Urban Gardening

[Karina and Billy]

Oh those veggies and fruits…

I admit it - I am totally into growing my own crop this season – who else is?
What is your favorite project for growing edibles this season?
Do you participate in a community gardening project?
How do you keep your dog from harvesting the goodies (Billy picked cherry tomatoes last year!)?
Please share what is on your mind…

[Adrianne Matzkin]

I am growing red, yellow and green peppers; only 6 tomato plants and 4 are grape cherry; and herbs - parsley, dill, chives (which are perennials), thyme and cilantro. I attempted to grow kale and cauliflower last year but those darned white flies stormed in and just wouldn't leave.

My first 3 doodles don't touch any of my plants and then came Niña - as soon as I planted my pepper plants I guess she didn't like how I planted them so she moved them around in their planter (all my veggies are on my deck in pots). But since we had a nose to nose discussion and she has left them alone since. 

[Karina and Billy]

wow, very impressive Adrianna -  we have peppers in pots, too, but last year they were really tiny - the dog did not care much about them. Kale is really not a bummer - my family is not much into it (of course we love sauerkraut, but that's too much work)

[F, Calla & Luca]

My garden has shrunk in terms if vegetables. I have 5 tomato plants in pots, and a pot of basil. I have assorted berry bushes and if I am lucky the birds allow me a few. Also, one surviving rhubarb plant. My dogs leave the tomatoes alone.

[Jolene, Sassparilla & Josie]

This is my first year and we are off to a fairly good start, now just what do I do with it! lol  We have some form of lettuce that is growing like wildflowers, it was a six pack called summer greens.  I'll have to post a pic later.  Almost looks like romaine but not quite the thick leaves?  Now I need to find a light salad dressing, ranch is too heavy with it.  Also, have two strawberry plants, a rosemary which isn't doing well, cilantro and oregano.  Now I need to learn how to cook with the herbs, okay cook period!!!!  We added a little cilantro to our tacos last week and they tasted yummy (for those in the group that tried it)!  We have a tomato and pepper plant but neither are producing yet?  Both of those may need more sun?  IF anyone has any suggestions for cilantro and/or oregano please share oh and please specify if it should be served raw or cooked.  It started out as an experiment I'm not much of a green thumb or cook for that matter!  ALl I need now is gardening and cooking for dummies!!!  Boy, I wish we still had our rodents they would LOVE the leftovers! 

So far the doodles have no interest?  (knocking on wood) lol

[Karina and Billy]

wow, (green) thumbs up,and way to go Jolene!

Cilantro sounds yummy - it's so uncommon in Germany, I don't know if I could get the seed over here!

Oregano sounds like tomatoe sauce and pizza to me. As for herbs we have an enourmous rosemary bush, parsley, sage, and mint (growing more like a weed).

Watch out with the tomatoes: you have to prune the little stems between twigs so they can produce some fruit, not only leaves (at least that's what my mom used to do with hers) - both tomatoes and peppers need quite some time (until July?) until you will be able to harvest. Looking forward to the pics!

[Sharon & Monty]

I have cabbage, onions, broccoli, brussel sprouts, 6 kinds of peppers, green beans, tomatoes, potatoes, basil and chives.  I have planted sugar peas twice and nearly every single one has been dug out by the chipmunks...who btw, I have declared war upon!

I have 18 inch fencing around the raised beds, keeps out rabbits and dogs.  

I need more space!  I want to dedicate an area for asparagus, but it takes at least 2 years till a good crop can be had.  Maybe next year I get that started.  

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Karina and Billy,
What do you do with the mint. I have spearmint growing like weeds also. I truly hate it because it seems to have a huge root system and chokes out the other vegetation. But, I have no idea what to do with the aromatic plant. I often take a weed eater to the plants and it smells good-strong.
I didn't plant Cilantro this year because the entire garden seems to pick up the taste. It really is strong. I'll buy that one if I get the urge to make Salsa

[Sharon & Monty]

I have mint too.  I add it to iced tea.   To keep it from growing wild, plant it inside a pot, bury the pot in the ground and that will contain the crazy root system. 

[F, Calla & Luca]

I have a couple of different kinds of mint. I like that it spreads and fills in places. It's very easy to pull if you get it where you don't want it but I think they are pretty plants.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Sharon, too late for pots. I don't want it anyway. I never planted it, I think my mother may have without me knowing. I constantly pull, weed, and curse at the plants. They win.
Pots are a good idea for Cilantra

[Jim Nulty]

Well, mint is extremely invasive as you already have noticed. I always sink in a buried tub to contain it. Also do the same with Bamboo. One can pick and add fresh to suntea also serve fresh as an accent to lamb dishes - if you're into lamb..

[Adina P]

My 3 yo daughter and I planted some herbs in little window planters, but it didn't take me long to kill them. The time to get to useable herbs seemed infinite and I started to forget to water them. I have no green thumb. :(