Good afternoon, all — We’re always hyped to have fresh herbs in the store (and on dinner.) But what happens when you can check Basil, Parsley and the usual crew off of your garden list? Well, there are all of the other plants we get really excited about, many of which make better houseplants than herbs — Today’s blurb will introduce to a few edibles you may have seen in the market in their rooted, potted, growing plant form:
First on the list is the Meyer Lemon:
Thought to be a cross between a standard orange and a lemon way back when, the important part is the resulting citrus — yellow like a lemon, but much sweeter, like an orange. Growing to about an 8-10 ft tree, it’s not going to take over your living room, all you will need to supply is plenty of light, preferably a window with at least several hours of direct sun rays reaching the plant. Keep this fella in a well-draining soil and keep evenly watered, feeding as needed (it is a fruit tree after all.) As an added bonus, enjoy glossy green foliage and heavily fragranced flowers — these can be grown outdoors in USDA Zones 9+ you lucky devils…
Next up are two epiphytic plants — apathetic plants will be discussed in later postings — the Vanilla Orchid and Dragon Fruit:
The vine you see is indeed an orchid — enjoying warmth, bright light and high humidity over regular waterings, this vine will grow and grow, then mature once it hits about 10 ft. At this length, it may flower and can be hand pollinated resulting in the vanilla bean prized by bakers and the sweet-toothed worldwide. The alien to the right is a species of cactus, which can be cultivated just as the orchid, but with much more direct sun. Naturally, these two plants are found in Central America, but this cactus is typically growing on rockier surfaces. High humidity is important and so is a little patience . If the tasty, sweet fruit doesn’t entice you, perhaps the sweet-smelling nocturnal flowers are more your speed.
Here at Sprout Home we like to enjoy our pumpkins in many different ways. You see, each one is a tender soul that’s well worth treasuring. Sure you can carve them up, but then they become squirrel food and ammunition for angsty teenagers to smash into oblivion. Instead, we’d like to share a few things to do with your pumpkin, other than carve it.
CONTEST: Tell us your favorite thing to do with a pumpkin besides carve it. For the next three days, Sprout Home will give away one of our crazy, awesome pumpkins or squash from our garden to the comment we like the most. You’ve seen how cool they are right? There are big ones, small ones, black ones, white ones, some that look like swans. So make your idea great and share it with us. How?
You can leave a note here, add it to our Facebook posting, tweet it to us, or take a picture and tag us on Instagram (@ SproutHomeChicago). A pumpkin a day until the witches come out to play! Let’s hear what you have to say, folks! We’ll choose our winners each day by 5pm, so you can swing by and pick one out after work. Show us whatchoo got!
If you’re still a little shy about putting together a terrarium and you don’t have time to stop in for a class, you’ll want to check out this great little video by our favorite Chicago blogger, Nicole Balch, better known as Making it Lovely. She comes to see us for her terrarium supplies and we think you should too. Make them for yourselves or as gifts, just swing by the shop and we’ll set you up with everything you need.
We ran across these little fingernail lawns over at MAKE and thought they were just the most curious idea. Think of them as terrariums without the container! Here’s to hoping they can still zip their pants after they go to the little girls’ room with those bad boys! High five for originality! Check out all the details over at MAKE.
