(no subject)

[ladyvyola]

So the gardening continues apace.

I fear the lemon cucumbers may attempt a global takeover; I had to free several corn plants from their clutches. The first sugar snap peas were delicious! I think none will ever reach a plate. Teeny tiny tomatoes — they’ll be ripe when they turn white!

New rule we have had to institute: all cooking must include fresh herbs (they’re clearly taking over the deck as the cukes do the garden). Last night was cilantro-garlic-lime grilled chicken thighs (then brushed with sweet chili sauce), herb-marinated vegetable skewers, jasmine rice, and basil-infused limeade.

My housemate loved, loved, loved the chicken but says he’s still mocking me for the hockey thing. He might want to re-think that. He sleeps closer to the cucumbers than I do....

Comments

[ladyvyola]

Thhis is actually the first time I've done garden cukes in this area rather than in containers! There's two lemon cuke plants (well-established store-bought starters) and two smaller but good-looking standard cukes heind them. Those two, like about half of my plants this year, are from Miracle Gro "Growables" seed pods -- I bought two sets for about $55. So far, everything has come up well except for 2 of the butterhead lettuces. So it's been a pretty good experiment.

The tomatoes are "White Cherry". They're from good-sized store-bought plants. We've also got red cherry and red globe tomatoes from the Groables, red jellybean from seeds started right in the garden, and a Purple Cherokee from a large store-bought plant. It, however, worries us, as the stalk seems nice and healthy but the leaves are crumpling and curling up. Ah, well. The perils of gardening.

I'm really pleased with my from-seed nasturtiums. Nothing's flowered yet but the leaves and stems have been really flavorful -- much more scallion-y than the chives, even. When they get really big, I want to do this cool-looking recipe of salmon cream cheese wrapped in the leaves, then that little package wrapped with a flower on a long stem. (And then I will decide who of my acquaintance is worthy of such awesomeness.)

Just saw a post about Growstuff earlier today. I'll probably join, says the girl who made PowerPoint diagrams of her garden layout and deck pots after planting.

...yeah, I'm really into the gardening this year. :D

[neotoma]

I've been using peat pots to start my seedlings, with variable results -- corn sure as heck loves those things, artichoke not so much.

I've got Red Robin and Sungold cherry tomatoes, but I think every other tomato plant I have are globes -- mostly slicer varieties, instead of sauce.

I've not tried eating the leaves and stems of my nasturtiums, since I planted them for edible flowers... but I think I'll try it now!

lol. I think Growstuff might be right up your alley.

[ladyvyola]

I'm so in love with the idea of nasturtiums! It's all edible -- you can even pickle the seeds and use 'em just like capers.

Here's the rundown. On the deck we have:

Jewel nasturtiums
Micro greens (which have come and gone so I need to re-sow)
Strawberries
Blueberry bush
Chives
Variegated oregano
Golden sage
Rosemary
Spice Island rosemary (longer, thicker leaves than the other, also taller and greener)
Lemon thyme
Pineapple mint
Chocolate mint
Dill
Cilantro
Basil

In the garden:

Butterhead lettuce
Romaine lettuce
Loose-leaf red lettuce
Spinach
Sweet pepper
Bush beans
Sugar snap peas
Cucumbers
Lemon cucumbers
Red cherry tomatoes
White cherry tomatoes
Red jellybean tomatoes
Red globe tomatoes
Cherokee Purple tomatoes
Carrots
Radishes
Sweet white and yellow corn

We figure something's gotta work out, right? (Hint: it's clearly the lemon cucumbers. Run while you can!)