DIY Network

Planting the Garden Planting the Garden From "Weekend Landscaping" episode WKL-211

Having added all the great structural elements of this outdoor kitchen, now it's time to plant the garden. In planning -- and planting -- your own kitchen garden area, avoid thorny plants that can catch clothing; plants, trees or shrubs that produce sap or weep when branches are broken; and plants that produce berries that a child could pop into his mouth or drop into a dish cooking on the grill.

Since this garden area is part of a kitchen design, everything planted in the new beds is edible, including vegetables, herbs and dwarf citrus plants, all chosen to enhance the homeowner's love of Asian cooking. These plants are suited for the California climate, but for help with plants suitable for your climate, talk to the experts at your local garden centers and nurseries.

Now all that's left to do is plant each variety in its designated space....

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1. Before planting, amend the soil to ensure the plants have all the necessary nutrients for producing hardy vegetables, herbs and fruit. If your soil has never been tested for nutrient content, check with your garden center or local university agricultural extension office for a testing facility in your area. If you don't test the soil, check for soil amendments at your nursery that are designed to enhance the nutrient needs of vegetables and herbs. Also, keep in mind that herbs require a good, fast-draining soil that's rich in nutrients.

2. Before starting the garden area, Burns plants a passionflower (figure A) to camouflage a pole near the garden perimeter. Lavender lady passionflower (Passiflora Hybrid 'Lavender Lady') will produce tendrils that will quickly climb the pole, and to help it attach to the pole, it is kept upright on bamboo stakes and tied to the pole with twist ties. You can also use floral tape or gardener's twine to secure vines, but always tie them together loosely, to prevent damage to the plant. Passionflower is not edible, but the large, brightly colored blooms have a habit of attracting bees and hummingbirds, which in turn help pollinate the edible plants in the garden.

3. Lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citrus) (figure B) is planted at the base of the passionflower. It has a wonderful fragrance, and the leaves are often used in Asian recipes. It will add height at the base of the pole, and when it becomes too large for the area, it can be easily divided and planted along the fencerow.

Figure A

Figure B

4. Dwarf giant banana (Musa Acuminata 'Enano Gigante') will add height to the area, the fruit is edible, and the leaves can be used to wrap fish for cooking.

5. Golden lemon thyme (Thymus X Citriodorus Aureus) (figure C), which has a lemony fragrance, and the variegated colors help brighten up the corner.

6. Ichiban eggplant (Eggplant 'Ichiban Imp').

7. Purple ruffles basil (Ocimum Basilicum 'Purple Ruffles') (figure D).

Figure C

Figure D

	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H
	Figure I
	Figure J

8. Golden la roma tomato (Tomato 'La Roma Gold'), a yellow Roma variety, great in salads.

9. La roma tomato (Tomato 'La Roma' Hybrid), a cherry variety.

10. Variegated calamondin orange (Citrus Reticulata 'Calamondin Variegata') (figure E), grown here in a bush shape, produces a slightly bitter, edible fruit.

11. Siam queen basil (Ocimum Basilicum 'Siam Queen') (figure F) has a spicy flavor, perfect for Asian cuisine.

12. Owari satsuma mandarin orange (Citrus Reticulata 'Owari') (figure G) has a very sweet fruit, great for cooking.

13. Variegated oregano (Oreganum Vulgare 'Variegata').

14. Dwarf bearss seedless lime (Citrus Aurantiifolia 'Dwarf Bearss Seedless') (figure H), whose leaves are used in Thai cooking.

15. Nagami kumquat (Citrus Kumquat 'Nagami') (figure I).

Tumbled, crushed glass is used as mulch for the plants (figure J). Because it has been tumbled, it is safe for bare feet, children and pets. But the real bonus is the fact that snails don't like to cross it, so it offers added pest protection for your newly planted vegetables and herbs.

With the garden complete, it's finally time to fire up the grill, and invite the neighbors over to enjoy the new sure-to-be-most-popular room in the house!