Repurposing Containers for Seed Starting
Now here’s a great idea for reusing those containers that grocery store roasted chickens comes in! Start your garden seeds in them!
Head over to Read Between the Limes for more tips.
Container Garden 2014: Update #1
I’ve been a little bit of a lazy container gardener this year. I had grand plans to really use our space to grow a lot of veggies, but… I got lazy or overwhelmed. I wanted to construct some sort of vertical gardening space that would allow me to plant herbs, radishes, lettuce and strawberries.
You see, I’m really good at deciding that I’m going to do something, just not so good on the follow through 😛 Maybe next year!
I still haven’t planted my lettuce seeds or my potatoes. But, I was proud of the fact that I scored some free seed potatoes by putting a call out on a local Facebook Buy & Sell site! I’ll get to planting them this week, promise. 🙂
Here goes for my first update.
First up, is a picture of my flower pot, mints (chocolate and apple) and tomatoes. I hope to make delicious teas this year using those mints! (read all about apple mint here.)
This year, I found a window box variety of Roma tomatoes and the other cherry tomato is a Sweet 100.
I’m not a huge fan of dried rosemary so I bought a rosemary plant that I hope to use fresh in my cooking. Not pictured, is a basil plant I have at the front of the house.
Last year I had beans and peas planted in this big container, but they didn’t really grow well. So, this year, I decided to try something different and create a mosquito planter! I’ll have more details about it in a seperate post in the near future.
I’ll be back with another update soon because there’s been growth since I took these pictures and I’ll have more planted!
How’s your garden doing?
Tips for Growing and Using Basil & Oregano
If you love cooking with fresh herbs, you will want to make space in your garden for basil and oregano. Both come in handy when making salads, marinades, infusions and more. If you are new to growing these herbs, take a peek below at some tips for growing and using basil and oregano in your own garden. They are easy to grow and practical herbs you are sure to enjoy.
Basil:
When planting basil, you will want to remember these basics:
- This herb needs 6 to 8 hours of good sun
- Avoid planting until after the threat of frost has passed.
- Plant your basil plants a good 12-18 inches apart.
- Soil should be well drained, and you may fertilize twice during the growing season.
Here are some wonderful ways you can enjoy basil at home:
- Crumble leaves on top of your pizza, garlic bread, or other baked dishes.
- Add a few leaves to a bottle of olive oil for some extra flavor.
- Plant basil in your yard to help repel certain varieties of pests.
- Blend the leaves into pesto to freeze and use later.
- Add basil leaves to your salad, dips, and even soups.
- Basil can even be added by the leaf to your pasta dishes.
Now, let’s explore another great herb, oregano!
Oregano:
When planting oregano, you will want to remember these basics:
- Oregano doesn’t mind shade. Therefore a good 5-6 hours of sun is plenty.
- Well drained soil is a must when growing this herb.
- Cut away dead stems and foliage as the plant grows to encourage new growth.
- Give plants a good six inches in between each to grow.
- Oregano does not respond well to fertilizer, so just be sure to take proper care of your plants so they thrive.
Here are some wonderful ways you can enjoy oregano at home:
- Add some crumbled oregano to your pizza and pizza sauces.
- Add a few leaves to your pasta dishes and casseroles.
- While your soup is simmering add a leaf or two of oregano for more flavor.
- Infuse a bottle of olive oil with oregano leaves.
So what are you waiting for? Give these herbs a try and your table will never lack flavor!
Tips for Growing and Using Dill
Most people associate the herb dill, with a jar full of dill pickles. If you love the flavor of dill, you’ll want to try growing your own so you always have it on hand. Growing your own dill is easy, just take a look below at some helpful tips to get you started. This is a fun and functional herb that is easy to enjoy and even easier to use!
How to plant and care for dill:
- Plant dill in the early summer when temperatures have reached at least 70 degrees.
- Plant your dill plants a good 12-18 inches apart from each other.
- Dill pairs well when planted next to cabbage, so if you are growing cabbage they make great companion plants.
- Water frequently, daily if the weather is especially hot and dry.
- Remove any yellowing or dry, dead foliage as soon as it appears.
- Take care to protect the delicate plants from strong wind or heavy foot traffic.
Once you have grown a healthy harvest of dill, you’ll want to use it! Dill can be used in a variety of ways around your home and yard. Let’s take a look at some of those ways below:
How to use dill:
- Add some fresh dill to your fish before baking.
- Add dill to your assorted oils and vinegars for extra flavor.
- Pickle your own vegetables adding dill for extra zest.
- Pep up your salads and dips when you add some fresh dill.
- Plant dill in your flower beds to attract bugs that would eat harmful pests.
- Add some dill to your potato salad to make it a crowd favorite.
- Dill adds unique flavor to soups, marinades, and stews.
Dill is a fun herb that can be used and enjoyed in so many ways. Try growing your own batch of it this growing season so you have plenty on hand for all of these ideas. You will be so glad you did!
Tips for Preserving Herbs
Are your herbs growing faster than you can use them? A flourishing herb plant is a good thing, however having so many that waste occurs, is not. The good news is, there are plenty of ways to preserve your herbs and get a longer life out of them. This is especially helpful if you live in an area where you can’t grow herbs year round. Take a look below at some helpful ways to preserve your herbs and have them available to you all year long.
Tips for Preserving Herbs
Freeze them.
To freeze your herbs all you need to do is break them apart while fresh and place them in ice cube trays. Add a little water, filling the tray about half way full. Freeze the tray and when you need some herbs in your cooking, all you need to do is pop a cube out and toss it in. Cool!
Press them.
You can press herbs between pieces of wax paper and store them in a cool place if you wish. While they don’t last as long this way as they would if you froze them, it will still help extend their life. This way is especially helpful if you want to use the herb in its original leafy form, such as in a salad or dip.
Dry them.
You can always take the old fashioned route and dry your herbs. Gather them into a small bouquet and tie them with string at the end. Hang them upside down in a cool and dark place until dry. This can take anywhere from 10 days to 2 weeks. To use, just crumble and toss in your favorite dish.
Add them to oil.
You can take fresh herb sprigs and toss them directly into your bottle of olive oil to create infused oil. This works especially well with basil. In no time the flavor will spread throughout the oil giving it a gourmet taste!
Infuse your beverages.
If your herbs are about to go bad and you need to use them quickly, you can infuse your beverages with them. Just clean the herbs and toss them into your teas, lemonades, and fruit drinks. They will infuse the beverage and even stay good for several days this way. See this post for 7 Infused Water Recipes.
Don’t let those herbs go to waste. Give these tips a try and prolong their life easily!
