Edible Plants-Basil

An annual herb in the mint family, basil is a must grow for any gardener. Basil loves warmth and is frost sensitive. If you want to harvest the leaves around the time the tomatoes ripen, direct sow seeds two weeks after the last frost. If you are going for dry basil leaves, make sure to harvest before the the appearance of flowers. The flowers can be harvested to make basil tea. I can't wait for the mozzarella, tomato, basil sandwiches, how about you?

The Garden is a Growing

Aquilegia from the native plant giveaway. This 3-foot columbine started out last Spring as a tiny seedling. Way to grow!

Gooseberry Bush and Peas
Yummy Salad Greens



Not fully opened Aquilegia


More Peas!



Chives and Thyme

Ikea Pots and Mother's Day Plantings

On a recent visit to Ikea, I spotted these metal, blue planters and had to purchase them for my back cement slab, or more lovingly referred to as the back patio. Most of Ikea's planters, however, do not have drainage holes so I recruited my trusty husband and his drill to make my containers more plant friendly.

I decided to add some rock to help with the whole drainage situation.

Here are my extra tomato seedlings from the greenhouse. I obviously sowed too many seeds; this flat represents my bounty after I transplanted around thirty seedlings in 4 1/2" pots. A rule of thumb is to transplant flats of germinated seeds after their first true leaves appear. The first leaves you will notice on a germinating seedling are referred to as the cotyledons while the next set of leaves are known as the true leaves.

Received some Thai Basil for Mother's Day. I love this stuff because it is so easy to grow and the bees love it!

I also planted some lemon thyme, chives, and greek oregano with a little Riesentraube(cherry tomato) in the center.

April in the Garden

Anemone pulsatilla also known as Pulsatilla vulgaris

Chickens Attack!

I planted my radish, pea and lettuce seeds around March 15th. I kept them covered on the really snowy, cold days and they germinated and already had their true leaves when the chicken flew the coop and scratched up all my lovely plant babies. Chickens!

Vegetable Garden Planting Chart for Salt Lake City

Here's a quick reference of when to plant (based on the extension planting guide):

Hardy Vegetables--Plant between March 15th and May 1st
Broccoli,Cabbage,Kohlrabi, Peas(through May 15th),Radish, Spinach, Turnip


Semi-Hardy (Plant 2 weeks after planting hardy vegetables) March 20th-May 1st
Salsify, Lettuce, Endive

Tender-Around May 5th
Sweet Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant


Very Tender--May 20 to June 10
Tomato, Watermelon, Pepper, Lima Bean

Fall Harvest--July 1 to August 1
Lettuce, Spinach,Kale

Seed List

I ordered my seeds from Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company on Sunday and received them Thursday. What a treat, not only is the Seed Company's catalogue beautiful, but so are the seed packets. Here is my seed list:

Tomatoes

Riesentraube--an old German heirloom meaning "Giant bunch of Grapes"

Pineapple--very large, up to 2 lbs each. The yellow fruit has red marbling through the flesh with a sweet and fruity flavor.

Black from Tula--a rich, deep purplish brown tomato with a rich, sweet and spicy flavor.

Pink Brandywine--large fruit with superb flavor, a potato-leafed variety from 1885.

Peppers

Golden Cal Wonder
Red Mini Bell

Lettuce Mixes
European Muclun Salad
Rocky Top Mix

Radicchio
Casrelfranco "Libra"

Carrots
Parisienne-Small round carrots, that are fairly uniform

Cucumbers
Mexican Sour Gherkin--small cucumber-like fruit are shaped like baby watermelons

Melon
Minnesota Midget