Patio Garden: Starting Small

I know! I should have waited until the Fall, but I just couldn't.  I have no patience.  I had to plant a few things on my patio this month to see how they would do.  And guess what?...

Things are blossoming!  After being in the dirt for two weeks, everything I've planted is not only surviving but thriving.  Here's what I did:

Since I don't know how to grow things from seeds, I started my garden the Youtube way but whacking the bottoms off of my organic grocery store produce and sticking them in water to sprout.

For $2.00 I bought this basil plant at a farmer's market.  As a lark, I stuck the roots in water and voila! It perked right up and was happy to head back to some dirt in a pot.

Under the strict supervision of Goose and our cat, Precious, I laid out a line of pots I picked up from The Home Depot.  I filled each one with a little gravel on the bottom and organic vegetable potting soil on top.  The Home Depot was running a sale on some veggies and herbs so I picked up a few more (tomato, stevia and thyme) to round out my little garden.  Here's what I've got planted:

• Green onion
• Leeks
• Celery
• Rosemary
• Parsley
• Thyme
• Heat-resistant Tomato
• Mint
• Basil
• Stevia
• Aloe
• Pineapple
• Avocado (expected to produce fruit in the year 2040)

Then to make the space look a little cozier, I added a Mad Mats recycled plastic rug between my two Costco reclining chairs.

Like I say, everything has been in the dirt now for a few weeks and so far, so good.  The stevia, tomato and green onion are even growing little blossoms.  I had no idea green onions did this.  Very cool.

I'm happy to report the porch is not as hot as I feared it would be.  In fact, it doesn't start to receive direct sunlight this time of year until well into the afternoon.  So as far as my plants are concerned, the amount of sunlight is perfect.  I'm prepared for a change of attitude later in the summer, but I'm thrilled with the crop right now.

Next up, I plan to install a proper rain barrel.  Right now I'm just catching rain in glass jars on the side of my house.  LOW FI. I also want to install a hydroponic tower to grow most stuff vertically.  My goal by the end of the year is to grow enough leafy greens to actually support our family's diet.  I think the tower can do it. But I spoke to a salesman and he said I absolutely do NOT want to plant anything in the tower until after summer is over or I will end up with boiled roots.  For the sake of the spinach, I have to wait until September.  Until then, I'll just fuss over my little tomato plant.  Grow maters, grow!