WGBH's Victory Garden has started its 32nd season with a new host, the beefcakey Australian Jamie Durie. When we heard about the new season and were offered a chance to chat with Durie, we were skeptical because we have neither land nor lawn upon which to garden.
But we realized we were being short-sighted. All apartments, dorm rooms, and cubes could use some oxygen and a few natural processes just to freshen things up a bit. This season, Durie and team are making over small spaces, such as an office cube. The finished result of the cube makeover is pictured below. We asked Durie for his advice on low-maintenance indoor plants that even the world's biggest slob can maintain.
In a phone interview (too bad - we would have liked to have seen him in person), Durie praised the hardier indoor plants (the legal ones, by the way): "The beauty of indoor plants is that they look after themselves. You do need to keep the water up, especially if you're in an air-conditioned environment."
If you are in a cramped space and want a plant, Durie recommends conifers, viburnums, euonymus, or anything that doesn't "sprawl sideways and take up your precious space." Chia pets don't count.
Those who would like to grow herbs for cooking but don't have room for a garden should consider basil and dill. Rosemary is also a good choice because it is "drought-resistant and puts up with a bit of neglect."
Durie says that once first-time gardeners get started, they'll get hooked: "They will naturally start to want to learn about the mechanics of the plant and how to keep them alive because suddenly the plants have become part of their room."
Cube photo by Lisa Abitbol. Photo of Jamie Durie by Ann Johanssen. Tune in The Victory Garden's episode 13--"Trends" on your local PBS station early in 2008 to watch Jamie Durie add some flair to a drab office cubicle.
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