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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Quite a regular
 
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I also like Hostas as a low-light ground cover (there are so many kinds!). They are also really easy and forgiving, I find, for beginners. For something a little more evergreen, I think you could use Hellebores (Lenten rose). Not really ground cover per se, but lovely with flowers in late winter/early spring (they are also kind of expensive relative to other plants). Heuchera (coral bells) could also work - not truly evergreen, but their leaves stay (mostly) attractive throughout winter, and there are many different colors to choose from to brighten a shady spot. My Campanula (Birch Hybrid) and perennial Geraniums usually also look fairly OK for a good bit of our winters. I have had great luck with Bluestone Perennials for mail order plants. There are also some terrific nurseries within reasonable driving distance if you want more instant gratification. Happy gardening!
Posted on: 2017/2/23 1:21
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
 
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2005/7/14 18:51 Last Login : 2018/12/12 21:42 From on van vorst park
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Posted on: 2017/2/22 21:44
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Just can't stay away
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Ajuga, aka bugleweed. Sweet woodruff.
Posted on: 2017/2/22 20:32
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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Pachysandra is great for these spots. it is invasive, though, so best used in a fenced yard/garden, as opposed to a wide-open yard.
Posted on: 2017/2/22 17:34
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Just can't stay away
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2013/10/29 21:35 Last Login : 2017/7/26 14:00 From Downtown Jersey City
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Does anyone have any suggestion for a grass / ground cover plant that would grow with minimal light?
We have some brown space under some of our back-yard trees that I'd like to cover up, but the minimal light makes it challenging.
Posted on: 2017/2/22 16:14
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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There is a Facebook group, Jersey City Urban Gardening, you may want to join.
Posted on: 2017/2/21 21:03
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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Caution, if you plant early, remember to place clear plastic covering over your plants at night. Frost is a killer and the temperature can go below freezing.
Posted on: 2017/2/21 19:45
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Quite a regular
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I start my tomatoes as seeds inside. As the days get warmer, I bring them outside during the day to get more sun, but bring them inside until there's no more chance of frost. We can have really hot days and still get a crop ruining frost.
Posted on: 2017/2/21 19:03
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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Cool! Buy tickets online and save!
Posted on: 2017/2/20 21:40
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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New Jersey Flower & Garden Show February 23, 24, 25 & 26, 2017 Thursday 1 pm - 8 pm, Friday 10 am - 8 pm, Saturday 10 am - 8 pm & Sunday 10 am - 6 pm NJ Convention & Expo Center 97 Sunfield Avenue, Edison, NJ 08837 http://www.njflowershow.com/
Posted on: 2017/2/20 20:29
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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When I tried it they rotted in the ground. I haven't tried again as early but I've also chitted them since, soaked them then planted as they start to sprout. I've never tried a fall crop but keep meaning to.
Posted on: 2017/2/20 1:47
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Not too shy to talk
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They always say to plant your peas on St. Patrick's Day...usually works for me. I think our last frost date is supposedly mid-April, although I second what one of the other responders said in that climate change may have wrecked havoc with the dates we have usually used.
Posted on: 2017/2/20 0:07
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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Chris, if you have the room consider a bean barrel, it's great return for the space. Take a "wine barrel" style container, screw a trellis to it and plant green beans densely, I put 30 vines in a 2 ft barrel. You can easily grow more beans than you can eat! Wish I had pics for you.
Posted on: 2017/2/18 4:34
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Just can't stay away
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I start cherry/plum tomatoes and basil from seed in paper cups in my window at my office at work in mid March. In the end of March I start kale directly seeded in the ground (maybe earlier this year). In early May I will bring tomato seedlings home (people always look on the PATH train as if I have marijuana plants. After a few or so of bringing them outside by day/inside at night I will put in ground in middle of May.
Around the same time I thin out the kale and soon after they get big. From about Memorial Day through early December I make kale smoothies a few days/week. From end of July through late Sept/early Oct I have tomato salads, tomato basil soup/etc. I have tried other things but in small space I get the most bang for the buck with kale/tomatoes/basil.
Posted on: 2017/2/18 2:19
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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Most backyards are small and the growing areas are even smaller. You can remove top soil and replace it with clean soil. Many serious urban gardens have elevated spaces to grow their crops due to this problem. If you don't want to remove soil then have an elevated growing area which is probably easier on your back.
Posted on: 2017/2/18 0:42
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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There are some season sensitive crops, but a lot are not. They're planting stuff now in the bay area, and can grow cruciferous crops year round. That's about the same latitude as DC. My readings about growing in our soil indicate it's pretty safe as long as you don't eat leafy vegetables. Fruits don't take up metals well but leaves do, you get iron from spinach but not zucchini. That said I only grow perennials like fruit vines, berries, and figs in the ground.
Posted on: 2017/2/17 23:56
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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I do not plant tomatoes or other vegetables in my Jersey City back yard. IMHO there's too much underground fill for me to feel the vegetables would be safe to eat. Every year I find a bunch of new stuff that "crops" up, like marbles, toys, glass and other stuff.
I do however, plant perennials and some annuals and switch them up. I used to use the Mothers day rule, but I have more recently started a little earlier. However, if you go ahead with the tomatoes and are going to start with seeds, I second the suggestion of the poster who suggested you start the seeds in doors and then transplant them later. Also, I've observed some neighbors who've had container gardens for their veggies. All the best and good luck!!
Posted on: 2017/2/17 22:53
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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I've always used the Mother's Day rule too.
I love growing from seed, but tomatoes have always been hit or miss for me because I don't get adequate light in my apartment and do't have space for grow lights. If you do wind up needing to buy seedlings, I highly recommend Dreyer Farms in Cranford. It's a bit of a drive, but they have a huge selection and their plants perform really well. If you're growing in the ground, you should consider getting your soil tested for lead. Rutgers provides this service: https://njaes.rutgers.edu/soiltestinglab/ Good luck with your garden!
Posted on: 2017/2/17 22:45
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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I also suggest you plant marigolds which acts as a repellant against insects. Both marigolds and tomato plants need direct sunlight.
Posted on: 2017/2/17 20:27
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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Maybe it's an old gardener's tale, but it just wasn't the warmth of the soil, it was the longer days and sunlight exposure that went into the Mother's Day planting formula. Just a thought.
Posted on: 2017/2/17 20:10
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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Honestly, I think the zone/last frost data for our area is obsolete due to warming. I think the Mother Day line needs to be moved up a few weeks. That said, I do pepper starts for the mini-sweets that you can't find in the garden center but grow true from saved market pepper seeds. I'm thinking March 15th to start them indoors this year, but I need to do more research.
Posted on: 2017/2/17 18:40
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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My dear old Dad's rule of thumb was to start planting outdoors after Mother's Day. If you're going all in, you can start your seedlings indoors just about now and germinate your tomatoes from seed. If you're a new gardener, I recommend starting with the established seedlings you buy from a good garden center to plant outdoors (not Home Depot - drive and find somewhere good!). Sorry, I'm a garden nursery snob. A couple of hints learned from my dad: Make sure you do a good job before hand of fertilizing and tilling your soil in your outdoor pots or plots. Planting marigold flowers next to your tomatoes provides a natural bug repellent. Releasing live ladybugs helps control aphids (and it's the coolest thing to watch). And remember to prune your tomato suckers! This is a great resource for gardeners. Good luck!
Posted on: 2017/2/17 17:35
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Re: Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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If you are using seeds, then start them indoor in small pots probably peat pots. The problem gardeners have is the weather, just because it might be warm in March, remember it could snow in April. Allow 6 to 8 weeks before planting. However, if things go wrong, you can purchase seedlings. Personally, I like the seedlings that Rutgers created. They are made for our climate.
Posted on: 2017/2/17 17:08
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Gardeners in Jersey City, I have questions...
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Home away from home
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I kno there has to be alot of people here in jersey city or the area who have backyard gardens.
I'm just trying to find out when you guys are starting to plant seeds and what you guys are planting. I'm trying to get a jump on some tomatoes by seeds & looking for some tips. Hope this topic is helpful for all of us! Happy Planting!
Posted on: 2017/2/17 16:59
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