So, am I part of a trend, or is the rest of the world catching up with moi? Seriously, it is exciting that vegetable gardening seems to be catching on again.
But I guess we are reflecting changing times. Last year, I grew herbs in just two containers -- one for perennials and one for annuals. Everything else was jammed with colorful annuals. But the expense -- even though I got the plants wholesale -- seemed too extravagant this year. So I expanded the number of pots for herbs, and get to feel virtuous every time I snip a few, instead of buying handfuls every week. A single packet of cilantro seeds will get us through the summer for the price of one bunch. Ditto dill and basil. Even though we have the community garden plots for tomatoes, etc, I wanted herbs closer to the kitchen.
Expanding on the edible theme, we put half a dozen ever-bearing 'Mara des Bois' strawberries from White Flower Farm in a large pot. Incredibly delicious little berries, bigger than alpines, but smaller than most June-bearers. They throw prodigious runners, unlike the usual alpine strawberry. You really could start with three plants and have a colony fast. I've been removing runners weekly, after tucking a few into the center of the pot. Alas, the chipmunks have gotten more berries than we have, so we're going to have to concoct some kind of removable wire cover to foil them. Strawberries need harvesting frequently, so I figured I'd better keep them close to home, too.
... Not that we're doing without flowers out front, but I DID cut back to five large pots and two urns... oh, and, um, the tender bulbs I hadn't grown before (sprekelia and haemanthus and gloriosa lily from EasytoGrowBulbs.com). And some little pots crammed with the overflow because I overbought. I did have enough to fill a concrete planter in Madisonville, near the community garden. And my boss gave me some extras for work for another one, so we're spreading the love.
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