Cocktail Garden 2' x 8'
Be the toast of the town with all the muddles, garnishes and stirs you need to throw a party. Mix up tasty punches and drinks with spearmint, Thai basil, lavender, lemon verbena, cilantro, parsley, rosemary, cucumber, alpine strawberries and more!
Planting Guide:
Cherry tomato
- Sow seed indoors 1/4'' deep, six to eight weeks before last frost. Choose a compact patio type for raised beds or plan to install a support for tall varieties.
- Transplant into garden one to two weeks after last frost or when soil reaches 65 degrees F.
- Spacing: one plant per sq. ft. Grow early season crops nearby to allow more room later.
- Days to harvest: 55 to 100 days from transplanting, depending on variety. Not frost-hardy.
- Hint: Remove lower leaves before planting and bury extra stem.
Learn more about Cherry tomato in our Vegetable Encyclopedia
Basil
- Plant seeds 1/4″ deep indoors six weeks before last frost; outdoors two weeks after last frost.
- Transplant seedlings two to three weeks after last frost or when soil reaches 70 degrees F.
- Replant if you have space and want more.
- Spacing: two plants per sq. ft.
- Days to harvest: 40-55 days from transplant. Harvest leaves as desired. Not frost-hardy.
- Hint: Pinch stems early and often to stimulate branching and bushy growth.
Thai basil
- Plant seeds 1/4'' deep indoors six weeks before last frost; outdoors two weeks after last frost.
- Transplant seedlings two to three weeks after last frost or when soil reaches 70 degrees F.
- Replant if you have space and want more.
- Spacing: two plants per sq. ft.
- Days to harvest: 40-55 days from transplant. Harvest leaves and stems as desired. Not frost-hardy.
- Hint: Pinch stems early and often to stimulate branching and bushy growth. Allow some flower spikes to form for attractive garnish.
Lavender
- Transplant plants into garden after last frost when temperatures remain above 40 degrees F.
- Spacing: 2 plants per sq. ft.
- Prune: Trim stems to encourage bushy growth, or leave untrimmed to allow flowers to develop.
- Days to harvest: Harvest leaves as needed throughout season. Not frost-hardy.
- Hint: Fertilize monthly. Plants require well-drained soil. Plants may drop leaves when stressed.
Rosemary
- Germination is poor and seeds must be very fresh, so buying potted plants is recommended. Plant outdoors only after all danger of frost. Grow in garden or in pot. Tender perennial.
- Spacing: one plant per sq. ft.
- Days to harvest: Leaves from first year plants can be picked sparingly by midsummer.
- Hint: Do not allow rosemary to dry out completely. In cold climates, bring plant indoors and grow in sunny window during winter.
Shiso
- Plant seeds 1/4'' deep indoors, six to eight weeks before last frost. Seeds may take 3 to 4 weeks to germinate.
- Transplant into garden one to two weeks after last frost or when soil reaches 65 degrees F.
- Spacing: one or two plants per sq. ft.
- Prune: Trim stems to encourage bushy growth.
- Days to harvest: Harvest leaves as needed throughout the season. Not frost-hardy.
- Hint: Remove flowers to prevent self-sowing seeds.
Cucumber
- Plant seeds indoors 1/2″ deep three weeks before last frost, or seed in garden after frost.
- Transplant into garden after frost and when soil is 65 to 70 degrees F.
- Spacing one per sq. ft. for bush type; two per sq. ft. for vining type.
- Extend harvest with a second crop, planted two weeks later.
- Days to harvest: 50 to 60 days after transplanting. Not frost-hardy.
- Hint: Use row covers until flowering to keep off insects.
Spearmint
- Transplant plants after the last frost date. Flavor from seed-grown mint is highly variable.
- Spacing: one or two plants per sq. ft. Mint spreads rapidly.
- Days to harvest: Harvest leaves and stems as desired. Cut back to 1'' above the ground to harvest the whole plant and encourage fresh growth.
- Hint: Plant in a bottomless pot set into the garden with the rim 1 to 2 inches above the ground to prevent plants from spreading.
Cilantro
- Sow seeds directly in the garden around last frost date. Plant 1/4″ to 1/2″ deep. Cilantro goes to seed quickly, so plant more seeds every three weeks to ensure a constant supply.
- Spacing: Sow 18 seeds per sq. ft.; thin to nine plants per sq. ft.
- Days to harvest: 50 days for leaves, 90 days for seed harvest.
- Hint: Do not fertilize. Harvest individual stems or cut back entire plant with scissors, leaving 1″ at base to regrow.
Chives
- Purchase a pot of chives or get a clump from a neighbor. Plant in garden anytime. Hardy perennial.
- Spacing: one plant per sq. ft.
- Days to harvest: Leaves can be harvested from early spring on – as soon as they are 6″ tall. Cutting promotes regrowth. Use flowers in salads.
- Hint: Divide and pot up some chives in fall and bring indoors to grow on a sunny windowsill all winter.
Parsley
- Start seeds 1/4″ deep indoors 10 to 12 weeks before last frost.
- Transplant seedlings into garden up to a month before last frost.
- Spacing: two plants per sq. ft.
- Edible all summer and into winter.
- Biennial: plants will go to seed second year.
- Days to harvest: 75. Begin harvesting foliage at any time. Very frost-hardy.
- Hint: Parsley takes up to 21 days to germinate. Treat seeds with hot water before planting.
Lemon thyme
- Transplant plants after the last frost date. Flavor from seed-grown thyme is highly variable.
- Spacing: one or two plants per sq. ft.
- Days to harvest: Harvest leaves and stems as desired.
- Hint: Thyme requires well-drained soil. Do not fertilize.
Alpine strawberry
- Transplant plants in spring a week or two before the last frost date.
- Space plants 12" apart. Position carefully, keeping the crown of the plant even with the soil surface.
- Harvest berries several times a week when they are deep red and "give" slightly.
- Keep soil moist, but not soggy. Mulch to retain moisture and protect fruit from rot.
- Hint: Divide plants every two to three years.
Learn more about Alpine strawberry in our Vegetable Encyclopedia