A Backyard Garden Is Not Impossible
While I would love to say that I have a great backyard garden and that I am a great gardener, the truth is I am actually quite a terrible one. In fact, I have managed to damage an exceedingly large amount of plants over the years. My most recent victims being three overpriced lemon trees dying despite my heroic efforts. Friends and family know my gorgeous garden picks are strategic and don’t really showcase the voluminous carnage I have inflicted on such greenery over the years.
Despite the havoc I wreaked, there are some tips and tricks that everyone with a brown thumb can take advantage of. It is all about how to abuse or ignore your yard and still have beautiful shades of green and blossoming flowers in addition to the edible plants we are all keen to devour at home.
You Can Have An Edible Backyard Garden
Start With Easy Vegetables For a Backyard Garden
So, over the years, being an enthusiastic gardener with all the epic failures that followed, I settled on a few options that I can attest are sure winners. Zucchini and cherry tomatoes are my two top picks for absolutely anyone just getting started.
First, they create a lot of food in terms of volume that is actually useful in your kitchen. Cherry tomatoes continually produce tasty little gifts throughout the summer. And, since they keep making more and more, you can dine your way through an entire season. Second, the zucchini also grows really well and in large amounts. Again, you can continually pick these guys virtually through the entire season as well.
Now, I did try spaghetti squash last year and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The meals were delicious and they grew easily on a fence with just a little support. This year, a rare coastal flood washed the plant away and during COVID times, I wasn’t able to purchase another.
Another item I’ve grown over the years is peppers. From jalapeños to bell peppers they are pretty easy and suit containers really well. In the kitchen, there are so many ways to utilize peppers and if you remove seeds from the spicier options they can add flavor with less kick. Leave in those seeds if you want spice though!
Most importantly though, these vegetables are so easy to grow that even the worst brown thumb in the world couldn’t mess this up. They don’t care if the soil is perfect or if the weather cooperates, they simply just keep going!
A Lime Day …
Now, if you were wondering about those lemon trees, yes, I gave up on those. No matter what I did, it was an epic disaster. I forbid myself from purchasing another Meyer lemon tree.
Consequently, I took my cues from what we were buying from the store repeatedly. I settled on limes. We use them with everything! They are squeezed over panko chicken or pork chops, on tacos and in burritos, over fish and various veggies. Limes are also amazing in refreshing spritzers, margaritas which are my favorite and a host of other drinks. Limes and citrus in general are a persistent trend in California cooking. A separate post, 3 Tasty California Food Trends You Need To Know About, talks about trends you might love and is loaded with ideas for your next meal.
Now, in terms of the garden, I chose a dwarf tree so it wouldn’t take over my small yard. I planted with good advice from the nursery. Their advice after planting, water well for a few weeks, leave it alone after that and treat it like anything else growing in and around it. Voila! Success! I am well into my second year with my new baby and she is doing great! We expect fruit in another year or so but she is healthy and happy!
Herbs In A Summer Backyard Garden
Okay, everyone says herbs are easy but honestly, I just can’t seem to keep much alive for more than a month. Granted, I do get wrapped up with kids, work, and community stuff so they are abandoned on a regular basis.
Rosemary Is a Staple in California
That being said, if you want to try a few that are actually easy I recommend rosemary and basil. Once you have an established rosemary bush, it will keep you supplied for years and years with basically zero effort. These guys love to be left alone by the way. Your biggest challenge may be trimming properly a few times a year and figuring how to use as much of this fragrant herb as possible.
First and foremost, rosemary is a bush with herb stems growing from hardy branches. I use rosemary in the kitchen for herb rubs on chicken, infusing vodka, or even baking next to veggies in the oven.
In addition, since I have so much, just from a single bush, I also put cuttings into water vases to decorate throughout my home. To be fair, I love the vibrant smell. It seems to brighten my mood and wake me up. My neighbor doesn’t like the aroma at all so maybe buy a sprig in the store before you commit!
Basil Is Perfect for Container Gardening
Now, basil might seem an odd choice since this herb can be a little tricky. The reason why I plant it is actually a selfish one. My favorite dish is homemade pizza. Because of the cherry tomatoes I plant, basil is the perfect accompaniment. I am huge fan of caprese style pizza and roasting a few cherry tomatoes at the beginning of the week, allows me to simply pick basil on the day I throw a pizza together.
To grow the basil, one thing to realize is that you need to pick the leaves regularly and don’t let the plant flower. Pinch off the flowers so all the energy goes into making those large, tasty leaves. Also, don’t harvest too many leaves all at once. I rarely take more than half, usually much less, but experts suggest definitely don’t harvest more than two thirds.
If you go to the nursery or home improvement store, you’ll many varieties. You may want to plant a few versions like lemon or cinnamon. My go-to is the Thai basil, just personal preference. Also, I used beautiful pots so I can double them as an outdoor centerpiece if I am hosting a dinner party.
Any California Backyard Garden Will Have Succulents & Cacti
Now, if you took a quick glance in my garden, you may notice that I have quite a lot of greenery. But … if you look closely, what you may pick up on is the amount of succulents and hardy, drought tolerant California plants used throughout.
In the state of California, we have faced decades-long droughts and at times, skyrocketing water bills during particularly tough seasons. While I would love a lush, green lawn and tropical foliage, it simply isn’t a smart choice economically or even work well with conditions throughout Southern California. Below are a few of my absolute favorites straight from my own backyard garden.
1. Climbing epiphyllum
These simple cacti climb or hang with support and are usually night bloomers. Overnight, new blooms open up and showcase stunning colors. The flowers can last a couple days at best so take those pictures right away before they wilt and drop off the main plant. It’s nice to have greenery grow tall around a tree trellis since so many succulents just don’t add height to a space.
Taking care of these climbers has been a breeze and I’ve even been able to propagate them rather easily. In fact, my first epiphyllum was a gift and lived on a buffet in my kitchen for months. It had grown in my mom’s windowsill the year before and gotten a little too big. The expert tips linked here are great but I have honestly only followed the rules loosely and still had great success.
2. Hanging
The easiest little succulent to toss in a hanging container is the donkey tail or burro’s tail. It can be just as happy indoors or outdoors as long as there is plenty of sunlight. I have added cuttings to planters and succulent arrangements throughout the garden. They just add interest to containers, beds and sunny rooms. Beyond sun, they just don’t want a lot of attention or water. Because they are drought tolerant, I can forget about them wherever they are hanging out.
3. Ground Covering
A favorite green “flower” is what I call Hen and Chick succulents, technically called Sempervivum. They produce massive green rosettes that look like a giant flower, the hen. The chicks are the little rosettes that spring from the main hen along the underbody stem. These grow along the ground and in pots so easily that I give them away regularly. I even have to throw away some at times because they are so prolific. What’s nice is that they stay in one area and don’t really spread like a weed.
4. Variety Is Gorgeous
The final trick of the succulent approach is just using cuttings from friends, family, neighbors. It can be so easy to grow succulents in a slow, methodic way unlike planting annual flowers every year. It’s a one and done strategy that can add color and interest with minimal effort. And no, your garden does not have to look like an Arizona desert. Your backyard garden can actually feel lush or even tropical if you take your time, adding layers to your succulent varieties.
This feature wall is in a tiny courtyard next to my pharmacy. I sit here, while waiting for a prescription to be filled regularly. I haven’t yet attempted something like this but in a future project, my fireplace wall on the outside is just grey stucco begging to be adorned in some way!
Plumeria: A Piece of Kauai In My Little California Backyard Garden
One choice that may surprise you is the use of plumeria. I am an avid dreamer of all things Hawaii so they hold a special place in my heart. Living in San Diego, on the coast, I have moisture in the air from the marine layer which these beauties love. It is a unique environment but honestly, plumeria practically take care of themselves!
The fragrance of their flowers is amazing and make me happy on a daily basis. I use votive holders with a bit of water to hold have them on my nightstand, next to my kitchen sink for a pop of pretty, in my daughter’s hair for special occasions, even as decorations on cupcakes.
To grow these “trees” just plant, mist with water regularly and leave them alone to prosper. Twice a year, I “feed” them with granular nutrients and remove brown leaves that may not have dropped off on their own. That’s it, truly!
Now, one benefit that friends enjoy are the cuttings. I give them to family, friends and give away to strangers in my community on occasion when I have too many cuttings.
In San Diego, I always find terrific information for my specific area. For plumeria I get additional help and tips from the San Diego Plumeria Society. Propagating these beauties is a little tricky so definitely ready up before attempting. For routine care I always go straight to the experts. This is a link to the basic care section of the San Diego Plumeria Society website.
