My Second Cond Farm

I learned a thing or two from my first experience in San Diego. Now I'm dealing with a different climat and a different season.

I bought this condo 2 years ago furnished and they had 24 pots with who knows what kind of soil and fake, plastic grass in all the pots plus a big 3' x 6' raised bed that was being used as a storage catch all before I got a hold of it. Most of the pots were metal and some are clay. 

I went shopping and bought all organic products. Soil, seeds, fertilizer. The season was cold this year and started really late so I started a bunch of seeds inside and bought a few organic started plants to get a head start. I took lots of photos of the progess. They speak louder than words. So I'll include them. It was a lot of work to replace all of the soil, but it's worth it. I've been ejoying strawberries, radishes, lettuce, peppers, nasturtiums, tomatoes, herbs, onions, and I have eggplant, beans and peas coming. The only thing that I lost was the cilantro! Ugh!!! My tomato plants aren't looking too hot either, but they are producing fruit. I need your help. Any suggestions on what to do next time with my tomatoes and cilantro? Thanks!

Starting out in May/June 2011

The progress July/August 2011

My First Condo Farm

Living in downtown San Diego for only 7 months of the year, with limited sun on my patio, and zero knowledge of how to grow anything presented a HUGE challenge.

What inspired me to learn how to grow my own organic food was seeing the movie "The World According to Monsanto". It scared me so much that since watching it last summer, I have created 2 somewhat successful gardens on my patios. One in downtown San Diego from Oct 2010 to May 2011, and one in downtown Vancouver BC, from May 2011 until I leave in Sept. 2011. Then I'll start it all over again in San Diego in a rental house.

The things I had going for me were I had a large balcony in San Diego and I have a large balcony in my condo that I own, in Vancouver. Another avantage is the internet, and I'm not afraid to ask friends, family and anyone who knows anything about garding for advice.

Here are some photos of my first garden in San Diego...

3' x 6' Raised garden bed with green onions, beets, carrots, lettuce.

All started from seed in my little green house. This is lavender. It took forever!

Above: Dill(left) and Tomato(Right)

I welcome any advice. Please comment. I especially need your help with cilantro. How do I grow this, have it be strong and last?