Happy Monday, everyone!
We’ve been working hard getting our garden setup ready, so I thought I would check in with a #flackfarms update (my handy garden hashtag on Instagram).
My seedlings are off to a great start. All of the tomatoes (Cherokee purple, orange, red, cherry) popped up in about a week. The peppers have struggled along, but they’re just starting to pop up. I think it’s because of the cooler, cloudy weather we’ve had off and on here lately.
My husband has also been hard at work building me another raised bed, this time out of cedar. We upgraded a bit and filled it full of dirt to ensure a good growing home for our tomatoes and peppers!
Since we didn’t have as good luck with the backyard plot last year, I painstakingly weeded it and we’re hoping to turn it into a flower/blueberry bush bed. We went to the farmers market yesterday to pick up the bushes and a lemon tree we will try growing in a pot!
My herbs are still going gangbusters, and I love how they thrive with such little work. We’ll add some cabbage, carrots and possibly chard to that box.
Speaking of herbs…here are some easy herbs to grow
I think herbs are a fabulous gateway plant (if you will) to work on your green thumb. And here are ones that have been super easy to grow in NC:
Rosemary
This is a classic! If you plant it “high and dry” as they say, this guy will come through rain and snow and offer such wonderful flavor for stews, meats, roast chickens, cocktail simple syrups and more. I’ve heard it also keeps bugs away.
Thyme
I have come to really love thyme after growing it for the past few years. There really are so many ways to use it, in vinaigrettes, sauces, with meat, roasted with veggies. And I’ve personally found that it’s hard to kill.
Chives
Chives have been another underdog plant that I’ve come to use in so many ways. I especially love how they just popped up green out of their dead strands from last year. They add just the right bit of onion punch to veggies, potatoes, butter, sour cream and more.
Basil
Although I have to replant this one every year, I really enjoy growing basil and all you have to do is keep it watered and it will grow beautifully. Basil is the perfect compliment to most Italian dishes and is nice in salads and sandwiches, too.
Mint
Finally, mint. It’s always a toss up how much of my (potted so it doesn’t take over) mint will grow each year. I love when it comes back in full because that means I can make mint water, mint juleps and other cocktails, and even use it in grain bowls and salads.
I hope that helps you get excited about growing some new herbs!