Image from CookThink.com

Herbs have been used for centuries as for both medicinal and culinary purposes. They are incredibly versatile and somehow have the power to enhance just about any dish from chicken, to fish, to salads, sauces, soups and vinegars. So if you’ve ever prepared any of these things, surely you have worked with herbs.

Here at AML, we use fresh herbs whenever we can. And what we love about this is that it means we are snipping leaves straight from our own plants, not pulling a slimy plastic bag out of the bottom of our crisper (blech!). If you’d like to grow your own herbs, this is a great time to start! They are fun and easy to grow, and make attractive borders or container plants. You can have your very own fresh herb garden regardless of the (lack of) time and space you have available.

Six Easy Herbs to Plant, Pick, and Cook

When deciding which type of herbs to plant, think about what dishes are your favorite, and which you most enjoy preparing.

Basil: If you love Italian dishes such as Caprese Salad and Bruschetta, then a great herb for you to plant is Italian Large Leaf Basil. This variety of basil can grow to be up to about 24 inches, and can even flourish indoors in the winter. You’ll have plenty of leaves to use in scrumptious Italian dishes. If you would like to make your own homemade Pesto, try planting Genovese Italian Basil, which is the variety traditionally used for the yummy, garlicky basil sauce.  Or, if you prefer a more mild variety, try Purple Petra Basil, which has a wonderful sweet taste and a gorgeous violet color.

Chinese Garlic Chives: If you prefer Chinese dishes, then try planting Chinese Garlic Chives. You may not have seen them before unless you shop in a Chinese Market or China Town, but this is a totally versatile herb! You can eat the plants’ leaves, flower buds, and flowers. They have a garlicky but delicate and honey-like flavor. This makes them perfect for adding to simple dishes such as scrambled eggs and spring rolls.

Traditional Chives: Speaking of versatile, you can’t go wrong with traditional Chives. We end up chopping and adding these puppies to just about everything: pasta salad, baked potatoes, risotto, and salmon. We love it that the flavor is slightly oniony and peppery without being overpowering.

Cilantro: Did you know that Cilantro and Coriander come from the same plant? Yup, it’s true. So when you plant Cilantro, you really get two seasonings for the price of one, because in its seed form it is Coriander. Cilantro is also sometimes called Chinese Parsley, and it is popularly used in both Southeast Asian and Latin American/Mexican cooking. We love it chopped up in fresh salsa, or blended into an easy and healthy spicy hummus.

Dill: If we had to pick a favorite fresh herb, we would say that it is Dill. The plants grow beautiful yellow blossoms that attract butterflies, and the flavor of fresh dill is fantastic. Dill tastes particularly perfect on seafood, in potato salad, and of course in dill pickles. Dillicious!

Parsley: Ever wonder why at restaurants, they add a sprig of Italian Parsley to the edge of your plate? It’s because when eaten, Italian Parsley both aids in digestion and freshens breath. So your body loves parsley- and your garden actually does, too. It is a good idea to plant Italian Parsley next to roses, tomatoes, and asparagus. It also tastes great in a wide variety of dishes (not just Italian ones).

Fresh herbs versus dry herbs

At this point, you may still be thinking that it will be easier to just buy a jar of McCormick brand dried herbs off of a grocery store shelf. But here’s the thing about those little plastic jars: you really don’t know how long those herbs have been sitting there – not to mention how expensive they are. Herbs do lose their flavor over time, so it is best to snip small amounts right when you need them, rather than allow them to sit in your pantry for months and months.

Another factor to consider is nutritional value. Fresh herbs pack the most vitamin and antioxidant power. Fresh basil, for example, is a good source of vitamin E, niacin, riboflavin, dietary fiber, zinc, maganese, vitamin A, iron, and vitamin B6. (What a list!) Yes, dried herbs do also have great nutritional value as well. But exposure to light and heat diminishes the nutritional value, so it is best to dry your own herbs in small batches, or to freeze them, in order to preserve their nutritional integrity.

Want to be able to swap fresh herbs for dry ones in recipes? No problem! One tablespoon of fresh herbs is equivalent to one teaspoon of dry herbs. So experiment with using fresh herbs in your cooking, and discover the new flavors that they impart to all your favorite dishes!

For more cool and easy ways to use fresh herbs, visit our blogs Using Fresh Garden Herbs In Cool Summer Cocktails and Grow Your Own Garnishes.

There are two little words that, whether you are an expert or beginning gardener, are a welcome sight on any seed packet. These two words are: direct sow. Directly sowing seeds in your garden soil makes for super simple gardening.

This process of direct sowing essentially means that you can take a particular seed and plant it directly in your garden, skipping the indoor seed starting process. You may remember from past AML blog posts that seed starting, the process of sowing your seeds indoors then transplanting them outside once they have grown into seedlings, is a process that is necessary for many vegetables and flowers that need a safe, stable environment in which to germinate. But not all seeds necessarily need this. And if you can skip the seed starting process, well obviously that stands to save you quite a bit of time and money.

Directly sowing seeds in your garden is easy, and it is even cheaper than transplanting seedlings from your local plant nursery. You can find varieties of both ornamentals and edibles that may be directly sown. In a few weeks, voila, you have a no-fuss garden that did not even require transplanting!

Some of Our favorite direct-sow Plants

1. Marigold Dwarf Lemon Drop $1.59	2. Cosmos Celebration in Pink $4.99
3. Zinnia Cut & Come Again $1.89	4. Zinnia Green Envy $1.89

1. Marigold Dwarf Lemon Drop What garden would be complete without some sunny marigolds? These blooms are awesome in containers, and work well as a low ground cover. Try planting them as a border around any garden bed to attract bees other beneficial pollinators. Sow these little canary-yellow beauties after your average last frost date.
2. Cosmos Celebration in Pink Cosmos are without a doubt one of our favorite garden flowers because they require practically no maintenance and bloom steadily all the way through summer. This variety produces gorgeous daisy-like blooms in shades of pink, which is great for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies. As a bonus, one dollar from each packet of Celebration in Pink seeds that are sold through June 30, 2011 will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure to help in the fight against breast cancer.
3. Zinnia Cut & Come Again Yep, that’s right. We picked two different types of zinnias as our favorite. That’s because when it comes to summer bloomers, it’s hard to beat zinnias. They produce continuously from summer ’til fall, and all you have to do is deadhead them. This particular variety is perfect for bouquets, because the more you cut them, the more they bloom!
4. Zinnia Green Envy. How often do you see a chartreuse colored flower? We just love the unusual green-yellow shade of these blooms. Now imagine how cool they would look planted alongside some contrasting bright purple or magenta blossoms, like asters or salvias, in a container or garden bed. Zinnias love long, hot summers, and should be direct sown in late spring, 2 weeks after the last chance of frost has passed.
5. Sunflower Sun Spot. It’s the classic symbol of a summer garden- so how can you not love a sunflower? The really neat thing about this variety is that they are a bit shorter than your average sunflowers, reaching 10 inches in height, but have the same large, round blooms. This makes them perfect for children’s gardens, and for cut flowers as well. Plus, you can dry out the blooms’ seeds in the fall for a tasty home-grown snack.

Tips to Remember When Direct Sowing

• Cool season crops such as beets and lettuces can be direct sown when the soil is still cool. The seeds of hardy annuals can tolerate soil temps as low as about 25 degrees F. So it’s okay to plant these in early spring.
• You should wait to sow warm season seeds, such as cucumbers and marigolds, until night time temperatures in your region will consistently remain above 55 degrees F. The same goes for tender annuals. Wait until all chance of frost has passed in your area for these.
• If you have a vegetable garden, consider directly sowing some flower seeds around the perimeter. This will help to attract beneficial insects. Of course it will look pretty, too!
• Don’t be afraid to try new types of flowers and vegetables when you are direct sowing. Since the process is cheap and relatively painless, you’ve got little to lose.
• Warm season vegetables can be directly sown every 2-3 weeks until midsummer. So stagger when you plant your seeds in order to have a harvest that lasts all the way until fall.

Vegetable seeds are like people- some of them are more picky than others. With some seeds, you can pretty much drop them in the ground in the spring and leave them alone til it’s time to harvest. Others, however, require a little more TLC and attention. This spring, we are going to be focusing on growing vegetables and herbs that are on the low maintenance side. And if you are a beginning gardener, well then this is a great place for you to start as well. After all, who doesn’t want all of the benefits of a home garden without all the hassle?

Now that spring is just around the corner, it’s time to start preparing to start your seeds. The term “seed starting” refers to the process of actually planting your seeds indoors, and waiting until they sprout into seedlings before transplanting them into your backyard garden or a larger container. The process of seed starting allows you to begin growing your seeds while the ground is still hard and frozen outside, and gives you a much better chance for success once you transplant your seedlings outdoors. Starting seeds is a process that is easy, fun, and does not require a lot of supplies. Follow these 10 steps to seed starting to get your own easy vegetable and herb garden up and running this spring.

10 Tips for Seed Starting

(1) Select easy to grow seeds

How do you know which ones will be easy? Patricia Becker, center director for Common Ground Organic Garden Supply and Education Center in Palo Alto, California, says that beginner gardeners who are trying to decide which plants to start from seed can follow this general guideline: The bigger the seed, the easier it is to grow. She says beans, peas, corn, and edible nasturtium flowers are all easy plants to grow from seeds. You can also consult Fern’s list at Life on the Balcony of 10 simple to grow fruits, veggies, and herbs.

(2) Consult your seed packets

You’ll see that each packet of Botanical Interests seeds contains straightforward directions on how to start your seeds. Make sure to pay attention to details such as when to start your seeds, germination time, and spacing information. Some flower seeds, such as clarkia, alyssum, California poppies, sunflowers, and columbine can be sown directly in your garden. However, with most vegetables, starting your seeds indoors gives you a major advantage.

(3) Select eco-friendly seed starting pots

Your local gardening store will carry plastic seed starting trays specifically for the purpose of planting your seeds indoors. For a considerably more earth-friendly option, we suggest using any of our 3 different sized Cow Pots. These little pots are awesome because they are made from re-purposed cow manure (but are odor free). When it comes time to transplant your seedlings, you can do it right in the biodegradable pot! The manure helps your seedlings to grow strong and healthy roots. For another option, you can also use recycled yogurt cups, egg cartons, or cottage cheese containers. Don’t forget to label your pots so that you know which plant is which.

(4) Use a quality seed starting soil mix

Make sure that each seed staring pot has a small hole in the bottom to allow for adequate water drainage. If you are using recycled pots, insure that you have cleaned them thoroughly using a diluted bleach solution. Then, place all of your pots on a tray, metal baking sheet, or other device that can catch stray drips and dirt blobs. Fill each pot with a quality seed starting mix. No, just plain ol’ dirt won’t do. You see, when seeds are just starting out, they need a nice nutrient-rich mix with a nice, light consistency. We recommend Black Gold Seedling mix, which is perfect for the job. Dirt from your yard may also contain pathogens and diseases, which seeds are particularly susceptible to.

(5) Sow the seeds at the proper depth

Once again, refer to the back of your trusty seed packet for information on depth. Peas and beans, for example, only need to be sown about 1/2 inch below the soil, then lightly covered. Root plants such as carrots, however, need to be sown a bit more deeply at about 1 inch. Once you have placed your seeds in the soil, water them gently using a spray bottle, then cover them with plastic wrap, recycled plastic bags, or a glass window pane. This will help them to retain moisture during the germination process.

(6) Be patient

While your seeds germinate, there is pretty much nothing you need to do to them. They do not even need sunlight at this phase, but will do best in a safe, slightly warm, dry spot. We like to put our on top of the refrigerator, where it stays cozy and they are out of Fido and Kitty’s reach. Because the seeds are covered with plastic, they should not even need to be watered. Every couple of days, you can life a corner and poke the soil to make sure it is still moist. If it is dry, spray it gently with some water. Allow the seeds to remain undisturbed.

(7) Watch for germination

The term “germination” refers to the stage where the plant begins to emerge from the dormant seed. Depending on what type of seeds you plant, this length of time will vary. Beets tend to take one to two weeks depending on the temperature, whereas cucumbers and jalapeno peppers take only about 3 days. Once your seeds have germinated, remove them from their cozy spot and place them by a window or patio door in order to allow them to receive sunlight. Ideally, your seedlings should now receive a good 8 hours of sunlight per day.

(8) Turn, turn, turn

As your seedlings grow, turn them 1/4 turn every couple of days. This will help to prevent them from growing sideways, towards the source of natural light. It is also helpful to keep your seedlings in a place where there is good airflow. If the spot you have selected is stagnant, try pointing a fan at your seedlings to provide a gentle breeze for a couple hours a day. This will help your seedlings to develop strong, healthy stems.

(9) Water as needed

Okay, so when it comes to water, there really can be too much of a good thing. So don’t over-do it, but do keep your seedlings adequately moist. As I discuss in my new book Garden Rules: The Snappy Synopsis for the Modern Gardener, most vegetable plants do not like wet feet, and will not thrive in swampy soil. If the soil is dry to the touch, water it. If not, wait to water.

(10) Get ready to transplant

Once your seedlings have grown to about 2 inches in height, you can get ready to transplant them. Yay! Depending on where you live, this may occur anywhere from late February to late April. A good general rule of thumb is to make sure that you wait until the last chance of frost has passed. Then, it is time to “harden off” your plants. For the d.l. on what it means to harden your plants off, check back with our Starting Your Garden from Botanical Interests Seeds post from last spring.

Now if we were to list an eleventh rule, it would be, don’t be intimidated! There are plenty of edibles out there that are easy to grow, and that can be grown even if all you have room for is a couple pots on your porch. In fact, we love the idea of growing edibles in unexpected, small spaces. For more information on growing food when you don’t have a yard, check out our blogs  Get Creative When Gardening in Small Spaces and Growing Food When You Don’t Have the Space for a Garden.

Life on the Balcony Seed Collection

You may think that growing your own food is hard. Or that it’s not worth it if you don’t have acres of land. But I am here to tell you that you are wrong on both fronts. Edible gardening is not only a great way to get fresh herbs and vegetables, it’s also pretty entertaining!

If you want to give vegetable gardening a try, these are five interesting edibles that you can grow all in one 2ft x 4ft planter box:

1. ‘Sunspot’ Sunflowers
2. ‘Purple Petra’ Basil
3. Garlic Chives,
4. ‘Spacemaster’ Cucumber
5. ‘Better Bush’ Tomato.

The nice thing about these five plants is that they are as attractive as they are tasty. Wait until your seedlings are ready to start growing outside and then plant one tomato plant in each back corner. Tie each tomato to a stake. In between the tomatoes, plant three sunflowers in a tight triangle formation. In front of the sunflowers, plant one cucumber. On one side of the cucumber, plant the garlic chives, and on the other side, plant the basil. You’re done planting! That was totally easy, right?

Are you ready to get started? You can purchase the Life on the Balcony’s Seed Collection for $10.95 at aHaModernLiving.com

To keep your plants happy, water them whenever the top two inches of the potting soil feels dry. Fertilize them every other week with a 1/4 strength vegetable fertilizer.

Here are some more tips for edible container gardening success

• Always start your seeds in “seed starting” potting soil. You will have much better germination rates.
• To keep your seedlings well watered before you transplant them, place their seed starting pots in a shallow tray filled with water. The water in the tray will naturally wick up into the soil as needed. This will also help you avoid toppling your seedlings with water from a watering can.
• When (and it is “when” not “if”) pests attack your plants, use an integrated pest management approach to control them.
• Maintaining a regular watering and fertilizing schedule is the most important thing you can do to have an abundant harvest.
• Learn how to preserve your harvest through drying, canning, or freezing. Waste not, want not!

Not just any vegetable will survive and thrive when planted in August. Planting during the late summer requires some strategic planning, since you must make sure to plant only crops that can handle the extreme heat of August afternoons, as well as the chillier temps of cool autumn evenings.

Save 25% OFF all Botanical Interests Seeds. Click to view all seed varieties.

Hardy Vegetables for Late Summer Planting

Carrots- Carrots may be sown from August through September in 10 day intervals for a steady supply.

Chard- You can plant chard in your garden up until mid-August. In milder areas, you can even overwinter your chard by covering it with a protective coat, such as fleece. Tender baby leaves are ready to be picked and consumed after just 4 weeks.

Peas- Peas can be sown up until mid-August. They are extremely tolerant plants, and are super versatile, since they are perfect for eating raw, canning, freezing, steaming, mashing, and more.

Coriander- You can sow coriander seeds up to the end of August, and if you repeat plantings every 2 weeks or so, you’ll have plenty of cilantro leaves to use in your cooking and cocktails.

Broccoli- Broccoli is one of the best and easiest crops to grow in the late summer. You can even plant broccoli seeds in your garden through early September.

Salad greens- Oriental greens, kale, arugula, spinach, mesclun, and a variety of lettuces all thrive in the late summer.

Radishes- Radishes, as well as other root crops such as potatoes and turnips, all thrive when planted in the late summer.

Snap beans- Late summer planted snap beans often thrive better than those planted in the spring. This is because snap beans benefit from cooler temps once the plants begin to produce. Plant them in August of late September to take advantage of this.

Tips for planting in the late summer:

• Make sure to plant cool season crops, and plant them early enough that they can get a good head start on growing before there is any chance of frost in your area.
• Plan not only what you plant, but where you plant. Your spring-planted garden may still be flourishing in August. Make sure you do not plant your late summer crops in a spot where the seedlings will be choked out by other plants.
• Your veggies may take a couple weeks longer to mature than you would expect. This is simply a result of cooling temperatures.
• Appropriately prepare your garden spot for new seedlings by clearing away any old, finished vegetable plants and weeds. Turn over your soil to a depth of at least 8 inches, and add a good layer of compost. This helps to re-nourish the soil where you have previously planted.
• Whiteflies, stink bugs, aphids, and caterpillars are all commonly seen in late summer, so monitor your garden closely for pests.

From Left: parsley, basil, cilantro

One of the easiest and most fun ways to dress up your party platters is with edible garnishes. Flowers like nasturtium, marigold and chamomile make good garnishes.  Herbs are great, too. You can buy the garnishes at your local farmer’s market or grocery store, but many of them are so easy to grow, and expensive to buy, that it makes sense to grow your own.  It isn’t too late in the growing season to start growing your own garnishes. aHa! Modern Living has seeds for many of these, and we’re having a seed sale!  Save 15% OFF all Botanical Interests Seeds – many organic and heirloom varieties.

Here are some of our favorite edible garnishes, and their suggested food pairings:

• Basil Good with Italian, cold soups, bread & cheese board. Botanical Interests Basil Dolce Vita Blend Organic $1.69
• Cilantro Anything Mexican, light summer salads with lime dressing. Botanical Interests Cilantro Slow Bolting Organic $1.61
• Dill Great garnish for crudités (vegetable platter), hummus & pitas, bread & cheese board.  Botanical Interests Dill Bouquet Organic $1.52
• Chives These go well with savory dishes, including chicken and pork, potato pancakes, cream-cheese and creamy dips.  Botanical Interests Chives Common Organic $1.69
• Thyme A good garnish for chicken kabobs, miniature cheese toasts, baked brie. Botanical Interests Thyme Common English Organic $2.03
• Beets & Carrots Use both of these in their “baby” form to add color to white serving platters.  Botanical Interests Beet Gourmet Blend Organic $2.54 and Botanical Interests Carrots
• Nasturtiums The flowers add color to any serving platter, and they’re edible, too (as long as you don’t use pesticides in the garden).  They have a peppery taste.  Botanical Interests Nasturtiums

Photo Credits from left: Earth Spirit Organics, LeeAnn Smith, Smithsonian Blog

Photo from apartmenttherapy.com

It is easy to feel dismayed when you would like to plant a fruit, vegetable, or herb garden of your own, and you simply don’t have a yard in which to do it. Don’t feel like you’re alone here; there are literally millions of people who are urban dwellers and in the same situation as you!

All is not lost when it comes to growing your own food. In fact, far from it. You have several terrific options for planting food in a barely-there space, whatever that space may be!

Gutter Gardening

We just adore the idea of sowing, tending and harvesting a gutter garden. Gutters mounted on the side of your house maximize the heat from your home, help to keep your crops out of the reach of wildlife, and are inexpensive as well as practical. We think they look really cool, too! Check out the one that is pictured to the left. We found this photo at Apartment Therapy, and learned that this particular garden was planted by Suzanne Forsling of Juneau, Alaska. Another great gutter garden discovery can be found on Fern Richardson’s Life on the Balcony blog. Awesome!

Here are some tips to remember when planting your gutter garden:

1. Mount the gutters on the side of your house that receives sunlight.
2. Drill holes in the bottom of the gutters in order to allow water drainage.
3. Each time you water, water with a discerning hand. You do not want excessive moisture to get trapped between gutter and your siding.
4. If you can’t drill into your siding to mount the gutters, try hanging them from chains. In this photo, the gutters have been painted copper and hung at various heights to create a sort of privacy screen, such as this one this is pictured on the left below.

Photos from left: MarthaStewart.com & LifeontheBalcony.com

Recycled Objects Garden

Photo: Real Simple

If you are all about going green, then a garden planted in objects from around your house is the perfect option for you. And using recycled objects isn’t just about being trendy. It’s about saving money, and showing that you care enough about the environment to re-use things instead of pitching them into a landfill.

To the right is one of our very favorite ideas, and we found it in Real Simple, where they used some old Crocs as hanging planters. We think this is the perfect idea- they already have holes for drainage and the sturdy plastic will hold up well when filled with soil.

Don’t have any old Crocs collecting dust in your closet? Try out some of these other planting ideas using objects from around your house:

1. Try turning an old spaghetti colander and a wire hanger into a hanging basket. These create an especially cool impact when hung in groups of 3 or more. For a hanging colander, try planting strawberries, cherry tomatoes, peas, or beans. Any plant that usually grows vertically and needs to be staked up can also grow hanging down.
2. An old shoe holder makes a terrific herb planter, with each herb in a different shoe pocket. You may also wish to try planting leaf lettuce in a shoe pocket. Before you plant, pour water into a pocket to check the drainage. You can find other helpful tips for a vertical garden in a shoe holder here at Instructables.
3. Try using objects from your kitchen to create a container garden. Old Tupperware, mugs, mixing bowls, and coffee cans all make great planters. Just make sure to either drill holes in the bottom, or add a layer of gravel at the bottom of each planter to allow for water drainage. Check out this Do It Yourself article for 5 household objects you can re-use to create a container garden for your balcony, porch, or deck.

Window Boxes

Flickr photo: stephadamo

There are many types of vegetables and herbs that lend themselves well to window box gardens. Consider crops that take up a relatively small amount of space, such as radishes and herbs such as cilantro, basil and dill. Browse through more Botanical Interests’ organic and heirloom seed varieties to find the herbs and veggies that make your mouth water.

You don’t have to go out and drop a pretty penny on window boxes, either. You can do it yourself! Take a look at this article from Marigold Lane on how to construct your own window boxes.

Here are a few tips for maintaining a successful window box garden:

1. Plant vegetables together that have the same sun requirements. For example, tomato, cucumber, and chives will all grow well together since they all are warm season crops and have similar sun requirements. Chives grow exceptionally well on a sunny windowsill!
2. Before you paint your windowboxes, consider that dark colors tend to attract and absorb more heat. You may therefore wish to stick with light colored paint.
3. Again, you’ll need to make sure that the planter has adequate water drainage. Consider this before deciding where to place your windowboxes. You probably do not want to let your plants drain out onto the balcony of the person who lives on the floor below you!

This edible garden was created by Nicola and Noel Day of Somerset West using all biodegradable and organic products. Image source: Urban Harvest.

When you fill your shopping basket with fresh fruits, vegetables, and herbs at your local farmer’s market, it is easy to see the produce only for the parts that we consume. An orange carrot root here, a green snow pea pod there. However, when planning to plant these very same items in an edible garden, each item becomes much more than just the individual parts we consume. Carrots have leafy, sprightly verdant foliage that shoots up above the earth. Snow pea are climbers and will create beautiful curling, winding vines around a stake or trellis.

Why Plant an Edible Garden?

Planting and harvesting an edible garden is a truly sustainable way to use your space, as it is pleasurable to the eye, nourishing to the body, and harmonizing to the soul. Planning, maintaining, and devouring the fruits of an edible garden is a way to get exercise outdoors, personalize your space, and consume a more healthful diet.

There is so much to be reaped from an edible garden! We encourage you to not confine yours to a small patch in the corner of your yard. Incorporate the edible plants into your space by integrating them with your landscape as a whole. Envisi0n your garden as both an ornamental gem, and a bountiful food source.

Select Your Seeds

When planning what to grow, aim to include a variety of different colors, textures, and flavors. To simplify the decision making process, we have grouped our selection of Botanical Interests brand seeds into different families.

For example, planting a canning garden gives you a great variety of vegetables and herbs with different scents, tastes, and ways of growing. This gourmet blend of beets will produce beets in lovely jewel colors such as deep purple, blood red, and even golden yellow. If you’re used to eating just the root part of the beet that you find in the grocery store, you’re in for a pleasant surprise. You can eat the leafy tops of beets, too. They make an excellent addition to a salad, or can be steamed, or even sauteed. So you’ll see that these leafy tops provide much more than just ornamentation in your edible garden.

When choosing your seeds, don’t be afraid to try new types of vegetables. If you’ve never seen purple carrots before, then give them a shot. Be adventurous! And remember, growing new and different types of veggies is a great way to get your kids interested in them, too.

Map Out Your Garden

Before you begin to till your earth, drawing out a map is an absolute must. You will need to make sure that you are utilizing an area of your yard that receives ample sunlight (at least 6 hours a day), and allowing enough room between each row as well as each individual plant. Don’t worry, it won’t be a guessing game. Each seed packet contains instructions on how to plant the seeds, including how far apart to space them and how much soil cover the seed needs.

If you are a first time gardener, you can also find all the guidance you need in the step-by-step guide Grow Your Own Food Made Easy. Aim to incorporate different heights, shapes, and colors by including a variety of ground covers, climbing plants, herbs, and edible flowers.

Borders: Plants such as lettuce and swiss chard make a perfect border for your garden. Check out all the different varieties of lettuce in our Salad Greens section. The Salad Bowl Blend is our personal favorite, because it contains a blend of Red Salad Bowl Lettuce that has burgundy red leaves, and Green Salad Bowl Lettuce that has long wavy green leaves. They are quite beautiful together, both in the garden and when served up on the dinner table.

Climbing Plants: Squashes make an excellent addition when planted at the base of an obelisk or trellis. You can train the vines to climb upwards, making a tall, visually interesting focal point for your garden. Of course you have the delicious squash to look forward to, but did you know that you can eat squash blossoms, too?

Herbs: Dill, basil, and chives are all wonderful choices for herbs. They are extremely fragrant and have a huge variety of culinary applications. Dill produces lovely little umbel-shaped yellow flowers, while chives blossom in a delicate lavender pink shade. And yup, you guessed it, you can eat the chive blossoms, too!

Edible Flowers: If you’ve ever had a hard time getting your child to eat a salad, just try topping it with some yummy homemade dressing (which you can of course whip up with your fresh herbs) and topping it with a few edible flowers from your garden. Or, try this at your next dinner party. Both children and adults alike are fascinated by the thought of eating a flower. Try planting Nasturtium, which produces bright peach, scarlet, and orange colored flowers. It is related to watercress, so it has a delicious sweet, peppery flavor. As a major bonus, it is practically a gardener’s dream, as it grows plentifully and is quite low maintenance.

From left: Botanical Interest Seeds, lettuce seedlings by Talitha Purdy

By now you’ve probably noticed that we have an awesome new category to shop here at aHa! Modern Living. Starting From Seed contains a selection of vegetable and herb seeds to get you started with growing your own colorful, nutritious, and scrumptious produce.  We recommend that you check back frequently in the coming weeks. We are working diligently so that we can soon make even more types of seeds available!

Why Start From Seed?

So, when you can go to the grocery store and pick out an entire basket of tomatoes, why should you take the time to grow your own? Well, basically put, starting from seed is the best, if not the only, way to know exactly what you are getting in your food. When you buy a tomato at the store, it may be genetically engineered. For example, a cold water fish gene may have been crossed with the tomato in order to make the product more resilient to frost. It sounds like something out of a science fiction movie, but it’s not! It’s real life!

Why should I buy my seeds from aHa Modern Living?

We think it is super important to buy and consume locally grown produce. And what’s more local than your own backyard? You also earn aHa! Reward Points for buying your seeds from us.  Most of the seeds that we sell in our Starting From Seed category are:

• Certified organic, meaning that they do not contain any nasty chemicals or pesticides.
• Heirloom variety, meaning that they have not been genetically engineered.

How do I begin my own home garden?

Once you have received your organic heirloom seeds, you will use a simple process called seed starting. This is an essential step to allow your plants to root before introducing them to the harsh conditions of the outside world. If you are nervous about trying to grow your own herbs and vegetables, there is nothing wrong with starting slowly. Try beginning with basil. This herb lends itself well to home germination and is pretty much a surefire bet.

1. Gather containers. To start your seeds, you will need small containers that are just 2-3 inches deep. Last year’s nursery flats will work well, or plastic egg cartons, or dixie cups. Save time by planting and transplanting in CowPots (learn more about the benefits of CowPots). If you’re re-using containers, wash them out well using a hot water and couple tablespoons of bleach or white vinegar. Make sure each container has a small hole in the bottom, and set each container on a tray to accommodate water drainage.
2. Create a nourishing growing medium. We recommend purchasing a bag of seedling starting mix, then blending in some well-aged compost to give your seeds a healthy beginning.
3. Carefully sow your seeds. Make sure your soil is evenly moist, but not swampy, before dropping in your seeds. Cover each seed to a depth that is only about 3 times the thickness of the seed itself. Or, if the seed needs light to germinate, do not cover it at all. Some examples of seeds that need light to germinate are snapdragons and petunias.
4. Protect your seeds. Lightly sprinkle milled sphagnum moss, a natural fungicide, over the containers to protect them from damping-off, a fungal disease that rots seeds. In the case of seeds that need light to germinate, sprinkle the moss first and then drop the seeds onto the moss. Next, create a mini greenhouse by covering your containers with a plastic bag to keep the environment humid, and place them near a heat vent. If you’d like, you can even purchase a heat mat that is specifically made for seed starting. Most seeds germinate well at about 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
5. Keep the seeds damp. You can put a little bit of water in your trays so that the seeds absorb moisture from below, or mist the containers with a spray bottle of water.
6. Transfer the seedlings to a light source. At the first signs of sprouting, uncover your seedlings and move the trays to a light source, such as a sunny window, a greenhouse, or underneath some fluorescent shop lights. Your seedlings need 12 to 16 hours of light a day. They do not need as much heat at this point, so you can move them away from the heating vent or heat mat. Make sure, however, that they do receive the amount of concentrated light that is necessary.
7. Fertilize your seedlings. As soon as they get their first true leaves, your seedlings are ready for food. Water them with a half-strength solution of organic liquid fish emulsion/seaweed fertilizer once a week. Use either a spray bottle, or add the fertilizer to the water you place in the trays, (in the method that is described in step 5).
8. “Harden them off.” This process means that you will prepare your plants for the harshness of the outside world. It is important to gently acclimate them so as not to shock them.  On a warm day, move the containers to a shaded, protected place outdoors for a few hours. Each day for one week, gradually increase the plants’ exposure to the sun and outdoor conditions. At the end of the week leave them out overnight. Then, they are ready to transplant into the garden.