Herbarium Creating a herbarium helps us remember and identify every plant growing in our garden. It allows us to gather valuable information about our vegetable garden, ornamental plants, herbs, and wildflowers. The process is simple and enjoyable, making it a great activity to do also with children. We can create separate herbariums or gardening books for each type of garden plant, including vegetables, ornamental plants, herbs, and wildflowers. Organizing your herbarium in this way makes it easier to find information later and ensures everything is readily available when needed. Creating a herbarium is not only helpful but also a lot of fun! You can personalize it by adding your own…
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Simple gardening – Growing HERBS and AROMATIC PLANTS /16
Herbs and aromatic plants Herbs and aromatic plants are an essential part of any garden. With a vast array of choices available, you can select plants based on their culinary uses, health benefits, visual appeal, and ability to benefit other plants and pollinators. Choosing herbs When deciding which herbs to grow, consider their purpose and common occurrence in the wild. These questions can be helpful: When buying already grown herb plants, always ensure that the plant is healthy, and before planting, control the root system very well (but gently) to avoid spreading diseases and pests in your garden. Sometimes, a new plant needs time to stabilize, which can sometimes take…
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Simple gardening – all about CITRUS TREES /15
Citrus trees (Rutaceae) While citrus trees are commonly associated with hot climates, they can also thrive in milder temperatures or be grown in pots, producing a significant amount of fruit. Among the many varieties available, the most familiar are basic lemon, mandarin, and orange. When purchasing a citrus tree, choosing a variety that produces fruit you enjoy is essential, as there are notable differences in taste, size, and growing requirements. For instance, I have a mandarin tree that yields small, sweet fruits. However, other varieties, often grown in my region, produce large, dry, and quite bitter fruits. These types are well-suited to colder climates, so if you ask for a…
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Simple gardening – all about STRAWBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, RASPBERRIES, BLACKBERRIES, AND KIWI /14
Berries and fruit bushes In addition to vegetables and fruit trees, fruit bushes and berries are invaluable and rewarding elements of any garden. You can enjoy various varieties of fresh fruit throughout the year. These plants are perennials, meaning once established in your garden, they will remain in the same spot for many years. For this reason, it’s crucial to select their location carefully. Consider their requirements, such as sunlight, soil type, and space, to ensure their health and maintain harmony with your garden’s surrounding plants. I have chosen several examples of fruit-producing shrubs that can serve as a model for caring for other shrubs. Strawberries Strawberries are one of…
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Simple gardening – all about LEAFY GREENS /13
Leafy greens Leafy greens, such as lettuce, arugula, rapini, romaine, endive, dill, mustard, and collard, are not only versatile but also relatively easy to grow. Their adaptability to cool weather makes them ideal for spring and fall planting, adding to their appeal for home gardeners. If you plant them in the bed (without interplanting), you can choose different varieties so they will grow and mature in other periods. Or you can select a smaller place to grow and then plant the same plants/seeds after some weeks, so you will always have fresh leaves to harvest. Planting and harvesting leafy greens Planting and propagating Collecting seeds from leafy greens is a…
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Simple gardening – all about ALLIUMS /12
Alliums The Allium family includes various ornamental and edible plants, such as garlic, onions, shallots, scallions, chives, and leeks. Chives are particularly easy to grow in flower pots. While some people report that their chives „die,“ this is often because the plant has simply reached the end of its season. With proper care, they will usually regrow in the spring. To extend the growing season, trim chives regularly and remove flowers (which are edible) before they dry and release seeds. If grown in a garden, chives can be left to complete their life cycle, flower, and reseed themselves, ensuring regrowth in the same spot the following year. Planting and harvesting…
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Simple gardening – all about GOURDS /11
Gourds (Cucurbitaceae) When we talk about gourds, we refer to a broad group that includes pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, squashes, and zucchini. These plants come in many varieties, ranging from edible types to those grown primarily for ornamental and crafting purposes due to their hard shells. In this book, we will focus on edible gourds. Planting and harvesting gourds Planting and propagating I recommend starting all gourds as seedlings in the greenhouse before transplanting them into the garden. Directly sowing seeds outdoors can be risky, as providing the ideal combination of warmth and moisture needed for germination may be difficult. Gourd seeds require a lot of moisture to sprout, but overly…
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Simple gardening – all about BEETGREENS /10
Beet greens Beet greens, encompassing all plants in the beet family, are a canvas of vibrant root colors from deep red, pink, and white to yellow and orange. Their leaves, in an array of shades, make them not just a culinary delight but also an ornamental beauty. With the exception of the Sugar Beet, which is primarily for sugar production, all other varieties are versatile and can be enjoyed raw, cooked, or canned. Their leaves and stems are equally edible, offering a wide range of culinary possibilities. While we primarily consume the leaves and stems of spinach and Swiss chard, not the root, I’ve included them in this chapter. If…
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Simple gardening – all about UMBELLIFERS /9
Umbellifers (Apiaceae) Umbellifers include fennel, celery, root vegetables such as carrots and parsnips, and herbs such as parsley and cilantro. Note that their leaves and umbrella-shaped flowers are very similar. Many umbellifers are cool-season crops, especially carrots, parsnips, and parsley, which prefer spring and fall. However, some (like dill and fennel) can grow in warmer months. Planting and harvesting umbellifers Planting and propagating Once umbellifers produce flowers, they will form seeds as the flowers dry. These seeds can then be collected and stored for planting next season. Since parsley and carrots are biennial, they take two growing seasons to produce seeds, so you’ll need to wait until the second year…
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Simple gardening – all about NIGHTSHADES /8
Nightshades (Solanaceae) Nightshade vegetables belong to the Solanaceae family, which includes a wide variety of plants, some of which are commonly grown as food crops. The name „nightshade“ is thought to have originated from the fact that some of these plants can be toxic or have medicinal properties. The family includes both edible and poisonous species, so not all nightshades are safe for consumption. However, those we commonly grow in our garden have safe fruits after they ripen. The nightshade family boasts a diverse range of vegetables, including the familiar tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplants, and goji berries. When choosing the right variety for each nightshade, think about the purpose. For…