Gardening & Herbs

Every year since we moved into our house I've had a garden.  Each year I alter what I plant slightly, whether because I realize that we don't like/eat a certain thing that I planted or whether something fails miserably.  For instance, 2 years ago I planted carrots and green onions for the first time.  They hadn't really developed by fall and I was lazy so I just left them.  By spring planting time they were huge!  I let them continue growing, but by the time I finally dug them up late summer they were woody and bad.  Lesson here: I shouldn't plant things that grow under ground that I can't see.

This year I narrowed by assortment to three things: tomato plants, green beans, and peas.  I love fresh green beans, and both bean and peas are super easy to grow.  In fact, these are the only two plants that I have successfully grown to harvest each year.  This year I bought pre-grown tomato plants for the first time.  Usually I try to start them from seed, in the ground, late spring, in Minnesota.  If you are a gardener, I'm sure you're howling with laughter on the ground right now.  Yep, I've learned my lesson and am doing it the (hopefully) smart way this year.  We'll see how it all turns out!

I also am trying herbs again.  It's much more cost effective to grow your own herbs rather than purchasing them at the store, and it also means they're super fresh!  I've successfully maintained chives and oregano in my planter by the side of my door.  The oregano is a little out of control, so if anyone ever needs any please stop by and help yourselves!  I generally struggle with basil but am attempting that again.  I also purchased a cilantro plant because we've been using a lot of that in recipes.  Both the cilantro and basil are in pots, because my side planters are too full of bulbs and I'm tired of digging those up and ruining them.  Last year I started putting my summer plants in pots ala my neighbor Lindy, and it works a lot better!

I'm excited to keep expanding my gardening skills and adding to our "tool box" of healthy living habits.  If you have any other suggestions of good herbs to use in recipes let me know - I think I'd like to add 2-3 more herb plants for the summer!