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Forum THE LOUNGE Where are all my gardening friends?

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    • Kokaneeandkahlua
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        Just wondering who is growing a garden this year-and what you are growing for your rabbits?!?!

         

        I am trying a garden for the second time this year. I have a black thumb but am working on it! Last year was OK but I started seeds in April and that was too late. I got a few vegetables and the flowers did well but there was room for improvement!

        This year I started in February on time, and my house is full of about 300 seedlings! 

         

        I’m growing 3 kinds of tomatoes, 8 kinds of lettuce (Romaine, green leaf, winter blend, summer blend, mesclin, swiss chard, arugula and kale) watermelon, cantaloupe, (those are for me!) and squash and beets, and flowers (all kinds, nasturium for the bunnies) and some bulb flowers. I just cannot wait for summer and caring for these seedlings is so helping my sanity!!

         

        So what are you growing?

        More importantly -what are you growing for your bunnies?

        And-any tips and tricks to share? Worst ever gardening mistakes? (like, oh I don’t know, starting seeds in April in Alberta! )

         


      • LongEaredLions
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          All I can say is I also have a black thumb. I managed to kill a cactus! Last year, I did manage to grow some basil and wheatgrass, so I think I with stick with that this year too.


        • Tessie
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            I love gardening, especially growing seeds.
            I’ve never thought about growing anything specifically for the bunnies, but that’s a good idea! When I move back home I’ll definitely try it!


          • Deleted User
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              I planted a mulberry tree for Henry (and us – yum!), but silly me planted it next to the clothesline (I didn’t know it would grow that BIG?). A couple of months ago (when it was fruiting) I was bringing in my clean washing with purple blotches on the clothes that I hung on the outside – bugga! I have since learnt to hang the whites on the inside and the darks on the outside of the line.
              I would love to try and grow some herbs and ‘simple’ veg for Henry, and I will – one day!


            • Bam
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                Andi, how fast do trees grow in Australia??? I planted a mulberry tree at my mother’s almost ten years ago and by now it’s about as tall as I am (I’m 1,65). Maybe I should give it more fertilizer =/

                Today I sowed basil, last week 2 types of kale. We expect mass-invasion of slugs this spring because of the mild winter, so I can’t sow kale outside, it needs to be small plants before I take them out or the slugs will devour the sprouts. I have sown lettuce of various kinds outside though, but not on the ground, I have to grow everything in big planters or slugs and rabbits will eat all of it.

                I have lots of mint, because mint are perennials.


              • LolaBuns
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                  I have never had a garden. I really would like to start some veggies for Lola (and maybe us humans too) but have no idea what to do or where to begin. 


                • Bam
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                    LolaBuns, you could start with basil, because basil likes indoors-climate and is really easy to grow. Bunnies love it and you can use it in your own cooking as well. The scent is lovely, when you touch the plants, it fills the kitchen.


                  • Deleted User
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                      We bought our mulberry tree 2 years ago bam and it was about 30cm high. By the first year/summer it was as tall as me and I’m 160cm and we got fruit. The summer we just finished this February was our second year and it is well over 2 metres high and the fruit was overwhelming (in a good way, ha hah). And I was told just recently it’s still a baby tree with LOTS more growing to do. Hubby wanted to move the tree, but I don’t want to chance killing it – so we may have to move our clothesline? I’ve never fertilized it – we just put it down to our QLD weather and we think we have good soil (as I don’t fertilize anything) and my gardens are continuous around my fence line. The only time my plants suffer is when we don’t get enough rain. This summer we had our lowest rain fall in 26 years, and during the heatwave everything drooped, including ME!

                      Can you believe I have basil growing in the back corner and it’s the one herb Henry doesn’t like! Fussy bunny! Good thing we still have heaps of mulberry leaves to feed him…..


                    • jerseygirl
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                        My idea of growing stuff for the rabbits is basically not killing off the weeds that grow in the yard.
                        I get lush oaten grass, thistle and sometimes some brooms grass. Plaintain a bit but not much dandelion. :,(

                        I’m a black thumb too but…
                        LOOK!
                         photo image_zps37a06435.jpg
                        Last nights harvest of baby rocket (arugula) and parsley. Nom nom.

                        I’m amazed its all still alive. I have a terrible track record.


                      • jerseygirl
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                          Oops. Excuse the typos. ^


                        • LongEaredLions
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                            Wow Jersey! Looks great!
                            You guys are inspiring me to try again to grow some bunny veggies!


                          • Bam
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                              That’s a beautiful harvest, jersey.

                              Having bunnies have given me a whole new perspective on weeds. Dandelions and ground elder (aegopodium podagraria) used to bug me, now I appreciate them. What great dandelions! I find myself thinking when I see an unweeded flower-bed. Fantastic ground elder!

                              I pick lots of weeds for my boys now spring has come. Weeds are a joy!


                            • justwildbeat
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                                Right now I only have air plants, but almost killed one of them. Apparently they don’t do well with fluorescent lighting. I used to have a small strawberry plant that I grew from a seed but that didn’t survive after the rabbit ravaged it once it started to bear fruit lol. If I don’t manage to kill the plant, my pets will finish the job for me haha


                              • jerseygirl
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                                  Thanks bam! Of course that didnt go far in feeding my guys but I was happy to have some healthy looking plants for a change.
                                  Ah ground elder! I think I may have finally identified a mystery weed. One i had taken pics of last year and sent to a few people to ask their opinion.


                                • Diamond
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                                    We dont grow anything bunny-specific, but I do mooch my mom’s herbs. Though honestly I wouldnt call it mooching, since Lily provides manure for the garden its only fair that she gets something from it.


                                  • JackRabbit
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                                      Our garden is pretty small so we usually just plant tomatoes, cucumbers, and peppers (all pre-bunny). Doing the same this year plus adding some herbs. Right now I have basil, mint, and parsley growing on a ledge in my kitchen. So nice to be able to snip off pieces when I’m making dinner salads for the buns!


                                    • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                        AndHenry-that’s too funny!! I love that you will move the clothesline instead of the bush-so considerate of your plants! I’ve only heard of a mulberry bush in a nursery rhyme-I’ve got to look them up now!!

                                        Jers-the arugula looks amazing! I’m not sure I would be able to share with the bunnies if my harvest looked like that

                                        I will have to take some pictures this weekend maybe-I’m getting so excited seeing my little seedlings turn into real plants-it’s kind of amazing! Well ok to be honest, one tomato and one flower are kind of amazing, the rest seems slow

                                        Bam-isn’t that the truth! I’ve always hated dandelions-and now I’m like ‘oh free bunny greens!!!’ haha We still have snow here, but soon-soon I will have dandelions galore

                                        justwildbeat-what is an air plant?


                                      • Diamond
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                                          I might have to talk my mom into planting a mulberry tree (the neighbors have one, but I’m not sure what they put on it). I like the berries, and bonus for the bunny.


                                        • Bones
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                                            I planted a catmint and some other type of mint last year and they came back nice this year so I’m going to try giving some to Twig since we don’t eat it. I have always wanted to grow stuff but I tend to kill most plants.


                                          • Cookies4
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                                              This year I’m growing arugula, basil, and mint. I hope it grows! I was growing beans earlier and when I transported to a pot because it got too big for the cup and it die in 2 hours. I was all shriveled up and looked like I haven’t watered it in days!


                                            • justwildbeat
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                                                Air plants absorb nutrients/water from the air instead of through the roots. Most of the ones I’ve seen look like grassy aloe plants. Some can flower or have colored leaves.

                                                You can see it below next to the tiger.


                                              • bunnytowne
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                                                  Salt is a great repellent for slugs and snails. 

                                                  I have 4 mint plants for Cotton.  3 Fouad already has for us.  We have some dried mint too.  

                                                  I have 2 sage Cotton tried a leaf.   I have 2 rose bushes.  Cotton loves the petals once they start dropping he gets them. We have rosemary I dont’ know if Cotton likes them or not yet.   We like them in our food tho. Yum.   

                                                  Jersey Girl that looks great.  Look at all those greens.  Yum.  You like weeds too

                                                  Gosh K&K   you have a garden alright.  You must have a big yard. 

                                                  And Henri thats funny.   Hahahahaha.  Sorry but its funny.  Those berries stain too.  We love Mulberry.  There are trees around here we go pick.  There are white mulberries too.  The owner said pick away.  They are so sweet.   They grow very big those trees.  You will have to move your clothesline.  Those trees get huge.  Don’t blame you for not wanting to move it.   Cotton doesn’t like basil either.  Nor cucumber bellpepper. 

                                                  Cookies yes beans don’t like to be moved.   You got to watch it die in 2 hours  hahahaha.  sorry   gee.  It up and committed suicide for you. Darn plants. 

                                                  I have killed cactus too. hahahaha  how is that possible I can’t find out why.  Maybe I over watered it.  Who knows.  I was a teen then had a black thumb. It has turned green lately.  Hubby tho.  He put seeds in my sage and over crowds the pots. Drives me crazy. He puts old wilted veggie pieces and fruit in there too.  I said not in mine the ants come. He finally figured that out and stopped putting it in his too.  He said it was compost. No compost is  decomposed not straight from the house.  Anyway

                                                  Yes cotton likes dandelion and dollar weed.  when I had rabbits as a young teen they all loved dollar weed. 

                                                  Bam you now like weeds too?  People used to put dandelion in their salads.  Dandelion tea is good for duiretic purposes plus it puts the potassium back in that you flush out in the duiretic.  

                                                  I am going to have to look up that ground elder. 

                                                  ]


                                                • Kokaneeandkahlua
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                                                    Very cool-I want an air plant! I’ve never seen anything like it!

                                                    lol BT Thanks-yup we have 3.5 acres -so there’s definitely room! I almost killed a cactus as well-for me it was overwatering -they aren’t as easy as you’d think!


                                                  • LongEaredLions
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                                                      I think my cactus died because it was too cold.


                                                    • Deleted User
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                                                        Well, I dunno what I/we did right???? I bought the hubby one of those cute little 5cm high indoor cactus (he’s a HUGE cactus fan) about 15 years ago….. When it tripled in size we decided to pop it into a pot outside and it is now 2 metres high at least! (and boy does it BITE if you touch/bump into it!). It even grew an arm (?) out the side – and the hubby is hoping it will grow another arm on the other side so it looks like a cactus from those ‘old’ cartoon shows, ha ha hah! He just took a pic (he is SO proud, lol!) and I’ll post the pic when the hubby uploads it to the computer……


                                                      • Deleted User
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                                                          You can tell I don’t like cactus – I made him put it up the side of the house where I can’t see it!


                                                        • LopLove
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                                                            @AndHenry
                                                            That’s amazing! I’ve never seen such a huge cactus! I want one now!


                                                          • LopLove
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                                                              I keep killing things, and have recently resolved to only purchase plastic plants. But this makes me want to try again. >.<;


                                                            • Whobott
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                                                                My mom is doing a garden and I made her plant bun stuff such as carrots (for the greens) basil mint wheat grass and some other stuff also gardening tip. We built raised beds for our garden since our dirt is awful and we may or may not have just started our seeds a month ago >.>


                                                              • LopLove
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                                                                   <img src="data:

                                                                   

                                                                  This is extensive as my “gardening” ever gets. The empty vases surrounding are graves. However, my new cactus friend is going to live forever. I’ve named it Fred. Completely inspired by the monster growing in Andi’s back yard.

                                                                  AndHenry: I know you aren’t a fan of them, but that is the coolest thing ever. I’m in awe. I want some giant cacti.

                                                                   

                                                                  My mom and stepdad grow a bunch of veggies (many of which are rabbit safe) in the backyard every year. My step-dad more specializes in different kinds of hot peppers. They’ve also purchased a large shelf to put more plants on inside the house.


                                                                • Bam
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                                                                    Andi, that really is a cool cactus! If I don’t like living on Usagi Jima (Rabbit Island) I’m moving to Australia to grow mulberry trees and cacti.

                                                                    My bunnies love basil and mint and tarragon, but they won’t eat oregano. Which is unfortunate since my allotment garden is more or less covered in oregano.


                                                                  • Deleted User
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                                                                      Good on you LopLove – Fred is adorable, ha ha haha……. and honestly, ours started out as a little tiny indoor cactus – go figure? LOL!

                                                                      We are gonna LOVE living on Rabbit Island bam (next door to each other), but maybe we can holiday to Oz on occasion and we’ll let all the tourists look after OUR bunnies while we are away?!!!! HA HA HA HA……

                                                                      I’m so into the idea of ‘raised’ garden beds Whobott – I hate bending over or kneeling down for long periods (why I hate cleaning the bath tub!) LOL! How cool your mum is planting ‘bunny veg’! I keep saying I’m gonna and I will – one day……


                                                                    • Bam
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                                                                        We will love Rabbit Island, Andi =)

                                                                        I once gave a friend a tiny cypressy plant like 15 cms high for Christmas. She planted it in her garden and when her parents sold the house, the little cypressy thingy was about 10 meters high =)

                                                                        I do elevated beds in the kind of wooden frames used to transport goods on trucks with, I have no idea what they’re called in English. They are very popular here. You can put several on top of each other to achieve the height of your liking. I have to do elevated beds, while salt is efficient againt snails, it is also very efficient against all types of vegetation =)

                                                                        I’ve found sth that seems to work as a wild rabbit deterrent, though. I pour out the used bunny-litter where I don’t want them to dig. I think it works kind of like a sign in scent-form saying: “Don’t you dig here this spot is TAKEN.”


                                                                      • Deleted User
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                                                                          Those wooden frame thingy’s are (in Oz) called pallets bam, ha ha ha….. and I have to be honest I never thought to use them for that – what a great idea, thank you!
                                                                          One thing I don’t ever have to worry about ‘living in the bunny free state’ – is another bunny eating my veggie garden (when I grow one), LOL!

                                                                          PS – I sometimes think if Henry saw another bunny he’d say “what’s that”? HA HA HA…..


                                                                        • jerseygirl
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                                                                            Talk of air plants reminds me of those staghorn ferns that just grow on a wooden board. They can get really big!

                                                                            My 1 measley little veggie pot is a crate converted into a wicking pot. Basically like self-watering pot concept.
                                                                            I have some other boxes to make more but…meh. One day…


                                                                          • Bam
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                                                                              Andi, pallet collars, that’s the word =)

                                                                              You have to cover the bottom with some kind of goodness- language trouble again,- cloth or textile (although it’s covered in some form of plastic and made a million little perforations in) that lets water through but not weeds, or else root-weeds will grow into the pallet collar bed.


                                                                            • Whobott
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                                                                                The raised beds are nice since theres no weeds either. Also take a foam paint brush cover your tub in tresemme naturals shampoo leave it over night and scrub it off in the morning. BAM clean tub!


                                                                              • Hazel
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                                                                                  I have never done any gardening before but since Oscar likes to eat a lot, I’ve decided to try to grow vegetables for him (and for us).

                                                                                  I started out by double digging a vegetable garden from scratch. I don’t recommend any of you do this, it was horrible… but I’m glad I got it done. A couple of days ago I put the bricks around it, now all that’s left to do is get a chicken wire fence up to keep the critters out and of course, plant the veggies! I got them started inside and will transplant them when they’re big enough.

                                                                                  Here’s the bed:

                                                                                  Unfortunately, it does look a bit like a grave with the rosebush at the end… lets hope that’s not an indication of our veggie’s future .

                                                                                   

                                                                                  A little more action going on here:

                                                                                  These three little guys are tomato plants, one regular and two cherries. The empty pot on the upper left is where the Basil is supposed to be. I got a bad feeling about it… AndHenry has promised to hook me up with some Basil though, so it’s all good .


                                                                                • Sindri
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                                                                                    I have mainly just grew non edible plants like flowers and shrubs but want to have a raised garden bed to plant stuff in for us and the buns to eat.


                                                                                  • Deleted User
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                                                                                      The Basil is on it’s way Hazel, lol! And great job on your garden bed – I’m impressed! (Had a HUGE laugh about the grave and rosebush.) Thanks!


                                                                                    • Hazel
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                                                                                        AndHenry: Thanks ! I didn’t even realize it would look like this when I decided where to put the garden. When I was done I stepped back and thought “Wait a minute…

                                                                                        Hold the Basil, mine actually just poked its head out! Your Basil growing skills must have rubbed off on me !

                                                                                         


                                                                                      • Deleted User
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                                                                                          Still laughing! Especially when you finished after ALL that hard work and stood back and realised! PRICELESS! Not sure if your gonna live it down at home, but you’ll NEVER live it down with me! (and every family member I show….) ha ha hah! Just LOVE it – again, thanks for the laugh! Cheers Hazel.


                                                                                        • LongEaredLions
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                                                                                            So today I bought a mint plant and seeds for basil, purple basil, rosemary, and rabbit safe variety grass. Does anybody know much about these plants and what I can do to increase my odds of not killing them?

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                                                                                        Forum THE LOUNGE Where are all my gardening friends?