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meme for Sassy_Fae:
Mar. 12th, 2007 06:02 am
( Read more... )Mar. 12th, 2007
( Read more... )Planting a salad urn
Mar. 12th, 2007 05:18 pmMy house has a wide porch on the front of it, and perched on the railing of this porch is a built-in urn that was one of the selling features for me. I found it so stately. The problem is that I've never done much with it. It's a bit too high for me to reach into it easily, at least to do any actual mucking about. I often forgot to water the things I did plant there. It gets at least half a day of full or almost-full sun during the spring and summer, which makes it probably the best garden spot around my house, but I've never really made use of it.
This year I'd like to make use of it. Furthermore, I'd like to plant something very useful in it. I want to plant edible things, and things I will actually eat. (Unfortunately, the two are not necessarily the same - I would be willing to try almost anything, but I'm likely to forget to use it if it's not among the foods I've made use of in the past.)
And of course, since it's right out in front for all the world to see, it has to look good. I do not want it to be obvious to non-gardener types that I've planted a vegetable garden on my front porch.
Criteria: 1) has a wide range of kitchen uses; 2) is hardy, and could withstand a lack of watering for a day or so here and there; 3) looks pretty; 4) can be picked a leaf or two at a time and thrive with such treatment (i.e. doesn't have to be harvested all in one go; I want to decide, "I'm having such and such tonight!" and go pick it) 5) goes with the other things that meet this criteria.
So what should I plant? I was thinking kale for starters, maybe some red swiss chard, and perhaps a couple of herbs. What would I have to do to the soil in this urn to make ready to plant these things? (The soil has been completely neglected for six years now, but it was probably potting soil before that.) When should I plant them?
Any advice is much appreciated and will be taken under advisement by myself and my team of friendly local gardeners. I'm sure some of you can guess who those are, and they're likely to answer this post. :)
Hmm, I don't have a good gardening icon. If this works out, I'll probably have to make one. Maybe I'll take a picture of the planted urn. :)
This year I'd like to make use of it. Furthermore, I'd like to plant something very useful in it. I want to plant edible things, and things I will actually eat. (Unfortunately, the two are not necessarily the same - I would be willing to try almost anything, but I'm likely to forget to use it if it's not among the foods I've made use of in the past.)
And of course, since it's right out in front for all the world to see, it has to look good. I do not want it to be obvious to non-gardener types that I've planted a vegetable garden on my front porch.
Criteria: 1) has a wide range of kitchen uses; 2) is hardy, and could withstand a lack of watering for a day or so here and there; 3) looks pretty; 4) can be picked a leaf or two at a time and thrive with such treatment (i.e. doesn't have to be harvested all in one go; I want to decide, "I'm having such and such tonight!" and go pick it) 5) goes with the other things that meet this criteria.
So what should I plant? I was thinking kale for starters, maybe some red swiss chard, and perhaps a couple of herbs. What would I have to do to the soil in this urn to make ready to plant these things? (The soil has been completely neglected for six years now, but it was probably potting soil before that.) When should I plant them?
Any advice is much appreciated and will be taken under advisement by myself and my team of friendly local gardeners. I'm sure some of you can guess who those are, and they're likely to answer this post. :)
Hmm, I don't have a good gardening icon. If this works out, I'll probably have to make one. Maybe I'll take a picture of the planted urn. :)
