Some questions on improving my garden.

Hey guys,

This year is my first actual attempt on a garden, and as the season is kicking in, things arn't looking too bad. I do however have some aspects of my backyard that I would like to improve, and figured I'd take some pictures and see if someone knew some awnsers.

First of all I have a group of tomato plants. These are three good growing plants grown from seed. I have two others in the soil, which are both having a bit of a harder time thriving. I'd like to know if it is possible/advisable to un-group them and give them all some more space.




Also. I have a beatufiul batch of rocket (rucola) salad growing, right under the partial chamomile bedded area. I'd like to know if these two plants get along. And if possible, I'd like to transplant some rocket salad plants closer, and around the currently growing chamomiles. Any thoughts on this?



Next I have Mint plants growing very nicely. They are sprouts from last years mint, and have been transplanted to a shadier location, and they absolutely love it, growing wise.. The problem is they don't have a very strong scent/taste. I'd like to know if this is a common problem, and if someone has some (organic) tips for this? I have some organic fertilizer, but have little to none experience with this, and am not very confident using it. I have several mint plants around the garder, all with the same issue. Great growth, little sensation.


If anyone has some good gardening tips related to these issues, that would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Nathan

 

Hi Nathan

It is possible to move young tomato plants but yours look a bit leggy so it would be a high risk. I suspect their roots have become entangled and so it would be impossible to do it without disturbing their root ball.
I would sacrifice the weaker of the two plants and leave the other to grow stronger - you'd probably get a better crop than from two competing plants.

I don't know if rocket likes or loathes chamomile - I sometimes think this companion planting thing is a bit of a myth. In the right situation, with adequate light, nutrients and water, most plants will get on together as long as one doesn't flop all over the other.

You can try transplanting some rocket plants because I think you need to thin them out drastically. Water them well first, move them with the soil around their roots and keep them well watered after moving. I've grown rocket in the distant past (can't remember which variety) and it will run to seed with very little provocation.

How to make your mint taste/smell better early in the season? I wish I knew that secret. Your plants look adequately fed. All you can do is carry on doing what you've done already - grow the mint outdoors so it's exposed to all the elements. That way, the mint matures naturally and hopefully, later in the season, it'll smell/taste stronger. If not, you can try growing it directly in the soil - don't worry about it spreading because the fleshy rhizomes are easy to spot and pull out. I've grown mine in the soil for years and I think the plant stays healthier that way because it doesn't get pot bound.

Good luck.

 

I would cut & come-again the rocket - it will be over shortly, thus no point trying to move it.

If you mint is in shade I wonder if that it why it isn't very strong?

Failing that its the variety in which case you need to find a stronger flavoured plant and replace it. I grow mine in a pot to stop is spreading, but that may be more because I don't have time to sort it out!

 

Hi Nathan.
The tomatoes look as though they're growing in shade. This would account for why they look a bit 'leggy', imo. Tomatoes like plenty of light. It's probably too late to try to transplant them, but I would take out the weaker of the two plants, and give the other a go.
Regarding the mint, I reckon that the lusher the growth, the lesser the taste. I think I'm right in saying that it is regarded as a herb, and as far as I know, herbs do better when there isn't too much nutrient around, and as Kristen says, they probably need more sunlight. Just a word of caution, mint is VERY rampant, so a pot is probably a better bet, unless you can contain the root growth. I'm certainly no expert, and would welcome other comments.

Cheers...Freddy.

 

Oops, i just noticed that your mint IS in a pot ! In that case, you probably just need to move it to a sunnier spot.

 

I have no idea on the other bits, but as for the mint...

Different varieties of have different growth habits and very different levels of flavour. Common garden mint, in my opinion, is not really worth growing as compared to other mints, the flavour and fragrance is not great.

Common 'garden' mint, I read once, is actually a hybrid, specially bred for its vigorous growth (to make it a good commercially viable crop).

When I had my herb garden (at my last house) I grew spearmint and peppermint. The two plants were like chalk and cheese, you wouldn't think they were related at all. The spearmint didn't grow vigorously, but had such a sweet and refreshing scent/flavour. Great to drink as an infusion. The peppermint was completely different. It grew so vigorously, the scent was a bit weaker than the spearmint, but the flavour was much much stronger, and sharper. We used it mostly for flavouring potatoes, and in a greek style yoghurt, cucumber and mint dip that I become quite partial to.

 

Thanks for the great reply guys.

I'm sorry to hear that the tomato plants can't be seperated, and even worse, I have to kill two of them! They have been getting lots of light, this has to be one of the lightest areas in my garden, there's just a giant hortensia that might cause some problems once it starts blooming, but I'm assured by the tomato's vigor. I think I'm standing in the sun while taking the picture mind you. Maybe I can take some cutting and give them a chance down that road?

As for the rocket salad, I'm not sure what you meant by "Cut and come-again". Do you mean they will start flowering soon anyway? This is not my experience with rucola, I've seen them grow to massive sizes, maybe it was a different kind? And the flowers can be cut off no? Glad to hear they are eligible for transplanting though, I'll make sure to put some work into it.

Aha, the mint can get more taste once the season kicks in. I put them in the shade because I believe I read somewhere that they where shade-loving. I also have some soil-based mint (from the same mother-plant) that is getting more sun, and it seems to be having a bit of a harder time, but that might also be a soil-based problem, as the soil there isn't to die for.


Thanks for the information guys, the knowledge available on these forums really makes the gardening a tick easier.