Hi JB,

Welcome to RMGÂandÂthe only stupid question around here is the one you donÂt ask, so donÂt be afraid to ask whatever comes up! ThereÂs always somebody whoÂs ready, willing, and able to help!

Where are you located? Since youÂre posting on RMG, I assume youÂre high and dry out here somewhere! If thatÂs true, the only possible problem I see with what you want to do is that theyÂll probably need to be watered pretty often once the weather warms since each individual "pot" wonÂt have a whole lot of soil, and, if theyÂre right next to a bunch of pea gravel, the area and the cinderblocks will probably heat up quite a bit. So planting snaps, or just about any other annuals (or herbs) should work as long as you keep an eye on them to be sure they get watered whenever they need itÂthe same as youÂd need to watch a pot.

When it comes to planting them out already, since theyÂre apparently already hardened off, I donÂt think there should be any problem at all. Snaps can take really cold weather. If youÂre in the Denver areaÂor any of the other spots that are currently included in the most recent snow, IÂd say wait a couple days till it warms up againÂand then go for it! If you want snaps in the same place next year, just let this yearÂs plants produce seed when they finish blooming and enough seed will drop to reseed themÂand if you want to be even more sure that theyÂve reseeded, just hand scatter some of the seed from the seedpods after itÂs ripened. Snaps reseed very easily, and theyÂll come up all by themselves next yearÂmaking it even easier than this year. Also, some of them will probably germinate in late summer or fall this year and survive next winter to give you a really early start next springÂjust be sure the soil stays moist over winter if some get started by fall.

Glad you found us here! Bring on your questions!

Skybird

Hi Skybird,
Thank you for the nice welcome and thank you for your words of wisdom. I hadn't even thought of the "heat" issue from the pea gravel. You make a great point! I think I will try planting the seedlings and will just have to keep my eye on them as to when they need water.
Best,
JB
PS. We are just outside of Niwot.

Welcome to RMG, JB!

Here's a concern:

We'd used blocks to separate the garden from Dad's lawn. I got a couple flats of petunias and planted them right across the yard. They were absolutely beautiful spilling over the blocks once they began to bloom. It became difficult to mow close to them but we just closed our eyes and ran the weed eater along the blocks.

That wasn't the concern. The problem was replanting the blocks the next year. If they are actually cinder blocks rather than sand & gravel, they won't be so heavy but you'll need to find some way in '09 to "punch" the soil and roots out so that they can be replanted. And, the roots will be in there tight!

It was such heavy work and such a bother that we gave up by the 3rd year and the blocks were used to make a large compost bin. Standard blocks weigh about 40 to 50 pounds.

digitS'

digit - I guess that would explain why I have been so sore lately. I am working on my garden again. I don't know if you remember, but I was building my garden out of cinder blocks. I have some beds that I did last year. The tomatoes loved them last year, I never did plant anything in the holes other than garlic over the winter. I have yet to see it sprout though. The soil in the actual blocks does dry out quickly and turns from compost to sand pretty quick too.

JB - if you choose to join us at the swap, I will have pics of what I am doing. Maybe it will help you.

Billie

Hi Billie,
Wish I could make it but can't due to a prior engagement.
:( A swap sounds like so much fun. I've never been to one before. If you ever post pics online, please let me know. I'll take some pics of the area I'm talking about and will try to post them soon. We just got back from vacation and I haven't planted anything in them yet. Today however looks like it's going to be a great day so I plan on getting out in the yard. Hope you are too.
Best.
JB