Porch Gardening 101

Growing certain vegetables and herbs can be a fun project for the family. Making a porch garden requires little gardening know how, a few tools and less labor. A porch garden also can help children learn about the life cycle of plants and the different stages of growth while fostering responsibility for its care.

Growing tomatoes is a fun and productive project. To start you will need a few supplies, large terra cotta pots, potting soil mix and short gardening stakes. Prepare pots with a few medium size rocks in the bottom to provide drainage for the roots, add potting soil mix with vermiculite to ensure that the soil will retain moisture. The potting soil should be loose not packed.

Next, choosing smaller variety tomatoes like cherry and plum will be easier to manage and cultivate. After transplanting tomatoes to the terra cotta pots, use the short gardening stakes to build a "tee-pee" around the plant, tie the top of the tee-pee off with some twine, this will support the plant as it grows and keep it from drooping. Select a place on the porch where the sunlight is the most abundant in the morning, midday and afternoon sun can be too hot and could scorch the plant. Follow the watering directions for the type of tomatoes you have selected being careful to not over water as you could rot the root system.

Onions, garlic and bell peppers are some other vegetables you may try in the porch garden environment. Onions should be placed one per pot, you may place 2 to 3 heads of garlic in a larger size pot, and bell peppers maybe potted the same way as tomatoes.

Herbs are another good choice when making a porch garden and will be cost effective as herbs can be dried and stored for future use. Basil, oregano, rosemary and dill are easy to grow and provide many uses. These herbs are easy to start from seeds and will germinate quickly with consistent watering. As in planting tomato plants, prepare pots the same way. If you are starting the herbs from seeds you will be able to put the seeds right into the pot and water and monitor the health and growth of the plant.

Ensure the pots have plenty of sunlight and follow the care instructions on the seed package or pot they came in. Once established, herbs will thrive when they are cut or pinched back and harvested.

Harvesting herbs and storing them properly will keep the color, aroma and original color intact. Once you have cut the herbs from the stalk keep them out of the direct sunlight. Do not wash herbs, if there is soil on the plant rinse quickly in cold running water. Washing herbs will strip them of the essential oils. Pat them dry gently and place in a flat row to dry before hanging.

Once dry, tie herbs in bunches together at the end of the stems. You may place a small brown paper sack over the bunch to keep dust and insects off of them this will also help you save any seeds that drop off. Hang herb clusters upside down in a dry, dark place. You can choose the inside of the shed, if you have no shed you can hang them in your attic, or a closet. Once they are dried out completely store them in air tight jars in a dark pantry. Using colored glass storage jars can be another way of protecting the quality of the dried herbs.