Gardens

Every spring for the last four years, I've planted an herb garden inside the apartment. The first year, I was really ambitious and had two large window boxes, but through trial and error and figuring out which herbs I liked to use, I decreased to one window box plus some larger pots. Last year, I had a major planting project, setting out to grow 100 3" pots of Kentucky Colonel mint, for wedding favors. I don't think I ever documented the end of that project, but at its peak I had about 20 individual plants rooted, but then things quickly took a turn for the worse when I had to do my away rotation in Philly last August. Needless to say, our wedding guests are not receiving mint plants.

My must-grows are basil, flat-leaf parsley, and cilantro. I've also grown oregano, thyme, and chives, but the first year I tried it, I didn't thin the seedlings enough, so they never really flourished (I didn't really believe in thinning before that, but now I see the benefit). Mint does not grow well from seed, so I buy it already started -- and actually, the mother KY Col. plant I bought last spring has survived the winter and is sprouting like crazy again. Same with rosemary -- buy it started, and as long as you keep it watered through the dry, hot (indoors) winter, it will survive. Unfortunately, I was traveling so much this December for interviews that mine died. I love to have rosemary for my Thanksgiving turkey, though, so I'll likely buy another small potted one this spring.

Cilantro is a funny plant because it grows really quickly, then quickly goes to seed (the seeds are coriander) and dies. You can harvest the coriander, of course, but what I really want is the cilantro, so if you want a continuous supply, you have to continuously re-plant it, probably every month or so. It definitely takes constant attention.

But basil and flat-leaf parsley are great, grow wonderfully, and pretty much survive as long as you keep it watered. They add such a wonderful fresh taste to all of your dishes, and that's why I love to grow them.

A few weeks ago, I was itching to start my seeds -- I use peat pellets then transfer the seedlings to pots or window boxes -- and then I came to a realization.

I'm driving to New Jersey in two weeks, to spend the month of April on the east coast. It's difficult to bring all those seedlings with me (I did it last year with the mint, and it was a huge pain), and they'll definitely die if I leave them here. Then, while I'll be back home for the month of May, we go on our honeymoon in early June, and then pack up the apartment to move to Philadelphia in mid-June.

So for the entire spring growing season, things are going to be very much in transition, which means it's a smarter idea if I just don't bother with planting this year. That makes me sad.

But the good thing about growing indoors is that you can pretty much start seeds at any time of the year, so there's always a chance that I can start those little seeds in mid-June, after we move.

And if we end up with a place with one of the top things on our "Nice to Have" list -- a deck or patio -- then I can transfer my pots outdoors and probably even give composting a try. Plus, if I had a little more room outdoors, I could do potted vegetables, like tomatoes and peppers. I have to admit, that deck is really high up on my "Nice to Have" list and the only reason it's not a "Must Have" is because I have to be realistic. Let the house hunting begin!