Inspired...any tips welcome!!

[FloresFamilia]

So, I have been wanting to try my hand at gardenign for a while, but am very realistic about my time and procrastination so I need to keep it really small!!

I am thinking of trying a few herbs and veggies in pots or get my husband to do some planter boxes. I would like to do tomatoes, and some sort of peppers(serrano, jalapeno,poblano, or bell) I also would love to do some cilantro.

Do any of you experianced ladies have any suggestions or ideas on the most inexpensive and low maintenance things to try. My patio would be perfect and convenient, but unfortunately it is under a large pine. One edge recieves afternoon sun. I think I will have to use our shared backyard which is the west side of the house. Any suggestions?? Should I even try tomatoes or peppers?? Is starting wih small plants the best option for a beginner?? What about cilantro??

Thanks for reading!!

[brezarenee]

Cilantro is super easy, it grows like a weed. Tomatoes can actually be really finicky. If you're a gardening virgin, I'd recommend cherry tomatoes. They're the easiest kind of tomatoes to grow, and are great for the summer!

Peppers like the sun, so you can think about how much sun you'll be getting. But they're fairly easy to grow.

Go get a few plants and have fun with it! Definitely buy the plants, not seed. It's too late for seeds, and that's much more complicated.

I wish I could do a garden this summer, but we plan on moving in a couple months so it would just be a waste :(

[Laura]

Most veggies will thrive in full sun. I wouldn't plant things where you are only going to have some afternoon sun. That is not going to work.

If you get a couple big pots you can plant a cherry tomato plant in one and a pepper plant (any type) in another, etc. Make sure you use potting soil (probably easiest) or a mix of top soil and peat or compost. You don't want it to be full of heavy dirt that won't drain well, so you can't just buy a bag of "topsoil" (cheapest) and use that.

Herbs are super easy. Like you say in my photo, I just have some random pots and plant a little rosemary, a little thyme, oregano, etc, in each. I buy the little plants at my local farmer's market for 75 cents to $2.50 each, but even Home Depot will have simple starter herbs and tomato plants. I am not that beginner anymore and seeds are too much trouble for me. At this point in the season, if you do tomatoes from seeds you are not likely to be able to harvest anything from it until very late in the season.

Cilantro is extremely easy to do from seed, like Breza said. You could do it in a pot, just read the instructions.

Sun is really important for veggies. It's not a lot of work once you get everything settled. With pots you won't have to weed or fuss with anything. Just check them every day or two to make sure they are looking perky - if not, try watering, etc.

[FloresFamilia]

Thanks so much ladies, we rent and have quite a fw pots, large and small, from previous tenants that once held flowers and now hold nothing but weeds, so I may just relocate them to the back and give it a shot. I am thinking maybe just a cherry tomato plant, a pepper plant and a pot of herbs. I am hoping to learn enough to be able to go a little bigger next year, and maybe even get a few veggies out of it!!!

[Dorothea]

Good luck Flores! Let us know how it goes:)
There are also tomato plants you can buy called "patio tomatoes". They are just a type of tomato that does really well in a pot. I bring one home for my mom every year... They don't get too big, and they make lots of plum-sized fruits.