porch gardening

by Sarah Zinkel on May 4, 2012

yesterday was an absolutely gorgeous day here in madison. it was even a little bit warm + humid for my tastes, especially for early may, but i’ll take it after the nastiness that was last weekend’s weather.

anyway, the nice day combined with the email i got saying our csa spring share starts next week (wheeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!) got me thinking about my garden for this year.

thanks to living in an apartment, we don’t actually have any land to grow our garden, but we do have a moderately sized porch.

last summer liz and i had a pretty good garden going out there!

i had lots of flowers (i forget what kind!) as well as some basil, cilantro, and green bell peppers. liz also planted tomatoes, beans, and kale that was eaten up by stupid cabbage worms.

it was awesome.

it was also really not planned out.

i picked up some herbs at the farmers market.

then i went home and my mom gave me flowers & bell pepper seedlings.

then liz brought home beans and tomatoes and kale.

and we slowly accumulated pots to accommodate everything.

and it worked.

kind of.

our porch only gets morning sun, which is really not ideal for growing lots of vegetables. it should work with herbs though. and, it should help to start what vegetables i do plant before july! hah. yeah, we got things started a bit late last summer too…

after having all of those thoughts during a seminar that was way over my head yesterday, i headed to jung garden center to see what they had!

jung garden center madison wi

i ended up leaving with the back of my jeep full!

jeep full of garden supplies

(please ignore the dog hair covered jeep…that’s the dogs’ spot.)

i got some plants, a little gardening shovel, a purple (!) tomato cage, and some potting soil.

then i came home and surveyed what i had to work with.

our empty porch

it’s like a blank canvas. :)

(p.s. see jake & capone in the window?!)

i brought up all of our pots and planters left from last summer.

patio garden supplies

and brought my little helpers outside to hang out.

cute puppies on the porch

i didn’t have enough potting soil to finish planting everything, so i think i’ll leave it there and wait to show you “after” photos until i am actually finished!

***

it’s friday! i’m working at home today, but it doesn’t feel like friday because i’m going back to campus tomorrow for an all-day career day thing. you know, since i’m graduating soon and have no idea what i’m doing with my life?

yeah, i need to get on that!

i hope all of my wonderful blogger friends have so much fun at the blend retreat this weekend! i so so so wish i could have gone! it’s ok though – i will be having some blend fun this weekend by doing the blend 5k on saturday or sunday…

off to work now….

***

p.s. today is the last day to enter my giveaway for an awesome technogel pillow! i’ll pick & announce the winner tomorrow morning.

*****

do you have a garden?

what fresh produce are you most excited for?

i know it’s a long way off before they’re ready, but i love baby sungold tomatoes! they’re like candy!

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{ 9 comments… read them below or add one }

1 heather May 4, 2012 at 9:25 am

I hope you post photos about your garden throughout the summer. I love reading about successful small gardens – it gives me hope that I too can grow some herbs at home!

So happy to hear you are going to participate in the Blend 5K!! HOORAY! I am v. excited to push myself and see what time I can manage.

Happy Friday, dear!
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2 sarah May 4, 2012 at 9:55 am

i will definitely give garden updates through the summer – how could i not?!? my plants become like my babies. :)

i’m excited too! i haven’t run since crazylegs, but i’m excited to give it my all & run hard!

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3 emily (a nutritionist eats) May 4, 2012 at 9:52 am

Your porch looks so familiar! I think my husband may have lived there at some point… :)
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4 sarah May 4, 2012 at 9:54 am

really?! that’s so funny! it’s in de forest….?

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5 emily (a nutritionist eats) May 4, 2012 at 9:55 am

Oh…no. I forgot you lived in de forest. They look exactly like these apartments on the west side, across from Target…
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6 sarah May 4, 2012 at 9:56 am

gotcha. they’re pretty generic apartments, so i’m not surprised that there are identical building scattered around the madison area! :)

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7 Liz @ IHeartVegetables May 4, 2012 at 2:02 pm

You’re going to have a fantastic porch garden!! :) Good luck!!
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8 Renee May 6, 2012 at 11:04 am

Sarah…thanks for the small garden inspiration! We have a small patio off to the north side of our home where my plan is to create the “Garden of Eden,” or so my husband jokingly refers to it!

Keep posting photos!

Renee

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9 sarah May 15, 2012 at 10:45 am

i love that – “garden of eden”! sounds pretty great! :)

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