Do you grow your own food or know someone who does?
I was lucky enough to grow up with my mom growing plants for eating in our own backyard. Even now, every spring and summer I get zucchinis bigger than my head, tomatoes more delicious than anything I've bought from a market, even the farmer's markets, and sweet peas. She regularly cuts scallions to be added to the fish we steam or fry. Do you garden, or keep a little herb box on your balcony?
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10 Comments:
Every year I try to grow basil for pizza. This year, depending on time and cost, I might try tomatoes, basil, red peppers. Then again, I get crap light in my garden. :(
Adam Kuban at 11:50AM on 02/21/07
We grow herbs in pots on the terrace. Basil, chives, thyme, rosemary and parsley. I'd like to do mint and lemon verbena this summer as well. The only thing is, I have to wash them very carefully because the air quality is so poor where I live.
caley at 11:54AM on 02/21/07
I'm lucky enough to have a friend with a huge yard that allows us to have a really big garden. We usually grow several different tomatoes, tomatillos, okra, squashes, cucumbers, leafy greens, brussels sprouts, radishes, carrots... it's always more then we need and end up providing lots to our friends.
Then I usually do herbs here at my place, thyme, chives, parsley, cilantro.
Alm25 at 12:15PM on 02/21/07
Adam, if you do decide to try tomatoes... get one specifically for containers, they tend to be the most forgiving when it comes to lack of sun, but it can still be hard. Also, a good key is if you can put in moisture crystals into the pot when you plant them...they help retain water, which is another good key.
Alm25 at 12:25PM on 02/21/07
We grow platanos, bananas, pineapples, yautia, lemons, grapefruit, oranges, pana, and more on our property in Puerto Rico. We also have chickens, but just for pets (we can't bring ourselves to kill them). We get pork, chickens, and rabbits from my wife's cousin a half mile away.
Lou at 12:31PM on 02/21/07
I grow my own herbs; dill, basil, sage and lavender in pots on my windosills. This summer I'm going to try my hand at window box radishes on the fire escape. I read something by Nigel Slater that says it's doable, so I'm going to give it a go. I'm also going to try those wee bitty currant tomatoes (or whatever they're called). Very excited!!
Ann at 2:06PM on 02/21/07
I have a good garden, we grow tomatoes to can, cucumbers for relish, sweet & hot peppers, carrots, lettuce and herbs.
Both my husband's family & my family has gardeners, so not only do we have our plants that we grow from seed, but we also receive a variety of plants from family...last year I had 10 varieties of tomatoes growing!
This year I want to try sweet peas & beets. I have grown tomatoes in containers & they grow great....plus there is the benefit of not having to weed!
mepolo at 4:32PM on 02/21/07
Last year I grew parsley and basil, and this year I might try tomatoes in a big pot - it's hard without a backyard of my own! I can't wait to have a big vegetable garden.
Amy Joe at 4:52PM on 02/21/07
My parents and grandparents live in Belize so they grow just about every delicious tropical fruit there is. Pineapples, bananas, coconuts, papaya, mango...
But my favorite thing they grow is cashew fruit and then they roast the nuts. There is nothing, I repeat nothing, like a fresh roasted cashew nut.
newbatgirl at 9:41PM on 02/21/07
I grow tomatoes thus the name Jerzee Tomato. (it is an unwritten law all italians must grow tomatoes)
Jersey tomatoes taste the best, I can pick them out of a lineup. I grow tomatoes, zuchinni, eggplant, scallions, herbs, cucumbers. Every now and then I grow something odd. I pickle, can, freeze and dry.
@Adam if your going to grow tomatoes start saving your egg shells. Let them dry out on a paper towel and stuff them in a coffee can or ziplock baggy. Bless you my child here is one of my secrets. Crushed up these make great soil food for tomatoes. Try plum, roma or paste tomatoes, they are hearty and less watery.
I don't use any chemicals, ever and never.
Fresh mint is like a weed, if you plant some outside it just grows like crazy.
I once had a sage bush that was 4 foot tall. The smell was amazing.
JerzeeTomato at 6:04PM on 02/22/07