Cilantro is a ‘love it’ or ‘hate it’ type of herb. And, for those who love it, like me, it can be challenging to grow. It prefers the cool weather of spring and autumn, and a steady supply of moisture. Should the weather turn hot for a few days, you neglect to water, or – Heaven forbid – you look at the plants the wrong way, they’ll quit producing foliage and jump straight to flowering. This is where Vietnamese coriander comes in handy – it shares a similar flavour to cilantro, but it’s incredibly easy to grow!
Update: Niki’s new raised beds
When Savvy Gardening’s Tara Nolan launched her first book, Raised Bed Revolution, the timing was perfect for me. With photography for my book, Veggie Garden Remix scheduled for spring/summer/fall, I had already decided to completely renovate my own vegetable garden. I knew I wanted raised beds and was able to adopt many of Tara’s ideas and suggestions into my brand new kitchen garden.
Five reasons to plant new-to-you vegetables in your garden
I have my standard list of fruits, vegetables, and herbs that I plant in my gardens every year: heirloom tomatoes, lettuces, peas, basil, parsley, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, etc. However one thing I would recommend, that I enjoy doing each year, is to leave space for a couple of new-to-you vegetables. They don’t necessarily have to be new to market, just something that you yourself haven’t tried growing before.
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Growing organic apples with fruit bagging: The Experiment
I’m all about experimenting in the garden. I love to conduct my own little “studies” and compare different gardening techniques and products to see which ones work best for me. As scientifically-casual as these experiments are, I often wind up discovering a good bit of worthwhile information. Case in point: growing organic apples with the fruit bagging technique.
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Vertical vegetable garden ideas
A vertical vegetable garden is a simple way to boost growing space, reduce insect and disease problems, and beautify decks and patios. In my veggie plot, I use structures like trellises, stakes, and obelisks. These support vining tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, gourds, peas, and pole beans. But, I also have a vertical vegetable garden on my back deck and patio. With a little creative thinking, you can grow edibles on walls and fences, or create your own vertical space with hanging baskets or pallets.
10 upcycling ideas for the garden
One of the things I love to do is take old objects that no longer have a purpose and turn them into something cool for the garden. In my book, Raised Bed Revolution, I made a few raised beds out of items I’d found at a local antique market—an old wooden suitcase, a metal washbasin, a small dining table, etc. I figured this was the perfect topic to celebrate Earth Day, so I’ve gathered a few photos that will hopefully inspire you to get creative and come up with your own upcycling project for the garden.
