Whore to Culture
So I've finally motivated myself to get my garden planted, such as it is. I live in an urban environment, yo, so when I say 'garden', I mean 'a few plants in flowerpots on my back porch'. Minor though the effort may be, it's oddly satisfying on some deep level to have growing things around. This year's crop:
Patio tomato
Roma tomato (theoretically salmonella free!)
cayenne pepper
habanero pepper
jalepeño pepper
tabasco pepper
dill
sweet basil
peppermint
chocolate mint
catnip
If my experience last time I tried this is anything to go by, I'm sure that squirrels will get most of the tomatoes and peppers, by which I mean they will rip the fruit off the plant with their filthy paws and take a bite or two before throwing it disdainfully to the ground. At least they don't do this with the habaneros, though I would kind of like to see them try. The catnip is something new-- I'm not sure how much of this will make it to Marble, as the neighbors downstairs have a semi-outdoor cat that isn't shy about hanging around on my porch already. If their cat ends up spending much of the summer stoned/twitchy, maybe the neighbors will learn something about the wisdom of letting a cat outdoors in the city. On the bright side, maybe having a cat-attractant amongst the tomatoes and peppers will help discourage the squirrels.
As for the mint and basil, if all goes well late summer will be a time of tasty mojitos. Now if only I could grow my own limes. And hops and barley...
Patio tomato
Roma tomato (theoretically salmonella free!)
cayenne pepper
habanero pepper
jalepeño pepper
tabasco pepper
dill
sweet basil
peppermint
chocolate mint
catnip
If my experience last time I tried this is anything to go by, I'm sure that squirrels will get most of the tomatoes and peppers, by which I mean they will rip the fruit off the plant with their filthy paws and take a bite or two before throwing it disdainfully to the ground. At least they don't do this with the habaneros, though I would kind of like to see them try. The catnip is something new-- I'm not sure how much of this will make it to Marble, as the neighbors downstairs have a semi-outdoor cat that isn't shy about hanging around on my porch already. If their cat ends up spending much of the summer stoned/twitchy, maybe the neighbors will learn something about the wisdom of letting a cat outdoors in the city. On the bright side, maybe having a cat-attractant amongst the tomatoes and peppers will help discourage the squirrels.
As for the mint and basil, if all goes well late summer will be a time of tasty mojitos. Now if only I could grow my own limes. And hops and barley...