garden 2011 update #2

 My garden is exploding! These pictures were taken May 8th. In this first picture the sugar snap peas are on the left and have now grown past the trellis, not sure what my plan is now for that...There are no peas growing yet. To the right of the SSP are the green beans; these are not as tall but very full and the leaves are huge. In front of the green beans are green onions which you cannot see because of the large leaves hovering over them, hopefully they will still produce some green onions!

 In the first planter in the picture on the right is Italian flat leaf parsley, lettuce, chives, and cilantro. The large pot to its right is my Roma Tomatoes which are growing very nicely and have some little yellow flowers on them which should turn into tomatoes!

 Next to the tomatoes is a slightly smaller pot with bell peppers. This plant has been growing the slowest of them all so we shall see what summer brings if it decided to produce bell peppers or not : /
Behind the bell pepper is more lettuce, which started off slow but are doing better now. To the right of the bell pepper are the strawberries which are doing great and have many reddening strawberries which I cannot wait to eat soon!

And lastly, on the "shadier" side of the porch are the first the basil and oregano doing really well as of the past week, then 2 pots of carrots which the greens are getting huge but I have no idea how to tell when they are ready to pull out of the soil and eat. And lastly the planter on the right has yes... more lettuce!

I am getting really excited to be able to start eating and cooking with the products from my garden! Bring on the sunny, warm weather!

garden 2011 update #1

 These pictures were taken quite awhile ago and resemble nothing close to what my garden looks like now but before I show you what it does look like I thought I would start with where it was towards the beginning. These pictures were from the beginning of April so about 5 weeks (give or take) ago. I will start from the top and go down the pictures labeling the different plants.




Left: Sugar Snap Peas
Right: Blue Lake Green Beans with Green Onions in front











Behing the big Pot with Roma Tomatoes is Parsley, Cilantro, Lettuce, and Chives

Then the Tomatoes,

Then Bell Peppers (smaller big pot to left) with Lettuce to the right in planter along the rail.

Strawberries

Basil and Oregano

From the top:

My mini gas bar-be-que

2 varieties of lettuce

2 pots of carrots (next to the Basil and Oregano)





I hope to have my next garden update for you this week!

growing seeds

Just as I did last Spring I am growing an organic vegetable garden on my patio and just as last year I am getting a later start on it that I would have liked. Early March I started growing seeds in a contraption I made using egg cartons and empty toilet paper rolls cut into thirds.

I am attempting to grow a slightly larger garden than last year (to be able to share with Steph, my friend and neighbor, and possibly have some to freeze or dry to last throught winter and share with others). So far my planted seeds include: basil, oregano, cilantro, thyme, chives, 2 types of lettuce, carrots, and green onions. I filled each reservoir with potting soil, planted the seeds according to each ones individual instructions and then watered as needed (about every other day).

They sat absorbing light through my sliding glass doors for a few weeks.

They all sprouted at their own pace but once grown enough, I transplanted the seedlings into pots outside. I also started a second set of seeds for the lettuce, carrots and green onions so I will have product ready in cycles so it's not all ready for consumption at the exact same time. I plan to continue doing this with more seeds until I run out of room.

Also planted outside (because these seeds are not meant to be transplanted) are Blue Lake Green Beans and sugar snap peas (both an addition from last year). Also planted are a bell pepper plant, tomato plant, and strawberries which all started from small plants rather than seeds. I am hoping for lots of sun and a garden full of large yield this Spring and Summer!

Coming soon: Pictures of my patio garden all planted and growing fast!

when life gives you tomatoes...

...make Caprese Pasta Salad!

The organic cherry tomato plant I planted back in March has produced many tomatoes for me. This whole summer I have not had to buy tomatoes! Despite watering every day, sometimes twice, the plant has for some reason lost all its leaves yet is still ripening the existing tomatoes on its branches. I am expecting however that after all the existing tomatoes are ripened and picked that will be the end of the plant and I will replace the plant with something to survive the Fall/Winter months. I am pleased that my first gardening experience has been so fruitful.

Before work the other night this is the creation I came up with for dinner using some of my organic cherry tomatoes!

To make this you start with the following ingredients:

Cherry Tomatoes (cut in half)
Fresh Basil
Balsamic vinaigrette (I happen to really like the one from Trader Joe's, and it's fat free!)
Cooked Pasta (I would recommend bow tie, fussili or penne for this)
Fresh Mozzarella balls (cut in half)

Mix all ingredients in amounts that you like you really cannot go wrong any way! Enjoy it warm, cold, or over spinach as a salad.

What are some of you favorite things to make using tomatoes?

patio garden

So if anyone was wondering, as my dad was, how I have tomatoes, strawberries, 10 heads of lettuce, flowers, and herbs all on my patio, here is is picture of my patio showing all but the gardenia on the far right that didn't make it in the picture. I still have plenty of room for my mini bbq and a small table and 2 chair which do not exisit at this time, but may in the future. It's going to be a yummy summer of fresh herbs and veggies!

first harvest

Last night I harvested my first head of lettuce to have in a salad for dinner. As you can see from the first picture the leaves were still small but with 10 heads of lettuce growing I though I better get eating. The leaves were tender and extremely fresh. After ripping off the roots, washing, and drying, I put the leaves in with some spinach and cut cherry tomatoes. It was a very enjoyable salad.

This salad made me have a strong appreciation for food, which I didn't know I was lacking before until now. We've all heard the saying (or some variation of), "You must clear your plate, there are starving children in Africa who would love to eat that!". Growing my own food has made me realize the physical energy, natural resources, and human energy that goes into making food. Having access to fresh food is such a blessing that I know I over see far of too often. Each time I go to water my plants I now try to remind myself off all the watering and work others have done to produce most of the food I consume and I am thankful!

how does my garden grow?

Here is the latest of what is going on in my patio organic garden thanks to the warm, sunny weather San Diego has been having.

 The lettuce and tomato plant are getting larger by the day.

More and more juicy, red strawberries are growing each week, and the herbs that were started from seeds are finally starting to come out of their stunted growth and are inching upward.

I cannot wait till I can finally use the herbs in my cooking!

grow garden grow...

This Spring having a place to put a mini organic garden on my patio was very exciting for me! Around March at this first taste of warmth I started by purchasing seeds, soil, planter, some plants and a few flowers. The first set of pictures is what my garden looked like after 3-4 weeks after the seeds had started to sprout.

Lettuce, Basil, Cilantro, Italian Parsley, Chives, and Arugula Seedlings

Cherry Tomatos

Sage, Oregano and Rosemary

Strawberries

After the seedlings started to slow their growth as they reached maximum capacity in their first planters I decided it was ready to transplant them to their larger planter. This group of pictures is a few more weeks into the planting process.

Herb seedlings

Lettuce

From left to right after transplantation is: Basil, Chives, Parsley, Rosemary, Cilantro, Oregano, Sage

Tomatos

Strawberries

More pictures to come on the recent changes in the garden.

PS I have enjoyed 4 strawberries already from the plants and they are very juicy, red, and sweet.