scottu

As wonderful as they are when you get one going, if you had all the tops of all the pineapples you tossed in your life still growing you would never have enough room for them all, so you can be daring.

__________________
Viva La Banana

notrecruiting

LOL so true.

__________________
If it'll hold soil or grow don't throw it out

notrecruiting

I've been thinking about composting, it Seems to be the common thing for gardeners to do. I'm concerned about the smell of a compost pile. I've never composted before but I've heard/read that they really stink up a storm. I'm in a condo and don't really have anyplace to keep one. I'm afraid if it stinks too much to keep in the kitchen then it's not going to work for me. I could put it on the balcony but I don't wanna piss off the neighbors. Another thing about the balcony is that I'm keeping my plants there and I don't want my compost to take up any of my sun space. It's not like I have alot of compost waste but...any little bit helps I guess.

__________________
If it'll hold soil or grow don't throw it out

Bob3

Here's that $20 "greenhouse" lean-to made from scrap PVC pipe, plastic sheeting and, of course, duct tape:



Composting, if done right, doesn't really smell all that horrible but in your case, maybe hauling the stuff out to a different location wouldn't be a bad idea, if you have a handy location.
Keep meat scraps out of the thing (rats, skunks, coons, etc etc will track it down from a mile away)

There are some "countertop composters", available, they usually use charcoal filters to manage the odor problem.
Some searching may turn up plans to make one out of a 5 gallon bucket

__________________
Recipes & links for Cajun, Creole, & other goodies.

scottu

looks good for your neck of the woods, wouldn't do much for mine. Still 20 bucks, can't complain, add a light bulb or two and you are good for the whole winter.

__________________
Viva La Banana

palmtree

I love all these ideas! Gardening can get pretty expensive so its always nice to cut down on the price as much as possible.
I cut down on prices by protecting my year round outdoor palms with old and used garbage bins (many that are too broken to be used anymore for garbage and would be thrown out otherwise).
I also root pineapple tops every spring with lots of success. They make great ground covers or quick tabletop plants.
Wandering Jew plants have saved me some money too. They are beautiful, especially in shade. I bought these as sickly looking plants 2 years ago for 10 dollars and now I literally have them all over the yard. They grow quick so they make a nice full hanging basket, or a nice ground cover in sun or shade (I use them in both conditions).
I also look for sales and am willing to buy plants a little smaller if they grow fast enough to look nice that growing season. A small healthy banana plant wont be very small by the end of the growing season with enough warmth, sun, and care.
Cacti and succulents will save on the watering bill and so will planting plants in the ground. My agaves get water maybe 3 times a week during the warmest weeks of the summer and my plants in the ground dont get watered everyday until the summer heat has really come.
Cuttings are great too and I have started many plants by cuttings.

__________________
Location: New York City, zone 7b

sunfish

notrecruiting

I love it!!! Duct tape reminds me of the screen job I did on my balcony to help keep some of the bugs from eating my plants.

I don't really have a whole lot of organic waste. Mostly junk mail, coffee grounds, and recently pruned leaves too small to clone. Maybe a few peelings now and then, some egg shells, citrus rinds, and stuff like that. I could definately see how the meat scraps would start to stink and bring in scavenger animals. I usually give those to my dog though. I've read that paper Isn't a good idea because of the print, but if that's true, I prolly wouldn't need one, because junk mail would be the main ingredient.
Thanks for the input.

__________________
If it'll hold soil or grow don't throw it out

notrecruiting

I keep hearing about this seaweed extract....I live near the ocean. Could I just go gather some seawead that washes up on the shore and use that?

__________________
If it'll hold soil or grow don't throw it out

notrecruiting

O.K. Remember that basil I brought home? Well the budding tips, that I snipped and put in soil, they flowered. the flowers seeded. I took the seeds and put them in soil. They just sprouted for me! Talk about getting something for nothing. I'm pretty psyched about it.

__________________
If it'll hold soil or grow don't throw it out

notrecruiting

Here's something for nothing. I love it.

[IMG][/IMG]

__________________
If it'll hold soil or grow don't throw it out

palmtree

No, the salt that the seaweed has could kill your plants (even if you wash the seaweed). Im not sure exactly how seaweed extract is made, but my guess is that there is a special way of extracting certain minerals from the seaweed.

__________________
Location: New York City, zone 7b

Dean W.

Here are some super market finds I'll be growing.
Galanga $2.20

Tumeric $1.92

__________________

mbfirey

Nice finds Dean,
I've planted the turmeric before, had it start growing, but I started it too late in the season (hopefully it will come back). It's basically a Curcuma or hidden ginger. PDN just added a nice article on how to grow them:
Curcuma, Hidden Cone Ginger, Spring-flowering, Perennial, plants

__________________
www.nstarleather.com
North Star Leather Company
Quality Leather Goods-Made in USA!

Dean W.

Cool, thanks for the link.

__________________