Putting down roots

As my kitchen (really my entire apartment) is currently in a state of utter disarray, has been for the past few weeks, and will be for another few, my cooking of late has pretty much consisted of salad (and often take-out salad at that). I’ll explain in a minute, but for now, an update on the garden, which is so far blowing my expectations away. Here are a few highlights:

As for the reason for the kitchen chaos? I’m moving! Today I’m officially a first-time homeowner in Chicago.

I did say I wanted a change and I think this counts. I wasn’t planning to leave the ranks of the apartment-dwelling when I started looking for a new place in April, but everything seemed fated to make this happen. I’ve never been one to take the view that renting is throwing money away, it definitely has its perks and benefits, but I’m really excited about this step–and my new porch! Kitchen! My own laundry! I can’t wait to start cooking and sharing projects from my new space soon.

One of the best parts about the new place though? It’s closer to my garden! Here are some more pictures, including my plot layout and how the view has changed since mid-May:

Mapped out my plot

May 20: Planted strawberries, kale, eggplant, tomatoes, basil, chives, sweet and hot peppers, tomatillo, and parsley. Radishes, peas, and some lettuces are making their presence known. Planted seeds for beans, borage, kale, and more lettuce and radishes.

May 31: It’s so happy! Peas are definitely growing fast (though they aren’t really using the trellis, I need to train them better), beans sprouted, along with new radishes. Lettuce is really popping up. Planted cucumber seeds.

First harvest!

June 5: Holy crap, lettuce. I guess I didn’t really need to plant those extra seeds a few weeks ago. Peas are vining (though around each other instead of the trellis), all my beans sprouted and chard is starting to poke up. Borage is starting to fill up its little squares and kale is very happy. Thinned out my purple radishes as I don’t think I planted them right; French radishes are doing much better. Dug up and divided my parsley as I apparently planted about 8 plants in one big clump. I think my cucumber seeds sprouted. Jalapeno has a teeny tiny start of a pepper! Tomatillo and tomatoes are going gangbusters.