > >> :-)
>
> > > Don't have that kind of indoor space!
>
> > OK, a cattle prod * * ;-)
>
> > > I trained them to stay off the kitchen counter and stove tho' using
> > > upside down mouse traps.
>
> > > Those work!
>
> > I would have just had the stove ticking over, so that it was always hot..
>
> > Just like the song: Just like a cat on a hot stove top :-)
>
> I see you are a cat hater... :-(
> That seems to be common with Aussies.
>

Why the non smiley ?

Although putting weight on the fact that many people do not know
-"what they don't know"

Before you start defending cats and frowning at Aussies on the matter
of cats

perhaps read this http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiv...ap/cats08.html

out here foxes feral dogs (domestics gone wild) pigs goats donkeys
Camels and those evil cats have decimated the areas
regarding cats it is emotive even for the owners who try and be
responsible we realise .

However, ANY cat spotted gets potted simple as that .

Ideally you get a matched pair some times and they make great
slippers

On Jan 13, 3:03*am, Omelet > wrote:
> In article
> >,
> *maxine in ri > wrote:
>
> > On Jan 12, 11:50*am, Omelet > wrote:
>
> > > I see you are a cat hater... :-(
> > > That seems to be common with Aussies.
>
> > Ask them about rabbits....
>
> > maxine in ri
>
> Indeed...
> --
>
Indeed is right you can have as many as you want
http://www.invasiveanimals.com/resea...lague_web2.jpg

maxine in ri wrote:
> Secure a hook in the ceiling, and hang it<G>. Our cat is the Mighty
> Leaper, but she can't get the hanging plants in the windows.
>
> maxine in ri

I do have one hanging. I think I'll wait though.

--
Jean B.

Nancy Young wrote:
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>>> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>
>>>> Agreed, that's exactly what I am talking about -- a kind of
>>>> burrowing through the leaves.
>>>
>>> Sounds like this:
>
>>> http://preview.tinyurl.com/84h4v8
>
>> Thanks, Nancy. That sounds like it. Wikipedia photo half way down
>> the page on right. http://tinyurl.com/a62t8h
>
> I am having a birch tree taken down this spring because
> damage from leaf miners has killed off so many branches.
> Not the same leaf miner, just saying that looks familiar.
>
> And you can't exactly spray your chard with a lot of
> chemicals. What a pain to go through all that work and
> some pest eats your produce.
>
> Kinda like in Berkeley Bowl! Hee hee.
>
> nancy

Yeah, a lot of work. The little guys that actually nibble on the outsides
can generally be spotted and removed. These miner guys are another story.
I've tried the nematodes and haven't seen any; improvement. ;{ I love
beets -- darn miners.
Janet

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:11:06 GMT, "Hoges in WA"
> wrote:

>
>"koko" > wrote in message
.. .
>>
>> I finally bought an Aero Garden.
>> http://i39.tinypic.com/zx305y.jpg
>>
>> I vacillated for the longest time about buying this. It's pretty
>> expensive and I have a few other things I could spend $149.00 on, I
>> mean heaven forbid I put it in the savings account.
>> The more I looked into it and read about it and heard comments on it,
>> the more convinced I became I needed one. My primary reason is that I
>> live 27 miles from the closest fresh herb, bummer.
>> I decided that when I got my next 20% off coupon from Bed Bath &
>> Beyond I was going to have one.
>> Yesterday in an e-mail from BB&B was a 20% off printable store coupon,
>> so off I went, coupon in hand, fighting the terrible winds, through
>> the mountains, down the valleys, up the ridges...o.k. I exaggerate,
>> but it has been terribly windy here the past few days.
>>
>> Good things come to those who wait. Yesterday I scored. Not only are
>> they on sale on the web and at BB&B but with my 20% off coupon
>> Wahoooo!!!!!!!!!! $103.19
>>
>> The herb kit that came with it has Dill, Genovese basil, thyme, mint,
>> chives and oregano.
>> It comes with everything you need to get started. I figured each pod
>> runs about $2.85 and you'll get a lot of fresh herbs for the money.
>>
>> Warning, progress reports to follow. I can't wait until the first
>> little green sprouts show
>>
>> koko
>> --
>>
>> There is no love more sincere than the love of food
>> George Bernard Shaw
>> www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
>> updated 01/11
>
>
>Hey - I'se been to Bullhead City. And to Lake Havasu City. Which mightn't
>sound like much except that I live in Western Australia. Didn't have Wings,
>though & darn near froze to death at Lake Havasu. They finished that
>ginormous shopping complex there yet?
>Hoges in WA
>
Yes, the shopping center is finished and going strong. I contribute to
the economy when I go visit. 8-)
It does get pretty darned cold in the desert. I always take jackets
and sweaters when I visit in the winter.

koko
--

There is no love more sincere than the love of food
George Bernard Shaw
www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
updated 01/11

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:45:30 -0500, "Kswck" >
wrote:

>
>"Mark Thorson" > wrote in message
...
>> koko wrote:
>>>
>>> I finally bought an Aero Garden.
>>> http://i39.tinypic.com/zx305y.jpg
>>>
snippage
>
>I have two. I rotate fresh lettuce in both-always have a fresh supply. I am
>an apartment dweller so I do not have a garden.
>I've had luck with fresh herbs-except dill. No real luck with cherry
>tomatoes.
>The preseeded packets are expensive. I got the MasterGarden Deluxe box (free
>when you buy a unit) and use any old seeds. Don't bother with their pre
>seeded packs.
>
I think it was you that mentioned in another post having two Aero
Gardens, that helped me make up my mind to go ahead and get one. I'll
look into the MasterGarden Deluxe box, sounds like a handy thing to
have. Thanks.

koko
--

There is no love more sincere than the love of food
George Bernard Shaw
www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
updated 01/11

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 06:40:56 -0700, "Janet Bostwick"
> wrote:

>Mark Thorson wrote:
>> koko wrote:
>>>
>>> I finally bought an Aero Garden.
>>> http://i39.tinypic.com/zx305y.jpg
>>>
>>> I vacillated for the longest time about buying this. It's pretty
>>> expensive and I have a few other things I could spend $149.00 on, I
>>> mean heaven forbid I put it in the savings account.
>>> The more I looked into it and read about it and heard comments on it,
>>> the more convinced I became I needed one. My primary reason is that I
>>> live 27 miles from the closest fresh herb, bummer.
>>
>> That should work. Don't want to be without herb. :-)
>>
>> http://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-...rden-help.html
>
>I can't wait to hear your progress reports. Especially time from seeding to
>harvest and then length of useable harvest. IMO the unit is best suited to
>herbs (best return on money) and lettuce.
>Janet
>
I'm anxious to see how it all works out. Don't worry, I'll bore you
all with progress reports.
I'd like to try lettuce also, maybe next harvest.

koko
--

There is no love more sincere than the love of food
George Bernard Shaw
www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
updated 01/11

"flitterbit" > wrote in message
...
>
> BTW, what I've found that works best for slugs (not that I've had any for
> the past decade) is copper. Years ago I bought a bunch of copper pot
> scrubbers (remember Kurly Kate?), stretched them into largish circles,
> laid them on the soil and planted the seedlings in the centre; never saw
> another slug.

I've read that about copper. You can even circle the seedlings (or whole
gardens) with pennies.

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:04:40 -0500, flitterbit >
wrote:

>koko wrote:
>> I finally bought an Aero Garden.
>> http://i39.tinypic.com/zx305y.jpg
>>
snippage

> >
>Congratulations on the great deal; I'm looking forward to your progress
>reports! I've been intrigued by the concept of this particular indoor
>garden for a while (I live in the Great White North), but haven't
>encountered anyone actually using one.

Thanks flitterbit, I'm enjoying the experiment so far. Can't wait to
see the first little green sprouting.

koko
--

There is no love more sincere than the love of food
George Bernard Shaw
www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
updated 01/11

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 20:08:01 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

>koko wrote:
>
>>
>> I finally bought an Aero Garden.
>> http://i39.tinypic.com/zx305y.jpg
>
><snipped for space>
>
>> Good things come to those who wait. Yesterday I scored. Not only are
>> they on sale on the web and at BB&B but with my 20% off coupon
>> Wahoooo!!!!!!!!!! $103.19
>
>Well done koko! Being one of The True Foodies Amongst Us [TTFAU
>(TANTTFAU) I am sure you will reap the benefits.
>>
>> The herb kit that came with it has Dill, Genovese basil, thyme, mint,
>> chives and oregano.
>
>Nice.
>
>> It comes with everything you need to get started. I figured each pod
>> runs about $2.85 and you'll get a lot of fresh herbs for the money.
>
>Clever too ;-)
>>
>> Warning, progress reports to follow.
>
>Will look forward to those posts.
>
>> I can't wait until the first
>> little green sprouts show
>
>

Thanks Chatty Cathy. It's going to be nice having a herb "garden" in
the winter.
I'll be sure and post the progress.

koko
--

There is no love more sincere than the love of food
George Bernard Shaw
www.kokoscorner.typepad.com
updated 01/11

Nancy Young wrote:
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>>> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>
>>>> Agreed, that's exactly what I am talking about -- a kind of
>>>> burrowing through the leaves.
>>>
>>> Sounds like this:
>
>>> http://preview.tinyurl.com/84h4v8
>
>> Thanks, Nancy. That sounds like it. Wikipedia photo half way down
>> the page on right. http://tinyurl.com/a62t8h
>
> I am having a birch tree taken down this spring because
> damage from leaf miners has killed off so many branches.
> Not the same leaf miner, just saying that looks familiar.
>
> And you can't exactly spray your chard with a lot of
> chemicals. What a pain to go through all that work and
> some pest eats your produce.
>
> Kinda like in Berkeley Bowl! Hee hee.
>
> nancy

That's sad about your birch tree. Around here, birch get invaded by borers.
I think birch must be a fragile tree. I hope the tree wasn't a preferred
shade tree ;o{
Janet

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 13:54:03 +0000 (UTC), in rec.food.cooking, PLucas
wrote:


>
> Electric fence it.
>
> :-)

You quote 72 lines only to respond with this idiotic one liner?

Nancy Young wrote:
> Janet Bostwick wrote:
>> flitterbit wrote:
>
>>> I have the same problem with chard as Janet does, and it only started
>>> up a few years ago. It's not slugs as far as I'm aware; these aren't
>>> slime trails, and there's no evidence of slugs anywhere else in my
>>> vegetable garden, which is in a series of 12-inch-tall Trex-framed
>>> raised beds, and I rotate my crops on a 4-year cycle so there
>>> shouldn't be any pest buildup in the soil.
>>>
>>> Rather, the marks look like the result of larvae burrowing through
>>> the leaves, but I've yet to see *any* insect of any kind anywhere
>>> around my chard, so have no idea what pest I might be dealing with.
>>
>> Agreed, that's exactly what I am talking about -- a kind of burrowing
>> through the leaves.
>
> Sounds like this:
>
> http://goldengategarden.typepad.com/...ng_a_swis.html
>
>
> or
>
> http://preview.tinyurl.com/84h4v8
>
> nancy
>
>
Indeed it does; thanks for the link! The primary reason I grow Swiss
chard is because it's supposed to be less susceptible to pests than
spinach, and it doesn't bolt like spinach does!

Cheryl wrote:
> "flitterbit" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> BTW, what I've found that works best for slugs (not that I've had any
>> for the past decade) is copper. Years ago I bought a bunch of copper
>> pot scrubbers (remember Kurly Kate?), stretched them into largish
>> circles, laid them on the soil and planted the seedlings in the
>> centre; never saw another slug.
>
> I've read that about copper. You can even circle the seedlings (or
> whole gardens) with pennies.
>
>
That would certainly work! Some garden supply houses sell rolls of
copper barrier material, but it's not cheap; it's probably less
expensive to use pennies!

Michael "Dog3" wrote:
> flitterbit > : in
> rec.food.cooking
>
>> Grow a flat of oats or for them; they'll eat that instead of your plants
>> or flowers. You can also buy "kitty grass" either already growing or as
>> packets of seeds.
>>
>> Cats are really fond of greens; apparently they eat young spring grass
>> for vitamins, and coarser later-season grass as an irritant to help
>> cough up hairballs.
>
> Pfffttt... I tried a flat of the grass stuff. They mowed it down like a
> herd of sheep and the poor stuff couldn't grow fast enough. Eventually it
> died. My cats are barbarians ;-) Except for 'Bitz. She's quite the lady.
>
> Michael
>
>
Hmmmm; maybe a flat per cat is what's needed ;D

I wanted one, too, but way too pricey for me.

So, for about 40 bucks, I got a flourescent-tube grow and aquarium light
about four feet long at Lowe's. It has two tubes. I had plenty of pots
and soil...ordered the seeds from an online seed company for 2 bucks per
pack.

Which is all fine and good...but, starting herbs from seed takes a
longish time....and unless I get them started in the summer, I still
wont have herbs in the winter! By the time seeds planted now are ready
to use, it will be Spring and already-grown sets will be available in
nurseries.

Still, around July 1, next summer, start your seeds and have herbs in
October. Depending on how much you use, you may want to start MORE in
October to be ready in Jan.

The other problem Ive had is, I keep my thermostat set pretty low,
around 68. Sadly, plants can tell when it's not "summer" and dont want
to get big, even when they get light, if the soil is not 72 or higher.
In fact, most seeds wont even germinate below 70 degrees of soil temp.

If I set my furnace at 72 to keep my herbs happy, plus the cost of
running the light 14 hours a day, my herbs get way too pricey.

So,all things considered, what Ive learned is, you really just cant
effectively grow herbs in the winter, indoors, cost-effectively.

Maybe the AERO uses a light that also provides heat? The flourescents
dont. Bummer. Now, I could get a seed starter warming pad (kind of
like a heating pad, but water-proof) but again, that's more electricity
to pay for. For me, it really hasnt been worth it.

I wish you better luck. Let us know how you do---

Lass

Debby
I doubt very much that cherry (or any other kind) tomatoes will do well.
Tomatoes love heat and intense light---way more than you can produce
indoors. Plus, they spread and take up quite a bit of room, even when
you stake them.
You CAN, however, grow Romaine pretty well in a plastic "tub" with holes
drilled in the bottom for drainage.,,,IF the soil is above 70 degrees.
The question is, how long do you want to wait for enough Romaine to grow
to make maybe four salads? When Romaine is easily available in the
grocery store, year round?

There are certain cold-loving plants, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale,
spinach, etc. called "cole crops" that enjoy soil temps of 69 degrees,
but again, these require some space.

Lass

OT kinda, My new Aero Garden

Interesting concept. Looking forward to a progress report. Would love 3-
herbs, salad greens and cherry tomatoes if the reports are good. Will
worry about locating them later! :-)
Debbie

Lass Chance_2 wrote:

> I wanted one, too, but way too pricey for me.
>
> So, for about 40 bucks, I got a flourescent-tube grow and aquarium light
> about four feet long at Lowe's. It has two tubes. I had plenty of pots
> and soil...ordered the seeds from an online seed company for 2 bucks per
> pack.
>
> Which is all fine and good...but, starting herbs from seed takes a
> longish time....and unless I get them started in the summer, I still
> wont have herbs in the winter! By the time seeds planted now are ready
> to use, it will be Spring and already-grown sets will be available in
> nurseries.
>
> Still, around July 1, next summer, start your seeds and have herbs in
> October. Depending on how much you use, you may want to start MORE in
> October to be ready in Jan.
>
> The other problem Ive had is, I keep my thermostat set pretty low,
> around 68. Sadly, plants can tell when it's not "summer" and dont want
> to get big, even when they get light, if the soil is not 72 or higher.
> In fact, most seeds wont even germinate below 70 degrees of soil temp.
>
> If I set my furnace at 72 to keep my herbs happy, plus the cost of
> running the light 14 hours a day, my herbs get way too pricey.
>
> So,all things considered, what Ive learned is, you really just cant
> effectively grow herbs in the winter, indoors, cost-effectively.
>
> Maybe the AERO uses a light that also provides heat? The flourescents
> dont. Bummer. Now, I could get a seed starter warming pad (kind of
> like a heating pad, but water-proof) but again, that's more electricity
> to pay for. For me, it really hasnt been worth it.
>
> I wish you better luck. Let us know how you do---

Hmm. Don't know what your living arrangements are like but if I was
going to start from scratch I might build a light fixture and plant
shelf high up on the wall in the bathroom, where the plants could take
advantage of the warmth and humidity from the shower, and I could take
advantage of the extra lighting for putting my make-up on.

But both of our bathrooms see heavy daily use. It might not be
worthwhile in a single person household.

"Yuuup! Herb likes a locked door. Lining the closet with aluminum foil
(shiny side in) is recommended by some. As long as temperature and
humidity do not exceed that of a tropical rainforest in Thailand, you
should be okay." Mark Thompson



LOL! Different kind of HERB!

But yes, that will do it. Paint the inside of the closet bright white
works just as well.
A couple years back, I had a nice little sustem in my unused downstairs
closet....had two shelves, each five feet long, suspended on chains from
the clothes rod....had one blue spectrum and one red spectrum lightbulb,
each in a reflector, each 60 watts, plus a four foot flourescent, a
small oscilating fan, all on a timer.

I produced 10 nice White Widows,. Sadly, six were males. But, the four
females got about 14" tall and pretty bushy, giving mee almost an ounce
of the best pot on the planet.

IF I had been thinking, I would have kept one of the males and bred it
to one of the females....and produced thousands of FREE seeds. But I
went stupid and didnt think to do that....resulting in the need to BUY
10 more seeds....at 10 bucks per seed, for crying out loud.

sigh...we live and we learn.

Lass

In article > ,
PeterLucas > wrote:

> Omelet > wrote in newsmpomelet-
> :
>
>
> >>
> >> I would have just had the stove ticking over, so that it was always
> hot.
> >>
> >>
> >> Just like the song: Just like a cat on a hot stove top :-)
> >
> > I see you are a cat hater... :-(
>
>
>
> Nahhhh, not a cat hater per se...... just a dog person :-)

Ok. I have and enjoy both. Pet bird too.

>
>
> I've always thought about getting a cat, but I like being the boss of
> the house :-)

Heh! I still am! Cats are trainable if you know how.

>
>
> Plus, I'm not a huge fan of animal hair all over the house. My pooch is
> an outdoor dog, always has been.

Ok, I can empathize with THAT emotion.

>
>
> > That seems to be common with Aussies.
>
>
> Probably common all over the world.
>
>
> My best mate is a ruff 'n tumble ex driller (oil fields, gas fields, all
> over the world). He has a cat, and most recently, a new puppy. Trouble
> is, the cat thinks it's a dog.

We used to have a cat that fetched...
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

In article > ,
PeterLucas > wrote:

> maxine in ri > wrote in news:d4fd790f-cd42-495d-970b-
> :
>
> > On Jan 12, 11:50*am, Omelet > wrote:
> >
> >> I see you are a cat hater... :-(
> >> That seems to be common with Aussies.
> >
> > Ask them about rabbits....
> >
>
>
> Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm, we *love* rabbits....... especially in a casserols with
> some red wine :-)

I like them kentucky fried.
--
Peace! Om

"Any ship can be a minesweeper. Once." -- Anonymous

On Sun, 11 Jan 2009 14:17:49 -0800, koko > wrote:

>
>I finally bought an Aero Garden.
>http://i39.tinypic.com/zx305y.jpg
>

I've wanted one ever since I saw it on "I Want That."
But like you, $150 was a little hard to swallow.

I actually had great results with a fluorescent shop light and a
structure I made out of PVC to support it, but it took up allot of
space. Herbs grew like crazy, though.

On Mon, 12 Jan 2009 17:45:02 -0800, koko > wrote:

> Don't worry, I'll bore you
>all with progress reports.

Pictorial progress reports, please?

"Lass Chance_2" > wrote in message
...
> Debby
> I doubt very much that cherry (or any other kind) tomatoes will do well.
> Tomatoes love heat and intense light---way more than you can produce
> indoors. Plus, they spread and take up quite a bit of room, even when
> you stake them.
> You CAN, however, grow Romaine pretty well in a plastic "tub" with holes
> drilled in the bottom for drainage.,,,IF the soil is above 70 degrees.
> The question is, how long do you want to wait for enough Romaine to grow
> to make maybe four salads? When Romaine is easily available in the
> grocery store, year round?
>
> There are certain cold-loving plants, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale,
> spinach, etc. called "cole crops" that enjoy soil temps of 69 degrees,
> but again, these require some space.
>

Perhaps.. that is why I wait for a report. They do look interesting on the
website.. but then again, any website worth an ounce of salt that is trying
to sell something will make their product look interesting!

Debbei

>Thanks Chatty Cathy. It's going to be nice having a herb "garden" in
>the winter.

I can't bring myself to pay supermarket prices for fresh herbs.
I printed out a recipe this morning that calls for a sprig of rosemary
and some fresh thyme. That would cost me $7. Not gonna happen.

In article >,
(Lass Chance_2) wrote:

> I wanted one, too, but way too pricey for me.
>
> So, for about 40 bucks, I got a flourescent-tube grow and aquarium light
> about four feet long at Lowe's. It has two tubes. I had plenty of pots
> and soil...ordered the seeds from an online seed company for 2 bucks per
> pack.
>
> Which is all fine and good...but, starting herbs from seed takes a
> longish time....and unless I get them started in the summer, I still
> wont have herbs in the winter! By the time seeds planted now are ready
> to use, it will be Spring and already-grown sets will be available in
> nurseries.
>
> Still, around July 1, next summer, start your seeds and have herbs in
> October. Depending on how much you use, you may want to start MORE in
> October to be ready in Jan.
>
> The other problem Ive had is, I keep my thermostat set pretty low,
> around 68. Sadly, plants can tell when it's not "summer" and dont want
> to get big, even when they get light, if the soil is not 72 or higher.
> In fact, most seeds wont even germinate below 70 degrees of soil temp.
>
> If I set my furnace at 72 to keep my herbs happy, plus the cost of
> running the light 14 hours a day, my herbs get way too pricey.
>
> So,all things considered, what Ive learned is, you really just cant
> effectively grow herbs in the winter, indoors, cost-effectively.
>
> Maybe the AERO uses a light that also provides heat? The flourescents
> dont. Bummer. Now, I could get a seed starter warming pad (kind of
> like a heating pad, but water-proof) but again, that's more electricity
> to pay for. For me, it really hasnt been worth it.

It takes a little reading, and a little math, but many folks would be
surprised at the difference in cost for different stuff. These heaters
use very little electricity, and only when sprouting.

Many decades ago, we had a friend. I noticed that her alarm clock
wasn't working. She used it every day. After it woke her up, she
unplugged it to save electricity. At night, she plugged it in, and, of
course, had to reset it. I suggested that it was only pennies a month.
She didn't care, every little bit helped, and her electric bill was too
high. Now, we had the identical studio apartment, a few doors down, and
they had electric heat, one panel in the bedroom area and one in the
living area. So I asked her about heat. She liked it warm, and she
liked fresh air, so she cranked up the heat and left the window open! I
suggested that the heaters probably used thousands of times as much
electricity as the clock. She didn't care.

So anyway, growing your own herbs isn't cost effective. It's much
cheaper to buy a little spice bottle of dried stuff that will last
months.

So, you don't grow stuff in your house to save money, you do it to have
fresh herbs. I think it's worth it, but that's an individual decision.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

"koko" > wrote in message
...
> I'm anxious to see how it all works out. Don't worry, I'll bore you
> all with progress reports.
> I'd like to try lettuce also, maybe next harvest.
>
> koko


I'm eager to hear your reports, Koko! I've been intrigued by these things.
Will very much look forward to your reports.

TammyM

koko > wrote in news:50skm49pmunla4l85f1d11phktgkjiceqi@
4ax.com:

>
> I finally bought an Aero Garden.

Don't be afraid to start using the herbs when they start coming in.

My first crop had two types of basel. It grew so rapidly that it
overshadowed some of the others and stunted them.



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