I’m just getting into food gardening and Mark has given me a whole bunch of great ideas to try. I’m currently in an apartment, but we’ve got a little dog run that I’ve set up a container garden in. I’m starting to learn our climate a bit. We’re subtropical here (Dallas) but it gets both hotter and colder than in Brisbane. I’m a little jealous of Mark’a temperate winters!
In my first few forays, I underestimated the effects of our summer heat. It’s too hot for tomatoes and even for sweet peppers. But hot peppers seem to grow just fine (capsicums and chilis for the Aussies ). I was also surprised by my flat-leaf parsley plants. They took the 100+°F (38° C) heat just fine. I’m on the look-out for leafy greens that will survive the heat. I’ve tried Malabar spinach before, but it’s just a huge plant and takes up like half my growing space. I tried New Zealand spinach this year which was pretty decent. I think I either want to try Egyptian Spinach or sweet potatoes next year. I know sweet potatoes are huge, too, but I’m more willing to put up with that if there are tubers at the end.
anyway, I’m looking forward to participating in the forum and learning from everyone!
In my first few forays, I underestimated the effects of our summer heat. It’s too hot for tomatoes and even for sweet peppers. But hot peppers seem to grow just fine (capsicums and chilis for the Aussies ). I was also surprised by my flat-leaf parsley plants. They took the 100+°F (38° C) heat just fine. I’m on the look-out for leafy greens that will survive the heat. I’ve tried Malabar spinach before, but it’s just a huge plant and takes up like half my growing space. I tried New Zealand spinach this year which was pretty decent. I think I either want to try Egyptian Spinach or sweet potatoes next year. I know sweet potatoes are huge, too, but I’m more willing to put up with that if there are tubers at the end.
anyway, I’m looking forward to participating in the forum and learning from everyone!