My (mostly) container garden today

I recently found out that my little brother was interested in growing plants. I honestly didn't know that he had interests outside of work, video games and his girlfriend. But you learn something new every  day.  Unfortunately he only has a small balcony and a few things in pots. But I wanted to show him that it's ok to grow stuff in containers, most of my plants are in containers.  You just have to water them more and remember to replenish the nutrients in the soil. So here is my "garden" tour. (Sorry, lots of pictures)

My potted cucumbers (pickling).

My pimiento de padron grown from seed saved from nursery plant.

Mint

Thai Chilis (seeds from Renee's Garden). Some of the pods are rather large and fleshier than normal thai chilis.

The remains of one Super Sweet 100 plant, sun burnt leaves removed. Looks really scraggly and
should be replaced with a new volunteer that sprouted up, but I just can't give up on it!

My small patch of asparagus just gathering lots of energy for next spring.

Rosemary plant in need of a trim in my strawberry bed that needs to be replanted.

My border bed containing bush beans, more cucumbers, patty pan squash and bittermelon.

The bittermelon I have my eye on right now. Its about the size of a pinky.... I'm so excited!

Potted Asian herbs.

A Super Sweet 100 plant just waiting for a home (It sprouted up out of a
Cala Lilly plant, kind of weird).

My Dwarf lime plant, looks like we might actually get a lime this year!

My Pineapple Tomato plant in a smart pot.

Store bought basil (I had terrible germination issues this year) and a mystery
tomato plant (my tags go stolen by one of the two boys or they may have
worked in conjunction, but highly unlikely).

Another picture of the basil (photo makes it look a little off color doesn't it?).

Thai Chili bought from Lowes, pods look more like regular thai chili, hope they are hot!

Hot Banana Peppers, they have been yummy so far.

My only raised bed, contains 2 huge eggplant, 1 small Japanese eggplant, a zucchini, kale,
misc arugula, lettuce (bolted and needs to be pulled), bell peppers, jalapenos, habaneros,
Serrano's, a couple of misc scallions, and my attempt to grow wintermelon from seeds
saved from store bought melon.

Zucchini and a hidden scrawly tomato plant.

My fig tree.

My first fig of the season.

Corn being grown for looks and to hid the hole in the fence the dog
keeps trying to visit the neighbors dog through. Looks like we may get enough corn for 2 dinners.

My mom's favorite plant, my lemon grass.

Watermelon plant, planted in April, but languished and did absolutely nothing until very recently.
Good thing we have a LONG growing season.

Horseradish in a pot (I am so lazy, and digging the horseradish out last year was hard work.....)

A pot of green garlic and some thyme.

My Super Sweet 100 plant that is not doing well, horrible powdery mildew.

Chives and garlic chives.

So that's where the magic happens.... I wish that we had more space that received good sunlight to have more beds, but we make due with what is around. My main struggle on a day to day basis in the backyard is keeping the grass and palm trees alive (and keeping the dog out of freshly amended soil... but that is a whole different issue!).  Now it is time to turn my thinking to the fall/winter plants that I would like to see in the garden. We really don't get a frost here in SoCal, so I really do not have an excuse to not have a wonderful harvest every week.

What is going on in your garden today?

We're back!

I hope! Ok, we took a bit of a break after saying that we were back last time, but I'm still to lazy to get the camera out and boot up the computer. So I'm lazy blogging on my phone (hence the poor picture quality and lack of tags). Sorry!


Let's see.... We took a family trip to Las Vegas to visit with my husband's fathers best friend from Hong Kong who was visiting the US.  I think I'm ok never visiting Vegas in the summer with kids again. Ever.... It was miserable hot. We're talking 110 in the shade, fry an egg on the sidewalk hot! Yuck! But the kids loved it and we had a lovely time visiting the Hoover Dam and seeing the sights of Vegas.


The boys both started school. R started public kindergarten and G started pre-k, so I get 3 days to spend with the baby and either nap or do housework that might never get done. So far the housework has won out, but a nap is looking darn good.


Things in the garden are starting to ramp up. We are flush with zucchinis (my friends are avoiding my calls), the cucumbers are coming in so fast I forget to take pictures, our super sweet 100 cherry tomatoes are a big hit this year (we can barely keep a bowl full in the house), peppers are starting and my first bittermelon is growing!


And being lazy, nothing has been weighed at all this year. But we are eating well, so that is awesome. What is coming out of your garden today?


See what other gardeners are growing around the world at daphnes dandelions. Happy gardening all!

Garden Update

Can I really call it "Harvest Monday" when hardly anything came out of the garden? I've started getting the fall plantings underway, but since most of the time I have to plant seeds is rushed, I have no memory of what went where. So I can't re-sow more seeds until I figure that out. Add to the fact that the pesky critter who is stealing my strawberries and tomatoes is also grubbing on my pea seeds, my fall garden is not going great so far. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel, we have mild winters here in SoCal and the kiddo is starting pre-school soon (technically he was supposed to start this morning, but he and the mini me came down with colds) so I anticipate more time in the garden soon. Any-who.... Harvest Monday is hosted by Daphne's Dandelions, hop on over and see what real gardeners are getting from their gardens.


Kiddo has been noshing on radishes. They are growing really well, so he's a happy camper again. I think he has 3 containers on radishes planted. I might have to clear out some others and plant more to keep up with him. "Mommy, can we go and pick some radishes?" Such an odd and lovable child.

Too cute, he didn't share any of these.

Thai Chilis

Hansel Eggplants - I really wish these tasted better, they are really
prolific and pretty. Maybe I will give them a second chance and cook

them up again. I have been pawning them off on folks.

Hmmm.... more Fairy-Tale Eggplants in my future. YUM!

A pile of beans and a small squash plant.
No beans this week, I'm letting them mature and
saving seeds, I think.

A closer look at the squash plant. Overcome by powdery mildew.

One of my basil plants.

Critter damage. I'm buying a cage Friday.... bye-bye critter....

I didn't get a picture of it, but my Tuscan Kale is starting to look pretty! I have been semi busy in the garden as of late, lots of plants on their last legs have been removed and the soil was amended and replanted. I know that I planted beets, collards, peas, radish rat tales, broccolini, and asian greens.

And I am asking for some raised beds for Christmas.... but I think I might try to talk the hubby into buying them early so I can try to get some fall plants in them. Too pushy?

Want to know the best part about fall? No, it's not the cooler weather (which I LOVE), it's the fact that I am typing this up while watching MNF!

Ok, sick kiddos mean no sleep, so I am going to try to catch some zzz's. Happy Gardening!