🍂 From Porch to Table: Using Fall Containers for Holiday Meals

As the holidays approach, your container garden may be brimming with the last of autumn’s beauty with herbs, leafy greens, peppers, or even edible flowers. Why let all that goodness fade when you can bring it right to your table? With a little creativity, your porch pots can become the freshest, most flavorful part of your holiday feast.

🪴 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠

Cool-season crops and herbs are at their flavorful best in late fall. Look for:

* 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛𝐬: Sage, thyme, rosemary, parsley, and chives — the backbone of holiday cooking.

* 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐲 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐬: Kale, spinach, arugula, and mustard greens — perfect for fresh sides or warm sautés.

* 𝐑𝐨𝐨𝐭 𝐯𝐞𝐠𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬: Carrots, radishes, and beets that have sweetened with the chill.

* 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬: Calendula, nasturtiums, or pansies to decorate your dishes.

Harvest gently and leave enough to keep your plants producing into early winter.

🌿 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐚 “𝐊𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐧-𝐭𝐨-𝐏𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡” 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

If your herbs and greens are thriving outdoors, move a few smaller pots closer to your kitchen door for easy access during the busy holiday season.

Keep a “𝐜𝐨𝐨𝐤’𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐫” near the back door or porch with a few pots of sage, thyme, and parsley within arm’s reach to make last-minute garnishing simple (and impressive).

💡 𝑃𝑟𝑜 𝑇𝑖𝑝: Bring in small pots of herbs before the first hard freeze and you’ll enjoy fresh flavor all winter long.

🍽️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐜

🧈 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐛 𝐁𝐮𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐝

Mix softened butter with finely chopped herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage). Spread on rolls, melt over roasted veggies, or use to baste your turkey.

🥗 𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐦 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐝

Combine wilted spinach or kale with roasted carrots and radishes, a drizzle of olive oil, and a sprinkle of sea salt.

🌸 𝐄𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐅𝐥𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡

Top desserts or salads with nasturtiums or pansies for a pop of seasonal color.

🌿 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐡 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐃𝐞́𝐜𝐨𝐫

Don’t stop at food! Use trimmed herb sprigs and colorful fall leaves to decorate place settings or tie onto napkins with twine for a rustic, garden-inspired touch.

🕯️ 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒: 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐇𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞

Think of your meal as a celebration of your garden’s journey from seed to harvest, porch to table.

A few small potted herbs placed down the center of your holiday table make a living centerpiece that guests will love and you can snip from it as you cook!

💚 𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲

Have you ever cooked a holiday dish straight from your container garden? Post a picture or share your recipe below! We’d love to feature your creations and celebrate the harvest together!

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