This is the second year that I have tried container gardening. I tried planting tomatoes, peppers, eggplant and various herbs last year and I enjoyed it so much. In fact, I find it incredibly relaxing. I love waking up every morning and checking on my little plants. It is truly amazing to watch them grow every day.
This year for the vegetable containers I decided to plant Early Girl Tomatoes and Brandywine Tomatoes as well as Italian Peppers. Last Summer I enjoyed coming home every evening and snacking on fresh tomatoes from my little garden. There is nothing more delicious! The tomatoes you get in the supermarket are tasteless and the "squishy" texture really is off-putting--but a home-grown tomato is heaven in our mouth! I think my love of tomatoes can be traced back to my Dad. He is from Maydelle, TX (pop. 300 give or take), which is just outside of Jacksonville, TX--The Tomato Capitol of the World. He grew up growing them and eating them. Many times I've watched him slice up a tomato, sprinkle a little salt on it and savour all that juicy goodness. I love to do the same thing...only sometimes I don't even bother slicing the small early girl tomatoes. YUM!
I don't have a picture yet of my tiny herb garden but this year I chose to plant chives, basil, and oregano. I plant them in a long rectangular-shaped planter which is on my back deck. This makes it easy to just walk out my back door (which is in the kitchen) and take what I need. Its nice to have fresh herbs on hand. I use the chives in lots of things. I love to chop them up (or use my Pampered Chef cooking shears) and throw them in potato salad and just about anything that could use a mild onion flavor. I use the basil in my pasta sauce and I've learned to make pesto and love it! The oregano is a new thing for me this year. I would imagine I can find many uses for that as well. Fresh oregano will make a nice addition to the pasta sauce. I'm also imagining it finely chopped with some of the basil on top of some fresh-baked focaccia!
That funny looking clay pot with all the holes at the top right is my Strawberry Pot. I think it is adorable! It looks like I will have a good little crop of strawberries soon. This picture was taken last Saturday. Today when I looked at them I have some little green strawberries everywhere! I will be sure to update with another picture in the next couple of days.
Happy gardening to you...I am of to enjoy some pot roast that my hubby made for dinner with fresh corn on the cob and potatoes! (No...the veggies are not from my garden!)
2 comments:
just found your blog, I tried planting in containers too, we live in our motorhome full time
You've just made mre really, really hungry for home grown tomatoes. Hurry up plants and grow!
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