Greenhouse & Garden: Cuisinique Greenhorn Edition
One Year Later: Exclusive for Members
I’d love to say that growing food and flowers can be achieved easily but the reality rests that it is not so. I first wrote this article in March 2022 (last year) and now it is time for an UPDATE!
March 2023 - nearly one year after sowing and growing our own seeds…
I have to start by saying that this is not my garden. My wild imagination and plans have been gracefully hosted by my in-law family. Our caring and meticulous Papa tends to the garden in the summertime and we could not have a bounty of fresh food at the end of the summer and throughout the winter without him! <3
A full year has passed and I can confidently say that I am infinitely better at preparing and cooking ingredients than I am at growing them!
Out of the 50+ seedlings sowed, only four survived. Yes…four. Gardening is extremely humbling.
Here is one nasturtium (top left) and one marigold (bottom right). The marigolds never actually bloomed because they weren’t in an optimal spot, got too much wind and the stem snapped before any of the buds could bloom. The heartbreak was real, but we will try again this year! They were placed beside the curry plant (top right) and budding basil (bottom left) - these did so well! I had two surviving sunflower seedlings that did O.K. in their growth but weren’t put in a sunny-enough spot - rookie mistake! It’s literally in the name!
Below, a beautiful, edible nasturtium! Ignore the dandelion leaf at the bottom! BUT, dandelion greens are edible so long as you know they are pesticide free - they make a great base for a creamy dandelion curry soup!
This year, I will be making my life a lot easier in the respect that I will be supporting my local greenhouses as much as possible. I’ve planned my garden always more ambitious than previous years, but this time I will be purchasing my plants - Already started, ready to be transplanted. Here I will share last year’s garden highlights, and this year’s garden plans!