GARDEN PLANNING

Simon and I have been messing around with some different ideas for the garden. Originally we were going to do all pots on the deck but now that the lawn out the back is able to be used (i.e no longer the swampland it was when we first moved in due to some water diverting landscaping done over winter), and we have our big outdoor table out on the courtyard we uncovered, we thought we might  use a bit of the backyard, and our pots, to do this instead:

We have been patiently waiting for some money to free up before going and splurging on our new plants, but now we are ready to go! I have also been perusing the local twilight market each Friday after work and managed to pick up a jalapeno plant for $2 and a tomato seedling (although, it was rather large) with four basil around it for $4. Score!

Here is our plan for the rest of the plants:

Tomatoes - We use these a lot and after seeing last years fruiting plants in action, I reckon about 4-5 would do. Hopefully they don't succumb to blight like last year!

Capsicums - or bell peppers if you are in the States. We buy one of these weekly to use in meals, so I would like to save the $1-3 we have to fork out for these beauties and have a real go and growing them.

Lettuce - We buy bags of lettuce and I hate them. they always smell funny, perhaps its the way they are preserved, I don't know. Also, I will shamefully admit that I don't even like lettuce and it seems the older I get the more I hate it! But, we do use it in meals, and in occasional lettuce based salads and burgers etc. I think we can grow a few lettuces and keep us stocked enough for what we need. Perhaps we can look into Rocket and spinach etc, as I don't mind that stuff.

Carrots - We barely ever use them but its something I would like to use more. It is a veggie that should be reasonably easy to grow for the kids and I make killer carrot cupcakes.

Strawberries - We have a good couple of plants and I'm going to leave them be and see if they fruit better this year with some TLC and some good feeds. Our strawberry plants have been destroyed by cats pooing in the pots. Does anyone have any good ways to keep our rodents cats off the garden!?

Mint - I know we can grow mint well so that is going in again this year. We will buy a couple of varieties since I plan on using this more now though, (especially since I've found a good mint julip recipe!) Also I would love to get some of the chocolate mint stuff mum and dad have growing in their garden.

Rosemary - our first rosemary effort was pathetic. It never grew from the seedling it was and died fairly soon into the summer. But Simon uses it a lot in cooking and I would really like to get some growing.

Oregano, basil, chives, parsley and thyme  - this all seemed to work in the past, and I have really missed using this stuff fresh in cooking - it was the freaking cats again and some weird mite like creatures.

Some other stuff I would like to look into is some wildflowers, and edible flowers like chamomile or perhaps some pansies and marigolds. I love lavender so if I have a pot left I might look at sowing some from seeds.

Have any of you just planted your garden for the spring summer and have great tips to share?