My forays into the world of horticulture have been timid and intermittent at best, but I’m beginning to fear that my thumb is decidedly black. I’m not sure how it happened. My grandmother, nearly 90, can still coax beautiful tropical plants out of her backyard despite the trials that South Georgia weather presents to her. My mother’s garden always seem to be healthy and happy, not to mention effortlessly and invitingly landscaped. Her rosemary bushes reach almost to the eaves of the house, her flowers are cheerful and strong, and her spinach somehow survives regular attacks from bugs and hungry deer to give us delicious and fresh salads. If gardening skills are a matter of genetics, I ended up in the shallow end of the pool.
Though I’m sure to eventually murder whatever plant crosses my path, a couple of months ago I decided to purchase several herbs to place on the balcony of our downtown loft. As it turns out, that has proven to be a wonderful decision. Don’t get me wrong - the poor little plants are, in fact, languishing. They suffer from an aloof caretaker who regularly forgets to water them, an extraordinary amount of wind battering them around, and, of course, the cruel Texas heat.
Despite all of these trials, however, my herbs are tenacious and have provided us with a ready supply of fresh thyme, rosemary, and basil for over two months, however reluctantly. My cooking and my wallet could not be happier. I purchased each plant for about $2 at Wal-mart. I already had a couple of pots for them, and the extra potting soil was around $6. For awhile I used a Solo cup to water them, but eventually broke down and got a plastic watering can for around 99 cents. My total investment was a whopping $15.
I had previously been purchasing fresh herbs from the grocery store and never, ever, ever used the entire bunch before having to throw them out – a painful experience. Now I can just step outside, snip off a little here and there, and encourage the sad little things to keep on keeping on. Sometimes I remember to reward them with some water. I’d say that I broke even after the first month and now I might as well be picking leaves off tiny little money trees. (Ok, I’ve wandered into hyperbole, but I really am excited about this!)
So, if you like to cook with fresh herbs and have a little bit of space on a windowsill or balcony, go grab some $2 plants. It’s a great investment and a confidence boost for the black of thumb.
PS – Central Market does sell small bunches of locally-grown herbs for $1. They are great to supplement if you need larger quantities for certain dishes.
Though I’m sure to eventually murder whatever plant crosses my path, a couple of months ago I decided to purchase several herbs to place on the balcony of our downtown loft. As it turns out, that has proven to be a wonderful decision. Don’t get me wrong - the poor little plants are, in fact, languishing. They suffer from an aloof caretaker who regularly forgets to water them, an extraordinary amount of wind battering them around, and, of course, the cruel Texas heat.
Despite all of these trials, however, my herbs are tenacious and have provided us with a ready supply of fresh thyme, rosemary, and basil for over two months, however reluctantly. My cooking and my wallet could not be happier. I purchased each plant for about $2 at Wal-mart. I already had a couple of pots for them, and the extra potting soil was around $6. For awhile I used a Solo cup to water them, but eventually broke down and got a plastic watering can for around 99 cents. My total investment was a whopping $15.
I had previously been purchasing fresh herbs from the grocery store and never, ever, ever used the entire bunch before having to throw them out – a painful experience. Now I can just step outside, snip off a little here and there, and encourage the sad little things to keep on keeping on. Sometimes I remember to reward them with some water. I’d say that I broke even after the first month and now I might as well be picking leaves off tiny little money trees. (Ok, I’ve wandered into hyperbole, but I really am excited about this!)
So, if you like to cook with fresh herbs and have a little bit of space on a windowsill or balcony, go grab some $2 plants. It’s a great investment and a confidence boost for the black of thumb.
PS – Central Market does sell small bunches of locally-grown herbs for $1. They are great to supplement if you need larger quantities for certain dishes.
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