This is the second consecutive year that my wife and I are actively organic gardening in a local park, Christie Pits, downtown Toronto. The ground hasn't thawed yet, but we do have garlic growing over winter! Before we started, I had no idea you planted garlic in the fall like a tulip bulb.
Last year we had a 4' by 8' plot to grow anything we wanted, so we planted and raised Swiss Chard, Radishes, Onions, Lettuce, Tomatos, Pumpkins (got smashed by a jerk vandal), Zucchinis, Rosemary, Thyme, Basil, Mint and a Potato plant. That was one small plot, with us going to the garden four blocks away two to five times a week to water it.
With the results and recipes from last year's garden, we've decided to grow many of the same things, but some won't be returning. Specifically the Swiss Chard and Head Lettuce were the most resourceful because the more you pick to eat that night at dinner, the more grow in their place. Tomatoes were great but tricky because of how late they started and how hot it has to be. I was really happy with my Potato plant, because it took only a little space with a very deep (2 and a 1/2 feet) h*** for 9 large Potatoes to grow up out of one plant! Zucchini was great, and the flowers are eatable and tasty, definitely returning this year.
The things we won't invite back this year are Radishes because the didn't grow very large, the Pumpkin because its such a slow growing veggie and people don't respect them, and the Onions because they kept uprooting themselves.
Also we've decided to plant our herbs in pots because of space constraints, and because the Mint tends to spread out everywhere.
The only thing to remember when starting an organic garden plot is that 'complimentary gardening' actually works (meaning plants that you pair up to keep insects or pests away from each other), and to have lots of water near by so you don't have to haul it too far. I encourage everybody to start a little garden plot this summer and see what comes up!
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