I’m not sure if I’ve inherited my dad’s “green thumb,” but I have taken a stab at using the little space I have to grow fruits, vegetables and seasonings that I can use everyday. Whether it’s plucking a mint leaf for a cocktail or awaiting on ripe tomatoes and peppers, I’m excited about the progress of my patio garden.
I face some obstacles. First, I live in a duplex, and my neighbors, roommate and I share a patio that is all concrete and heavily shaded. It gets about five hours a sun each day (you want at least six!). But I decided I would go for it anyway, you know, make it work. All of my plants are in pots, and as they grow, I continue to space them out.
What I have growing: basil (Thai and dark opal), mint (spearmint, chocolate and citrus), sage, rosemary, cilantro, lemon drop, tomatoes, peppers (bell and banana) and a lime tree. Everything is looking good; I may have over-fertilized the bell peppers because I noticed several brown patches on their leaves. At first I thought it was sun spots, but my dad said if they’re getting to much sun, they’ll wilt or wither. Plus, remember, my plants lack sun more than anything.
I’ll keep everyone posted on how they fair.
I’m reading a book right now called “Raised-bed Vegetable Gardening Made Simple.” It’s an enjoyable book. The author grew up with a father who grew a majority of the food consumed by the family. I can kind of relate to him. Right now, my fridge is stocked with Swiss char and beets, and I have Irish potatoes drying on the counters, all courtesy of my dad’s garden. Anyway, in the book, Raymond Nones highlights the importance of sunlight, saying he had three tips for gardeners… location, location, location… which means… sunlight, sunlight, sunlight. He did go on to clarify that no yard will be the ideal location. Check out the pictures above to see my setup on my Belhaven neighborhood patio.
