Alifair's Profile

The best tip I have is to plant in LARGE containers. Nothing smaller than 8", even for herbs. Otherwise you'll be very disappointed in your yield. I regularly have friends who are in disbelief over how much better my herbs are doing than theirs, and the difference is usually that I have mine in big plastic pots while they have theirs in those cute little herb garden planters that have three already-labeled pots and a tray. Those are probably okay for succulents, but not if you want a real herb garden!

If you want to start from seed, use a seed-starting soil or those little expandable pellets. Especially if you're starting heirloom varieties They just aren't as hardy!

I've found that small varieties definitely do much better than full-size in patio containers. Go with cherry tomatoes rather than Beefsteak. You'll nurse that Beefsteak all summer long just to get one or two tomatoes off of it (even in a 36" pot in full sun!) - Meanwhile your cherry tomato will be producing like crazy! I've grown gherkin cucumbers with success (This year I'm trying cucamelons!), but not their full-size cousins. I've also grown a summer squash plant, but used it for squash blossoms and baby pattypans rather than waiting for them to get full-sized.

Overall, I'd say that you probably won't be harvesting a "bounty" from your patio garden. You won't, for example, be eating huge bowls of green beans or harvesting giant salads for the whole family daily. But you'll get a couple of really fun, tasty meals out of it. I think of it as practice for when I can finally have a *real* veggie garden in my backyard!

I'm trying to figure out what to do with my "bar" area. I buy bottles of liquor, have one sip, and then remember I don't really like liquor... So I have quite a collection sitting on top of my refrigerator! I'd like to move them somewhere out of the way, but can't really think of a spot where I have space... I'll likely give a few bottles away, too.

Lovely home. I bet it looks even prettier without the garish flash photography.