I had extra blueberries and blackberries from the garden, so I
combined them with some sweet cherries and peaches (the latter two
purchased, alas) to make a cobbler. Oh it's good.

The tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cukes, figs, peppers, herbs, olives,
peas and radishes are all growing well.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/2564880...7627091316675/

Boron

On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:57:38 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

>I had extra blueberries and blackberries from the garden, so I
>combined them with some sweet cherries and peaches (the latter two
>purchased, alas) to make a cobbler. Oh it's good.
>
>The tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cukes, figs, peppers, herbs, olives,
>peas and radishes are all growing well.
>
>http://www.flickr.com/photos/2564880...7627091316675/
>
>Boron
Well, heck. You just gotta rub it in. Your deck garden looks
wonderful. Much bigger than mine. My main garden does not look good
at all. Out of a four row planting of corn, I had 17 seeds come up.
The soil was just too cold. My tomato plants look great. I will
start getting tomatoes to eat around the beginning of September. Maybe
I will get some cucumbers. The only pepper plants doing anything at
all are the ones planted in black pots on the deck. The ones in the
garden are the same size as when I planted them. Cold soil, no sun
and lots of rain equals crappy garden.
Janet US

On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 13:10:05 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:57:38 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>
>>I had extra blueberries and blackberries from the garden, so I
>>combined them with some sweet cherries and peaches (the latter two
>>purchased, alas) to make a cobbler. Oh it's good.
>>
>>The tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cukes, figs, peppers, herbs, olives,
>>peas and radishes are all growing well.
>>
>>http://www.flickr.com/photos/2564880...7627091316675/
>>
>>Boron
>Well, heck. You just gotta rub it in. Your deck garden looks
>wonderful. Much bigger than mine. My main garden does not look good
>at all. Out of a four row planting of corn, I had 17 seeds come up.
>The soil was just too cold. My tomato plants look great. I will
>start getting tomatoes to eat around the beginning of September. Maybe
>I will get some cucumbers. The only pepper plants doing anything at
>all are the ones planted in black pots on the deck. The ones in the
>garden are the same size as when I planted them. Cold soil, no sun
>and lots of rain equals crappy garden.
>Janet US

Oh, Janet!

I share your sorrow about the corn. I finally gave up trying to grow
it a few years ago. In all my years of attempting it, I have only
gotten decent crops twice. Between the squirrels stealing the seeds
and the raccoons stealing the ears, I couldn't handle it. There is
nothing so joyful as a gardener's heart in the spring, and nothing so
sad and broken as a gardener's heart when the weather, critters and
Mother Nature do not cooperate as the season progresses.

I do fervently believe that container gardening is the way to go for
me. Weeds are easier to control, soil warms up faster (granted, as the
deep heat come, attention must be paid to watering), and the plants
are easily accessed for clipping, tying, picking, etc. And the damned
groundhogs get confounded a bit.

The only things I grow down in the garden are things that must be
grown down there, the large patches of asparagus, blueberries &
garlic. Corn, too, would have to grown down there.

We have a lot of cukes and a lot of wonderful cherry tomatoes so far.
I go mad waiting for late August and the full size tomatoes to ripen
up.

I am having trouble with the tomatoes this year, even though I used
pristine, new containers and fresh (purchased) potting soil to see if
I could avoid the usual fungal/blight problems. I am losing the
battle, even with organic anti-fungal fighting.

I have a large wasp's nest behind the light out on the deck by the
screen door. Not the sort of location I can ignore, as we are in and
out of that screen constantly in the warm weather.. I get a nest
almost every year, and usually just spray hornet & wasp killer because
the nest is in the wall behind the light. This year I cannot spray. I
have a huge tub of tomatoes sitting right under the light fixture. I
do not know what I'll do other than duck and cover.

Boron

On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:30:58 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
snip
>I am having trouble with the tomatoes this year, even though I used
>pristine, new containers and fresh (purchased) potting soil to see if
>I could avoid the usual fungal/blight problems. I am losing the
>battle, even with organic anti-fungal fighting.
>
>I have a large wasp's nest behind the light out on the deck by the
>screen door. Not the sort of location I can ignore, as we are in and
>out of that screen constantly in the warm weather.. I get a nest
>almost every year, and usually just spray hornet & wasp killer because
>the nest is in the wall behind the light. This year I cannot spray. I
>have a huge tub of tomatoes sitting right under the light fixture. I
>do not know what I'll do other than duck and cover.
>
>Boron

I had tomato blight problems in the main garden several years ago even
though I rotated. I finally had to move the plants to right along
side the deck and haven't had a problem since. I tried replanting
back in the original area after a few years and the problem came back.
You've changed soil and pots, how about changing radically the
location of the plants on the deck for next year? I'm assuming that
you have plants that have immunity to all the deadly sins?
How about one of those wasp trap thingys? My shops for one chicken
wing per year from KFC and plops it into the trap and he gets buckets
of wasps. I just settle for the attractant that comes with the trap.
My friend's wife tells me that the time to trap/kill the wasps is as
soon as you see them in the spring to avoid mating and multiplying.
Janet US

On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 13:52:10 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:30:58 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>snip
>>I am having trouble with the tomatoes this year, even though I used
>>pristine, new containers and fresh (purchased) potting soil to see if
>>I could avoid the usual fungal/blight problems. I am losing the
>>battle, even with organic anti-fungal fighting.
>>
>>I have a large wasp's nest behind the light out on the deck by the
>>screen door. Not the sort of location I can ignore, as we are in and
>>out of that screen constantly in the warm weather.. I get a nest
>>almost every year, and usually just spray hornet & wasp killer because
>>the nest is in the wall behind the light. This year I cannot spray. I
>>have a huge tub of tomatoes sitting right under the light fixture. I
>>do not know what I'll do other than duck and cover.
>>
>>Boron
>
>I had tomato blight problems in the main garden several years ago even
>though I rotated. I finally had to move the plants to right along
>side the deck and haven't had a problem since. I tried replanting
>back in the original area after a few years and the problem came back.
>You've changed soil and pots, how about changing radically the
>location of the plants on the deck for next year? I'm assuming that
>you have plants that have immunity to all the deadly sins?

Janet, I have tried changing locations, too and failed. I am beginning
to think perhaps all the garden implements need replacing as maybe
they harbor spores. I am either correct or totally insane. And I

Last year we were fortunate in having an all-volunteer tomato crop in
a front yard flower garden. Prolific and no sign of disease. This year
I stuck seeds in there and have creeping blight and low yield. I hang
out on a couple of gardening groups and I cannot get a straight answer
there or from any co-op services. Too many solutions offered that
involve more chemicals than I want to put on any food crops. Too much
contradictory advice offered.

>How about one of those wasp trap thingys? My shops for one chicken
>wing per year from KFC and plops it into the trap and he gets buckets
>of wasps. I just settle for the attractant that comes with the trap.
>My friend's wife tells me that the time to trap/kill the wasps is as
>soon as you see them in the spring to avoid mating and multiplying.
>Janet US

I may seek a trap. Thanks for the idea.

Boron

In article >,
Janet Bostwick > wrote:

> On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:57:38 -0400, Boron Elgar
> > wrote:
>
> >I had extra blueberries and blackberries from the garden, so I
> >combined them with some sweet cherries and peaches (the latter two
> >purchased, alas) to make a cobbler. Oh it's good.
> >
> >The tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cukes, figs, peppers, herbs, olives,
> >peas and radishes are all growing well.
> >
> >http://www.flickr.com/photos/2564880...7627091316675/
> >
> >Boron
> Well, heck. You just gotta rub it in. Your deck garden looks
> wonderful. Much bigger than mine. My main garden does not look good
> at all. Out of a four row planting of corn, I had 17 seeds come up.
> The soil was just too cold. My tomato plants look great. I will
> start getting tomatoes to eat around the beginning of September. Maybe
> I will get some cucumbers. The only pepper plants doing anything at
> all are the ones planted in black pots on the deck. The ones in the
> garden are the same size as when I planted them. Cold soil, no sun
> and lots of rain equals crappy garden.
> Janet US

Sounds like the conditions here in Seattle. It has been the rainiest
and coolest spring and summer since we moved here in 2003. Anyone with
a lick of sense gave up on growing tomatoes last month. The Himalayan
blackberries (considered invasive weeds, but mighty tasty ones) are only
now blossoming. At this rate I won't be able to go picking until
mid-August.

Cindy

--
C.J. Fuller

Delete the obvious to email me

On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 15:35:55 -0700, Cindy Fuller
> wrote:

>In article >,
> Janet Bostwick > wrote:
>
>> On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:57:38 -0400, Boron Elgar
>> > wrote:
>>
>> >I had extra blueberries and blackberries from the garden, so I
>> >combined them with some sweet cherries and peaches (the latter two
>> >purchased, alas) to make a cobbler. Oh it's good.
>> >
>> >The tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cukes, figs, peppers, herbs, olives,
>> >peas and radishes are all growing well.
>> >
>> >http://www.flickr.com/photos/2564880...7627091316675/
>> >
>> >Boron
>> Well, heck. You just gotta rub it in. Your deck garden looks
>> wonderful. Much bigger than mine. My main garden does not look good
>> at all. Out of a four row planting of corn, I had 17 seeds come up.
>> The soil was just too cold. My tomato plants look great. I will
>> start getting tomatoes to eat around the beginning of September. Maybe
>> I will get some cucumbers. The only pepper plants doing anything at
>> all are the ones planted in black pots on the deck. The ones in the
>> garden are the same size as when I planted them. Cold soil, no sun
>> and lots of rain equals crappy garden.
>> Janet US
>
>Sounds like the conditions here in Seattle. It has been the rainiest
>and coolest spring and summer since we moved here in 2003. Anyone with
>a lick of sense gave up on growing tomatoes last month. The Himalayan
>blackberries (considered invasive weeds, but mighty tasty ones) are only
>now blossoming. At this rate I won't be able to go picking until
>mid-August.
>
>Cindy

I have a neighbor who is an artist. Each year she takes pictures of
my front flower garden with the red peonies, purple iris, pink and red
oriental poppies in bloom. She likes to do water colors of the color
splash. This year's picture was 6 weeks later than usual, and the
different flowers didn't bloom at the same time. It looked pretty
ratty. I get your weather after you have used it. We're in Idaho
Janet US

On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 17:12:20 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

> I get your weather after you have used it. We're in Idaho

Used weather... now I've heard it all. LOL

--

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground.

On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:57:38 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

>I had extra blueberries and blackberries from the garden, so I
>combined them with some sweet cherries and peaches (the latter two
>purchased, alas) to make a cobbler. Oh it's good.
>
>The tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cukes, figs, peppers, herbs, olives,
>peas and radishes are all growing well.
>
>http://www.flickr.com/photos/2564880...7627091316675/
>

Very nice and ambitious. Our stuff is mostly in pots too but nowhere
near as much as you have. The peas and lettuce are done and the beans
are coming along nicely. The cuks and zuks are looking good too.
Louise ordered some seeds from Baker Creek Heriloom Seed Company. The
tomato cour di bue is five foot tall and loaded. The lettuce leaf
basil is doung great too. The leaves are still small but I've been
using leaves in salads and they are great. It's more mellow than what
we usually grow.

Thanks for sharing your pictures,

Lou

On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:16:56 -0500, Lou Decruss
> wrote:

>On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:57:38 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>
>>I had extra blueberries and blackberries from the garden, so I
>>combined them with some sweet cherries and peaches (the latter two
>>purchased, alas) to make a cobbler. Oh it's good.
>>
>>The tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cukes, figs, peppers, herbs, olives,
>>peas and radishes are all growing well.
>>
>>http://www.flickr.com/photos/2564880...7627091316675/
>>
>
>Very nice and ambitious. Our stuff is mostly in pots too but nowhere
>near as much as you have. The peas and lettuce are done and the beans
>are coming along nicely. The cuks and zuks are looking good too.
>Louise ordered some seeds from Baker Creek Heriloom Seed Company. The
>tomato cour di bue is five foot tall and loaded. The lettuce leaf
>basil is doung great too. The leaves are still small but I've been
>using leaves in salads and they are great. It's more mellow than what
>we usually grow.

I have not heard of lettuce leaf basil. I must go in search of it. I
like to have a few different basils at the ready. I am about to plant
some Blue spice basil this afternoon. And that tomato - an oxheart,
right? - is it a sweet, tart or a cooking fruit? The prettiest
oxhearts I ever saw were grown in the garden of Botto House, an old
labor movement gathering place in Haledon, NJ. The guide the day I
went was a woman whose parents had owned the home she told me the
seeds had been brought from Italy and that she saved seeds to re-plant
every year. The whole garden was wonderful, grapes, tomatoes,
flowers...very pretty home garden. The place has since been donated as
a museum.

http://www.labormuseum.net/index.html

I have ordered from Baker Creek and like their interesting selections.
I search far and wide for loony things to grow, always seeking
something new and unusual for the garden. My "new" quests tend to be
for old heirloom varieties, though.

>Thanks for sharing your pictures,

Thanks for looking!

Boron

On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:53:41 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

>On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:16:56 -0500, Lou Decruss
> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:57:38 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>>
>>>I had extra blueberries and blackberries from the garden, so I
>>>combined them with some sweet cherries and peaches (the latter two
>>>purchased, alas) to make a cobbler. Oh it's good.
>>>
>>>The tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cukes, figs, peppers, herbs, olives,
>>>peas and radishes are all growing well.
>>>
>>>http://www.flickr.com/photos/2564880...7627091316675/
>>>
>>
>>Very nice and ambitious. Our stuff is mostly in pots too but nowhere
>>near as much as you have. The peas and lettuce are done and the beans
>>are coming along nicely. The cuks and zuks are looking good too.
>>Louise ordered some seeds from Baker Creek Heriloom Seed Company. The
>>tomato cour di bue is five foot tall and loaded. The lettuce leaf
>>basil is doung great too. The leaves are still small but I've been
>>using leaves in salads and they are great. It's more mellow than what
>>we usually grow.
>
>I have not heard of lettuce leaf basil.

It's new to me too. It might be a bit mild for pesto but I'll try a
small batch and see.

>I must go in search of it. I
>like to have a few different basils at the ready. I am about to plant
>some Blue spice basil this afternoon.

I wish we had more room.

>And that tomato - an oxheart, right?

Yepper.

> - is it a sweet, tart or a cooking fruit?

We haven't had them yet but the package says they're sweet and good
for cooking and fresh eating.

>The prettiest
>oxhearts I ever saw were grown in the garden of Botto House, an old
>labor movement gathering place in Haledon, NJ. The guide the day I
>went was a woman whose parents had owned the home she told me the
>seeds had been brought from Italy and that she saved seeds to re-plant
>every year. The whole garden was wonderful, grapes, tomatoes,
>flowers...very pretty home garden. The place has since been donated as
>a museum.
>
>http://www.labormuseum.net/index.html

Looks like a cool place. Louise took a picture on the oxhearts but
it's on another computer. I'll get it later and post it.

>I have ordered from Baker Creek and like their interesting selections.
>I search far and wide for loony things to grow, always seeking
>something new and unusual for the garden. My "new" quests tend to be
>for old heirloom varieties, though.

Louise is the gardener here. Her beans are on their fifth year. She
was doing a seed exchange group and all it cost was the postage to
sent something back. She got and sent some pretty cool stuff. I'm
sure she'll finger out how to save some of the oxheart seeds.

>>Thanks for sharing your pictures,
>
>Thanks for looking!

I always find time to read food posts. The current rfc dying thread
not so much.

Lou

On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:13:31 -0500, Lou Decruss
> wrote:

snip
re lettuce leaf basil
>
>It's new to me too. It might be a bit mild for pesto but I'll try a
>small batch and see.
>
snip
>Lou

I find it to be quite licorice like and adds quite a bit of strength
to anything that requires basil. You'll have to try yours and let me
know. Basil is one of those plants (IMO) that varies flavor according
to the season and weather.
Janet US

On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:05:30 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:13:31 -0500, Lou Decruss
> wrote:
>
>snip
>re lettuce leaf basil
>>
>>It's new to me too. It might be a bit mild for pesto but I'll try a
>>small batch and see.
>>
>snip
>>Lou
>
>I find it to be quite licorice like and adds quite a bit of strength
>to anything that requires basil. You'll have to try yours and let me
>know. Basil is one of those plants (IMO) that varies flavor according
>to the season and weather.
>Janet US

I think the flavor of basil varies with the particular varietal, there
are so many kinds, with different appearance and with different
flavor. As long as the plant is healthy I don't think the climate has
any discernable effect on the flavor of a particular basil plant,
it'll taste the same grown outdoors or indoors. I happen to much
prefer fennel to basil... I use bulb fennel in salads and fennel seed
in tomato sauce/soups and in sausage/meatballs.

On 7/19/2011 1:05 PM, Janet Bostwick wrote:
> On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:13:31 -0500, Lou Decruss
> > wrote:
>
> snip
> re lettuce leaf basil
>>
>> It's new to me too. It might be a bit mild for pesto but I'll try a
>> small batch and see.
>>
> snip
>> Lou
>
> I find it to be quite licorice like and adds quite a bit of strength
> to anything that requires basil. You'll have to try yours and let me
> know. Basil is one of those plants (IMO) that varies flavor according
> to the season and weather.
> Janet US
Amen, plus there are several variations on lettuce leaf basil. I've been
buying seeds for "mammoth" basil and the plant has a very nice taste,
not overpowering, and is very prolific in my USDA Zone 9b climate. I
make large batches of pesto each summer and freeze it in vacuum bags so
they lay flat in the freezer. Take one out, let it thaw in the fridge,
put it on some nice fresh bread and eat it up.

On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:05:30 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:13:31 -0500, Lou Decruss
> wrote:
>
>snip
>re lettuce leaf basil
>>
>>It's new to me too. It might be a bit mild for pesto but I'll try a
>>small batch and see.
>>
>snip
>>Lou
>
>I find it to be quite licorice like and adds quite a bit of strength
>to anything that requires basil. You'll have to try yours and let me
>know. Basil is one of those plants (IMO) that varies flavor according
>to the season and weather.
>Janet US

I shall report! <g>

Lou

On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:53:41 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

>On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:16:56 -0500, Lou Decruss
> wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:57:38 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>>
>>>I had extra blueberries and blackberries from the garden, so I
>>>combined them with some sweet cherries and peaches (the latter two
>>>purchased, alas) to make a cobbler. Oh it's good.
>>>
>>>The tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cukes, figs, peppers, herbs, olives,
>>>peas and radishes are all growing well.
>>>
>>>http://www.flickr.com/photos/2564880...7627091316675/
>>>
>>
>>Very nice and ambitious. Our stuff is mostly in pots too but nowhere
>>near as much as you have. The peas and lettuce are done and the beans
>>are coming along nicely. The cuks and zuks are looking good too.
>>Louise ordered some seeds from Baker Creek Heriloom Seed Company. The
>>tomato cour di bue is five foot tall and loaded. The lettuce leaf
>>basil is doung great too. The leaves are still small but I've been
>>using leaves in salads and they are great. It's more mellow than what
>>we usually grow.
>
>I have not heard of lettuce leaf basil. I must go in search of it. I
>like to have a few different basils at the ready. I am about to plant
>some Blue spice basil this afternoon. And that tomato - an oxheart,
>right? - is it a sweet, tart or a cooking fruit? The prettiest
>oxhearts I ever saw were grown in the garden of Botto House, an old
>labor movement gathering place in Haledon, NJ. The guide the day I
>went was a woman whose parents had owned the home she told me the
>seeds had been brought from Italy and that she saved seeds to re-plant
>every year. The whole garden was wonderful, grapes, tomatoes,
>flowers...very pretty home garden. The place has since been donated as
>a museum.
>
>http://www.labormuseum.net/index.html
>
>I have ordered from Baker Creek and like their interesting selections.
>I search far and wide for loony things to grow, always seeking
>something new and unusual for the garden. My "new" quests tend to be
>for old heirloom varieties, though.
>
>>Thanks for sharing your pictures,
>
>Thanks for looking!
>
>Boron
>
I can send you a picture of it or if I figure how/where to post
pictures, I could share. I have a picture from a couple of years ago.
I killed three sets of basil plants this spring because the weather
was so bad. I finally filled one of those Costco $19.99 pots with
potting soil and sprinkled two small handfuls of basil across the top.
The back seeds are the lettuce leaf and the front are the more basic
basil. I found that the lettuce leaf took considerably longer to
germinate. Now that the heat is here the basil is going great guns
and I will soon have an enormous bouquet of basil. I will have gotten
something from this year.
Janet US

On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:01:35 -0600, Janet Bostwick
> wrote:

>On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:53:41 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:

>>I have not heard of lettuce leaf basil. I must go in search of it.
>>Boron
>>
>I can send you a picture of it or if I figure how/where to post
>pictures, I could share. I have a picture from a couple of years ago.
>I killed three sets of basil plants this spring because the weather
>was so bad. I finally filled one of those Costco $19.99 pots with
>potting soil and sprinkled two small handfuls of basil across the top.
>The back seeds are the lettuce leaf and the front are the more basic
>basil. I found that the lettuce leaf took considerably longer to
>germinate. Now that the heat is here the basil is going great guns
>and I will soon have an enormous bouquet of basil. I will have gotten
>something from this year.
>Janet US

Ok...here is the "what the heck?" moment of the day...

I had a pot out on the deck that was filled with soil, but left
unplanted. Nothing too large, and two plants started growing in it -
one a curcurbit of some sort, what kind I do not know yet, and the
other a crinkly-leafed plant that , well, it just looked nice, so I
decided to let both of them grow.

When I read your post, I googled up an image of lettuce leaf basil and
the second I saw the picture, my jaw dropped...that is the crinkly
leafed plant!!! I just ran out (it's 94 in the shade right now) and
crushed a leaf of it and confirmed it. I planted neither of these
things and have no idea where they came from (probably compost), but I
am so very happy to have them both.

OH, happy, happy, joy, joy.

But, I am sorry you lost a lot of your basil endeavors early on. A
local nursery had a 30th anniversary special and basil and strawberry
plants were 30 cents early in the season. I have enough basil to
supply an Italian restaurant for a month, and I replenished the
strawberry jar.

I got a great deal on plain old plastic/poly/whatever tubs a couple of
months ago at Costco. They were 2 for $12.99, IIRC. A steal. Brightly
colored things with rope handles. I drilled large holes in the bottom
and have tomatoes growing in 3 of them and the 4th is being used as my
soil mixer - I fill it with dirt, compost, coir, peat - whatever I am
pulling together for potting. Great tubs. I am sorry I did not get
more.

I need to get some fresh mozzarella in here. I have fresh tomatoes and
basil up the wazoo right now.

Boron

Boron Elgar wrote:
>
>I need to get some fresh mozzarella in here. I have fresh tomatoes and
>basil up the wazoo right now.

You might want to get a big can of Lysol too. <g>
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=wazoo

On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:47:16 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
snip
>
>Ok...here is the "what the heck?" moment of the day...
>
>I had a pot out on the deck that was filled with soil, but left
>unplanted. Nothing too large, and two plants started growing in it -
>one a curcurbit of some sort, what kind I do not know yet, and the
>other a crinkly-leafed plant that , well, it just looked nice, so I
>decided to let both of them grow.
>
>When I read your post, I googled up an image of lettuce leaf basil and
>the second I saw the picture, my jaw dropped...that is the crinkly
>leafed plant!!! I just ran out (it's 94 in the shade right now) and
>crushed a leaf of it and confirmed it. I planted neither of these
>things and have no idea where they came from (probably compost), but I
>am so very happy to have them both.
>
>OH, happy, happy, joy, joy.
>
>But, I am sorry you lost a lot of your basil endeavors early on. A
>local nursery had a 30th anniversary special and basil and strawberry
>plants were 30 cents early in the season. I have enough basil to
>supply an Italian restaurant for a month, and I replenished the
>strawberry jar.
>
>I got a great deal on plain old plastic/poly/whatever tubs a couple of
>months ago at Costco. They were 2 for $12.99, IIRC. A steal. Brightly
>colored things with rope handles. I drilled large holes in the bottom
>and have tomatoes growing in 3 of them and the 4th is being used as my
>soil mixer - I fill it with dirt, compost, coir, peat - whatever I am
>pulling together for potting. Great tubs. I am sorry I did not get
>more.
>
>I need to get some fresh mozzarella in here. I have fresh tomatoes and
>basil up the wazoo right now.
>
>Boron

About my basil trials. . .I just told you that I scattered basil seeds
in a large pot. Well they all came up just as thick as grass. As
they came up, I pinched handfuls of the newly emerged seedlings and
threw them out into the yard and nearby beds to dispose of them. Guess
what? I have basil plants in the lawn and in the clematis bed. Ma
Nature insists on doing it her way. I wonder how the heck you got
that basil plant? I've picked up some unusual things that were hiding
in plants that I purchased.

I had the large pot anyway. I bought it a couple of years ago
thinking to us it in a particular spot in the front. It just wasn't
in scale to be used where I wanted it so it was just sitting there
waiting for a job to do. The huge black pots that I have been using
come from my nursery's recycle bin. They originally held
significantly sized trees. They are at least as large as the tubs you
are talking about. In the early days (before large pots were made
for planting things, I purchased waste paper baskets from K-Mart and
drilled holes in the bottom. That was where I espaliered (sp?) my
geraniums)
Janet US

"Janet Bostwick" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:53:41 -0400, Boron Elgar
> > wrote:
>
>>On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:16:56 -0500, Lou Decruss
> wrote:
>>
>>>On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:57:38 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>>>
>>>>I had extra blueberries and blackberries from the garden, so I
>>>>combined them with some sweet cherries and peaches (the latter two
>>>>purchased, alas) to make a cobbler. Oh it's good.
>>>>
>>>>The tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cukes, figs, peppers, herbs, olives,
>>>>peas and radishes are all growing well.
>>>>
>>>>http://www.flickr.com/photos/2564880...7627091316675/
>>>>
>>>
>>>Very nice and ambitious. Our stuff is mostly in pots too but nowhere
>>>near as much as you have. The peas and lettuce are done and the beans
>>>are coming along nicely. The cuks and zuks are looking good too.
>>>Louise ordered some seeds from Baker Creek Heriloom Seed Company. The
>>>tomato cour di bue is five foot tall and loaded. The lettuce leaf
>>>basil is doung great too. The leaves are still small but I've been
>>>using leaves in salads and they are great. It's more mellow than what
>>>we usually grow.
>>
>>I have not heard of lettuce leaf basil. I must go in search of it. I
>>like to have a few different basils at the ready. I am about to plant
>>some Blue spice basil this afternoon. And that tomato - an oxheart,
>>right? - is it a sweet, tart or a cooking fruit? The prettiest
>>oxhearts I ever saw were grown in the garden of Botto House, an old
>>labor movement gathering place in Haledon, NJ. The guide the day I
>>went was a woman whose parents had owned the home she told me the
>>seeds had been brought from Italy and that she saved seeds to re-plant
>>every year. The whole garden was wonderful, grapes, tomatoes,
>>flowers...very pretty home garden. The place has since been donated as
>>a museum.
>>
>>http://www.labormuseum.net/index.html
>>
>>I have ordered from Baker Creek and like their interesting selections.
>>I search far and wide for loony things to grow, always seeking
>>something new and unusual for the garden. My "new" quests tend to be
>>for old heirloom varieties, though.
>>
>>>Thanks for sharing your pictures,
>>
>>Thanks for looking!
>>
>>Boron
>>
> I can send you a picture of it or if I figure how/where to post
> pictures, I could share. I have a picture from a couple of years ago.
> I killed three sets of basil plants this spring because the weather
> was so bad. I finally filled one of those Costco $19.99 pots with
> potting soil and sprinkled two small handfuls of basil across the top.
> The back seeds are the lettuce leaf and the front are the more basic
> basil. I found that the lettuce leaf took considerably longer to
> germinate. Now that the heat is here the basil is going great guns
> and I will soon have an enormous bouquet of basil. I will have gotten
> something from this year.
> Janet US

Good example:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/image...mb=5k1TzcYXKXm

"Boron Elgar" > wrote in message
...
> On Tue, 19 Jul 2011 10:16:56 -0500, Lou Decruss
> > wrote:
>
>>On Sun, 17 Jul 2011 12:57:38 -0400, Boron Elgar
> wrote:
>>
>>>I had extra blueberries and blackberries from the garden, so I
>>>combined them with some sweet cherries and peaches (the latter two
>>>purchased, alas) to make a cobbler. Oh it's good.
>>>
>>>The tomatoes, lettuce, beans, cukes, figs, peppers, herbs, olives,
>>>peas and radishes are all growing well.
>>>
>>>http://www.flickr.com/photos/2564880...7627091316675/
>>>
>>
>>Very nice and ambitious. Our stuff is mostly in pots too but nowhere
>>near as much as you have. The peas and lettuce are done and the beans
>>are coming along nicely. The cuks and zuks are looking good too.
>>Louise ordered some seeds from Baker Creek Heriloom Seed Company. The
>>tomato cour di bue is five foot tall and loaded. The lettuce leaf
>>basil is doung great too. The leaves are still small but I've been
>>using leaves in salads and they are great. It's more mellow than what
>>we usually grow.
>
> I have not heard of lettuce leaf basil. I must go in search of it. I
> like to have a few different basils at the ready. I am about to plant
> some Blue spice basil this afternoon. And that tomato - an oxheart,
> right? - is it a sweet, tart or a cooking fruit? The prettiest
> oxhearts I ever saw were grown in the garden of Botto House, an old
> labor movement gathering place in Haledon, NJ. The guide the day I
> went was a woman whose parents had owned the home she told me the
> seeds had been brought from Italy and that she saved seeds to re-plant
> every year. The whole garden was wonderful, grapes, tomatoes,
> flowers...very pretty home garden. The place has since been donated as
> a museum.
>
> http://www.labormuseum.net/index.html
>
> I have ordered from Baker Creek and like their interesting selections.
> I search far and wide for loony things to grow, always seeking
> something new and unusual for the garden. My "new" quests tend to be
> for old heirloom varieties, though.
>
>>Thanks for sharing your pictures,
>
> Thanks for looking!
>
> Boron
>
>

Lettuce leaf basil has leaves that can grow to the size of a small dinner
plate. It requires no special care-although it does like more water than the
standard Genovese variety. And it makes quite a good impression on a salad.

I'm so jealous with your garden. I really love plants and grow my food personally but I'm living in the city which makes it impossible to grow my own food. Is there any veggies or fruits that can grow out of pots? I'm not sure if this is a stupid question but I really love to see feedback. Thanks.

Zara M wrote in rec.food.cooking:

>
> I'm so jealous with your garden. I really love plants and grow my food
> personally but I'm living in the city which makes it impossible to
> grow my own food. Is there any veggies or fruits that can grow out of
> pots? I'm not sure if this is a stupid question but I really love to
> see feedback. Thanks.

Zara, there are quite a few things that can be grown in pots. Herbs
are the easiest of course. With a larger pot, you can do squash and
cucumbers rather easily.


--

On Mon, 08 Aug 2011 16:43:14 -0500, "cshenk" > wrote:

>Zara M wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>>
>> I'm so jealous with your garden. I really love plants and grow my food
>> personally but I'm living in the city which makes it impossible to
>> grow my own food. Is there any veggies or fruits that can grow out of
>> pots? I'm not sure if this is a stupid question but I really love to
>> see feedback. Thanks.
>
>Zara, there are quite a few things that can be grown in pots. Herbs
>are the easiest of course. With a larger pot, you can do squash and
>cucumbers rather easily.


I do everything in pots - tomatoes, peppers, beans, cukes, berries,
herbs, olives, figs. It's a breeze.

Pots are the easy part - having enough sun in the city and getting
water to the pots there can sometimes be a challenge.

Boron