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?
The edible garden finally got some much needed attention this weekend. Every spring I'm reminded of how much time is required to do things right in this part of the garden. 
It can only be neglected for a short time and lack of attention will be evident. 
The start of April looks more like May. I'm guessing proliferation is due to our very warm February. Checking back to last year's records (just to be sure) reveals that truly every plant is ahead of schedule. 
There have been a couple of odd twists in this spring garden. With tomatoes and green beans that made it through all the freezes of winter we've had ripe tomatoes since late January and fresh green beans since February. That's odd. The first ripe tomatoes are ususally in May. In truth they were fall tomatoes. You see, they were covered and uncovered with drapes of freeze cloth many times in December when they should have been giving us fruit. That cold delayed their production until January. Odd. New plants of tomatoes and seeds of beans were planted for spring ~~ they are not ready to harvest. 
The snap peas (planted 11.10.10) are fizzling out now that the soil has heated up. 
Romaine lettuce is looking scraggly after the combination of all the rain last week and days of high temps . I'm culling most of it this week before it gets too hot and turns bitter. 
The last of the broccoli and cauliflower were eaten (such good stuff while it lasted) so I'll rip them out and plant my okra and eggplant in their stead. 
Everything got another dose of either Tomato Tone or Peruvian seabird guano fertilizer. I've been pleased with the results these organic mediums provide. With the heat comes more bugs ~~but so far they haven't been terrible. I know it will get worse as time (and heat) marches on. 
The fresh scents in the edible garden of herbs and vegetables are unquestionably delicious. Another pot of collard greens were cooked up just tonight~~ straight from the garden. Still supplying yummy goodness. 
Mammoth dill from seed ... it really is mammoth... and already flowering. 
And now the flowers of the confederate jasmine clambering over the length of the perimeter fencing is blooming. Early by a few weeks. Sweet, lemony fragrance is filling the air.
Speaking of the perimeter. I've utilized 'Snow Princess' Alyssum and Sedum Florida-Friendly Gold as ground cover on the backside of the edibles . That chartreuse has a way of drawing the eye right to it. 
Thunbergia erecta King's Mantle was added this spring in place of the purple firespike that was yanked out. 
Also, just for fun, a Louis Philippe rose. The firespike was taking up way too much room. 
Harvesting a handful of whatever the mood calls for at the moment is often all that's needed. 
Other times a basketful is harvested... the beauty of having fresh vegetables at your fingertips. 
Gaillardia pulchella reseeded everywhere in the edibles this year. 
It is not easy to pull up perfectly good plants that are taking up too much ground. Soil is needed for edible species but flowers draw in the pollinators. Do you see the damselfly again to the left of the bee? Such a pretty and delicate thing. 
It is so rewarding just to walk through the garden and see all the life flitting about in streams of light. Such delightful sensory-goodness as the sun signals the critters to awaken each day. 
These are the critters we invite. We want them to visit and to take up residence. 
These are the critters I wish never would have found my garden. This colony is but a smattering of what I typically find each morning. Smashing ensues and I can only hope I'm finding the clusters as they hatch. 
Carrots were hiding under some tomatoes I pruned. Sweet Treat hybrid from Burpee. They were added to stir fry of squash, peas, broccoli, cauliflower and sweet onions last night. 
Large containers of oregano that doesn't melt in our heat has been a great performer for several years. Black and blue salvia is mixed in for color that comes back each spring. 
Yarrow in the foreground of the container has pushed out its first bud. Yay. This spot must be getting enough sun. I've mentioned previously how my yarrow is just a pretty fern-like green plant. But now! Flowers will join in the fun. There are never-ending surprises in this part of the garden. So much life! Always drawing me closer. Beckoning for a touch, a pinch, a nose-dive into a fragrance, a dead-head, a watering... it's a glorious place to be!
