Well, I’m figuring out what works here in the desert. Cilantro is always a good bet, especially if you can find the slow to bolt variety. Basil can be hit and miss, and the buggies like it – even the lemon basil I’ve got growing here. Carrots are iffy but parsnips are fine.
This season’s shocker? Chard! All of the above are doing well in the elevated garden bed on the west side of the house. All I did earlier this season to prepare the soil was “till” up the old stuff with a 3-pronged hand rake and add new soil on top (and you can bet I used the cheap stuff). This bed holds moisture really well so all I need to do is keep up on watering once every 2-3 days or so, and keep the dogs from digging underneath it. I suspect they like making a little dugout under there to escape the heat.
Nothing beats picking something out of the garden and then eating it! I cooked down my chard bunch after chopping it into 2-3 inch pieces, in olive oil and a little bit of lemon juice and garlic. Yum! As big and leafy as the chard is, it was only enough for 2.5 people.
Chard also transplants well, so to thin I very carefully pulled out the tiny plants and replanted them. I have a tiny 2 inch chard already growing to replace what I picked. I have 5-6 chard plants of various sizes growing in the elevated planter. I wouldn’t want that many growing at the same size and rate because as you can see, it spreads out.
This has definitely been a rewarding plant to grow in the garden!
Let's Stay Holmes 