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Post by desertwoman on Mar 25, 2015 13:37:30 GMT -5
What a beautiful photo! Thanks for sharing that.
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Post by davidjp on Mar 25, 2015 14:20:59 GMT -5
Lovely photo. I understand Bulgaria is a beautiful country and somewhere I'd love to visit someday especially the black sea coast area. Long time ago I watched a British TV programme where they went and investigated the food culture n Bulgaria. It seemed to me you must have a fantastic climate for growing things there and the mix of european and ottoman cultures over the years I suspect has given you a wonderful cuisine and the produce to go with it. I did have some Bulgarian friends at university but I'm afraid we lost contact over the years.
I didn't mean the link to suggest that you order from them, I just thought it would give you some ideas of the possibilities of microgreens and the variety that you could grow. The company is very good but quite pricey even over here. I think Oregon Red's idea of combing some of the bulk food supply places might be a good idea. I know pea shoots are one of the big microgreen items and I'm sure you might have some luck sourcing bulk sacks of dried peas, try them they might well germinate. Celery seed might be another I'd try. Also have you ever tried fava bean shoots, those are pretty nice and I know they are grown on commercial scales so you might be able to get a seed source bulk fairly cheap. Mix that with some kale, beetroot, rocket and you'd have the beginnings of a pretty nice salad mix. Lots of development but at the end I'd suggest putting together some mixed sample packs and going along to some eateries and seeing what they might think.
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Post by tbird on Mar 29, 2015 9:16:00 GMT -5
I love granny's garden!
I am one of the few here that do live in an urban area - chicago. I did buy a place that has more yard than most. Standard chicago lot is 125x25, which is what my parents have. Their garden area between house and garage is about 25x30 feet.
My lot is 54x125. So I so have a side yard. The houses on this street are pushed father off the sidewalk though, so about 10 more feet is front yard than in my parent neighborhood. I have been experimenting with some indoor growing, and plan to do more.
Plants are so much happier outside, however. You can just feel them. I can feel them.
Have any of you ever transplanted a seedling into the soil outside and just felt their relief as they settle into bottomless ground with the sun and wind touching their leaves?
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Post by desertwoman on Mar 29, 2015 9:43:34 GMT -5
Yes, tbird! I feel their relief too.
I am curious as to why you are expanding your indoor growing. Is this to enable you to grow through the winter months or for other reasons?
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Post by tbird on Mar 29, 2015 10:18:46 GMT -5
Yes - I'd like to have a few things year round, I grew some lettuce this winter, had one salad, lol. Ideally - I'd like the back door to open into a greenhouse but that isn't happening, lol!
I do want to get back into sprouting, and follow Red's example with microgreen production - which I've not been very successful at. I've had some special dinners out where the chef used micro greens and they were delicious. Celery and basil are my favorites!
Red, could you share your techniques with us?
I do get distracted by life, and then sometimes things get too dry or I don't transplant or forget to turn lights on or off for a bit.
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Post by OregonRed on Mar 29, 2015 17:21:40 GMT -5
tbird, wonder if we should pm or something??
otherwise, this may turn into some sort of debate and what not vs. a sharing my experience with your request....
just a thought
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Post by indoorgrowingrev on Mar 30, 2015 7:45:46 GMT -5
Dear tbird,
Thank you for your thoughts on the matter. They were really interesting to hear. You said that your daily life sometimes catches you off-guard and you don't have the desired time to water your plants or move them around the house to feel the sun... How often does that happen and is hydroponics an option for you? Have you considered planting a lot of seeds? If yes - how many?
Thanks for your thoughts.
Best Regards, Ivo Konstantinov
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Post by tbird on Mar 30, 2015 10:41:25 GMT -5
Hi Ivo,
I just have a very busy life at the moment. I really have very little/no interest in hydroponic growing, but not sure I can do a good job at articulating exactly why. My anecdotal observation is that some males tend to really get into it and females prefer other methods. It just seems too unnatural to me, and I'd feel "mean" forcing the plants to grow contrary to nature.
Not scientific, but those are my feelings.
T
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Post by tbird on Mar 30, 2015 10:42:30 GMT -5
Hey Red - how about a microgreens thread?
I'll start it up, unless you have secret ninja techniques you prefer not to share?
If you do, I want them, lol!
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Post by ecsoehng on Mar 30, 2015 11:56:55 GMT -5
I would add Bay to your indoor herb growing. My Bay tree is inside for the winter and out on the deck in the summer. It is close to 20 years old! People are amazed sometimes when they figure out that it is a bay tree. I have not bought bay leaves in 20 years!
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Post by OregonRed on Mar 30, 2015 14:44:03 GMT -5
ecsoehng: I had a bay tree outside a rental one time, I got the owner to measure the trunk, it was 40 feet around! I had a client bring me a big twig off her bay tree, woohoo! thank you
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Post by tbird on Mar 31, 2015 10:32:27 GMT -5
I do want a bay tree! and then I also want to get a lemon, fig, and banana tree too, and then - some pineapple plants - and then - there is no room for people!
However, perhaps the people are overrated. ;)
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Post by SpringRain🕊️ on Mar 31, 2015 12:36:55 GMT -5
Ivo, you've shared some interesting information, and a reminder how fortunate we are to live in a land with so much space. Although I've never been to Europe, I am aware of the space restrictions and constrictions, and think that you've developed a way of adapting to them, as life and circumstances force all of us to adapt to one thing or another.
The photo you posted is heartwarming, one which is beautiful for the sentiment behind it. Your grandmother has one of the loveliest complexions of any her age I've seen - something I've also seen in women of European descent.
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Post by Veggie Gal on Mar 31, 2015 13:51:15 GMT -5
Ivo, I love your photo. Thanks for sharing it. The garden looks very nice and healthy...........Before I had a raised bed garden, I grew tomatoes and herbs in pots. I bought a product called "Earth Pot" I think that was it. Anyway, it had a bottom area that stored water and let the tomatoes grow above that in nice potting soil. They were easy to use. I don't know if you could do something like that under lights to extend your growing time. You can probably Google them and check out how they work online....
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Post by ecsoehng on Apr 1, 2015 11:01:31 GMT -5
LOL tbird, sounds like you have been to my house! Especially right now with all the seedlings!
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