Beginner’s Teacup Patio Garden
I have a garden, y’all!! Now, despite the history of my family – my Papa and Daddy were/are avid farmers and lovers of tractors – I am in no way a grower of things. I plan to change that, though. I’ve tried my hand at not killing plants before, but I hope to approach this with a more positive outlook from the start this time. I want to help these babies grow, and most importantly, I want to eat them. I can’t do that if they wilt away and die. Therefore, I am sharing the journey with you all!
Just look at my Papa! These men (Papa and Daddy) love their tractors. My first “automatic driving lesson” was on a tractor, probably long before I should have been driving, but that’s what you do deep down in the country. Lord knows I can pick, shell and cook peas like nobody’s business, and I thoroughly enjoy doing all of that. Now, its time to enjoy the growing process.
I’m starting small since I only have a balcony to place my plants on. Here’s what I’m using.
Materials:
– plastic stand with 2 shelves that is approximately 2.5′ long by 1.5′ high ($5.50 from Goodwill)
– tea cups and saucers ($0.29 each from Goodwill)
– mini decorative vase ($3 from Goodwill)
– mini braided/woven blue rug ($1 from Dollar Tree)
– lacey burlap runner ($5 from a craft store or Walmart)
– the green pitcher is part of a set I purchased at an estate sale several years ago. I have the large and small cups to match it, so it is just temporarily serving as a vase
I used Puracy, a natural plant-based cleaner that I purchased for less than $5 at Marshall’s, to clean the stand that I purchased. I also used it to clean the pots and cups after removing the sticky tags from them with Goo Gone.
Plants:
I purchased ORGANIC grown plants from Redenta’s Garden Shop in the DFW (2 locations – Dallas & Arlington).
– 3 succulents
– 2 basil plants (Sweet Basil Genovese – Blue Label Herbs)
– 1 rosemary plant (Rosemary Foxtail – Blue Label Herbs)
– 1 mint plant (Mint Candy – Blue Label Herbs)
– 1 tomato plant (Juliet Tomato – Harry’s Select Culinary Collection)
I also purchased a bouquet of carnations from Walmart. I highly doubt they are sustainably sourced, but I’m only human, and they were gorgeous.
The succulents have been named (in order) Ricky Ricardo, Lil’ Ricky & Lucy. It is so fitting 🙂
I’m thinking of calling this Rosemary Foxtail plant “Foxy,” like Cleopatra.
Any name suggestions for these two Sweet Basil Genovese plants?
I originally thought I would have a pallet garden, but that requires a lot of plants to make it look right, so my little Goodwill shelf was the perfect fit and find to get my garden started. The pallet now serves as a shade from the direct extreme sunlight – the succulents don’t need it, and the herbs and tomato will wilt if they receive too much of it.
I have more plans for these babies, so stay tuned as I share our progress – them growing and flourishing, and me discovering the green thumb that I feel must inherently be somewhere in my soul according to my family’s rich farming history.
until next time,
Addie
The Comments
Madaline
Ok, I’m in love that your plants have names! I literally name everything! I love the picture of your dad – I think every southern girl must have that exact pic but with her own daddy!
Addie
MadalineLol, thank you! I feel like naming them will create more of an investment in them, I really need them to live lol 🙂
Lauren
I love it! The names are so cute! hehehe Blue Label Herbs must be the standard in DFW because that’s what I planted, and it’s really the only brand of herb plants I’ve seen anywhere. I’m really glad that they meet the standards to be offered in an organic shop!
Addie
LaurenIt is so awesome, I’m glad you got their brand, too! They are based out of Wylie, TX, and only sell at retailers here locally and very few in surrounding states. I want to see your plants, too! We’ll have to exchange stories and tips lol 🙂 #srsly
Holly
Adorable!!!! Really want to do this :):)
Kim Hilbert
Your Papa looks very happy and handsome on the tractor. My first stick shift driving lesson was on a tractor. I was way too young, too, but you know how it is.
I like your little porch garden. It’s super cute!
Addie
Kim HilbertThat’s growing up in the country for ya! I wouldn’t trade it for the world lol. Thank you so much for your compliments, Kim 🙂
Kate
I love this post, girl! I too am a farmer’s daughter, so we have that in common. This is an awesome idea for a starter garden… Do you have any tips for someone wanting to start a small herb garden? I’ve heard it’s super easy… I just need to commit!
Addie
KateThank you, Kim! So far from this experience I would say:
1.) Examine & understand the light that the area you want to place the plants receives. This is pertinent because too much or too little could kill them. (I get extreme direct sunlight for a few hours and it is not good for them, so I’m coming up with a solution to that issue)
2.) Ask the professionals at the nursery (& also google search) what they recommend to grow in your area, and the maintenance it requires.
3.) Don’t forget to water them! lol
I’ll be posting about them some more here in the near future. I hope this encourages you to start your own mini-garden & you find this all helpful 🙂
Susan Mahlburg
I love this idea. Especially with succulents – I’ve always been oddly attracted to aloe plants. My grandparents (who also had a pretty extensive vegetable garden) had a teacup cactus display near their patio, and I thought that was pretty cool. I think we might hop on this bandwagon this year. My daughters might love helping with the tiny plants.
Addie
Susan MahlburgYes, start them early, Susan. Farming was a necessity for my folks so I guess by the time I came around, it wasn’t so much anymore, and they didn’t involve us in the growing process. Plants in teacups are just ridiculously cute for some reason hahaha! 🙂
Stacie
Great idea for a small space. I want to try to grow tomatoes for the first time this year. I’m just trying to find the perfect spot. Thanks for sharing! Stacie xo
Alli
I love that you named your plants! And that photo of your papa on the tractor? Priceless! My dad was a farmer before I was born and to this day he has a huge garden every year. He loves his tractor, too! I sure wish I had paid closer attention to the “how to’s” of gardening when I was growing up. I’m attempting to go beyond a couple of pepper and tomato plants this year. Fingers crossed! 🙂 Looking forward to keeping up with your patio garden.
Paris (My Big Fat Happy Life)
So funny that you name your plants! But I love “I Love Lucy” and the succulents names are perfect 🙂 I love the idea of putting plants in tea cups – so pretty!
Alice
I love the pattern of that fun blanket! And what an adorable garden!
xo, Alice at The Lone Star Looking Glass
Brenda @DailyMayo
I love this little garden. I need to make one!
Erica @ The Crumby Cupcake
What a sweet idea! I recently started a little garden of my own, and while my husband built me a raised bed outdoors for it, right now the plants are sitting on my patio growing until it’s time to transplant them. I have so many coffee cups that could be used for this…
Crystal
Love this post! I am thinking about attempting a small garden this year. I have no green thumb in my body, but going to give it a whirl. I love that you named your plants…too fun!
Natalie @ She Builds Her Home
This is such a cute little idea!! We are doing a vegetable garden this year for the first time and I am totally letting my husband take the lead since I Have such a green thumb lol!
Nicole Keener
Absolutely awesome. We are getting our gardening things together as well. Hubby and I want to cross bread spicy peppers 🙂
Thrifted Neutral Spring Style 2015 | Old World New
[…] Plants: see this post […]
Beginner’s Garden Update {1}: Repotting Growing Plants | Old World New
[…] y’all don’t recall, I started a mini-garden a few weeks back. I purchased some sustainably sourced plants and transported them into tea […]
Thrifted Neutral Spring Style 2015 — Old World New
[…] Plants: see this post […]