I am enjoying the ideas shared here for small gardens.

For those who don't have creative access to a dump like Koala has (lucky for her)... this type of container is available at most Home Depots and Lowe's here in US.

http://www.rubbermaid.com/Category/P...od_ID=RP091418

We have used these for years to shlep heavy stuff back and forth upNorth and on the boats in rainy weather. They were marketed long before the newer see thru type, and they are flexible and so we continue with them. I have seen them used for growing flowers and tomatoes in small areas, with drainage holes in the bottom. You have to punch the holes yourself, and I'd suggest 2-3 inches of gravel at the bottom before using the new Moisture control Miracle Grow Potting soil. This Miracle grow product is just fantastic and good for any container gardening. After the first season you will need to provide some long acting pelleted fertilizer once every 3 months or so.

I haven't seen the totes in green much anymore like our old ones, but there are tan ones, which are easy on the eyes.

Botanical interests catalog has a page in it with a book recommendation for creative container gardening. You can request this interesting catalog for free, where they sell Heirloom rare seed types here:
http://www.botanicalinterests.com/

This company is fascinating and any gardener will enjoy this catalog I predict! My catalog is floating around here somewhere, but I can't scare it up quickly now. I bought some Chinese Garlic Chives from them this spring, and the seeds were very vigorous with almost 100% germination. High quality.
The catalog has interesting articles and really unusual things in it.

Great ideas. Thanks.

I know those white polystyrene boxes the fruit shops use here would be great as well. As far as I know that stuff is not biodegradable, so it would be best to keep re-using it rather than have it dumped in the earth. Only one good thing is that they're so light in weight and easy to jab a few holes in the base.

Chop, chop. That's what I've been doing for a couple of days now.

I finally cut back that huge Hibiscus today. Ugh. It's such a job and I wait till the last minute of our winter to do it because once the rains come again it'll flourish. I just feel awful cutting it back really hard. Also means I lose a lot of privacy for a short time. Done now!

edited to add for clarification: 1st of September here in Australia which means... Spring has sprung.

Happy Spring Lara!

Happy Spring, Koala.

They reckon we have La Nina a little longer... warning on the news tonight about another terrible flooding summer. Now why would they tell us that today? lol

Yes... doesn't look good flood-wise again but I suppose we can hope they got it wrong.

HAPPY SPRING, Koala and Lara!!

I bought a 'wicker' basket (w/plastic lining inside) ... for 50c on clearance at Stein's Garden Center today ... got some new ideas!! going to try a variety of small containers ... and if it gets wrecked by the end of summer next year from the weather elements - so what!! it'll be fun!!

okay - don't be spreading this around .. but, I may just stay here for awhile!! I know - shocker!! but, I'm figuring out where I want stuff ... and what to do ... and reading books on small gardening ... and low-maintenance and raised beds ... and by having small raised bed sections - it will be easier to control the weeds - and starting them INSIDE in March or April ... frost is out around the middle of May ...

so, girls ... please POST pix of your gardening expertise!! we are waiting!!

I too have an old wicker basket (no lining on mine tho) that I've kept for plants. Not sure what to plant into it yet, but maybe stawberries because it's quite big. It used to be my laundry basket until the handles unravelled.
I might punch holes down the sides and plant a strawberry runner into each hole

Don't forget hanging pots for your small space garden Vonn. You'd be surprised what you can plant into them. If you run out of ground space for them, you can get a stand with hooks on it to hang them from, or you could get a handy friend to make one for you. It only needs to be a basic design.

In your hanging pots you could try strawberries, or one of those lettuce varieties that you pick off the leaves as you want them rather than the iceberg type lettuces that take up so more space.... and herbs. Don't forget you can plant nearly all the herbs you might need into pots

I've had tomatoes in stand alone pots, but I haven't tried them in hanging pots yet. I have however seen a variety at the nursery that grows the fruit downward from a hanging pot, so that's another good idea.

I don't know what I did wrong this year with my seeds. I've had them in for well over the germination period, and not one has emerged.

Because it was the end of winter here when I planted them, and still cool outdoors, I planted them into indoor seed raising containers. My house temperature is set to 68/70, so the temperature should have been suitable.
I watered them every day and I kept them on the window sill, so they got enough water and plenty of light.

I had lettuce, tomato and coleus seeds. Any suggestions as to why they failed?

Some seeds require light to germinate.... and some do not.

They typically need more light than a window sill can provide.

I do mine under lights. I also have a plastic cover that came with the flats to keep a "greenhouse" environment. I remove this when the seeds are up strongly. You can also use a clear plastic bag over them if you don't have a hot house type.

There are special mediums now available for seeds. These deter mold and fungus that typically kill germinating seeds.

The new guidelines for seeds suggest watering from below to avoid rot damage too. I've been doing this for 2 seasons now, and it works well. You just need another flat with no holes punched in to fill with the water. Put the cells in that for 15 minutes or so. and then back under the lights.

Some seeds need warmth to get going. Then once up, a cooler environment. Some seeds are really tricky. But most vegetables seeds are straightforward.

Park Seed has a nice catalog and a book on germination techniques you can buy. I just did a 1/2 flat of gloriosa daisies for next season this summer. Because I did not have my lights, and because it was cool they took 2 wks to come up. In my home they take about 5 days.

The concept is sort of like baking. Each thing requires a little special attention because of its needs.

Example for lettuce:
http://gardenofeaden.blogspot.com/20...from-seed.html

Tomatoes:
http://www.reneesgarden.com/articles...from-seed.html

If you got no germination at all? 1) seeds were not viable, 2) they got too wet or dried out once--it only takes one drying period to stop the germination process, or 3) temps were not correct for that seed.

I had 5 failures this past season, and the rest were successful. I expect failures every time I do germinate, in fact.

Using the special compost made for seed starting is very important. I mix mine with water in a large storage tub with a lid because I do this indoors and have to use my kitchen. This keeps the mess down. I wet the medium and let it sit over night till it is moist but not soggy. Sometimes I add extra fine vermiculite which I buy extra to provide more air in the mix.
Seeds don't like soggy conditions. Some of our nurseries have sales, so I buy ahead at lower prices for the next season.

I have found Park Seed to be a good resource for seed starting:
http://parkseed.com/default.aspx
Thompson & Morgan I think ship to all of UK. Not sure about Park's.

Here is a photo of my set up: I have a small table top light and this work type one in my studio. If you work in a basement where it is cool, you might need a warmth mat for warm requiring types of seed. You'll notice how close to the lamps the seeds have to be....they need alot of light so I raise them up as close as possible. This photo is showing 3 types of black eyed susans and some ornamental grasses.

Thank you mrsD. After seeing your beds I'm thinking light was probably my problem. Seeing spring has begun here I think I'll wait 2 weeks and plant the next lot directly into the garden outside. Our morning frosts have gone now and the day temperatures are getting warmer, so I think they should be safe outside.

I'll let you know how I get on.

pretty cool, Mrs D ... hope the Postal Police don't arrest you for using postal boxes for table supports!!

Hey Koala ... what you mentioned - about making a hanging garden ... I have the tools and just need some 2x4s ... and some sort of stakes or anchor system ... and I have a great idea, now!! woooo hoooo!! I had something made for my craft shows - to use as a 'display'-type rack .. and I can take the rod out and the 2 stands ... and drill enough holes to make it sit on a corner .. or a couple different corner creations ... wow, I'm tired - so, I'm rambling ... AND excited ... too cool!!

hoping to pick up some bulbs and get those planted this next week or 2 ... anything else that I need to plant before frost/winter?? I have packs of sunflower seeds - when can I start them inside?? and I have some other flower seeds ... YEEEE HAWWWW!!

and if you're getting SPRING fever/weather already - that means that we will be cooling down here soon enough .. I LOVE fall ... and WINTER ...