my mini farm on the 6th floor

This is how my balcony looks like now! :)

the secret life of chives

Do you remember when I said that my sister thinks I grow grass in a pot? Yes, that was my chives. I was wondering why it is so thin and doesn't look like chives in a shop? I discovered the truth, maybe everyone knows it already, but anyway ;) - you have to cut it! Anytime you cut it it's regrowing thicker and stronger :) It is going to be very thick soon, since I use it almost everyday. It's so nice to sprinkle some fresh chives over goat cheese or scrambled eggs - lovely breakfast! :)

eatable balcony decoration

My wild strawberries are basking in the sun :) First one turned red already and looks very very tasty... Maybe it's not perfectly rounded ;) but it's eco, organic and mine :P I have to say that wild strawberries  are very easy to keep in a container garden, they grow fast, don't need good soil (it's a good idea to mix soil you have with some sand!), don't need much fertilizing. Wild strawberries look also very nice, they have plenty of little white flowers and those small red fruits also make a pretty decoration - and then you can eat them! ;) However, I'll keep mine for my nephew who's coming tomorrow :)    

History of Tomatoes

First of all tomatoes botanically are not vegetables but fruits :) They are native to South and Central America and Aztecs used to call them 'tomatl'. Those first tomatoes were small (like cherry ones) and yellow and they were cultivated and used in cooking since 500 BC. They were brought to Europe by Cortez, first known in Spain but quickly popular also in Italy. What's interesting, at the beginning people thought they are poisonous and kept them only as a decoration! The first cookbook that mentions dishes with tomatoes was published in 1692 in Naples, but recipes were said to be Spanish. To North America they came via Britain at the beginning of the 18th century, again kept as decoration. Also, apparently Thomas Jefferson tried them in Paris and liked tomatoes so much he send seeds back home! :)
On my balcony I have yellow cherry tomatoes called 'Aztec' - I guess the most traditional type I could get! ;)

first tomatoes!

Today I had a fantastic surprise! :) Weather forecast was really bad, so I decided to move my plants indoors. Then when lifting one of the pots I noticed this - little tomatoes hidden between the leaves!! :) I found seven all together. Maybe it's funny but I feel a bit proud - I grew my tomatoes from seeds and now finally I've got proof it's working, it's reel - I'm going to have my own veggies and fruits straight from my tiny balcony! A happy day indeed :)

first strawberries

I noticed first wild strawberries growing! :) I was afraid that 6th floor is too high for bees, but maybe some did come, or maybe wind was just enough... Anyway I'm looking forward to first fruits from my little balcony garden! :)