Finally Some Green!

I was a bit nervous about this step, but once I made a few decisions (and a few trips to Walmart) things began to come together.  I wanted flowers, but from reading Fern Richardson's blog, Life on the Balcony, I realized that I might be able to grow some edibles too!  I love both strawberries and tomatoes so I thought I would start there and see what I could find.

Progress on my seedlings: Morning Glory (left) and Moonflower (right)

My first trip was to Walmart where I found a strawberry pot, strawberry plants, small Roma Tomato plants, some panzies, and cute ceramic pot.  They have so much gardening stuff!  They also have something called Fire Pots which I might look into later on.  At Canadian Tire I found large bags of Miracle-Gro Potting Mix on sale for $4.99 so I bought two of thoses, and a large plastic pot for my tomato plant.  I actually ended up finding a Bush Early Girl Tomato plant at Sobey's that was more established.  Instead of taking the Roma Tomato plants back for the $3, I decided to give them to my mother.

I got everything home and went to work.  First I put the Panzies in their cute little pot, then came the strawberry plant.  This took a bit more time.  The instructions said there were 10 plants in it and I would have to soak the roots in warm water to untangle them.  This took some time, but it was actually kinda fun!  I didn't get the 10 plants as promised, but I was able to get 8 out of it.  I was hoping for at least nine because I read that strawberry plants do well in groups of three and I wanted 1 plant for each opening of the strawberry pot and three on top.  I had to settle for two on top.

Left to right: strawberries, panzies, tomato

Next was the tomato plant.  I was really glad that I was able to find the determinate hybrid Bush Early Girl because I don't have a lot of space on my balcony and I would be growing it in a small container.  From what I've read it would only grow to around three feet tall and produce medium sized tomatoes.  I've read that tomato plants need well-drained soil and realized that the plastic pot that I bought did not have drainage holes.  I ended up making my own drainage holes with a nail and hammer.  I also planted it up to the first branch because I read that doing this would force the tomato plant to create a better root system.

My balcony thus far <3

I am also very excited to say that I found a pallet!  On my first post I had posted a Pallet Garden that was made by Fern Richardson.  I thought I would try it if I happened upon a pallet, then it happened.  On my way up to work on the 13th floor someone got off on the 6th floor and I saw two just outside of the elevator.  I continued up to work, dropped off my lunch, and went back down.  I asked someone if I could take one and they said as long as I can carry it I could have it :)