Gardening Thankfully

The thankful reciever bears a plentiful harvest. - William Blake

With the wet and wacky weather we had this summer, it's easy to focus on the things that went wrong in the garden and overlook those things that actually went right. Despite all the things that died (and there were lots! It was a strange year), there were many things that continued to delight me in the garden. I am, as ever, thankful for all the beauty and bounty in my yard. How thankful? Let me count the ways.

1. I'm thankful for the blooming Black-eyed Susans that grew from the seeds my son and I planted a year ago. Black-eyed Susans really are gorgeous with Autumn Joy sedum.

2. I'm thankful for an incredible harvest of Carmen sweet red peppers. They are my favorite! I'm also thankful for the stores of them in my freezer that should last a couple of months at least. 

3. I'm thankful for the blanket flower that reseeded itself throughout my front garden because it's absolutely beautiful. 

4. I'm thankful for the Ornamental Kale I planted in the spring. It didn't look like much to begin with but the payoff was spectacular!

5. I'm thankful I discovered Swiss Chard this year. It's delicious, my kids love it and it's pretty.

6. I'm thankful for all the seeds my nasturtium plants produced. More for next year!

7. I'm thankful for the bumblebees who find my yard so endless fascinating because I, myself, find the bees endlessly fascinating as well. 

8. I'm thankful for the Soroptimist Garden tour for letting me peek into other gardener's landscapes to discover plants I absolutely must have. I'm also thankful they've chosen me to be on next year's tour. 

9. I'm thankful for my Henry Hudson rose bush because is just becomes more spectacular every year. 

10. Last, but not least, I'm thankful for my job which enables me to write about gardening, talk about gardening, teach others about gardening and most of all, to play in the dirt. I'm thankful for each and every person who spends their time to read this blog. Thank you!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Growing Herbs: Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the most deliciously pungent herbs there is. It is also one of the easiest to grow and harvest. This herb is not hardy to our area (zone 6 with protection) but it works wonderfully as a house plant, making it the perfect container herb. Where the dry air in our winter homes can make growing some plants difficult, this is not a problem for rosemary, so it's very easy to have fresh rosemary all winter long. In addition to being an attractive plant with leaves resembling pine needles, the herb has a unique and unforgettable flavor that is must for any kitchen. 

Growing and Harvesting Rosemary

Rosemary can be tricky to start from seed and because our season is so short, I recommend starting with a nursery grown plant. Planting this herb in a container will allow you to bring it in during the winter months. During this time, the plant will grow much slower than during the summer so either prune sparingly or plan to get a new plant every spring. At any rate, rosemary plants need to be replaced about every 3 years. This can be done by cuttings. 

Rosemary prefers poor to average soil with good drainage. Over-watering this beauty is the kiss of death! I found that out with all of our summer rains this year. My rosemary didn't like it one bit. When I moved the container out of the rain and let it dry out it fared much better. 

In the garden, rosemary will repel carrot fly which is a maggot that affects crops such as carrots, parsnips, celery, dill, parsley and fennel. Place near these crops to help with pest management. Indoors, rosemary will repel moths. 

Harvesting rosemary is as simple as trimming stems and stripping them of leaves. Leaves can either be used whole or chopped for use in your favorite dish. Because this plant is evergreen and does well indoors, it isn't as necessary to preserve rosemary as with other herbs. However, should you choose to, the leaves can be dried in paper bags and stored in airtight containers. Fresh rosemary can also be chopped and mixed with water to make ice cubes for use in soups and sauces.

Uses for Rosemary

Rosemary is one of those herbs that can take a dish from so-so to wow! It works wonderfully with chicken and other poultry, pork, lamb, fish, potatoes, breads, tomato sauces as well as many other foods. 

Fresh rosemary on chicken breasts is simple and delicious. My kids, picky eaters that they are, actually ask for rosemary chicken. New potatoes, butter and rosemary makes an excellent side dish. Finely chop rosemary and add to olive oil for a simple and flavorful dipping sauce for bread. Or add fresh rosemary to melted butter for use on breads and vegetables. 

For more recipes, check allrecipes.com for their Top 20 Rosemary Recipes. Just in time for Thanksgiving there's a recipe for Rosemary Roasted Turkey. Sounds divine!

Next week: Parsley--it's not just that stuff on the side of your plate!

Photo Friday: Ornamental Kale

 As you can see, I just took these pictures a couple of days ago. These plants are far and away the most showy plants in the garden now, even managing to detract from the weeds that got away from me this fall! I love the red variety with a doubt but the white really sparkles on these gloomy fall days. I also think the red and white a nice departure from the orange and yellow that dominates this season. So far these plants have endured several frosts and a layer of snow and they are still going strong. They've put on such a show that the mailman had to come up and ask what they were. 

Even though these plants aren't so much to look at throughout the summer they are so spectacular in the fall, I will definitely have more of these next year.

Growing Herbs: Basil

Arguably the most popular herb is basil. With over 40 varieties available, it's not hard to see why. Basil is part of the mint family (although it's not aggressive like mint) and has a strong flavor with hints of pepper, mint and clove. Some varieties such as lemon basil or cinnamon basil also have hints of their namesake flavors as well. Basil is useful in both savory and sweet dishes so is really indispensable in the kitchen. 

Notable Basil Varieties

With so many basil varieties, how does one choose? In my experience, any basil is a good basil, however, after trying several I do have my favorites. One is 'African Blue' basil. This is a large, vigorous growing basil with purple veined leaves. It also has gorgeous purple flowers which the bees love but once it flowers, it's inedible. I recommend getting one for ornamental use and one to eat. This basil has a fantastic aroma and amazing flavor--like sweet basil only more so. 

'Spicy Globe' basil is a bush basil which has a mounded habit and tiny leaves. The leaves can be plucked off and used whole. I love this variety with pizza with either tomato or alfredo sauce. As for it being spicy? Not any more than any other basil in this family. 

'Purple Ruffles' is a gorgeous deep purple color that looks great as an ornamental plant. Tuck this into your container gardens for contrast. You can still eat it! The taste is similar to other varieties of sweet basil although the way it looks in salads or with fresh tomatoes is stunning. 

Since the taste of sweet basil varieties is largely the same with minute differences and can be used all the same way, I suggest trying several varieties. Very quickly you will realize which ones you like. The best part? You really can't go wrong. 

Growing and Harvesting Basil

Basil is very frost sensitive so if you're starting from seed, you'll need to start them indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost date. Basil grows very well in containers and will easily grow in a sunny window. Outdoors grow basil in full sun and well-drained soil. Basil is a good companion plant to tomatoes and peppers as its aroma deters insects. It's also said to increase the vigor of asparagus. If you have these plants in your garden consider planting the basil along with them. 

Basil needs to be pinched off regularly so it doesn't "bolt'. To bolt means that the plant goes from mainly leaves to mainly flowers and seeds. Once a plant bolts, it's no longer edible.  The leaves will be tough and bitter. Pinch off flower buds as soon as they appear. This will also force the plant to grow fuller. 

Throughout the growing season, harvest basil as needed by pinching off the newest tips. In the fall, be sure to harvest all edible stems before the first frost. Basil can be air-dried by hanging bundles of 3 to 5 stems in a warm, dark place for 2 to 4 weeks. If it takes to long to dry, mold can occur. Basil can also be dried in the oven on the lowest temperature. Place leaves in a single layer on a cookie sheet and bake until basil is completely dry. Store dried basil in an airtight container. 

Basil can also be finely chopped, mixed with a bit of water and frozen into ice cubes for use in soups and sauces. Whole basil leaves can be frozen by washing leaves, spinning them dry, placing them between layers of paper towels and packing them in plastic storage bags to store in the freezer. The leaves will turn black but the flavor will remain. 

An easy way to preserve basil is to pack basil leaves into a sterile jar to within 1 inch of the top. Fill the jar with olive oil, cover the jar and store in the refrigerator. Leaves will remain green and can be used whole or chopped. 

 Uses for Basil

The easiest use for basil is with fresh tomatoes. Simply slice tomatoes, add a dash of olive oil and balsamic vinegar, chopped fresh basil and salt and pepper to taste. If you prefer, add sliced fresh mozzarella for a true caprese salad.

Basil also makes great pesto which can be used for pasta, sandwich spreads and breads. Pesto is easy to make in a blender and can be stored in the freezer until needed. 

Tomatoes and basil complement each other very well. Use basil in any dish that features tomatoes such as marinara, pizza or chili. Basil is often used in dressings and vinegars. It also goes well with butter, cheese and breads as well as chicken, pork and many other foods. 

One of the most surprising ways to use basil is in ice cream. Remember basil is part of the mint family and yes, it does go well with ice cream. I don't say this lightly, I love my ice cream! Soften one pint of vanilla just enough to stir in 1 tablespoon of chopped fresh basil (it shouldn't be soupy, more like soft-serve). Cover and freeze until firm. Delicious!

Another easy recipe is to take Italian bread spread with garlic butter and place whole basil leaves on the bread (African Blue is awesome here) and top with mozzarella cheese. Cook under broiler until cheese melts. Yum! We were fighting over this bread at work and if you were late to lunch? You missed out. Also check allrecipes.com for some great basil specific recipes. I'm particularly intrigued by the butter!

Next week, in time for Thanksgiving: Rosemary.

Container Gardening with Herbs

Herbs are incredibly easy to grow which makes them ideal for container gardens. They can be grown in individual pots or used in combo with other herbs or even flowers. They are especially nice when used in combination with flowers because of the great fragrance they bring to container gardens. In addition to their great fragrance and flavors, many herbs have insecticidal properties which make them ideal for companion planting either in containers or in the garden. 

Regardless of how gardeners choose to grow herbs, either in containers or in the ground, either outside or in, the question I get asked the most is: What do I do with them? 

It's possible that our short growing season in the Midwest has something to do with it. I also think the readily available dried herbs in the grocery store plays a part as well. Either way, we've lost touch with how to use and cook with fresh herbs. And fresh herbs are nothing like the dried stuff you buy in the store! Fresh herbs can take a dish from so-so to fantastic in a way that all the sauces and dried herbs in the world can't do. Many people think that cooking with fresh herbs is complicated but nothing could be further from the truth. Once you try a few recipes with fresh herbs you'll know how to add them to the dishes you already make. 

Starting tomorrow, I'll be running a weekly series on growing your own herbs, how to harvest them and how to preserve them. I'll even throw in a few recipes. Just in time for Thanksgiving! I'll also talk about some flowering plants that you may already grow in your garden that you can add to salads and other dishes for both presentation and flavor. 

Check back tomorrow to learn all about my favorite herb: Basil!

Gardening Around the Web: Off-Season Garden Projects

Gardening season is all too short here in the Midwest which leaves us garden lovers with too much time not gardening! Aside from spending that time planning next year's garden, I've found some easy (very easy because I'm lazy) projects that can be done in the off-season to stave off the gardening blues. 

Aluminum Can Plant Markers 
Any project that involves recycling is a project for me! Not having to buy stuff and create even more stuff is a good thing. I like this project not only because it involves recycling but is really simply as well. Many people who commented on the project were concerned about sharp edges and while others who have done this project claim it's a non-issue, others offer easy solutions to combat that if it's a problem for you. The sizes, shapes and labels are only limited by your imagination. I do have to say that I don't quite agree with the author though in her statement that they aren't the most attractive. I love the minimalist industrial design!

Lighted Herb Bookcase 
When I first saw the headline for this project I wrongly assumed this was going to be some complicated woodworking project. Not so! What I love about this is how easy it is to turn something I already have into something functional. I have many prefab book cases I've gotten from various places that I could easily use as a light box. The project suggests using it for herbs which I think is an excellent idea, however, why limit yourself to that? It would also be a great way to add house plants in rooms that don't get much light like north side rooms or the basement. 

Potatoes in a Barrel
More nutritious than a barrel full of monkeys! This isn't exactly an off-season project but I included it because I think it's genius and it may take some planning, particularly if you choose to use a found item rather than purchasing something specific. The basic concept is you plant potatoes in a barrel or other container of proper size in shallow soil. As the foliage grows up, you add more soil and the plant puts down more tubers. When the season is ready, you dump out the container and harvest your potatoes. There is another version here if the barrel thing doesn't work for you. It's basically the same concept but seems more work than I would want to do. However, if you're handy with wood and have scraps laying around, this may be the way to go.

Photo Friday: Hawaiian Water Lily?

Obviously, this little beauty is NOT from Minnesota. We have nothing like this in November, or even October when I actually took the picture. I had to travel all the way to Kona, Hawaii to snap this. It was torture I tell you, pure torture! A cursory Google search turned up nothing specific on what exactly this plant is. I'm assuming this is some sort of water lily since it's growing in a fresh water pond. However, I found nothing matching this under water lily. No matter, it's gorgeous. I love it. I particularly like the coconut floating in amongst the plants. Perfection. 

Planning for Next Spring

Half of the fun of being a Midwest gardener is planning. It has to be! With such a short season, the rest of the year is best spent dreaming about how great our gardens will be NEXT spring. Whether this dream actually comes to fruition is another matter entirely, however, when the ground is frozen there is nothing better than pouring over catalogs and websites to plan for next year. 

With the exception of a few small surprises, I was relatively disappointed in my garden this year. The late start didn't help. The bulk of my tomatoes ripened while I was on vacation in mid-October and promptly froze during that same time period. Weather in Minnesota! The late start in addition to our overly wet weather pretty much did in my garden. At least in my eyes. It was good enough to get my garden selected for the Soroptimist Garden tour next summer however. Add all these things together, late start, bad weather, disappointing turnout AND garden tour yard, you know I've already begun to plan for next year. 

I was hoping to get more done this fall than I actually did but seriously, that whole idea was a complete fallacy because my allergies had something to say about that. Needless to say, I got nothing done. Not really. The weeds are taunting me even now. That's all right, snow's coming...

My first step for next year's garden was to stop at Renee's Garden Seeds for some flower seeds to cover the seemingly acres of bare ground I have in my flower beds. New introductions for 2011 are already available. Some of the seeds I got will go directly into the ground, others I will start indoors earlier to have them blooming by spring. 

In addition to my favorites of narturtiums, Sweet William and cornflowers, I've fallen in love with Zinnias. Yes, Zinnias. I admit, I was not AT ALL in on the Zinnia love fest prior to this summer. My neighbor down the street, however, had them all along the side of her house. Pulling onto my street, the side of her house is the first thing you see. And the zinnias! They were gorgeous! All summer long! I must have them. More exciting is that Renee's Garden has special mixes of zinnias. I chose one called Cool Crayon Colors which is a gorgeous mix of pinks, purples and white. I also plan to throw in some Green Envy Zinnias. Should be beautiful. 

After the garden tour last summer, I fell in love with poppies. The best part about poppies? They are frost hardy and bloom best when planted as early as possible in the spring. Anything I can direct seed and have blooming in June is a plant I want to have. 

Other plants I'm trying for the first time in my garden include Larkspur (my son's birth month flower), Painted Salpiglossis and miniature roses. I've also got seeds for Persian Violet (nigella damascena), White Nigella and Pride of Gilbraltar (cerinthe). The last three I had never heard of before and I'm excited to see what they look like. I'm also aware that many of these reseed although from what I've read, none of them are invasive. Reseeding I love, invasive I don't (you know I'm talking about you Veronica!). I'll see how it goes. 

Besides the seeds, I'm planning to have more ornamental kale, more petunias and better containers. The massive amounts of rain we had did my poor containers no good. I have a multi-tiered container I'm going to turn into a  hardy succulent container because I've given up trying to grow other things in it.  

This is more than I've planned in the past by this time and I'm sure I'll just have more as the winter goes on since I'll have people checking out my yard this spring. 

Have you starting planning for next spring yet? What changes are you making in your garden? What are you planting more of?