Get Growing: Cilantro!

So, its my first season doing my own growing - and like most things I do for the first time, I am mucking it up. Hence, a lot of back-pedaling, doing a lot of research I probably should've already done.

The advantage? I am going to share it here with you! As I learn things, you'll learn them too, and maybe you won't muck up anything at all when you go to start your own plot in the backyard.

Today's lesson: Cilantro!

Yum with black beans and spices! Yum with chicken sausage and feta cheese! Yum in fresh home made salsa! Yum on garden fresh egg sandwiches!

What you need to know - that I didn't... don't let it flower!

Most herbs are this way. Where a flower signals the coming of fruits and vegetables on plants like tomato, and cucumber... flowers on the tops of plants like cilantro and basil, mean the plant will give more nutrients and energy to those flowering buds, than it will to the production of leaves = no more cilantro.

The solution: pluck them off before the buds mature to put the plants attention back on the production of new leaves, OR let them mature and resow themselves back into your garden, you'll have a new cilantro crop in a few weeks.

I really messed up this one because...not only did I not pluck off those flower heads before they matured, neither did I let them resow! I cut them for a nice fragarant bouquet for our kitchen island. They look beautiful and smell great, but I guess we will be getting the rest of our summer's cilantro elsewhere.

My defense: we got a pot of cilantro when we made our trip to Laurel Hill Gardens. The pot we got already had a few stalks that were thicker and more stick like - those on their way to flower. Those leaves closest to the flower, don't look like cilantro. We got some dill too and planted that next to our cilantro in our herb pot. I couldn't figure out if the flowering stalks of cilantro were tall stalks of dill ... did you know? Coriander used for seasoning are the seeds of the cilantro plant?

Always learning.

The silver lining: Our tomatoes are coming!

We learned (before planting) by talking with someone from our neighboorhood farm, Greensgrow, in order to prevent blossom rot , a common ailment of tomato plants both home-grown and commercial, smash up some egg shells in your tomato soil before planting your starter plants. The result - the egg shells will provide the plant with the extra calcium it needs to prevent blosson rot = beautiful, delicious fruit!

It looks like we're well on our way!

Memorial Day Weekend Project Idea: Plastic Planter Pick-Me-Up

Last weekend we headed off to Chestnut Hill's Laurel Gardens to redeem our gift certificates for all things plantable. 

Now we have Squash, Zucchini, Melons, Tomatoes, Arugula, Cucumber, Kale, Rosemary, Chives, Basil, Cilantro, and Mint, Oh my!

Then came the conundrum... Where to plant all these yummy, pretty things?

Not in the ground, for, we are moving next month! (plus, lil pitbull Leroy has dug up everything green that's touched the dirt this side of the fence.) We did have all these plastic pots from last and previous years' gardening efforts, but since they've remained outdoors with every passing season, they weren't looking so hot. Unfortunately, with big things turning over right now, there just wasn't enough money to put into new, aesthetically pleasing planters. 

EEEEEK !

Then, I remembered a couple of weeks ago, when I spotted a few striped ceramic pots in a neighbor's yard. They were beautiful. I was jealous.And this is how I got the idea to turn our own ordinary plastic pots into diy works of art!

Here's what you'll need for this fast, fun, inexpensive, project:
-Plastic flower pots (be sure to clean the outside with soapy water and dry before painting if they are used)
-Plastic spray paint  (1 can covered at least 2 pots for 12-16" pots)
-Painter's tape (we used 1'' tape here, but you can use any size)
-A couple of Coronas, to keep the body hydrated!
-Some good music to keep you movin' while you're waiting for the spray paint to dry

First, use the painter's tape to create a design or pattern on your flower pot. Go over each piece pressing firmly a couple of times to ensure smooth lines.

When you are satisfied with your design, spray plastic spray paint on your pot over the tape. I like the way it looks when 1 light layer is sprayed on, dried, and then another light layer of the same color is sprayed on top. The finish looks better this way, no thick, runny spray painted pots!

When the second coat dries, carefully remove the tape. Voila! Your fresh new pot is ready for soil and plants!

See. It's easy. It's cheap. And it's a one-of-a-kind pot for your home, patio, yard or gift!

Hope you all have a great Memorial Day weekend! 

This Weekend!

So this weekend we are looking to make our current backyard from a 'before' into an 'after'!

Have you heard about Philadelphia's Groupon? Its a great web-based service that presents its members (membership is free) with daily area coupons.

We were lucky enough to snag coupons for Laurel Hill Gardens, $100 worth of gardening tools and supplies for only $50! And this weekend we plan on cashing them in!

We're not quite sure what we want to grow yet. I know grape tomatoes and a nice selection of herbs is at the top of my list. We may pick some out some nice annuals as well.

I got a little ambitious with the yard in the 'after' - we will never have green green grass, and I don't know where we would find a fence like that.
But if I could have everything I wanted, wouldn't it be great to have a private city getaway like this one in the picture below?

(photo credit)

Maybe some day. Also on the list of things to-do this weekend are the annual Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby, followed by the Trenton Ave. Arts Festival, both which are sure to be a blast.

And did you hear? Its Making Time's ten-year anniversary, sure to be a good party if you are looking for something to do later on.

Hope you all have a great weekend!