So. I first started outdoor vegetable gardening three years ago, and major herb gardening just last year. I've also done a bit of plant foraging the last couple years, but not professionally or anything close to it. My goal is to learn the basic stuff first. And really one of the most huge parts about it [gardening] is trial-and-error. You take notice of things so you don't screw up the same way next time, because you have to wait a year or at least a season to try again.
I can't remember everything, but here's a list I attempted to make of all the stuff I've grown, with a little note beside each one to give some of my personal experience with them. The only things that weren't grown from seed were the berries, which were bought as young bushes.
- Tomatoes (regular & baby. I like the baby ones most; they grow and taste better)
- Cucumber (one plant yields a lot! Didn't know what to do with all those cukes)
- Cantaloupe (these are the best-growing melons for me)
- Watermelon (something eats these as the fruits just start developing... probably the army of squirrels)
- Peppers (banana and bell. My dad loves peppers, they're not so much for me)
- lettuce (watch out for rabbits, and be careful not to scorch the leaves in too much heat)
- spinach (I don't remember much about the spinach... it might not have matured. I don't think it was in enough sun)
- radishes (if you have good timing, these guys can squeeze in 2 growing seasons in 1 year)
- broccoli (broccoli seems to get a lot of bugs, but they don't destroy it. Just make sure to wash it thoroughly)
- peas (a trellis is needed. the sugar snap ones taste sooo good.)
- green beans (didn't do these last year, so I don't remember them well besides the fact that they tasted great)
- carrots (carrots are great because you can plant a lot in a relatively small area)
- strawberries (Love 'em. Takes a few years to become established, like most other berries, but they don't get very tall)
- raspberries (tasted like heaven. Needs trellis, and has thorns)
- blackberries (these were bitter, but when ripened enough they were much less so. Patience is needed. A plus is that the bushes had no thorns)
- blueberries (mine were smaller than the raspberries and blackberries. bright red stems in winter time; pretty. Didn't get many berries though)
- basil (beautiful leaves, easy to grow, win!)
- cilantro (I didn't use this much; should've planned better)
- thyme (does not get very tall, works well in pots)
- oregano (same fate as cilantro)
- chives (I didn't give these enough sun, but they did okay. They would've looked better had they thrived, though)
- dill (mine were quite fragile-looking. I may not have given them enough sun either)
- lemon balm (this one did pretty well in part shade, actually)
- rosemary (this takes a couple years to establish itself well, then it becomes more woody. beautiful plant, though, and smells wonderful. Good to use with meats)
- sage (this did okay in a bit of shade, but I might try it in more sun)
- lovage (this did quite well, but I never used it. I should've prepared for that better)
- borage (ugly plant, but beautiful blue flowers haha)
Okay. I am in no way offended if you just skipped over that. Now on to the flower stuff. :D
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Flower Terminology
Flower: Four rings of structures for reproduction
Sepals: protective cover for flower bud.
Petals: attract pollinators
Stamens: male reproductive organs
Anther on top produces pollen (sperm)
Filament holds anther up
Pistil: female reproductive organs
Stigma on top accepts pollen
Style holds stigma up
Ovary produces eggs/seeds
Perfect Flowers: have functional stamens and pistil.
Imperfect Flowers: have either stamens or pistils.
Dioecious Plants: male and female flowers on separate plants, thus have male plants and female plants.
Monoecious Plants: male and female flowers on same plant, thus each plant is both male and female but each flower is either male or female (imperfect).
And here's some pretty (and useful) images:
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I. General Terminology