Garden Edibles

We’ve being growing simple garden edibles in containers for some years now and while at times challenging, it’s also been very rewarding. Not everything we’ve tried has worked out; for example, the cucumbers we tried were not a variety we enjoyed, and our sugar snap peas and green beans didn’t grow as we had hoped. Sometimes it’s trial and error and figuring out what you are best at growing in the space available to you. Bahrains climate is harsh but our mild winter provides a window of opportunity for hobbyist gardeners like ourselves. And of course, we have the local famers market selling seasonal produce should all else fail.

This post isn’t about “how to grow your own garden produce”, but might encourage you to buy some seeds and try growing your own herbs, fruit or vegetables. Even if you only manage to grow a pot of basil. With some knowledge, a few containers and patience, it’s still doable wherever you live. 

Favourites we grow in our garden:

Carrots:

We added carrots to our list two years ago and they are a delight to grow. This year we’ve had straighter carrots with less legs because we took more care when planting the seeds. As for the carrots we grew, roasting in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil and seasoned with sea salt is the simplest way we enjoy them. Roasted carrots are also delicious in these tasty recipes, Spelt, Fennel and Blood Orange Salad and Carrot Kefedas.  

The leafy green tops of carrots are just as edible and have a wonderful carrot-parsley-like flavor. You can add chopped carrot greens to salads, use as a garnish in place of parsley and add to pesto when making.

Potatoes:

We were delighted with our first crop of potatoes…all ten of them. We really thought it wouldn’t work but it did! Next season we plan on planting a few more pots of potatoes. We had planted two pots, one with potatoes from Cyprus and the other from Egypt…  but only the potatoes from Cyprus were successful. As both potato plants were in separate areas of the garden…not enough sunlight may have been a factor. Let’s see next season. 

As you know potatoes have an infinite number of uses with recipes and mashed potato is a good place to start. One favorite is, Colcannon…a traditional Irish dish with creamy mashed potato and kale.

Tomatoes and Oregano:

Tomatoes are easy to grow and we only grow small or cherry tomatoes. This season we grew a different variety, the rosso piennolo tomato, oval in shape with a distinctive pointed end and a lovely sweet flavor. This small variety of tomato grew at a slower pace and this was to our advantage. Gave us time to enjoy the other tomatoes before these ripened. 

Tomato Tart with Roasted Garlic and Feta Cheese is a lovely recipe to make using small tomatoes. And if you grow oregano, scatter some fresh leaves over the tart for an extra flavour. 

Lettuce, Thyme, Rocket and Curry Leaves:

As well as teardrop tomatoes (another favorite), we have grown a few lettuce heads, the lollo rosso variety were really good. When growing we had to protect the lettuce from birds and cover the container with netting, birds love to eat young lettuce leaves. 

Thyme is another herb we use with many recipes, both savory and sweet. You might like to try this easy dessert, Lemon and Fresh Thyme Posset. Lovely served in small cups or glasses, perfect for entertaining. 

Rocket, another leafy green we grow, the peppery spiciness is lovely in salads and sandwiches.

Last year my curry leaf plant succumbed to the scorching heat of our summers. The plant managed to survive for over four years but has now been replaced with a new one. Fingers crossed it will survive. If you’ve used fresh curry leaves before, you will know their unique flavor. I’ve used these leaves to flavour oils, rice, curries and potato dishes.

Mint, Basil and Rosemary:

Fresh herbs are frequently used with my recipes and visiting the garden to snip off a few fresh sprigs or leaves is so gratifying. You cant have fresher than that. 

What is your favorite fruit, vegetable or herb to grow in your garden?