Cool Season Pretties in the Edible Garden

If you've ever thought about planting some edibles there is no better time than now.

Learning to grow an edible garden has been one of the most enriching aspects of gardening for me.

For an endeavor that was so intimidating initially it's difficult to express how much joy it has brought over the past 3 years. Trepidation at times. But joy is always the overarching feeling that comes to mind when I recount this experience.

From my first effort at edibles in the spring of 2008 when there were just two lonely framed-beds in my side yard I fell in love with this process.

I also sensed the need to enlarge the space right off.

For me, rectangular boxes plopped in the corner were a great starting place but it just wasn't pretty enough. I shamelessly admit I like pretty. Pretty matters to me.

I envisioned creating a space that flowed with the rest of my garden.

A space that gave me the same peaceful sense I get when I walk into other areas of my garden. It would have curving lines with edibles and flowers blended together spilling and tumbling beyond their boundaries.

The straight edges of framed beds would be softened by the addition of hilled-up beds designed to avoid the traditional 'row' planting. And flowering hardy perennials would serve as foundational borders and edging. That way I wouldn't have to replace them each season.

It was simply a large grassy patch at the time all those dreamy plans were dancing around in my mind. Can you see the two framed beds in the upper left corner from the June 2008 photo above?

Along with the flowering borders there would be portable containers placed throughout in many sizes where seasonal herbs and flowers would rotate in concert with the seasonal climate or if it so happened ~~ the whim of this gardener.

Harvest. Just one of the sources of the joy I'm hoping to convey to anyone who really wants to try edibles but hasn't yet for whatever reason.

I'm a firm believer in "start with what you have and start where you are at the moment." Getting started is the key. Even if it's planting in one portable container. On a patio or a balcony.

In January 2009 to prepare for my second spring of sowing edibles more lawn was removed to enlarge the garden. Rather than spending my dollars on framed beds I spent them on good soil brought in and hilled-up in the new space.

Transitions from dreams to realities are not usually an overnight materialization. Always keeping in mind that gardening is the principle of seed-time and harvest.

Time. Every step takes time and patience. And with a little diligence and determination visions come to pass. By April 2009 what I had visualized in my mind was what I could see in my garden.

My home landscape used to be completely planned and predictable. The choice to plant heirloom seeds and allowing nature to have its way means that each season there are those occasionally surprises that add to the exhileration that blending flowers and edibles offers.

These days I can never be sure when/where a patch of bronze fennel or parsley or dill or even lettuce starts might decide to squeeze into a so-called 'planned' space and find some soil to take root. Fun stuff.

The sight of large leafy edibles happy to be in my garden supplies my table with food and my soul with great pleasure and satisfaction.

Life. Nurturing life and tapping into that sense of reward for giving my garden what it needs to grow. It gives back at a remarkable rate of return.

Peach tree blossoms are giving way to the beginnings of tiny fuzz balls of fruit. Outside of the designated edible garden is a Tropic Snow Peach tree mingled right in with ornamentals of agapanthus and pentas at its feet in the back garden. It has the feeling of being more naturalized rather than keeping ornamentals and edibles separated.
Self-seeding Gaillardia is no longer surprising. It is everywhere it seems. No problem. I've transferred many of the starts to other locations that could use a lift from these no-nonsense, brightly colored beauties.

What a learning curve there is with this type of gardening! What works. What doesn't. Not to mention the weather patterns and unexpected changes that affect each season. Inspiration to conquer comes along with the challenge. Attempts to master the timing, sowing, soil needs, irrigation, organic practices ~~ all a step by step process.

Last year with my first attempt at broccoli the plants were enormous but not a single fruit was formed. This season we've got broccoli! What could be more exciting!

Green Macerata cauliflower from heirloom seeds was added this year as well. Harvesting from both makes it doubly rewarding and oh, so delicious.

Cool season edibles planted last fall actually didn't mind the colder winter we experienced in December/January. Warm season seeds have been sown to come up when the fall plantings are spent. In Florida there is always a blend of seasons.

One of these days I aim to master eating (at least something) from the garden all year long. It's the humid, bug ridden world of summer when only bell peppers seem to endure that defies me. My first attempt to conquer the gap will be this summer. I'll be trying some heat resisant long yard beans to break that barrier.

Now what about you? Do you love this aspect of your garden like I do? Is it time to get to the dreams that dance in YOUR head?

What Organic Gardeners Eat For Lunch

A basketful of freshness is as close as a few steps into the garden.

Spring-like weather in Central Florida is signaling the edible garden to come alive in all its glory.

Cool season vegetables like Blue Curled Scotch Kale (Baker Creek Heirloom seeds) planted in November are all of a sudden putting on growth quickly.

Wando Garden Peas (Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds) are responding to plenty of warmth and sunshine while loving the cool nights.

Georgia Southern Collards (Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds) are truly effortless to grow! Really. They are. And if you like greens ~~ their mild, tender leaves will remind you how glad you are to be southern.

Succession planting of a few cooler season edibles were seeded this week:
Petite Rouge Lettuce (Baker Creek)
Little Gem Lettuce (Baker Creek)
Carrot Sweet Treat Hybrid (Burpee)
Radish Cherry Belle (Pinetree Garden Seeds)
Spinach Monstrueux De Viroflay (Baker Creek)

Only a couple of warm season edibles were also seeded:
Rattlesnake Pole Bean (Baker Creek)
Blue Lake Bush Beans (Baker Creek)
Bartering space for squashes and cukes ... hopefully next week I'll get those in the ground.

Bulbine as a perennial border offers plenty of nectar for visiting pollinators.

Existing edibles received another side dressing of Peruvian Seabird Guano Pellets for another layer of organic fertilizer.

Besides the beauty of being in the garden this time of year there is another remarkable gift it affords. It is one of simplicity and yet so ultimately satisfying!

Decide to take a break and cull a harvest right from the ground to prepare a meal. A healthy organic garden salad for lunch in a matter of minutes. From garden to table. What could be better!

What's your favorite edible from the garden? I know I'll be happy to have bush beans again this spring.
Meems

Inspiring Winter Edibles

Just a few short years ago framed beds were constructed and edibles were added to my garden for the first time. I'm not sure what took me so long to get serious about this aspect of gardening. But I can say now it was an experience that greatly escalated my well-established and already intense romance with gardening.

Right from the beginning it felt natural designing even more additional spaces to include herbs, vegetables, and ornamentals all mixed in together. Curvy borders intended to blend the edibles right in with the rest of the landscape gave me that cozy, comfortable feeling that "all is right with the world." That's important you know.

Spring-like freshness has been in the air for the past couple of weeks here in Central Florida. The crisp coolness during the day invigorates my soul and inspires me to make a big stab at winter clean up. A plant by plant decision is made whether to prune back the frost-bitten limbs. Each one done is a step toward a quicker spring recovery as new leaf buds are already pushing out everywhere.

Collard greens never cared how cold or frosty it got this winter. We've been harvesting tender leafiness from them weekly since November.

Although their leaves were rimmed with diamonds of crispy frost many mornings ~~ pretty shades of petite rouge romaine, cherry belle radishes, spinach, carrots, peas, and parsley didn't quiver under the weight of our cold winter.

Flat leaf parsley is popping up all over the garden from spreading its own seed. It is easily pulled up and added to container pots or moved around to more convenient locations.

Containers of rosemary, cabbage, daisies, violas, lavender, lobelia, and alyssum are grouped throughout to hasten the call to beneficial pollinators.

It doesn't take them long at all to respond as the warm rays of sunshine beam into the garden and brightly colored flowers lure all sorts of buzzing critters.

Broccoli and cauliflower have beautifully healthy foliage that thrived in the midst of frost. Now I'm still waiting on them to produce a harvest.

The edible garden needed some serious purging. All the lifeless remains of pole beans, tomatoes, green beans, and zinnias from early December frosts have been removed.

Space is now available for those same seeds to go in the ground in the next couple of weeks for a better chance at spring production.

Getting my hands dirty in the edible garden this time of year causes my heart to soar. In the cool winter air with sun shining brightly the whole earth and all of the wildlife inhabitants seem to come alive with the same joy and anticipation. Just take a moment to stop and listen to the buzzing sounds of tiny pollinators returning in numbers and birds' wings fluttering in the shrubs nearby.

It makes sense that the garden is where I spend a great deal of my time ~~ I can forget about everything else when I'm in the garden.

I know you feel the same way if you're reading gardening blogs. There are so many ways the garden inspires the gardener. What's the best aspect of being in the garden for you?

Healthy and Organic

Certainly there are times when being at home and puttering around in my own garden is prized even more than usual. Especially for this home-body.

Like so many other gardeners, my garden is a place of refuge and respite; the place I know I can go and lose that need for rushing and tight schedules. The place I'm sure to find peace and tranquility no matter what else is going on around me.

After being on the road for the last ten days being home again and getting back in the garden was just as I anticipated. Refreshing and invigorating.

Eating out for that many days is always a challenge. Fun at first ... but gets old fast.

First stop in the garden is to check on the edibles.

Straight from garden to table. Peace of mind. A yummy, healthy AND organic dinner to welcome us home! Collard greens and garlic stir-fry green beans paired with grilled lime-chicken breasts. Delicious home-cooking!

Side note**In August and September when prep for the fall edibles is a matter of an exercise in discipline ~~ it is good to remember that in a few short weeks it will all be worth whatever efforts are made.
The miracle of seed-time and harvest.

Elsewhere in the Garden.

Newly planted and blooming Camellia sasanqua 'Stephanie Golden'. Camellias are outstanding flowering shrubs but most cultivars are not fragrant. This variety happens to have a light rosy fragrance.

Adding a couple of sasanqua cultivars that flower in late fall translates to enjoying blooms earlier than the sometimes more popular japonicas which will bloom later in winter. Japonicas' flowers are larger but I'm particularly fond of the understated openness of sasanqua petals.

The tropical shady garden hasn't minded the drop in temperature this weekend. As long as it warms back up like promised this week.

Queen Emma is sporting the start of a new budding scape. Always a joy to see its magnificent blooms and smell its lemony fragrance.

And for fall interest the spent flower simultaneously displayed on the very same plant.

Caladiums are beginning to weaken as they fall asleep for winter.

Planted as bulbs they are well worth the dollars spent for the significant foliage color they provide. The bulbs will be left in the ground and we will patiently wait for them to re-emerge come spring.

Falling over each other as they fade. We have to give them kudos for they've lasted and lasted all summer long. Perfect for creating bright and happy spots all over this garden.
Colocasias, alocasias, and coleus remain strong and vibrant through these autumn days ~~ popping with deep hues that blend-in with their neighbors in the northside berm.

And the latest ... the paperwhite bulbs were delivered. They will go directly in the ground here for some winter-white flowers in a month or so.