IN THE GARDEN WITH BETTY MORRELL

IN THE GARDEN BY BETTY MORRELL

perfect planters

When starting a vegetable or herb garden at your home, try planter boxes and include Chef’s Choice Culinary Rosemary, with its spicy flavor and colorful periwinkle flowers.

I month we will be starting the second half of 2022, time is just flying by! Usually in June, I write about Roses and the flowers of the month, life advice but after thinking about how time flies, it got me thinking about how we also age too quickly.

I have always loved having a vegetable and herb garden. Last year, I incorporated my veggies in pots into the landscape. It worked well, but they were hard to care for. This year, as the ground seems to be getting farther away and my body resists getting up and down, I have made it easier for myself with what I call my “Wee Farm.”

My Wee Farm is made up of 6-foot long raised wooden boxes on 30-inch legs. I stained the boxes, then lined the inside with weed block fabric (stapled) and filled them with good garden soil. I had so much fun planting radishes, beets, eggplants, peppers, green beans, cucumbers, and of course, tomatoes.

The cukes are planted in a 20-gallon planter and a 4-foot planter, both with a trellis. The tomatoes are in 5-gallon pots and staked. No bending or stretching required, this endeavor has been quite successful. The herbs, basil, thyme, rosemary, sage, and oregano are thriving in 20-gallon planters. It’s almost time to harvest tomatoes. I am so happy with my “Wee Farm” that I just had to share it with you.

Now back to this year’s Veri Peri Panatone-colored flowers for your garden. One of the nearest shades to true Veri Peri is the Neverland Agapanthus. It has lilac buds and variegated green foliage with chartreuse centers. This is an eye-catching, clumping beauty that tolerates heat and humidity well. They thrive in part-sun and grow 20 to 24 inches in height and 18 to 24 inches in width. Use them in borders, as accents, edging, and mass plantings. They make great cut flowers.

Here’s a plant that will appeal to almost every gardener: Chef’s Choice Culinary Rosemary. Of course, you are thinking of the kitchen and cooking, but the Very Peri periwinkle flowers of this rosemary brings bonus color to this flavor-packed and easy-to-grow herb. This variety was specially selected for its higher oil content and spicy flavor. It has a compact mounding habit and periwinkle flowers that appear each spring. It is great in a container, herb and kitchen garden, or anywhere in your landscape to add a pop of Veri Peri spring color.

Chef’s Rosemary will grow in full sun to part-shade, is aromatic, attracts birds and butterflies, is heat-tolerant, edible, and for those near the beach, it is salt-tolerant. Chef’s Rosemary has a spreading habit, growing 18 to 24 inches in height and width, and year-round interest. It’s a must for the garden!

If you have any questions, email me at bamorrell33@gmail.com. In the meantime, Happy Gardening!

TIP OF THE MONTH

All shapes and sizes of planter boxes are available at your local garden center and online. Research smaller ones for children who want to garden. It’s never too young to introduce them to a love of gardening!