Garden In The Air...

Hello again my fellow Ramblers..

I apologize for my sudden lack of Ramblings these last few weeks. I suddenly became not well, then soon after, developed technological issues that resulted in my hard drive dying on me. Anyways, to catch up this was the post I was supposed to publish in May..

Today, I want to switch gears and discuss an issue that many of those that dwell in one of those shiny, tall apartment buildings face: gardening! Now, I know that for most apartment dwellers, this isn’t much of an issue in a busy, on-the-go lifestyle. However, there are some that are aspiring, or “budding” green thumbs and would love to be able to have a green and lush garden in their homes. Many apartments do not come with an outdoor plot of land that you can dig in and plant nary a seed. Apartment living means that one is confined to growing in potted containers.

However, that is not necessarily a negative. There are many types of plants that will be quite content growing in a pot. For example, you can grown many herbs, such basil (like Thai and sweet), marjoram, thyme and sage. These are among the different species grown in our own “garden in the air” by my lovely bride as she loves to garden and is an apartment-dweller. She likes to plant mostly edible herbs, but also has a few non-edible plants on our windowsill as well. She has, even, learned to plant herbs direct from seed. I will include a how-to to harvest basil seeds later on (yes, I know you can hardly wait for an exciting how-to, but patience, my dear Rambler reader!)

In our garden, we have a number of plants, including the above-named ones, as well as bamboo, orchid and even had an American celery. Turns out you can grow your own celery from the bottom of a cut stalk.

You can also do the same with a carrot, ginger or any bulb vegetable. To grow plants indoors, you just need good dark potting soil, some sand for drainange, a sturdy pot with a tray and an area with good amount of sunlight. Plus, don't forget to water, accordingly. Now, not all species require the same amount of sunlight or water, so be careful. Also, some mulch can be applied atop the soil. This serves to retain soil moisture, as well as moderate soil temperature.

Herbs are an obvious, and easy, choice for you domicile-dwellers. Not only are they aromatic in their own unique ways, they can be sustainably harvested to use in your favourite dishes. Plus, it is aesthetically appealing to have a living green garden in your own living room. Also, seeing your own garden grow and flourish before your eyes can leave you with a sense of pride and satisfaction. Knowing that you are growing it yourself (meaning, organically), means that you don’t have to worry about pesticide residue in your food, thus meaning that it is healthier for you and your family. Plants, even, have the added benefit of purifying the air inside your living space.

Now, the moment my fellow Ramblers have been waiting for..the EXCITING..the SCINTILLATING..the MUCH-ANTICIPATED..how-to for growing your own sweet basil from seed!! If you follow the steps in this how-to, you will be well on your way to flavouring your own homemade spaghetti sauce.

1) According to the folks at GrowThis.com, basil seeds grow on the inner part of the flower stalk. Once the flower falls off, then the see the seeds. They are green while developing and black when ripen. You can collect the latter using a magnifying glass, as they are tiny. Thus, it will take some patience to carefully gather the ripe seeds.

2) Allow the collected seeds to dry.

3) Plant them about 1/4 inch deep in warm, moist soil. Use a spray bottle to moisten the soil without flooding the seeds.

Spray water on the soil regularly until the first seedlings start to appear above the soil.

4) After a couple of weeks, you should be seeing seedlings appear. For those that live in warm climates, basil will grow rather fast. Make sure you keep those young basil plants well-watered. Apply water regularly, at the base of the plant. According to the folks at Growthis.com, this will help prevent mildew and other diseases that wet foliage will be conducive to.

5) When it comes to harvesting, you can do this regularly throughout the growing season. This can be done once the plants reach six to eight inches in height. The leaves possess their best flavor just before the plant blossoms. Also, when it comes time to prune your basil, just pinch off the tips of the stems or the flowering stalks just before they start to flower.

Also, a final note is that for indoor basil, they, like most plants, like well-draining soils and moist soils. Take care not to let the soil dry out between waterings.

Indoor plants can be fed more frequently with a light organic fertilizer or compost tea, according to Growthis.com.

Hope you all enjoyed this long-awaited informative blog. For my apartment-dwelling Ramblers, this blog should, hopefully, answer some of your questions on how to garden indoors. As stated above, basil is not the only plant to be grown indoors. My wife will attempt to grow a lemon tree..that's right..a LEMON TREE indoors! I will let you update on this endeavour in a future post.

Tune in next time for it will be "out of this world!"