Somebody tell me what to plant

[ChuckF]

I'm going to plant something but I don't know what. This is going to happen later this week or it will have to wait until like May, which is p. late.

I am a soulless condo dweller (the adjective may modify one or both nouns) so I don't have a lot of space. I'm thinking of digging a garden out back but I don't know if I'm going to have that kind of time. In the meantime, I have two little bits of barren dirt out front that will be capable of supporting plant life once I rehab them and add some compost. "Plot 1" is about 4x4, maybe a little bigger, and "plot 2" is maybe 4x10 (not all of this will be usable - I'm pretty sure the tree in the middle has some shallow roots, but I haven't dug around there yet.) The two are adjacent.

Here are the parameters:

Plot 1 receives direct sunlight for a few hours early in the day.

Plot 2 receives less direct sunlight because it is in the shade of a tree.

I want something decorative, and maybe something productive, though this is not a food garden type project. Like maybe a tomato plant or something hella easy. Also I am not adverse to an herb garden.

Nothing that requires a huge amount of attention. I will weed and water as needed, but I don't want to commit to plant food or anything.

Nothing big and bulky. No bushes or shrubs. No roses, no azaleas, no boxwoods. Think perennial flowers.

Something that will fool the neighbors into thinking I have a modicum of class.

What should I plant?

[Gonzo]

Vote for marigolds.

[Qingdai]

What zone are you in? I would select herbs for their beauty and easy care.

Rosemary does well in most climates, likes a lot of sun.
Oregano does well, but can spread as can mint.

If you feel like doing something more intense, you can look up a book called Square Foot Gardening, which has companion plants already picked out and works well for a productive small space.

[slimshady2357]

Bolivian Chilli plant!

http://i259.photobucket.com/albums/hh299/PoppiBear/Bolivian_Rainbow_Chilli.jpg

[Qingdai]

Snap dragons, calendula and cosmos are also easy to grow flowers here.

[Ymir's blood]

Make all your neighbors happy with kudzu.

[ChuckF]

The Internet says Zone 7. 7b, more precisely.

[erimir]

You should grow the Merciless Pepper of Quetzalacatenango.

http://images.wikia.com/simpsons/images/0/09/Pepper.jpg

[Sonoma Bear]

Deadly Nightshade! :P

[Deadlokd]

Herbs. Definitely herbs. And blueberries. And raspberries.

[Kyuss Apollo]

Herbs for sure. Lavender, basil, oregano, arp rosemary, aloe...those should work out, though some of these need to be started inside.

Daffodils are early. Phlox is cool too -- purple, red, blue.

Roses, shows you're sophisticated and shit.

[Ymir's blood]

Deadly Nightshade! :P
Eels fried in a pan!

[Ari]

Strawberries!
:strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry:
:strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry: :strawberry:
My years of farming, over level 40 in experience and earning multiple prizes for my strawberry mastery has taught me that Strawberries take 4 hours to grow and often give lots of bushels.

If an EMP hits forcing office workers to become farmers again, we're all fucked.

[irukandji]

dianthus is an annual but it seems to reseed...
lovely fragrance... wonderful colours!
consider perennial lily of the valley in the
shaded area and plan to have it spread!!
fragrant flowers in spring, lush greenery
all summer, red berries in fall...

[Gonzo]

Here are some flowers (http://www.bhg.com/gardening/plant-dictionary/perennial/) I picked for you, Chuck:

Agaves
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2010/10/150sq_101483984.jpg

The ones I had would not die and were p. much my favoritest thing in the bed. Plus manly.

Avens
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/plant/150sq_GEUMREDD_092404.jpg

Ooo.

Baby's Breath
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/plant/150sq_BKS018930.jpg

You should get some filler. Something like this should werk.

Bishop's Weed
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2006/02/150sq_CTG502542.jpg

Or this.

Blue Bugloss
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/plant/150sq_anchusa.jpg

nom nom nom n_n

Blue Fescue/ Blue Oat Grass
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2008/10/150sq_100214840.jpg
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2007/03/150sq_BHG128089.jpg

These look killer. :prettycolors:

Butterfly Weed
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2008/05/150sq_100876010.jpg

I don't know about you, but I KNOW FOR SURE hept Leesifer needs some of these in the Land of No Butterflies.

Chrysanthemum
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/09/150sq_SIP923753.jpg

Coleus
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2010/03/150sq_101458431.jpg

Oh, oh, these! line them up alternatively with the Agaves in the front, do it!

Garlic Chives
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2009/03/150sq_101300377.jpg

Gazania
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2008/10/150sq_100331054.jpg

This is the sexiest flower I have ever seen.

Hibiscus
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2008/04/150sq_100877102.jpg

I'm pretty sure these are common.

Latana
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2008/11/150sq_101335033.jpg

Leadwort
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2007/08/150sq_100331025.jpg

Marsh Marigold
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2008/10/150sq_100157402.jpg

Marigolds
http://vineyardgardencenter.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/yellow-dwf-marigold.jpg

I'm super serious about these. I don't think they are really classy but they are colorful and they grow really tall so they look awesome in the back row. They're the happiest flowers in the world.

Moonflowers
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2007/04/150sq_100365266.jpg

Pansies
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/plant/150sq_BHG108450.jpg

lol

Perriwinkles
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2006/04/150sq_TG_vinca_minor.jpg

lolol

Plectranthus
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2008/10/150sq_100231639.jpg

Poppy
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2006/03/150sq_SIP943899.jpg

I think you can prolly smoke these. :joint:

Poppy Mallow
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2008/05/150sq_100231534.jpg

Salvia
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2008/02/150sq_BHG118721.jpg

These too.

Strawberry
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2008/10/150sq_100175121.jpg

I agree with Ari and this picture is teh cool.

Violet
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/plant/150sq_SIP865752.jpg

Wallflower
http://images.meredith.com/bhg/images/2006/02/150sq_CTG503483.jpg


All of those are Perrennials or so it says. You might want to look through the link list complete with info, but those are the ones I want. There are some real classed up ones, too. Have fun.

[Deadlokd]

Coriander.

Cilantro to you Yanquis.

[ITSOZAZ]

how about some white rhino for the glaucoma?

http://www.pot-heads.com/different-types-of-marijuana/images/white-rhino-marijuana-1.jpg

[Demimonde]

Lots of good suggestions. I would also reccommend that if the shady, 4X10 plot has shallow roots from the tree, you can always place pots around the base of various sizes. Adds some height and interest. I am a huge marigold fan like Gonzo.

Bulbs are stupid easy, daffodils, tulips, irises, callas lillies, and my personal fav- amaryllis. They don't have to be planted too deeply, and with some planning will have season long color and different types pop up. It's like planting a very slow and gratifying fireworks display. Also will produce flowers you can cut and bring inside.

Vines are also easy. Honey suckle, may pop, morning glories will grow like crazy. I also always feel compelled to suggest my favorite flower, gardenia. It is a shrub, but hardy and with twice yearly trimmings you can keep it small in a container. Most fragrant flower in the world, and so inviting to walk into a space scented with gardenia.

[Qingdai]

For easy care flowers I like Calendula, Cosmos and snap dragons.

[Vivisectus]

Personally I am a massive fan of roses. A good modern Hybrid variety will flower all the way into November unless the weather turns too cold too early. Once you have a good root established, they become real powerhouses - I have one in a 1X1 foot little square, and if I let it go it produces 10 foot shoots in a single season. It must be more than 20 years old.

Watch out for the strawberries! They are as bad as mint and will go anywhere. I have a ed ful of them, but I lie awake at night wondering if this is the year they grow up to my bed while I sleep and smother me.

If you have some pots and a handy sunny wall, you may also want to try some climbers, like a clematis. It is pretty hardy and makes reall spectacular flowers:

http://www.mlewallpapers.com/image/4x3-Standard-Screen-2/view/Climbing-Clematis-342.jpg

[ravenscape]

I would totally go with herbs and berries.

Sage, Rosemary, and thyme are perennials. Depending on how cold it gets in the winter, you may be able to get away with salvia as a perennial, too. As has been mentioned, mint and oregano spread like wildfire. I currently have both battling it out in an undeveloped area of my garden where the soil is basically clay with a little bit of ancient bark ground cover going to compost. It won't be long before it's time for me to put my annual mint abatement program into high gear (mojitos and mint chutney).

Save some space for less hardy herbs like basil and tarragon if you are into cooking with fresh herbs. Cilantro isn't a perennial but it often will self-seed. Italian parsley is similar in that regard. They are both herbs you can plant early in the season when frost is still a threat. If you like to cook Mexican or Indian food, cilantro is a must.

strawberries do spread, and if you plan for them to spread, that can be pretty cool.

eta chillies (whatever sort you like to eat) and tomatoes where you have lots of sun. If you grow tomatoes find a pretty way to stake them since they will be in the front yard. Maybe something like this.
http://site.unbeatablesale.com/img157/bci42520.gif

alternatively, some dwarf cherry tomato plants don't tend to sprawl all over the garden and wouldn't need a cage or stakes.

[Ensign Steve]

Pot.

[slimshady2357]

Pot.

:freakout: ES has ITSOZAZ on ignore now!

[Ensign Steve]

Damnit, I did a find on page for both pot and marijuana and nothing came up. You expect me to read a whole twenty-post thread before posting? Fucking white rhino.

[Gonzo]

White Buddha.

[Ensign Steve]

Coriander.

Cilantro to you Yanquis.

In U.S. culinary usage, the fruits (seeds) are generally referred to as coriander, the leaves as cilantro.
:professor:

Coriander - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coriander)

[ITSOZAZ]

Pot.

:freakout: ES has ITSOZAZ on ignore now!

:tremble:

[ChuckF]

Thanks for the recommendations everybody. It has been too wet to dig and I have been too busy to do it this week but I hope the ground will dry out by Sunday or so. I'll let you know what I wind up doing.