Posts Tagged ‘herbs’

The plots at the Santa Fe Railyard community garden are really beginning to take off. However, some of the herbs are not taking to the hot summer heat as well as their vegetable companions.

Chives, garlic chives, sage, and cilantro, all ready for harvest.  These are all planted in self-watering yogurt containers, and placed in $1.00 tins I purchased from Ikea.

This is my second harvest from the garden.  In a few days, I’ll also be able to harvest some radishes, as well as additional zucchini and green beans.  The tomatoes are on the vine, and should be ready to pick by late June.  Still no sign of pepper flowers, but they should be on the way as well.  I made a nice green salad with everything pictured in this bowl, plus chives and garlic chives from the herb garden.  I dressed it with homemade honey-mustard-balsamic vinaigrette, and served it with some crusty bread.  There is something so satisfying about eating a salad grown totally by your own hands.

I walk past this sliver of land on New Hampshire Avenue (just off of U Street) every morning on my way to work.  While it doesn’t look like much now, by mid summer it is in full bloom, with basil, sage, and other herbs adding sights (and smells) to this otherwise “wasted” piece of land. The sign says, “We are proud to share our organic herb garden with our neighbors.  Please feel free to indulge in the deliciousness of our mint, basil, and more”.  Has anyone “indulged?”  I don’t know how you’d get in there to pick the herbs!

I currently have five or six varieties of herbs growing in self-watering yogurt containers. The constant moist soil is perfect to foster strong root growth – especially on a hot balcony, where the soil can dry out quickly. Check out my post on Prince of Petworth for some tips on growing your own herb garden.