Patio Garden 2016
I haven’t really had too much time to focus on my patio garden this year, all though I did buy some plants back in May. While some died even before I had a chance to plant them, my best plant this year is Zucchini! Yes! Right now I see three growing …
I have a tomato plant with four growing tomatoes, although either birds or squirrels are biting into them 😦
And herbs are great!
I normally get very excited with growing my vegetables in my small patio garden. But lately I have been too busy with work and classes, and frustrated with the squirrels, but not so much that I would give up entirely!
I didn’t try my organic seeds this Spring, but I did finally plant a tomato, zucchini, red bell pepper, fresh herbs: basil, parsley and mint and blueberries!
I still have my curry leaf plant, safely indoors tucked away from the elements!
So far so good…
My Patio Garden this year is not to its usual standard. But I still hope to plant some greens, once there is a breather…
Will keep you posted.
See:
Patio Garden 2015
Patio Garden 2014
Patio Garden 2013
Gardening
It’s been a little over a week since I first planted the seeds for my Patio Garden. Each evening on returning home, I have eagerly checked them for signs of life. Tonight I wasn’t disappointed!
I saw tiny sprouts for tomatoes and beans. In fact, I noticed signs of growth in the bean plant the last 2-3 days.
While I wait for the other 6-7 plants to show signs of growth, I am excited to see two plants off to a good start!
After dragging my feet the last 2-3 weeks, I finally planted some seeds last weekend. Last year, I had some success with peppers, beans and tomato. Â Zucchini gave me a lot of blossoms but no fruit.
Right on cue, come spring, my orchid bloomed. Although my Amarayllis  for the first time failed to bloom 😦
My herbs from last year are still intact — basil, curry leaf, rosemary and parsley.
This year I added cilantro and mint. I haven’t had too much luck with planting cilantro from seed so far. Last year, I got seedlings, but they never quite grew into full-fledged plants. And the moment I moved them outdoors, they became food for squirrels and birds 🙂
This year I am trying to grow mint from seeds. Fingers crossed on that!
In addition, I have planted two bean varieties – Valor papdi and Gawar  (cluster beans), two eggplant varieties – green and purple, two tomato – yellow pear and red, sweet pepper and bottle gourd.
Once it warms up, I plan to plant some fresh greens: Spinach, Amaranth and Red Sorrel with a possibility of Lettuce varieties in the fall. I am tempted to plant Zucchini and cucumber as well. I plan to definitely pick up a jalapeno pepper and another tomato plant.
My Brussels sprouts plant appears to be still alive, although it hasn’t produced any Brussels Sprouts so far. My blueberry plant too is still alive, although it didn’t produce any fruit last year and unfortunately was infested with some pest.
I hope to learn some new organic techniques this year, to preserve my plants. Â Let see how many will survive and make it through!
This one was an inspiration 🙂
The moment I decided I would do something with the Zucchini blossoms, my mind leaped to the Red Sorrel leaves I had growing in my patio garden, in abundance. And I was very happy with the final result!
I wanted a quick to make pizza dough and this time my recipe is based on the one here. I planned to make white flour dough, but at the last minute chickened out and made part whole wheat as usual 🙂 Use 3 1/4 cups white flour if you prefer white dough.
Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups white whole purpose or bread flour
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 tsp salt
1 packet quick rising yeast
1 1/3 cups warm water
1/4 cup olive oil
Toppings:
1 tomato chopped
1 jalapeno sliced
a few zucchini blossoms
a handful of red sorrel leaves chopped
Mozzarella and Parmesan cheese
red pepper flakes
Tomato Sauce (Use your favorite or make some fresh)
Add yeast to warm water and set aside. In a large bowl mix the flours and salt. Transfer flour and yeast mix to Kitchen aid mixer and beat on high for 5 minutes. Add olive oil and continue mixing. Toss lightly with more oil if necessary and return to bowl. Cover with wash cloth for an hour or more till the dough doubles in size about an hour or two.
When ready to make the pizza, divide into 2-3 portions and roll out with rolling pin. Dough makes 2 large or 4 personal pizza.
Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees.
Top with cheese, and your favorite toppings. Sprinkle some crushed red pepper and bake for 12-14 minutes. Switch to broil and broil on high for 1-2 minutes.
Enjoy warm!
I have had some success, but mostly failure, with planting from seeds this year.
Over the last year I have collected several varieties of Organic seeds. I planted 12-15 different varieties, but only a handful succeeded: Spinach, Mustard Greens, Red Sorrel Leaves, Indian Broad Bean (Chikudukaya), Tomato, Brussels Sprouts and Indian beans. Several of them that sprouted, but didn’t thrive much, once I transplanted 😦
The most interesting part was ordering seeds some Indian vegetables such as: Amaranth Leaves(Thotakura), Red Sorrel Leaves(Gongura), Mustard Greens, Baby Eggplant, Indian beans (Goru Chickudikaya), Indian Broad Bean(Chickudi Kaya), and Jujube (Raigi Pandu). Most of these were a big FAIL!
The ones that survived include: Spinach, Mustard Greens, Red Sorrel Leaves, Indian Broad Bean (Chikudukaya), Tomato, Brussels Sprouts. I’ve had the curry leaf plant for a year, and it is still miniscule. But, it lives 🙂
Some have thrived better than others, such as Red Sorrel Leaves and Indian Broad Bean. Others struggle to grow. I’ve already picked some Jalapeno peppers and Spinach. I count at least 6 tomatoes and several peppers.
In the meantime, I relented and picked up saplings for the plants I usually grow: Basil, Parsley, Zucchini, Peppers and Tomato. My blueberry plant from last year while green, promises no fruit. The recent excess rains killed my strawberry plant from last year.
Birds continue to eat my flowers. And maybe my tomato plant. Really?
I’ve been plagued with cats, squirrels and birds. Progress is slow, but still looks promising! I am not ready to give up gardening 🙂
 Links:
I bought a whole host of Organic seeds last year, with an intent to plant. I never did last year. But I am ready this year to do some organic, patio gardening.
Patio gardening is tough…for the simple reason that space is restrictive. Planning sunlight and nutrients are hard. Space is limited. Still I hope to try….
I have tomatoes, zucchini, eggplants, beans, peppers, spinach, beans, herbs (basil, cilantro, thyme, parsley and more) and more…
And maybe, just maybe, this weekend, I might plant my seeds in preparation of spring.
What plants do you hope to plant this year?
Fly 'n Cook 