I used to have a garden. It had several beautiful, ha-uge tomato plants, herbs, zuchinni and squash plants that tried to take over the entire place and even a few pesky snails. Then we moved to the city. Small apartment, smaller patio. No yard. Big adventures. It has been 4 YEARS. 4YEARS People! since I have had a garden, and garden fresh tomatoes. I miss it. Well, I finally decided enough was enough and got a bigger patio with better sunlight and we're growing a small, container garden.
It's been going so good! Already I have some sweet, bursting with flavor cherry tomatoes popping off the vine. Have you ever had a home grown tomato? Divine. All home grown veggies taste so much more amazing than the store bought.
For the longest time I had this little, puny tomato plant who wouldn't grow. Then his leaves started to turn brown. He was really worrying me! and here's the thing, I was doing all the same things to all the plants and the other plants were flourishing! Growing and flowering. But not this little guy. Then, in the mail, arrived the Edyn Garden Sensor. Oh my goodness! I have really really, honestly and truly loved this sensor. and its a genius! The information this sensor collects is really astonishing.
It tells you everything! The amount of light, water, nutrition...humidity, temperature etc. You can have multiple sensors. I have especially needed it for the amount of water. Having the plants in a planter ( or bucket) I am so worried about how much they are retaining, or not retaining. Our little puny plant needed extra water that the other tomato plants didn't need, so we gave him a little more every day and he has shot up and blossomed. So, guys. I cannot sing enough praises about this sensor.
So, You want to build your own patio garden too eh? It's pretty simple! and it can be very inexpensive. Most of the cost could be your planters--or you can grab a couple 5-gallon buckets for a lot less. Some planters come with draining built in. Or you can grab a 5-gallon bucket, like me. You will need to drill about 10-15 holes using a small drill bit so for proper drainage. You can even use a hammer and a nail to make these holes.
Then you will need 1 big bag of potting soil, and a small bag of peat moss (also about $7). I grabbed just the home depot brand of potting soil ($7-$8) and but sprung for the Miracle Grow Peat Moss. Because my mom swears by miracle grow and she grows the most beautiful and huge plants every year. I spread the big bag and peat moss out, evenly between 3 5-gallon buckets. There is easily enough soil to go much further- maybe 5 buckets. But you'd probably need another bag of peat moss for more than 3 5-gallon buckets of plants.
You will want to alternate potting soil, then a thin later of peat moss. Potting soil - > peat moss and continue on. Plant your plants nice and snug when you reach the top and watch them grow! I water them daily, sometimes more when it has been a really hot and sunny week. I love that I can now just check my app and see how thirsty they are.
Now Sit back and watch your plants AND your app because seriously its just so cool to know what is going on inside that mystery bucket! Well I think it is, but maybe I'm a nerd.
Here are a few tips I have learned from growing tomatoes...They need a LOT of sun and a LOT of water. Cut off the branches that have no flowers (or buds) these branches are just soaking up water and nutrition that can go to the flowers and tomatoes.
This post was in collaboration with Edyn Garden Sensor, but all opinions are my own!
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